July 13, 2005 – East Dorset, Vermont – The Vermont Summer Festival kicked off today with the first of five horse shows in the five-week summer series at the Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, Vermont.  The Manchester Summer Festival (July 13-17), welcomed exhibitors, spectators, and vendors to the 12th annual event, showcasing five rings of hunter-jumper action.  The featured competition in the Grand Prix ring today was the $2,500 Open Jumper class won by Amy Momrow of Loudonville, New York, riding Ground Clearance.

Momrow, 29, aboard Ground Clearance jumped double-clear over the course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio to top the field of eight Open Jumpers.  “He was super!” Momrow said of her mount, a 13-year-old bay warmblood gelding owned by Kaye Cross. “He was a little fresh today, but he jumped very carefully.  In the jump-off he was very good about turning back and was able to keep galloping to the last fence. That’s where he made the time. There was an inside turn that Jimmy Torano made that I wasn’t able to make but we were able to do the last line in eight strides, which was pretty forward.”  Jimmy Torano of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, placed second with Marlo, a horse he owns with Sir Ruly, Inc.  Torano also claimed third place with Edesa’s Caruso owned by Pirtle/Caruso Group.
 
Momrow has been partnered with the 17.2-hand Ground Clearance since March.  They competed at Saugerties, New York, in June, and today was their first competition since then.  “It was a nice warm-up class for us to get ourselves back together again,” said Momrow, who trains with Monty Kelly of Steppingstone Farm.  Momrow plans to ride Ground Clearance in Friday’s $10,000 Mini Prix and Sunday’s $30,000 Battenkill Grand Prix. “I’m excited for the Grand Prix,” Momrow said. “It’s going to be one of Ground Clearance’s largest events he’s ever shown. We’re excited to do it and hope that he does well.”  Momrow may also enter her mount Summer Storm, who placed second in the Grand Prix at the I Love New York horse show in Lake Placid three days ago.

In today’s class, riders jumped a first round of 13 elements, and only those without fault moved on immediately to the shortened eight-obstacle jump-off.  Torano set the pace with Marlo, posting the time to beat at 38.49 seconds. Going sixth in the order, Momrow edged Torano out of the lead with her time of 38.26.  Betsy Joyce riding Anjecho for Sand Castle Farm was the only other rider to qualify for the jump-off, but had a rail down for four faults in 40.02 seconds, ending in fourth position.  Torano had another shot at the win, wrapping up the class aboard Edesa’s Caruso, but his time of 39.13 placed him third. “I was really happy with the horse,” said Momrow.  “He came through. Even though he was feeling good to be at a show, he still went in and did his job great for me. He jumped double-clean rounds and was fast and efficient. He’s a good guy.”
 
The Vermont Summer Festival runs July 13 to August 14, 2005. New additions to the beautiful show grounds surrounded by the Green Mountains welcomed riders to this 12th annual event – new lunging ring, paddocks, trees and landscaping, and a half-mile of new roadway.  A bounty of topnotch vendors were on hand for shopping sprees, and the day capped off with a fun-filled exhibitors’ party featuring Mexican cuisine at Orvis in nearby Manchester.

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest ‘AA’ rated hunter-jumper horse show.  Each week of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival features a $30,000 Sunday Grand Prix as well as a $10,000 Friday Mini Prix.  New for 2005, the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix will be held Sunday, August 14, as the grand finale to the five-week Vermont Summer Festival.

For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please visit www.vt-summerfestival.com or call (802) 496-9667 or (802) 362-9023.