It was a Silver-medal performance for Team USA at the 2005 Pan American Senior Team Championships on Friday, April 15, in the host city of Pinamar, Argentina. Battling against the U.S. athletes for a spot on the medals stand were two South American nations – Uruguay (Gold) and Brazil (Bronze). Fifty-four combinations started the ride with 29 completing the full distance of 100 miles. The ride was held under ideal conditions, which made for a competitive race.

The U.S. Team started the event with eight horse/rider combinations – four entering the Individual competition, plus a team of four entered in the Team Championship. The Individual competitors were: Danielle Kanavy McGunigal (Viewtown, VA) riding Flash Flame; Stephen Rojek (South Woodstock, VT) riding Finally; Stephanie Teeter (Oreana, ID) riding Mora Afamada; and, Margaret Sleeper, VDM, (Frenchtown, NJ) riding LM Shaibum.

The Team was comprised of: 2003 Pan American Endurance Champion Cia Reis (Pennsdale, PA) riding Catch A Wave; 1994 and 1998 World Champion Valerie Kanavy (Fort Valley, VA) riding Emphatic; Dinah Rojek (South Woodstock, VT) riding Phoenix; and Deborah DeShon (South Paris, ME) riding AF Stogie.

Kanavy’s mount, Emphatic, was pulled from competition at the second vet check for a mild lameness, however the remaining three members of Team USA completed the test in Silver-medal-winning time. Uruguay’s time of 33:40:00 set the pace for the championship, with the U.S. athletes finishing on a time of 35:26:00.

The Senior Individual title went to a member of the Uruguay contingent – Johana Fort riding Luna Llena. Two Argentine riders – Mercedes Tapia aboard Ras Kasal and Miguel Pavlovsky aboard Moro Tigre – took the Silver and Bronze medal wins respectively. Tapia’s mount took the Best Condition honors.

In the Junior/Young Rider Team competition (staged at 75 miles) it was another victory for South America as Brazil’s team of young endurance riders took the win. Argentina claimed the Silver medal and Uruguay finished the race in Bronze medal position.

Uruguay’s Ignacio Barberouse riding Don Roque won the 2005 Junior/Young Rider Individual Pan American Championship title. Two Brazilians – Andre Vidiz riding Kilina HVP and Mario Schioppa Neto riding WN Barasha – finished with Silver and Bronze medal performances.~~~For more information, please contact Sarah Lane, Public Relations Manager at (859) 225-6974 or via email at [email protected]. USEF press releases are available on our web site – www.usef.org.