Elizabeth Hazelton of Betsey Johnson presents the award to Darragh Kenny for winning the $10,000 Five Seasons/Lilly Pulitzer Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, at the 2009 Vermont Summer Festival.. Photo by David Mullinix Photography

June 10 , 2010 – East Dorset, Vermont – Manchester Designer Outlets and the retail brands it represents will once again be a major sponsor during the six-week Vermont Summer Festival horse show taking place July 7 to August 15, 2010, in East Dorset, VT.

Each Friday of the Vermont Summer Festival, Manchester Designer Outlets will present the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake. The winner will take home their share of the prize money as well as a prize from the sponsoring brand. The sponsorship agreement with Manchester Designer Outlets, now in its fifth year, marks the largest and broadest local sponsorship in the history of the Vermont Summer Festival.

“The relationship that has developed between Manchester Designer Outlets and the Vermont Summer Festival has proven successful in awarding valuable prizes to our competitors, promoting the brands of the Manchester Designer Outlets organization, and driving consumer business to the local outlets,” said Ruth Lacey, Marketing Director of the Vermont Summer Festival. “We are thankful to Manchester Designer Outlets for its support, and know that our competitors will once again be looking forward to the unique prizes provided by the brands.”

A generous sponsor of the Vermont Summer Festival since 2006, Manchester Designer Outlets represents many well-known designer brands. Together with a different label each week, Manchester Designer Outlets will sponsor the weekly $10,000 Open Welcome Stake every Friday as follows:

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxWeek 1 (Friday, July 9): Giorgio Armani
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxWeek 2 (Friday, July 16): The Vermont Bird Place & Sky Watch
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxWeek 3 (Friday, July 23): Hickey Freeman/Bobby Jones
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxWeek 4 (Friday, July 30): Betsey Johnson
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxWeek 5 (Friday, August 6th): Five Seasons/Lilly Pulitzer
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxWeek 6 (Friday, August 13th): Polo Ralph Lauren

“The Vermont Summer Festival and Manchester Designer Outlets combine a top-notch equestrian competition and world-class shopping with fine inns and resorts,” said Ben Hauben, President of Manchester Designer Outlets. “This partnership adds yet another exciting event to the long list of cultural and leisure activities that help keep Manchester a vibrant summer destination year after year.”

Manchester Designer Outlets offer designer label fashions for both men and women with savings of up to 70%. In addition to offering some of the newest fashion trends, the Outlets also offer unbeatable deals on luxury home furnishings, gifts and stylish accessories. The combination of culture and style makes for an enjoyable and relaxing shopping experience for those who visit.

Recognized as New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show, the Vermont Summer Festival is the richest sporting event based on purse in the state, offering more than $750,000 in prize money. 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. In addition to the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, held each Friday, the weekly $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Classics are hotly contested. New for 2010, the Vermont Summer Festival will host a World Championship Hunter Rider qualifying event during week three.

Rewarding those exhibitors who consistently enjoy success while making Manchester their ‘home away from home’ each summer, the Vermont Summer Festival will once again offer the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Award, sponsored by Sir Ruly, Inc. In recognition of the large number of Canadian competitors that visit Vermont each year, there is the $10,000 Canadian Circuit Championship, presented by Ariat, Int’l. Both awards are based on points earned throughout the six-week Vermont Summer Festival. Additional sponsors including Purina Feeds, Johnson Horse Transportation, Devoucoux, The Equinox, Essex Classic Shirts and Hand Motors help make the Vermont Summer Festival a memorable experience.

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.