John Crandall III rode Heraldic to an individual silver medal at the Pan American Endurance Championships in Santo Domingo, Chile, on Oct. 21 by completing the 120-kilometer course in 6:03:38 behind Uruguay’s Bernardo Algorta on Cacique (5:59:27). Algorta also won best conditioned.
Valerie Kanavy was right behind Crandall aboard Spectacular Gold, riding to an individual bronze medal on a time of 6:05:47. Deborah Reich rounded out the U.S. team score on Pandor for a combined time of 19:05:19 and a U.S. silver medal behind Uruguay and ahead of Chile.
U.S. rider Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Cadence were eliminated at the mandatory recheck at vet gate 3. Cheryl Van Deusen, riding as an individual, finished in 15th aboard Moro Amado.
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The U.S. team, led by Chef d’Equipe Emmett Ross, set a blazing pace in the first three loops and was the team to catch for most of the day. With Sleeper’s elimination at vet gate 3, the riders implemented a different strategy for the fourth and fifth loops.
“We are very happy with the two silver medals and one bronze,” said Ross. “Our riders had a fabulous go at it. We are proud of what we did and more importantly how we did it.”
This is the most medals the United States has ever won at an international endurance competition.
