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Contact:	Jennifer Nice				
		(817) 270-2874			 		
		jnice@ridemediagroup.com

Joe Mattingly Wins Second CEI*** Observation Trial

AUBURN, Ca. - After 100 miles and more than nine hours in the saddle, Joe Mattingly of Scales Mound, Illinois, edged out Betty Baker of Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, by one second to win the Grand Island CEI*** on May 27 in Rapid River, Michigan. The event was the second of three observation rides for competitors vying for a place on the U.S. Endurance Team to compete at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, in August.
Mattingly, riding his 11-year-old Arabian gelding SA Laribou, maintained a steady pace throughout the six phases of the 100-mile course, averaging between 9.7 and 12.8 miles per hour. .
"My goal going into the ride was to complete and get a good finish with the hopes of getting best condition," said Mattingly. .
SA Laribou, a former second-level dressage champion, was awarded the event's best condition award following the final inspection on Sunday morning of the top-finishing horses by the event veterinarians. .
"The next morning it was pouring rain, but horses and riders gamely presented for best condition," said Event Manager Marjorie Dutton. .
Mattingly's performance did have one minor glitch-he got off the marked course for several miles. "I was off trail for 15 to 20 minutes," said Mattingly. "This threw my pacing off. However I still managed to get a great finish." .
A total of 35 competitors started at 5:30 a.m. Of those, 14 were nominated riders. Of the 14 hopefuls, 10 completed the course. .
"Back at the finish line at the Grand Island trailhead, pit crews, timers and friends waited anxiously," said Dutton. "Then there was dust and a bit of movement against the dark tree line. It became clear that two horses were coming. Joe came in first at a nice rolling canter, followed by Betty on Synematic." .
Six minutes later, Jeremy Olson crossed the finish line, followed by Kathy Downs, Valerie Kanavy, Steve Rojek and Julie Bullock, all within 10 minutes of Mattingly. Candy Barbo, Sandra Connor and Jennifer Lewis rounded out the top 10 finishers. .
"The course, new to most of the riders, was primarily sinuous single track and narrow double track in the woods, with a good, sandy footing throughout," said Chef d'Equipe Tom Johnson, who was present to observe the riders' performance. "Weather conditions were favorable, with a cool, overcast humid morning giving way to a warm clear afternoon, but without serious heat. In total, I would asses the total difficulty of the ride as very similar in magnitude to the first ride in Idaho." .
Johnson added, "Once again, we had a strong demonstration by a group of the nominated riders. The results alone do not tell the whole story, as crewing, tactics, presentation, soundness and a variety of other factors are being assessed during the observation trials." .
The third and final observation ride will be held June 11 in Ashland, Montana. .
The team of riders selected to represent the United States in the endurance competition at the World Equestrian Games will be named by mid-July and will depart for Aachen, Germany, the first week of August. The 100-mile world endurance championship will be held August 21. .
The United States Equestrian Federation is the Governing Body of U.S. endurance competition at the international level. The American Endurance Ride Conference is the National Affiliate of endurance in the U.S. and governs the sport at the national level. For more information about the U.S. Endurance Team and the 2006 selection process, contact USEF Director of Endurance Programs Mary Lutz at mlutz@usef.org, phone (908) 326-1155. .
For complete coverage of the CEI*** in Oreana, Idaho, including results, log onto www.endurance.net.

The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) was founded in 1972 as the national governing body for endurance riding in the United States. AERC sanctions more than 800 events annually, is the leader in education related to the use of equines in long-distance riding and encourages the use, protection and development of equestrian trails in North America. AERC's mission is to serve its more than 6,500 members and to promote endurance riding as a sport in which horsemanship and equine welfare are paramount. For more information about endurance riding and AERC, visit www.aerc.org. Gulf Coast 4 Star is the official trailer of AERC and is a sponsor of the 2006 AERC National Championship.