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[RC] World Championships in U.S. - Memories - Stagg_NewmanIf my aging brain is correct, at 1998 World Championship in Front Royal Gold - R.O Grand Sultan with Becky Hart Silver - G.T. Grishna with John Crandall, II Bronze - "Brombie" aka Cher Habu with Jeanie Waldron (probably got the real horse name wrong Fourth - Lynn Goleman - not sure which horse Lynn was riding Fifth - "Diamond" with Mary Koeford (forgotten Diamond real name - was a great horse of the '80s - won ROC twice) (note that I may have 3, 4, and 5 out of order.) Know Lynn and Jeanie who are sisters were close. All above were from U.S. Also ninth was Maggie Price's horse, Ramegwa Valetino, who had been leased to the Italians. Valerie Kanavy also leased horses to the Italians and Maggie and Valerie coached them as they had a reputation for not finishing rides. That day they finished all but one of their horses and that one just took a bad step on an Old Dominion rock. Believe Ralph Waltenspiel had flown his horse across the country and that was considered a big deal! His horses completed and then just before completion judging kicked in the stall and was lame at the trot out. Almost all foreign riders were riding leased U.S. horses. Almost nobody in endurance then had money to fly horses overseas. And many of use provided the crew for foreign teams. I was crewing for a Swiss rider riding a leased Appy/Arab cross of Jan Worthington. Horse did not like Old Dominion mountaints and made rider get off and climb last two big climbs on foot with sprained ankle. As Jan said she had not yet finished with the horse's mental adjustments as the horse had only done two 100s. The horse then crossed the finish line looking very fresh and fit. Albert, the rider, hopped off and said "Great horse for Holland". :>) At the 1996 World Championship to add to what was said earlier Danielle and Valerie Kanavy (daughter and mother) raced each other for the Gold in a sprint at the finish. Danielle won the gold on Cash (Pieraz), the horse her mother had won the gold on at the World's in Holland in 1994. The bronze was won by a French horse that was a heavy build grade horse that one would never have picked based on appearance as a top endurance horse. The American's barely beat the French for the team gold, quite an accomplishment for the French who had to ship over and had only half as many horses to choose the team from. Host country get twice as many on the squad as other countries. Believe Steve Rojek and Shirley Delsart were in top ten and were on team along with Valerie. Also believe top ten horses and/riders were mainly from the U.S. and France except for the 5th horse. That 5th place horse is an incredible story. 5th place went to Sweeden on a leased 19 year old horse, R.O. Grand Sultan (aka Rio). Just in case folks do not know, Becky Hart and Rio were the last finisher in the first World Championship in Rome in 1996 when Becky walked the last 20 miles or so on foot to ensure the U.S. team would finish and get team silver. (Rio had actually run of gas so to speak.) Then Rio won the World Championship in Front Royal in 1998, in Sweeden in 1990, and in Spain in 1992. Then sadly Rio was pulled in Holland in 1994 after a fall coming from sand onto pavement and skinning his knees. The announcer said that was like Ruth ending his career on a called third strike as everybody assumed at 17 that Rio's internation career was over. But Becky leased Rio to a Sweedish friend in 1996 and said just make sure he gets a good completion for his last FEI ride so he can retire from international competition in style. Well Rio kept outrecovering horses and passing horses all day. And he moved up to 5th. And had the course been longer .... (I was on the Appeals Committee and so had the priviledge of obseving him at all of the stops.) Now for the great part. The next morning was the BC judging. The trophy was a beautiful bronze statue done by a noted artist. It was commissioned and donated by Linda Tellington Jones It was a statue of Rio climbing Cougar Rock on the Tevis Trail. (Rio also won Tevis at least twice as well as the ROC and the North American each twice). Rio as a 19 year old won BC and his own trophy. There was probably not a dry eye at the awards ceremony. And certainly to my eye, he gave the best looking trot out that morning. +---------------------------------------------------------+ This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. 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