Fair Hill, Maryland-October 16, 2005- Karen Kroon of Cheyenne, WY won the 2005 FEI North American Endurance Championship CEIO**** at the 17th annual Fair Hill International Festival in the Country.

Kroon won the continental championship's individual Gold Medal by finishing the 100-mile ride in a time of 11:45:30 on Rokket, her 11-year-old, Arabian, bay gelding.

Dominique Freeman of La Honda, CA, who finished in 11:45:50 seconds on Jayel Super, a 13-year-old, Arabian, bay, gelding owned by Stagg and Cheryl Newman, finished second behind Kroon, but as a citizen of Great Britain was not eligible for a medal in the North American Championship which is open only to riders representing North American countries.

Winning the individual Silver was Sandra E. Conner of Conowingo, MD who finished third overall with a time of 12:03:32 on Elegant Pride, a 10-year-old, Arabian, grey gelding owned by legendary horsewoman Lana Wright. The Bronze Medal went to Betty Baker of Honeybrook, PA who finished fourth overall with a time of 12:03:42 on Synematic, her eight-year-old, Arabian, grey gelding.

"To win is a real surprise to me," said Kroon. "My horse has the ability but there was 10 inches of snow on the ground when we left Wyoming so this was a real change of climate. We usually train at 7,000 feet and to come here and compete under such drastically different conditions, well, it's a real thrill and a great honor for us to win."

The Best Condition Award went to Rebel Fire Bask, owned and ridden by Nicole Chappell Wiere of Elk Grove, CA, who placed ninth with a time of 12:48:21. Receiving an Honorable Mention for Best Condition was the Bronze Medal-winning Elegant Pride, ridden by Conner and owned by Wright who has a unique place in equestrian sports history as the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic medal (eventing team Silver, 1964) and the first to win a combined driving World Championship medal (pairs team Gold, 1991). Wright is also co-President of the Fair Hill International.

The USA Pacific South team of Wiere on Rebel Fire Bask, Barry Waitte of Los Gatos, CA on LV Cambridge, Carolyn Hock of Riverside, CA on GT Sando, and Heather Reynolds of Los Gatos, CA on CP Magestic won the team Gold. Hillorie Bachmann of Cupertino, CA on CV Eli and Jeff Townsend of Los Gatos, CA on Kann Sam Count also represented USA Pacific South, riding as individuals. The team Silver went to the USA Central team and the Bronze was won by the USA Pacific North team. Canada West placed fourth, followed by USA Mountain, USA East and Canada East.

The 2005 Fair Hill International Festival in the Country, which also featured the Fair Hill CCI*** eventing championship and advanced and intermediate combined driving competitions, benefited Christiana Care Health System, one of the Chesapeake region's largest not-for-profit health care providers. Christiana Care, which began in 1888, serves the people of Delaware, as well as neighboring areas of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. It maintains a teaching hospital, which specializes in cardiology, cancer and women's health services, and has trauma and neonatal intensive care units that offer an exceptional degree of care.

Sponsors of the 2005 Fair Hill International Festival in the Country included AERC International; Ag-Industrial; Atlantic Tractor; Aventine Wealth Management; Bit of Britain; John K. Burkley Company; Coventry Health Care; Cranberry Endurance Ride; Dansko; M.H. Eby Trailers; Equestrian Entertainment Partners; EquiPedic; First National Bank of North East; Freeform USA Saddles; Glenmede Trust Company; Goldman Sachs & Company; W.L. Gore & Associates; Gulf Coast 4-Star Trailers; Gunnip and Company; Herr Foods; Kanavy Saddles; Mercantile County Bank; Morgan Stanley; Northview Stallion Station; Nutramax Labs; Steve and Dinah Rojek; Southern States; Summit Aviation; Thoroughbred Charities of America, Ltd.; United States Equestrian Federation; and Wachovia Wealth Management.

Detailed results and further information on the 2005 Fair Hill International Festival in the Country is available on line at http://www.fairhillinternational.com/.