Amanda Flint rides Chester VDL to victory in the $10,000 Vineyard Vines Open Welcome, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on July 10 at the 2014 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, Vermont. Photo by David Mullinix Photography
Vineyard Vines store manager Molly Healy (left) and district manager Janet Kincaide present Amanda Flint and Chester VDL as the winners of the $10,000 Vineyard Vines Open Welcome, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets. Photo by David Mullinix Photography

July 10, 2014 – East Dorset, VT – Amanda Flint of Long Valley, NJ, continued her winning ways at the Vermont Summer Festival on Thursday, July 10. Having claimed first place in the previous week's $10,000 Open Welcome, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, and topping the $30,000 Vermont Summer Special Grand Prix on July 5, Flint won Thursday's $10,000 Vineyard Vines Open Welcome, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets.

Flint's winning mount this time was Chester VDL, who she has been riding for just over a year for The Coverboy Group. All five riders who advanced to the jump-off posted another clear round, with Flint's time of 31.53 seconds holding up for the win over the course designed by Canada's Chris Brandt. For her winning effort, Flint took home her share of the $10,000 in prize money offered as well as a $1,000 gift card for Vineyard Vines. Second-placed Amy Momrow also received a $500 gift card for New Balance for her finish aboard Baldino Du'Rouet.

"He jumped rub-free both yesterday and today," Flint said of Chester VDL, a seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Silverstone VDL. "He jumped loose and fantastic. In the jump-off, he was great. He used to just run, and now he's learning to run and turn!"

Flint acknowledged that the jump-off course, with its tight rollback turn immediately after the first jump, was not exactly suited to Chester VDL, but he made up for it with his ground-covering stride. Flint was thrilled with the young gelding's quick progress, as well as the consistency he's already shown over the first two weeks of the Vermont Summer Festival.

"Yesterday, I had a time fault with him in the $5,000 1.40m Open Jumper class," explained Flint. "Last week, he was the most consistent horse here. He was second in the $5,000, second in the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake, and then I had two down in the grand prix. He's only seven-years-old, but he's a really consistent, good horse."

Flint also described Chester VDL as a brave and straight-forward ride that's beginning to show some speed as he becomes more adept at contesting the shortened jump-off tracks. She admitted to losing a little bit of rideability in the previous week's grand prix, but a bit change has quickly gotten Chester VDL back on track. Flint looks forward to returning to the grand prix ring on Saturday to contest the $30,000 Battenkill Grand Prix, presented by the Inns at Equinox, at 1 p.m.

The Vermont Summer Festival offers a full schedule of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition. The $10,000 Open Welcome Stake Series, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, is held each Thursday while the week's feature event, the $30,000 Grand Prix, takes place each Saturday at 1 p.m. The $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix will be held during the sixth and final week on Saturday, August 9.

Spotlighting the hunter competitors, the popular $5,000 3'3" NEHJA Hunter Derby series is held each Thursday, culminating in the $15,000 3'3" NEHJA Hunter Derby, presented by Land Rover Experience.

Competition runs weekly from Wednesday through Sunday, beginning at 8 a.m. Admission prices are $5 for adults, $3 for children from Wednesday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $7 for adults, $5 for children. 100% of the gate proceeds benefit area libraries, including Manchester Community Library.

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, please e-mail: info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.

$10,000 Vineyard Vines Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets

	Rider	Horse	Faults	Time
1.	Amanda Flint	Chester VDL	0:0	31.53
2.	Amy Momrow	Baldino Du'Rouet	0:0	32.21
3.	Kirk Webby	Dio Febo Aremac	0:0	32.23
4.	Ezequiel Peralta	Jameson	0:0	32.71
5.	Wendy Ritter Peralta	Cruz Z	0:0	34.10
6.	James Gillam	Chanel	4
7.	Kimberly Magione-Mulligan	Psalms 23	4
8.	Bryn Sadler	Bon Giorno	4