Alexandra Pielet Captures Final Win of the 2016 Vermont Summer Festival

Alexandra Pielet of Highland Park, IL, topped the $10,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Dr. Robert Barber & Team Barber, to conclude the 2016 Vermont Summer Festival on Sunday, August 14. The six-week competition ran from July 5 through August 14 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

Six entries in the $10,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic were clear over the track set by course designer Gerry Briggs of Smyrna, TN, to advance to the jump-off. Pielet was again clear in the fastest time, 41.96 seconds, to claim victory riding Helene VE, and also took third place aboard Borindy with a time of 46.69 seconds.  Both horses are owned by Co-Pielet, LLC.  Only Isabella Russekoff of Greenwich, CT, managed to break up Pielet’s domination, jumping clear in a time of 44.36 seconds to take second riding Calvero IV, owned by Porter Allen.

Elizabeth Stroh of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, incurred eight faults in the jump-off riding Carolina, owned by Cloverly Farm, LLC, to finish fourth while Russekoff rounded out the top five riding Balou's Fly High, owned by Suave Pony, LLC, with 14 faults in the jump-off.

Pielet, 14, and Helene VE began the final week of the Vermont Summer Festival with a win in the $10,000 Theory Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, August 11, before claiming victory in Sunday’s Classic.

“I had an incredible week with Helene, she has really stepped up,” said Pielet of her nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare sired by Diamant de Semilly. “This is the week that I have jumped the biggest, and she has performed the best.”

Of her strategy for the Classic win, Pielet said, “The lines were tight, but Helene is easy to get back, so it was a good course for her. In the jump-off, I really wanted to slice the first fence, gallop to the others, and turn back on the jumps as quick as I could, because the time was really tight.”

Pielet, who trains with Valerie Renihan of Findley's Ridge, set a goal of competing in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper division during the Vermont Summer Festival. Having won the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic during week three, Pielet and Renihan felt that Helene VE was ready for more and changed their plan.

“She just kept impressing us, so we kept moving up,” said Pielet, who hopes to qualify Helene VE for the indoor fall circuit. “It's been a great experience and I have really enjoyed showing in Vermont.”

Also on the final day of competition, Alissa Kinsey of Danville, NH, won her fifth $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Jumper Classic of the six-week circuit riding Capella 37. Maureen Syllivan of Marlborough, NH, and Callebaut placed second while Susan Conoby of Clifton Park, NY, took third riding Fama Imperator. Canadian Lillie Kennedy of Ottawa, ON, was fourth riding Valendro, owned by Olivia Van Den Berg, while Kelsey Hill of North Bennington, VT, rounded out the top five riding Authentic Managerie.

The $1,500 Marshall & Sterling Children's Jumper Classic pitted two sisters against each other for the top three placings. Ava Ellis of Annapolis, MD, took home the blue ribbon for the win riding Delilah, owned by Peacock Ridge, LLC, while her older sister Emma Ellis, also of Annapolis, MD, took second riding Cassidy 35, owned by Gut Einhaus, LLC. Ava Ellis was then third riding Clive for owner Diederique van der Knaap. Grace Saad of Fair Haven, NJ, rode her own Bond 016 to fourth while Emma Crate of South Hamilton, MA, rounded out the top five on Legitimo, owned by DMH Partners.

Katherine Bundy of Westport, CT, won the $5,000 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic riding Wannahave. Haleigh Landrigan of Marstons Mills, MA, and C Mons Venus took second and Carson Ruff of Maple Park, MO, placed third with Toulouse. Lauren Fischer of Bedford Hills, NY, piloted Norton de la Sapaie to fourth while Isabella Russekoff of Greenwich, CT rounded out the top five riding Castor van de Kranenburg for owner Lexus Arbuckle.

For over 20 years, the Vermont Summer Festival has attracted exhibitors and their families to the Manchester region in southern Vermont for great competition in an ideal summer setting.  In 2017, the Vermont Summer Festival will once again return to Harold Beebe Farm for six-weeks of competition from July 4 through August 13, 2017.

Please e-mail or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com for more information about the Vermont Summer Festival.

$10,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, Presented by Dr. Robert Barber & Team Barber
Sunday, August 14, 2016

Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time

1. Alexandra Pielet Highland Park, IL Helene VE 0:0 41.96

2. Isabella Russekoff Greenwich, CT Calvero IV 0:0 44.36

3. Alexandra Pielet Highland Park, IL Borindy 0:0 46.69

4. Elizabeth Stroh Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Carolina 0:8 53.28

5. Isabella Russekoff Greenwich, CT Balou's Fly High 0:14 63.44

6. Kendra Gierkink Harpswell, ME Romie 0:15 60.02

7. Elle Young Salina, KS RS Aplaus Toltien 4 84.31

8. Kendra Gierkink Harpswell, ME Conisha van de Helle 4 85.40