Katydid CDE at Tryon International
Raymond Helmuth Partners With Kendro to Take USEF Combined Driving National Championship
Sarah Reitz and Fferm Gwenffrwd Onyx Star Shine in the 3* Single Pony Division
For Immediate Release
Rette Solomon for Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC – April 21, 2024 – After an action-packed weekend of competitors vying for the top spot at the Katydid CDE (Combined Driving Event) at Tryon International, Raymond Helmuth (Cambridge, IA) and his own Kendro (Globetrotter x Genderose) were crowned champions of the 3* Single Horse division and earned the USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Single Horses. Placing first across the board in all three phases, Helmuth and Kendro finished out the weekend with 128.35 points. Leslie Berndl (Lexington, KY) and Impressive (First Class x Olizandra), her 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding, claimed second in the group with 150.31 points. Collecting 158.36 points to take third was Jennifer Thompson (Lodi, WI) and Lexus (Grote Wonder x Werina), her 2016 Dutch Harness Horse gelding.
Raymond Helmuth and Kendro
©Shannon Brinkman Photography
Kendro, the 2015 Dutch Warmblood stallion, is a time-tested teammate of Helmuth’s. “I’ve had him in training since he was three,” Helmuth recounted. “We’ve won multiple championships, including a reserve national championship in 2022.”
The team was primed for the win going into the weekend of competition at Tryon International. “[Kendro] has just been getting better and better with every year…he’s really never really had a bad show,” Helmuth said of his equine partner. “Going to Tryon, he definitely was as on top of his game as he’s ever been. He was just clicking everywhere.”
“I felt really good going into all three phases,” the Iowa driver continued. “Usually in one of the phases, it’s easy to say ‘well, I know this one probably won’t be that good, hopefully we can make it up in one of the other phases’. Kendro was just super in all three, and he certainly outperformed what my expectations were. That was pretty amazing!”
Leslie Berndl and Impressive
©Shannon Brinkman Photography
Helmuth was particularly pleased with the team’s Dressage phase, in which they scored 42.78 penalties. “I’ve gotten to love the Dressage phase, and that was definitely our strongest in terms of the way he drove,” he mentioned. “The score we got shows that. I was driving the whole test just about in tears, because he was driving so well!”
With the record number of driving teams competing on the grounds, Helmuth noted that “the footing stayed well, even though we went after quite a few drivers.” Despite the weather on the final day of competition, teams were able to navigate Cones competition safely and successfully. “The rain we were getting didn’t bother anything [on the course],” Helmuth added.
Jennifer Thompson and Lexus
©Shannon Brinkman Photography
“The staff at Tryon are really happy the drivers are there,” Helmuth shared. “To me, that means a lot. They’re like ‘wow, we’re glad you’re here!’ I really enjoy that.”
Helmuth has his sights set on the FEI Driving World Championship, but plans to return to Tryon International in 2025. “You’ll certainly see me back in a year! I’ve gotten to love this competition – I like the footing, I like the arenas, and I’ve always had good results here. Everything about it, I just absolutely love,” he concluded.
Sarah Reitz and Fferm Gwenffrwd Onyx Star Shine in the 3* Single Pony Division
April 21, 2024 – Owner and driver of Fferm Gwenffrwd Onyx Star (Hilin Peredur x Cottrell Charmer), Sarah Reitz (Honeoye Falls, NY) piloted the 2007 Welsh Pony gelding to the win at Tryon International. Placing first in both the Cones and Marathon phase, the team also took third in the Dressage phase to secure victory at the end of the weekend with 159.65 points. Claiming second in the 3* Single Pony division, scoring 178.12 points overall, was Patti Rozensky (Archer, FL) and her own 2012 Hackney gelding, LLF Lucent (Attraction's Debonaire LF x LLF Special Secret). Rounding out the single pony competitors in third was Amy Cross (Chestertown, MD) and Eulenhof Spencer (Arvalon Sion x Carmana’s Summer Surprise), the 2010 Welsh Pony gelding. Driving for owner Wendy O’Brien, the pair earned a total of 183.20 points.
For full results from the Katydid Combined Driving Event, click here.
Driving returns to Tryon International September 18-22, 2024 for Tryon Fall CDE, featuring USEF National & CAI 1*, 2*, and 3*-rated competition, and the USEF National Combined Advanced Pony Championships. Subscribe to our newsletter here to stay up to date with all driving and equestrian competition happening at Tryon International!
Photos ©Shannon Brinkman Photography. These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Competitors may view and purchase official competition photos at shannonbrinkman.zenfolio.com.
For more information about competitions hosted at Tryon International Equestrian Center, click here.