East Dorset, Vermont – Isabelle Song of Charlotte, NC, won the $5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on Sunday, July 15, to conclude the second week of the 25th annual Vermont Summer Festival, which runs through August 12 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.
Alan Wade of Tipperary, Ireland, who designed courses at the 2017 World Cup Final, set Sunday’s tracks for 20 entries. Seven returned for the jump-off with 16-year-old Song topping the field with a double-clear performance in 37.29 seconds riding Eminem. Just fractions off the pace, Alison Cooney of Chappaqua, NY, piloted Kentucky Bourbon SCF to a time of 37.95 seconds to finish second for owner Sam’s Island, LLC. Carson Ruff of Jackson, MO, took third in 40.72 seconds riding Cuidento Z, owned by Sabina Holstzman.
Collin Reynolds of Oxford, PA, finished the short course with four faults to claim fourth riding Semi-Automatic C, while Stephani Gorman of Bedford, NY, piloted E Pleasure to fifth with four faults.
Song is spending her first season at the Vermont Summer Festival under the direction of trainer Bobby Braswell and the team at Terrapin Hill Farm based in Ocala, FL.
“This show is so pretty, the weather is gorgeous, and everything is run really well,” said Song, who moved up to the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper division late last year after successfully competing in the High Children’s Jumper ranks. “I have learned so much and this horse has taken me so far.”
Of Eminem, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Winningmood van de Arenberg, Song noted, “I got him three years ago as my first jumper and I’ve gotten to know him really well. He takes good care of me.
“He was super today,” continued Song, who will begin her junior year at Charlotte Latin School in Charlotte, NC, this fall. “He tried his heart out for me, which he always does, and that’s a really nice thing to have in a horse. The class was a blast!”
In addition to focusing on her last two years of high school, Song has also set a goal to compete at several indoor equitation finals this fall, saying, “My goal is to qualify with my equitation horse, but also to keep improving with Eminem and eventually move up to the medium junior jumpers.”
Earlier in the day, 17-year-old Olympia Davison of New York, NY, won the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Children’s Jumper Classic riding Gentle Red, owned by Kathryn Callaghan, while Canadian rider Stephanie Latulippe of Beaupre, QC, topped the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Amateur Jumper Classic riding Chelsea Adelheid Premier. Jennifer Kocher of Chester, NY, closed out the day with a win in the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SJHOF) High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic for the second week in a row riding Miss Moneypenny for owner Andrew Kocher.
The Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest hunter/jumper competition and the richest sporting event based on purse in the state of Vermont with more than $750,000 in prize money. The event is also a proud member of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). Outside the show ring, exhibitors are immersed in the charm of Vermont’s shopping, dining, and outdoor activities.
Competition at the 2018 Vermont Summer Festival runs weekly from Wednesday through Sunday, beginning each day at 8 a.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children from Wednesday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $9 for adults and $5 for children with 100% of all gate proceeds benefiting The Dorset School, Manchester Community Library, and the Rotary Club of Manchester.
For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.
$5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Rider Hometown Horse Faults/Time
1. Isabelle Song Charlotte, NC Eminem 0/0/37.29
2. Alison Cooney Chappaqua, NY Kentucky Bourbon SCF 0/0/37.95
3. Carson Ruff Jackson, MO Cuidento Z 0/0/40.72
4. Collin Reynolds Oxford, PA Semi-Automatic C 0/4/38.24
5. Stephani Gorman Bedford, NY E Pleasure 0/4/47.32
6. Jillian Berger Somers, CT E.S. Firobantos 0/8/49.51
7. Christina Antonucci Lake Hopatcong, NJ Cupido van’t Schuurke 0/Elim.
8. Madison Rauschenbach Newburgh, NY Donadoni 4
