International Veterans Set To Contest the $35,000 Grand Prix Sponsored by Orvis At The Vermont Summer Festival Horse Shows

East Dorset, VT - July 17, 2004 - Many of the top riders from the U.S. and Canada will face off on Sunday, July 18 in the $35,000 Manchester Summer Festival Grand Prix 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.

"The $35,000 Manchester Summer Festival Grand Prix sponsored by Orvis will feature many longtime Vermont Summer Festival exhibitors," said Marketing Executive Ruth Lacey. "We are pleased to welcome them back to Vermont and wish them all the best of luck in this prestigious competition. Internationally renowned course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio will be creating first round and jump off courses that are sure to be both challenging for the riders and exciting for the spectators."

Among the riders scheduled to compete is Jimmy Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, a frequent member of the U.S. Equestrian Team in international competition. Torano won Grand Prix at the Vermont Summer Festival in both 2001 and 2002, and is eager to be back in the winner's circle. In a twist of fate, one of Torano's toughest competitors will be his wife, Danielle, a strong and classy rider.

Facing off against the Toranos will be Canada's Angela Covert-Lawrence riding Marc Sabbah's horse Tomboy Major. Tomboy Major, an eight year-old Belgian Warmblood, and Covert-Lawrence have enjoyed major success already this year. The pair won two Grand Prix at St. Lazare as well as the Blainville Grand Prix. They were also second in the Kubota Grand Prix at Bromont.

Also competing in the $35,000 Manchester Summer Festival Grand Prix will be Harold Chopping, Alan Korotkin, Amy Momrow, Holly Shepherd, and many other talented riders. The Grand Prix will begin at 2:00 p.m.

The Orvis Company, a local business and the nation's oldest mail order company, is the sponsor for $35,000 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.

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England's largest "AA" rated hunter/jumper horse show circuit and runs from July 14 to August 15. This year's series 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.

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 http://www.vt-summerfestival.com/.