By Jennifer Ward for Starting Gate Communications

East Dorset, Vermont- July 4, 2014 — Kristen Bumpus of Concord, MA, claimed the first $5,000 3’3” NEHJA Hunter Derby of the six-week Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT.

Riding Delorean, Bumpus was awarded the top score of 82 points from judges Bill Ellis and Brian Lenehan following the opening classic round.  With a brave and forward performance in the handy round, Bumpus was again awarded the top score, this time an 83, for a two-round total of 165 points for the win, edging out Hannah Lavin who posted scores of 80 and 82 riding Volo Farm, Inc.’s Checkadino.

“She’s really brave and soft and light,” said Bumpus of the beautiful grey mare owned by her student, Catherine Mooney of Wellesley Hills, MA.  “She’s got a big stride, so I actually did one less stride down the first line than I had planned on doing, because I found a forward distance to the second jump.  I was hoping that it wouldn’t make the whole thing too fast, but it worked out.”

Kirsten Bumpus and Delorean claimed victory for owner Catherine Mooney in the $5,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby on July 3 at the 2014 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT.  Photo credit – David Mullinix Photography.

For the first $5,000 3’3” NEHJA Hunter Derby, two of the Vermont Summer Festival’s hunter rings were opened up to form one large competition arena, featuring both classic hunter jumps as well as derby obstacles such as wood piles, tires, and a single log set in the far corner that caused its fair share of problems.

“She got a little confused going back and forth from ring to ring, but I thought she handled it well,” said Bumpus, noting that last year, Delorean placed second in week two’s Hunter Derby with her former owner, Wendy Collins.  “She’s just really sweet and the girl that we bought her from last fall had done her in the Maclay Medal and Junior hunter division, so she is pretty handy.  She is probably one of the sweetest horses that we have.  Unfortunately, she is white, and she is probably the dirtiest white horse we have ever had!  But she has a good attitude and doesn’t mind being bathed.  She’s great.  We love her.”

With a win in the $5,000 3’3” NEHJA Hunter Derby, Bumpus is looking forward to returning to the Vermont Summer Festival for week six’s $15,000 3’3” NEHJA Hunter Derby, presented by Land Rover Experience.

“We try to come once, maybe twice a year, to the Vermont Summer Festival,” said Bumpus, who operates Arrowhead Farms, also in Concord, MA.  “We are here this week, then go home and come back for week six.  Week six is the big one!”

The Vermont Summer Festival offers a full schedule of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition.  This week’s feature event, the $30,000 Vermont Summer Special Grand Prix, presented by Johnson Horse Transportation, takes place on 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.

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).  Please e-mail us or visit our website for more information about the Vermont Summer Festival.