Compiegne, France-August 27, 2000-Maya Killa Perringerard on Varoussa, rode to the Individual Gold Medal in a ride time of 9 hours, 32 minutes at the 8th World Endurance Championships held August 26th in Compiegne, France. Maya's teammate Cecile Miletto on Dynamik came in a nose behind her. French rider Dominique Payen on Nida came home third two minutes later making a clean sweep of the individual medals for the French.

This was a satisfying win for the French on their home turf and a blow for the Americans who had won the Individual Gold Medal every year since the World Endurance Championships began in 1986. Two time Gold Medal winner Valerie Kanavy of Fort Valley, VA, was eliminated after the third loop when the horse she was riding, Charbiel, came up lame. Charbiel had been kicked at an earlier vet gate by another competitor's horse. Connie Walker of Plainfield, NH, riding DML Silver Smoke was the top U.S. finisher in the 100-mile race along the French countryside in the historic forest of Compiegne north of Paris. She placed 11th with a ride time of 10:53:31. Stephanie Schroeder-Teeter of Princeton, ID finished 32nd on Nature's Kruschev with a time of 12:29:31. Thirty-five countries started 142 horses in the race and 50 horses finished.

Australia took a well-deserved Gold in the team medals with riders Martin Parker on Pembac Park Caleb, Terry Wood on Peppersfield Nabucco, and Penny Toft, on Bremervale Justice with a combined riding time of 33 hours, 16 minutes and 33 seconds. Great Britain won the Silver with Jim Lane on Safaniya, Jane James on Rowengay Garnet, and Jenny Jackson on Burning Best with a combined ride time of 36 hours, 44 minutes and 33 seconds. Sweden was thrilled with their Bronze team medal with riders Ingrid Bostrom on Kapudan, Leif Karisson on Sazzal Afas, and Yvonne Ekelund on Gucci.

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