Stacy claims first at classic event

DORSET- The Vermont Summer Festival welcomes all spectators to the show grounds to watch the horses and athletes, shop the on-site boutiques, or to have lunch and a drink on Wednesdays through Sundays, from 8 am to 4 pm.
Michelle Stacy, of Ipswich, MA, won the $2,500 Marshall and Sterling Adult Amateur Jumper Classic on Sunday, July 28, during the fourth week of competition.
Seventeen entries contested the first-round track set by Canada’s Michel Vaillancourt, with five horse-and-rider combinations jumping without fault to advance to the jump-off. As the third rider to return, Stacy and her mount, I Watch, crossed the finish line in a clear time of 30.10 seconds to take over the lead and ultimately clinch the victory. Stacy has been partnered with I Watch, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, for the last year and a half.
Coming the closest to catching Stacy and I Watch’s time was Katharine Stento, of Wellesley, MA, and Chocoboy 2, who finished the short course in 30.62 seconds to take second place. Third place with a time of 30.81 seconds went to Christina Couper, of Savannah, GA, riding Libelle van de Moerhoeve. Finishing in fourth with one rail in a time of 30.56 seconds were Marissa Fogal, of Pottstown, PA, and De Laila, while Steven Gordon, of East Norwich, NY, and Reddington rounded out the top five with four faults in 31.44 seconds.
Following the conclusion of the $2,500 Marshall and Sterling Adult Amateur Jumper Classic, the children’s and junior/amateur-owner jumpers took to the grand prix ring for their own classics. Earning the win in the $1,500 Marshall and Sterling Children’s Jumper Classic was Mark Leone Jr., of Franklin Lakes, NJ, riding Shearsha Ronin, owned by Stefani Gorman. The win in the $5,000 Junior and Amateur/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic went to Jordan Shelburne-Douglass, of Scarborough, ME, riding her own Dacidin.
The MDO-sponsored $10,000 open welcome stake happens every Thursday and starts between 11 am and 1 pm.  The $5,000 hunter derby ($15,000 during week six) is on Thursday afternoons and starts between 3 and 5. The $30,000 grand prix is on Saturdays at 1 pm. The grand finale of the $50,000 grand prix is on Saturday August 10, at 1 pm.
Admission is $5 for adults and children every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. On grand prix Saturday and Sunday, admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children.
The gate receipts benefit the following nonprofit organizations: Manchester Community Library, The Dorset School, and Dorset Equine Rescue. The festival is held at Harold Beebe Farm.
For more information visit www.vt-summerfestival.com, email office@vt-summerfestival.com or call (802) 362-6501.