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Valerie
Kanavy Wins USET Endurance 100-Mile Championship
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Gladstone,
New Jersey—October 22, 2002—Two-time World Endurance
Champion Valerie Kanavy, who has previously won the USET Endurance
50-Mile and 75-Mile Championships, won the first USET Endurance
100-Mile Championship held October 19 at the Fair Hill Natural
Resources Area in Fair Hill, MD.
Kanavy, of Fort Valley, VA, rode Bells Snitzel to a ride time
of 11 hours and 29 minutes to top a field of 18 starters. Placing
second was USET veteran three-day event rider and combined driver
Lana Wright of Warwick, MD, who finished in 12 hours, 6 minutes
and 20 seconds on the former Delaware Park racehorse, Nathan’s
Pride. Third place went to 2001 Pan American Games team Gold Medalist
Meg Sleeper who finished in 12 hours, 6 minutes and 24 seconds
on Syrocco Blair.
This marked the first time that a 100-mile endurance ride was
held at Fair Hill and the first time that the USET offered a championship
at the FEI World Championship distance. Mary Lutz, USET Director
of Endurance Activities, feels that this is a good step forward
for the sport. “Participation in an FEI-sanctioned, USET
Championship at the 100-mile distance will help develop more of
our riders for international competition,” she said. “And
somehow it is only fitting that our first USET 100 mile champion
is Valerie Kanavy who has been our country’s most successful
rider.”
The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization
that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest
possible standard to represent our country in major international
competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development
of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides
the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest
potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908)
234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org
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