Cosequin Challenge - news release

["Steph Teeter" <steph@endurance.net>]

NEWS RELEASE___________


DANIELLE KANAVY-MCGUNIGALWINS
THE 2ND ANNUAL $25,000 COSEQUIN CHALLENGE

Fort Valley, VA—September 18, 1999—Danielle Kanavy-McGunigal of Ft. Valley,
VA, won the second annual $25,000 Cosequin Challenge and the $5,000 prize
aboard Valerie Kanavy's High Winds Jedi on September 18 in Fort Valley, VA
in a ride time of 10:51:27.  Hassan bin Ali of the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) finished a few minutes behind in a ride time of 10:57:53 to finish
second on John and Linda Crandall's LR Forgym.  The Crandall's Arabian also
won the prestigious Best Condition award.  Another local rider, Wendy
Mattlingly of Capon Springs, WV placed third riding Brown R Timothy, owned
by Danielle Kanavy-McGunigal, in a ride time of 11:07:54.
The crowd at the finish line cheered as the winning team crossed the wire,
but Kanavy-McGunical looked more surprised than happy.
 	"At the finish line I was so overwhelmed," said Kanavy-McGunigal.  "I
couldn't believe Jedi did it. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  Coming
up that hill Jedi heard the crowd and he started galloping on his own".
The Challenge victory was even more special to Kanavy-McGunigal because her
mom Valerie is one of the organizers and the trail master of the ride.
Together Danielle and her mom have made quite an impression in the sport of
endurance by winning the last three World Endurance Championship titles.
Danielle won in 1996 and Valerie in 1994 and 1998, but Danielle will be
taking a break from riding to have a child in March.
"This ride was my last hurrah, so winning it was really special, said
Kanavy-McGonigal.  "I hope to be back riding in the summer and possibly ride
in the World Endurance Championship in 2000."
The Cosequin Challenge had over 50 riders competing with the 100- mile ride
starting before dawn in temperatures of about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.  The
trail took place over several farms in the area and consisted of three
loops, with the riders taking loops one and two twice.  The first loop was
about 15.5 miles and consisted mostly of roads and flat land.  The second
loop was a little tougher and had a distance of 23.5 miles with mountainous
terrain and small hills in the forest, but it was the third loop that
everyone was talking about.  Most of the 22 miles of this loop consisted of
steep mountainous rocky terrain with very narrow paths that was not for the
faint of heart.  It didn't seem to stop too many competitors, however, 30 of
the 50 entries completed the ride.
A 60-mile ride was also held as part of the Challenge, Rachel Zerbst of
Shell, Wyoming riding Ohad Las Tradd won in a ride time of 6:51:45.  Zerbst
also won the Best Condition award.

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