Catherine Wright Gallops to Victory in the BET/USET Talent Search Class At The Vermont Summer Festival Horse Shows

East Dorset, VT - July 15, 2004 - 16 year-old Catherine Wright of Chatham Center, NY outrode 22 other equestrians today to take the blue ribbon in the BET/U.S. Equestrian Team Show Jumping Talent Search Class at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. This is the 11th year the Vermont Summer Festival Horse Shows have taken place at the Beebe Farm, just off Route 7 north of Manchester.

Riding Prinz, a dark chestnut gelding owned by Jimmy Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Wright tackled the course aggressively despite the driving rain. "I was a little nervous coming into the ring because I don't have a lot of experience with this horse," said Wright, who has ridden since she was five years old. "But it was a good jumping course that contained interesting striding in the lines." Course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY, a veteran of international jumping competition, planned the challenging course that allowed the best riders to rise to the occasion.

Julie Welles of West Simsbury, CT and her mount, Otter, were a close second behind Wright. Coincidentally, both Wright and Welles are trained by Missy Clark of North Run Farm in Warren, VT. "I love coming to the shows here in East Dorset because they run so smoothly," Welles stated. "The show grounds are very beautiful and the people are so friendly."

Equestrians have arrived from all over North America to compete in this prestigious event which runs for five weeks, beginning on July 14 and ending on August 15. The Vermont Summer Festival is New England's largest "AA" rated hunter/jumper horse show circuit. This year's event includes five $35,000 Grand Prix and five $10,000 Mini Prix. Each of the five weeks will also feature a $10,000 Show Jumping Hall Of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class, part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series.

The Orvis Company, a local business and the nation's oldest mail order company, is the sponsor for this Sunday's $35,000 show jumping Grand Prix. The Orvis Company headquarters have been in Manchester, Vermont, since the company was founded in 1856. British and English equine style and culture have always influenced Orvis, so the Vermont Summer Festival was a natural fit for the nation's finest distinctive country lifestyle brand. Spectators can visit the Orvis booth in the Festival's trade fair area, along with the other interesting boutiques and gift shops.

Admission to the Vermont Summer Festival is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for children. For further information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please call (802) 362-7548 or go to www.vt-summerfestival.com.