Canada’s Angela Covert-Lawrence has been a multiple winner of the $10,000 Canadian Circuit Awards, presented by Ariat International, Inc. Photo by David Mullinix Photography

July 1st , 2010 – East Dorset, Vermont – The Vermont Summer Festival will once again feature two prestigious circuit awards, the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Awards, Presented by Sir Ruly, Inc., and the $10,000 Canadian Circuit Awards, presented by Ariat International, Inc.

The $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Awards, generously presented by Sir Ruly, Inc., are awarded to the three riders with the most points amassed at the end of the six weeks of competition. The first place finisher will take home a $5,000 bonus, while the second placed competitor will earn $3,000 and the third place finisher will win $2,000. Riders earn points by placing among the top eight in classes of the Open Jumper Division.

The $10,000 Canadian Circuit Awards, presented by Ariat International, Inc., reward consistency in both the jumper and hunter divisions. Offered for the fifth year, the $10,000 Canadian Circuit Awards recognize the numerous Canadian competitors who regularly make the trek south of the border to participate in the Vermont Summer Festival. At the end of the six-week horse show, the top Canadian based on points in the hunter division is awarded a $3,000 bonus while second place receives $2,000. The same formula is used in the jumper divisions, with the highest ranked Canadian receiving $3,000 with the runner-up receiving $2,000. Points are based on rider performance only, not horse and rider combination.

“At the Vermont Summer Festival, we want to be able to reward competitor consistency and loyalty, and our two sponsors, Sir Ruly, Inc. and Ariat, Int’l, allow us to do so,” said Ruth Lacey, Marketing Director of the Vermont Summer Festival. “This year we will be reflecting on the generosity of Raul ‘Ruly’ Torano, who lost his long battle to cancer earlier this year. Through Sir Ruly Inc, sponsor of the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Awards, his legacy will include being a great supporter of not only our event, but the sport of show jumping as a whole.”

The 2010 Vermont Summer Festival, held for the 18th year at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, offers over $750,000 in prize money throughout the six weeks of competition, making it the richest sporting event based on purse in the state. New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show, the annual competition attracts the best athletes, including Olympic medalists, from across the country and around the globe to vie for top honors.

The first five Sundays of the Vermont Summer Festival feature a $30,000 Grand Prix, culminating with the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix on Sunday, August 15. Weekly $10,000 Open Welcome Stake classes, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, and weekly $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Classics are also hotly contested. New for 2010, the Vermont Summer Festival will host a World Championship Hunter Rider qualifying event during week three.

The Vermont Summer Festival is a proud member event of the Show Jumping Hall Of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). For more information about the Vermont Summer Festival and to download a copy of the 2010 prize list, please e-mail: info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.