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Articles: Press Release
Valerie Kanavy Wins USET Endurance 100-Mile Championship
Contact:
Contact: Marty Bauman, (508) 698-6810
uset.pr@verizon.net
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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