Third Week Hunter Champions Named At Vermont Summer Festival

East Dorset, VT—July 24, 2003—For the second straight week, Shablis, owned by Nicole Chaney, and ridden by Rachael Kennedy of Brookeville, MD earned championship honors at the Vermont Summer Festival, July 9-August 10, at the Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

Winning both over fences classes and under saddle on July 23, Kennedy and Shablis turned in top performances on July 24 to solidify the Championship ribbon.

In the morning, Luxor, owned by Danielle and Jimmy Torano and ridden by Danielle, earned the championship in the First Year Green Working Hunter Division. Katie Milton of Locust Valley, NY rode Titleist, owned by Manhattan Mortgage Company, to Reserve Champion honors. Later in the day, Milton went on to ride the gray mare, Grace, also owned by Manhattan Mortgage Company, to the tri-color ribbon in the Second Year Green Working Hunter Division.

For the second straight week, Courtney McCay of Ocala, FL earned the blue ribbon in the BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search Class. Under rainy conditions, McCay topped a field of 39 riders to take the win. Tania Hack of New York, NY finished second.

Gaby Slome of Riverdale, NY won the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Equitation Classic over 54 riders. Hack earned her second runner-up finish of the day in this class.

Lara Gay of Ridgefield, CT earned the blue ribbon over 39 competitors to win the USAE Eisers/Pessoa Saddlery Medal. Megan Young of Jacksonville, FL placed second in the class.

Earlier in the day in the Grand Prix Ring, Danielle Torano of Fort Lauderdale, FL rode Tommy Boy, owned by Jimmy & Danielle Torano, to win the Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper class. The Toranos’ winning ways continued as Dutch rider, Albert Voorn, who is in Vermont training with Jimmy Torano, won the High Preliminary Jumper class aboard Laurenzo’s Kairo, owned by Sir Ruly Inc.

Later in the afternoon, Anne Devlin, rode Meticulous, a horse she owns with Margaret Devlin, to win the $3,000 Open Speed class. Devlin bested a field of 16 horse-and-rider combinations to take home the blue ribbon. Jennifer O’Neill finished second aboard her Lord Byron Z.

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show. This year’s event includes five USET-recognized $35,000 Grand Prix to be held on the last day of each show and five $10,000 Mini Prix to be held on the Friday of each show. Each of the five weeks also features a $10,000 Show Jumping Hall Of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class, part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series which determines which junior and amateur/owner riders will qualify to ride at the 2003 National Horse Show.

For further information on the 2003 Vermont Summer Festival, please call (802) 362-9023, or visit the Vermont Summer Festival website at
www.vt-summerfestival.com.