For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Hallie McEvoy - (802) 362-9023, VTHorseShows@aol.com
Photos Available Upon Request

Equitation and Hunter Victors on the Second Day of The Valley Classic At The Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT

East Dorset, VT—July 29, 2004 - The second day of the Valley Classic saw two equitation riders rise to the top in the third show of the five-week Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT.

Better Best and Jamie Weiss teamed up today to gallop away with the USEF Hunter Seat Medal on the second day of The Valley Classic. In the BET/USET Talent Search class, the blue ribbon went to Amber Woodruff riding Holly Hill Farm's Gothic.

In hunter competition, the Regular Working Hunter division championship was awarded to Primetime owned by Jessica Dillon. The reserve was Neitzche, owned and ridden by Holly Shepherd of Alabama. This is the second week in a row that Neitzche was reserve champion.

Kendall Bate's horse Rising Sun won the First Year Green Hunter championship, making it two consecutive weeks in the winner's circle for this talented horse. The reserve in the division went to Kori Pickette's Coconut Grove.

The Second Year Green Hunter championship went to Mr. Wendell, owned by Lissa Bachner and ridden by Rachel Kennedy. In a tight finish, the reserve championship went to Titleist, ridden by Megan Young and owned by Manhattan Mortgage.

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England's largest "AA" rated hunter/jumper horse show circuit and runs from July 14 to August 15. This year's series includes five weekly $35,000 Grand Prix and five $10,000 Mini Prix. Each of the five weeks will also feature $10,000 Show Jumping Hall Of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper classes, part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series.

This week's hunter and equitation judges include Sue Ashe of Wellington, FL, Bobbie Reber of Ladner, British Columbia, and Carl Hansen of Simonton, TX. The jumper judges are Scott Snowden of Amherst, MA and Mike Christian of Fort Worth, TX.

The course designer is Kenneth Krome of Westminster, MD. In 2003 alone, Krome designed courses for the USA Pony Finals, the Kentucky National, the Los Angeles National, the National Western Stock Show, the Memphis in May Horse Show, as well as many other prestigious events.

This Sunday's $35,000 Valley Classic Grand Prix sponsored by the Equinox Resort and Spa (www.equinox.rockresorts.com) will feature the winners of the Grand Prix from weeks one and two, Jimmy Torano of Key Biscayne, FL, and Angela Covert-Lawrence of Montreal, Quebec, respectively.

While not watching the exciting jumping action, spectators will enjoy visiting the Festival's trade fair that contains interesting boutiques and gift shops. Families will enjoy the ambience of the show grounds, as there are over 1,000 horses and ponies to observe.

Admission to the Vermont Summer Festival is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for children. For further information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please call (802) 362-7548 or email ruth@vt-summerfestival.com.

Previous      ###     Next