July 31, 2005 – East Dorset, Vermont – Christine Tribble broke Jimmy Torano’s stronghold on the Vermont Summer Festival by winning the $30,000 Mt. Equinox Grand Prix on Sunday, July 31, the third of five weeks of show jumping competition running in East Dorset, VT.

The $30,000 Mt. Equinox Grand Prix, presented by the Equinox Resort & Spa, saw 25 challengers attempt the course cheered on by James Douglas, Governor of the State of Vermont, and his wife, Dorothy. Only four entries were able to master the test set by course designer Pierre Jolicoeur to qualify for the determining jump-off round.

Jimmy Torano, who had won the first two $30,000 Grand Prix events held at the Vermont Summer Festival as well as Friday’s $10,000 Mini Prix, was the first rider to return in the jump-off. Everyone expected another clear round from Torano whose winning streak had began well before his horse trailer pulled into the state of Vermont, but his 13-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood gelding, Aguila, caught the front rail of the fence at 5b. However, Torano was still fast on the clock, stopping the timers at 35.11 seconds.

Next to challenge was Caitlin Venezia riding Garoucha. Again, the double combination caused problems, with Venezia bringing down 5a. Her time of 40.69 seconds would eventually put the Massachusetts-based rider in fourth place.

Christine Tribble of East Windsor, CT, came into the ring riding her chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding, Laddidor. Tribble was fast and efficient, leaving all the rails in their cups to post the first clear jump-off round in a time of 38.65 seconds.

The final challenger, Danielle Torano of Fort Lauderdale, FL, made it through the double that had been her husband’s downfall, but a tight turn to following fence resulted in a rail. With the veteran chestnut gelding, Gibson, Danielle clocked in at 36.497 seconds to place third. Danielle had enjoyed a victory earlier in the day, winning the $10,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Series, riding Lojana, and catapulting her to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

With the only double clear round, Tribble found herself being awarded the blue ribbon and $9,000 in prize money. The victory was especially pleasing for Tribble as her horse had been recovering from an injury and has only jumped in two Grand Prix events so far this year, one being two weeks ago at the Vermont Summer Festival where they placed fourth in the $30,000 Battenkill Grand Prix.

“You always want to win, but Laddidor got hurt last year and I am just bringing him back, so I am really just happy that he is here and able to compete,” said Tribble, 27, who purchased Laddidor from California-based Grand Prix rider Francie Steinwedell-Carvin a year and a half ago. “When I first got him, we didn’t get along so well, but now I think he is the sweetest horse in the barn. He just wants someone to believe in him.”

Tribble married John McCrea on June 11, two days before flying to Europe where she represented the United States in Nations’ Cup competition at three international events – Rotterdam in The Netherlands, Lummen in Belgium, and Falsterbo, Sweden. Her success there with other horses gave Laddidor time to prepare for the Vermont Summer Festival.

“Laddidor stayed behind, and just worked on his fitness level while I was away. I would like to say that this all went according to plan,” laughed Tribble, who also placed third in Friday’s $10,000 Mini Prix. Tribble will be taking one week off in preparation for the final week of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival, featuring the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix, where she will again be battling Jimmy and Danielle Torano for victory.

The 2005 Vermont Summer Festival features five weeks of exciting equestrian competition running July 13 to August 14 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT. New England’s largest ‘AA’ rated hunter-jumper horse show and newly sanctioned by Equine Canada, the Vermont Summer Festival kicked off with the Manchester Summer Festival held July 13-17 and continued with the Manchester Classic Horse Show from July 20-24. The Valley Classic Horse Show runs from July 27-July 31, followed by the Manchester and the Mountains Horse Show from August 3-7, and concluding with the Vermont Summer Celebration from August 10-14.

As is the tradition at the Vermont Summer Festival, each of the first four weeks of competition features a $30,000 Grand Prix and a $10,000 Mini Prix. New for 2005 is the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix to conclude the five-week Vermont Summer Festival on Sunday, August 14. For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please visit www.vt-summerfestival.com or call (802) 362-7548.