Gladstone, New Jersey—June 27, 2001— Two time Endurance World Champion Valerie Kanavy of Ft. Valley, VA won the 50 Mile Sooner Trailer/USET Endurance Ride onboard last year’s winning horse, Bear Cat O’Reilly, with a ride time of 5 hours 8 minutes and 24 seconds. Bearcat O’Reilly, owned by Kanavy, was ridden by Kristin Snook last year to win the Championship.

Following Kanavy in the standings was Jennifer Fisher of Titusville, NJ with a time of 6 hours 3 minutes and 46 seconds. Third place went to David Augustine of Frenchtown, NJ riding Syrocco Blair, owned by his wife Meg Sleeper, DVM, in a time of 6 hours 52 minutes and 17 seconds.

In a close finish for the 80 Mile Endurance championship, Sue Greenall of W. Windsor, VT beat Wendy Bejarano of W. Windsor, VT by five seconds. Greenall finished the course in a ride time of 12 hours 35 minutes and 53 seconds with her own horse Aleser. Bejarano riding her horse Bie Kin finished in 12 hours 35 minutes and 58 seconds. Third place went to Darolyn Butler-Dial of Humble, TX on her horse DJB Bab Razzmatazz.

Ride times were slower than expected due to more than 4 inches of rain. However because of the cooler temperatures all of the horses finished in excellent condition.

The U.S. is the dominant world power in Endurance riding. A U.S. rider has won the Individual Gold Medal at every Endurance World Championship from 1986, when the first event was held, through 1998. The list of riders are Cassandra Schuler of Petaluma, CA (1986), Becky Hart of San Jose, CA (1988, 1990, 1992), Valarie Kanavy of Fort Valley, VA (1994), Danielle Kanavy of Fort Valley, VA (1996) and Valarie Kanavy again in (1998).