East Dorset, Vermont — Ireland’s Darragh Kenny topped the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Awards, Presented by Sir Ruly, Inc., at the 2009 Vermont Summer Festival held July 1 to August 9 in East Dorset, VT.
Kenny dominated the race for the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Awards, amassing an impressive 306 points and winning $5,000 in bonus money awarded at the end of the six-week competition.
Jimmy Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, who had topped the standings in 2007 and 2008, earned 259 points to claim the second place prize money of $3,000. Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, was third in the standings with 245 points to win a $2,000 cash bonus.
Riders earned points by placing in the top eight of Level 7 Open Speed classes, Level 8 Open Jumper classes, and the Open Jumper Welcome Stake classes. In Sunday’s grand prix event, points were awarded to the top 12 finishers.
“It was absolutely fantastic to win this,” said Kenny, 21, who rides for Missy Clark and John Brennan of North Run Stables in Warren, VT. “The horses have been brilliant the whole time. It has been a fantastic run for me.”
Speaking about his open jumper mounts Obelix, Palona, Gael Force and Bazooka De Muse, Kenny said, “It is great to get to ride these types of horses. They are brilliant horses and every day they try. It works for me and they suit me – they are just great, great horses. I am so lucky to have been given the opportunity to get on them, and then what they have done for me over the weeks here in Vermont is amazing.”
As for his plans to spend his $5,000 bonus, Kenny laughed, “I don’t think I am going to Disneyland with this. I am going to try and put it away.”
Third place finisher Dobbs also rides at North Run and said, “I am so happy that Darragh got the bonus money. We are best friends and we egg each other on. He is such a talented rider and we are riding better to beat each other, but if I don’t win, I want him to win. It really is a great dynamic and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
The 2009 Vermont Summer Festival, held for its 17th year at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, offered over $750,000 in prize money throughout the six weeks of competition, making it the richest sporting event in the state. In 2010, the Vermont Summer Festival will again offer six weeks of competition from July 7 to August 15. For more information, including full results, please visit the Vermont Summer Festival website.
$10,000 Open Jumper High Score Award, sponsored by Sir Ruly, Inc.
| Rider | Hometown | Prize | |
| 1 | Darragh Kenny | Ireland | $5,000 |
| 2 | Jimmy Torano | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | $3,000 |
| 3 | Hillary Dobbs | Sussex. NJ | $2,000 |
