Adelaide Toensing Repeats Manchester Designer Outlets Welcome Victory at Vermont Summer Festival
July 25, 2019 - East Dorset, VT
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Vermont native Adelaide Toensing won the $10,000 Manchester Designer Outlets Welcome Stake, presented by Polo Ralph Lauren, for the second year in a row on Thursday, July 25, during the Vermont Summer Festival, which runs for six weeks through August 11 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.
Five horses jumped clear to advance to a speed battle over courses designed by 1976 Canadian Olympic individual silver medalist Michel Vaillancourt of Saint-Félix-de-Valois, QC. Toensing piloted her own Blue to a double-clear performance in 33.35 seconds to win over Cian McDermott of Wellington, FL, who rode Newcastle, owned by Therese Bentley, to a time of 34.52 seconds for the runner-up ribbon.
Nineteen-year-old Toensing lives in Charlotte, VT, less than two hours from the Vermont Summer Festival, saying, “Horse shows are usually very far away for me, so this is nice because it feels like my back yard!
“It is extra special to win here because it feels like home,” continued Toensing, who is competing at the Vermont Summer Festival for three weeks under the tutelage of trainer Mark Jungherr. “It’s so pretty here and they have done such a great job with the facility and the footing.”
In addition to her share of the prize money, Toensing was presented with a $1,000 gift card for the Polo Ralph Lauren outlet from Nancy Connors, General Manager of the Polo Ralph Lauren outlet, as well as a show scrim by Mona's Monograms.
Toensing’s mount Blue is a 10-year-old warmblood gelding by Chacco Blue and was bred in the U.S. by Emil Spadone of Redfield Farm in Califon, NJ. Their partnership began at the start of the 2018 winter season, and they were fast friends.
“He’s the horse of a lifetime,” she said. “I was hoping to improve on where I was last year at this time, and I am on my way to doing that by winning the same class again. He has been jumping amazingly this circuit. He tries with all his heart no matter what we are doing.
“He’s tricky on the ground,” continued Toensing, who has developed a few tricks to keep Blue focused. “My mom and I sing ‘Baby Shark’ to him every time he goes into the ring and it calms him down. We also have his favorite treat – blue Sour Patch Kids – on hand.”
After this week, Toensing will return to the University of Georgia in Athens, GA, where she is a sophomore. With aspirations to attend vet school after completing her undergraduate studies, she is a psychology major and biology minor while also competing on the school’s NCAA equestrian team
Toensing’s barnmate, Alexandra Carlton of Madison, CT, took third place in Thursday’s feature class for jumpers, riding Cardiograaf to a clean round in a time of 36.78 seconds. Keirstin Johnsen of North Salem, NY, finished fourth on Capri with four faults in 36.30 seconds in the jump-off, while Lucy Rachel Donohue of Rhinebeck, NY, rounded out the top five aboard J’Adore RF, also with four faults over the short course in 38.26 seconds.
Coming up during week four at the Vermont Summer Festival is the $30,000 Valley Classic Grand Prix on Saturday, July 27, beginning at 1 p.m. The Manchester Designer Outlets Welcome Stake Series continues on Thursday, August 1, with another edition presented by Theory.
Now in its 26th year, the Vermont Summer Festival offers a dynamic competition schedule while also giving competitors an opportunity to enjoy the wide variety of entertainment, recreation, shopping, and dining options offered in Dorset, Manchester, and the surrounding area. A recent study conducted by the Center for Rural Studies at the University of Vermont cited that the total direct spending of visitors frequenting Vermont for equine-related activities is estimated at nearly $15.5 million annually.
Competition at the 2019 Vermont Summer Festival runs weekly from Wednesday through Sunday, beginning each day at 8 a.m. Admission is $5 for adults and children from Wednesday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children with 100 percent of all gate proceeds benefiting Dorset Equine Rescue, The Dorset School, and Manchester Community Library.
The Vermont Summer Festival is a proud member of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.
$10,000 Manchester Designer Outlets Welcome Stake
Presented by Polo Ralph Lauren - Thursday, July 25, 2019
Rider Hometown Horse Faults/Time
1. Adelaide Toensing Charlotte, VT Blue 0/0/33.35
2. Cian McDermott Wellington, FL Newcastle 0/0/34.52
3. Alexandra Carlton Madison, CT Cardiograaf 0/0/36.78
4. Keirstin Johnsen North Salem, NY Capri 0/4/36.30
5. Lucy Rachel Donohue Rhinebeck, NY J’Adore RF 0/4/38.26
6. David Jennings Franklin, TN Blue Moon 22 4/70.82
7. Brenna Doherty Laurel Hollow, NY KM Whatever RV 4/71.07
8. Cian McDermott Wellington, FL Feliciano van d’Notterdijk 4/73.56
9. Lincoln Russell Columbus, NC Lotus 4/73.85
10. Kimberly Mulligan Milford, CT TS Rolls The Dice 4/76.51
