2025 Tryon Fall CDE Results

Raymond Helmuth and Kendro Receive USEF National Championship Title in the 3* Single Horse Division

Seven Year Old Mildred Tanglao Completes Three Phases in her Tryon International Exhibition

Karen Cherry and Let’s Tango On Top in the Preliminary Single Pony Combined Test Division

3* Pair Pony Division Championed by Sole Competitor Katie Whaley

USEF Combined Driving National Championships for Horses Division Winners

Mill Spring, NC - September 21, 2025 - The Tryon Fall CDE (Combined Driving Event) took place at Tryon International this past weekend, featuring the USEF Combined Driving National Championships for Horses. Competition included three-phases - Dressage, Marathon, and Cones which witnessed champion teams to division debuts. 

Raymond Helmuth and Kendro Receive USEF National Championship Title in the 3* Single Horse Division

Raymond Helmuth (USA) had a successful weekend across two divisions and received a National Championship title. Competing in the FEI 3* Single Horse Division, Helmuth drove his 2015 Dutch Warmblood stallion to the division winning score of 138.13. Although they began their weekend in second place after their 51.66 Dressage effort, their quick Marathon effort put them in first place on day two. Kendro (Globetrotter x Aron HBC) and Helmuth were the only team in their division to post a clear Cones Phase which secured their win for the weekend. 

Raymond Helmuth - Cones Phase
©Shannon Brinkman Photography 

Andrew Marcoux (USA) with Loretta (Diamant K x Waldemar) received second place with a final score of 146.55. The 2014 Dutch Harness Horse mare jointly owned by Kathy and Tara Devine, excelled in the Marathon Phase just a few points behind leader Raymond Helmuth.

Andrew Marcoux - Marathon Phase
©Shannon Brinkman Photography 

Paula Bliss (USA) piloted her own 2014 Dutch Harness Horse cross gelding to third place in the FEI 3* Single Horse Division. Across the three phases, Burr (Black Knight x Wonderboy DHH) and Bliss concluded the weekend with 168.25 points under their belt. 

Paula Bliss - Marathon Phase
©Shannon Brinkman Photography 

Seven Year Old Mildred Tanglao Completes Three Phases in her Tryon International Exhibition

Competing at just seven years old, Mildred Tanglao is a testament to the equestrian sport. She began sitting in the driver's seat at just two years old, but not without help from her mom, Jessica Tanglao! Jessica shared, “I would be driving pairs mostly at that point, and she [Millie] would sit in my lap, grab the reins, and steer while I held on to her.” Mildred’s advice for anyone interested in beginning their driving debut is “Always slow down before your turn.”

Mildred and Jessica Tanglao
©Shannon Brinkman Photography 

Mildred was the only competitor in the Exhibition Under Ten - Single Pony Division during the 2025 Tryon CDE competition. Partnered with the 2009 Shetland gelding, James Alexander Malcom Mackenzie Fraser, better known by his driver as “Jammie or Jam Jam”, Mildred participated in the Dressage, Marathon, and Cones phases. Describing Jam Jam as “spicy”, her strategy was “a lot of half-halts!”

Mildred Tanglao - Cones Phase
©Shannon Brinkman Photography 

After three days and phases of competition they finished the weekend on a total score of 323.54. Dressage earned them a 90.49, 219.05 points in the Marathon, and 14.00 points in the Cones division. “The Marathon phase is my favorite because I like the water obstacles.” Tanglao explained. This pair has their eyes set on the Live Oak International competition, set to take place March 2026.

Mildred Tanglao - Marathon Phase
©Shannon Brinkman Photography 

“I really like Tryon because the [obstacles] are bigger than the Live Oak ones. The spaces aren’t so small and tight, so I can go fast around my turns!” Outside of the equestrian action at Tryon International, Millie enjoyed the “triangles [quesadillas]” from Taco Mundo, and the carousel where “there's also a teacup in there, so that you can get an extra spin!” 

Karen Cherry and Let’s Tango On Top in the Preliminary Single Pony Combined Test Division

The Preliminary Single Pony Combined Test Division saw four competitors and was championed by Karen Cherry (FL). Piloting 2019 Dutch Harness Horse gelding, Let’s Tango (Gambler x No Fair Peeking) Cherry earned a 55.87 Dressage score and clear Cones phase. The Combined Test Divisions do not compete in the Marathon Phase, with competitors' scores solely based on the Dressage and Cones phases. 

Karen Cherry - Cones Phase
©Shannon Brinkman Photography 

Cynthia Doll (VA) with her own Ollie ‘bout Town (Unknown x Unknown) completed their division on a total score of 64.68. Just behind the leaders, the 2019 Dutch/Hackney gelding produced a successful dressage score of 57.90, and completed the Cones Phase with 6.78 points. 

Cynthia Doll - Cones Phase
©Shannon Brinkman Photography 

Moving up from fourth place after their Cones Phase score of 9.28, Patti Rozensky (FL) drove LLF Highly Impressive (Valedictorian x Victory Ways), the 2019 Hackney gelding, to finish the weekend on a final score of 83.84.

Patti Rozensky - Cones Phase
©Shannon Brinkman Photography 

3* Pair Pony Division Championed by Sole-Competitor Katie Whaley

2024 USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Ponies title holder, Katie Whaley (USA) piloted equine team of Timmy (Unknown x Unknown), her 2015 Welsh Pony gelding, and Gail Riley’s 2012 Welsh Pony gelding Clanfair Sunglow (Unknown x Unknown) to the FEI 3* Pair Pony Division win. The team completed the weekend on a total score of 172.70, after their 58.22 point Dressage performance, 104.92 point Marathon run, and 9.56 point Cones finale. 

Katie Whaley - Marathon Phase
©Shannon Brinkman Photography 

USEF Combined Driving National Championships for Horses Division Winners

Chester Weber (FL) and his team claimed the USEF Advanced Four-in-Hand Horses National Championship. Weber's team earned the best Dressage score from the whole weekend and finished on a total three-phase score of 149.39. 

Earning the USEF Advanced Single Horse National Championship title, Raymond Helmuth (IA) piloted Kendro to the only double-clear cones phase in their division, and completed their weekend on a score of 138.13. 

Ryley Miller (FL) captured the USEF Intermediate Single Horse National Championship with Humorist after a 143.82 point division win. 

Alice Tarjan (NJ) was the single competitor in the Preliminary Pair Horse Division, and obtained the USEF Preliminary Pair Horse National Championship with Master M and Oregon on their total score of 123.61.

The USEF Preliminary Single Horse National Championship congratulated Rutherfordton, NC local Melissa Wessel who piloted Valentine to a 129.63 second place score in their division. 

The USEF Training Pair Horse National Championship congratulated another local from Columbus, NC, Michael CeCe. The equine team consisted of Supah Girl and Cicero, who completed all three phases on a score of 145.50. 

The Training Single Horse Division saw Leslie Berndl (KY) drive Paxton E-S to the USEF Training Single Horse National Championship after earning a successful Dressage score of 45.51 and a weekend total of 94.97. 

Thank you to Ken Feagin Truck & Trailer for sponsoring the 2025 Tryon Fall CDE. For full results from the combined driving event, including non-championship divisions, click here. 

Photos ©Shannon Brinkman Photography, the official photographer of the Tryon Fall CDE. These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Competitors may view and purchase photos at www.shannonbrinkman.zenfolio.com. For questions regarding photography at Tryon International, contact media@tryon.com.