2005 Pan American Endurance Championship

The 2005 Pan American Championship took place on the Friday 15 April in the town of Pinamar, some 400 kms south of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

In the Pan American Senior Championship (160 kms) Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Uruguay and USA took part. In the Junior/Young Rider Pan American Championship, in addition to the above countries Mexico was also represented.

These countries were joined by Belgium, Japan, Qatar and The United Arab Emirates for the Open Senior Championship and Great Britain for the Junior/Young Rider Open Championships.

In the Senior competition 54 combinations started the event with a total of 29 completing the full distance.

The Junior/Young Rider competition saw 35 starters and 21 finishers
The course took the riders across the Pampas, along the beaches of the Atlantic coastline, through the adjacent sand dunes and amongst the woodland that surrounds the venue in Pinamar.

In near perfect Autumn conditions the event produced a highly competitive competition with high standards of performance.

The results for the Championships are as follows:
2005 Senior Pan American Team Championship
Gold Medal Uruguay
Silver Medal USA
Bronze Medal Brazil

2005 Junior/Young Rider Pan American Team Championships
Gold Medal Brazil
Silver Medal Argentina
Bronze Medal Uruguay

2005 Senior Individual Pan American Championship
Gold Medal Johana Fort riding Luna Llena (URU)- Best Condition Winner
Silver Medal Mercedes Tapia riding Ras Kasal (ARG)
Bronze Medal Miguel Pavlovsky riding Moro Tigre (ARG)

2005 Junior/Young Rider Individual Pan American Championship
Gold Medal Ignacio Barberouse riding Don Roque (URU)
Silver Medal Andre Vidiz riding Kilina HVP (BRA)- Best Condition Winner
Bronze Medal Mario Schioppa Neto riding WN Barasha (BRA)

The Medals were presented by Dr Hallvard Sommerseth, the Chairman of the FEI Endurance Committee at the Prize Giving Ceremony attended by over 800 guests drawn from the competitors, support staff, National Federations and local Dignitaries.

Dr Sommerseth commented that the Pan American Championship, being held in South America for the first time, had been a great success and congratulated the Argentine Equestrian Federation for their achievements.