Amy Momrow Wins $5,000 Hunter Derby Victory at Vermont Summer Festival

Amy Momrow of Wellington, FL, won the $5,000 3'3” NEHJA Hunter Derby, presented by Eastern Hay, on Thursday, July 13, during the second week of competition at the six-week Vermont Summer Festival, running through August 13 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

Course designer Doug Russell of Ocala, FL, designed the derby track, which saw a starting field of 25 horses with the top 12 returning for a handy round. Momrow was the final rider to return carrying forward a score of 86, which was the top score from the first round. She showcased the handiness of Curb Appeal, owned by Monty Kelly, in the second round to receive a handy score of 83.25 from judges Chris Wynne of Virginia Beach, VA, and Troy Hendricks of Glenmore, PA. Momrow’s total score of 169.25 secured the win.

Less than a point behind Momrow to finish second was Cassandra Orpen of Westport, CT, riding Major Key with a final score of 168.5 after combining scores of 85 and 83.5. Gregory Prince of Sherborn, MA, rode the dark bay gelding, Benicio, to third place with scores of 82 and 85 for a 167 total. Fourth place was awarded to Sarah Barge of Bloomfield, NY, riding Guess B. Barge, a two-time winner of the Vermont Summer Festival hunter derbies in 2016 coupled scores of 81.5 and 84 for a final score of 165.5. Kristen Bumpus of Concord, MA, rounded out the top five on scores of 80 and 83 for a total of 163 riding the bay gelding, Carington.

During the awards presentation of the top 12 riders, Alison MacDonald, 17, of Stowe, VT, was recognized as the high-point junior rider after piloting Chalk Hill to eighth place while Macenzie Ingenito of Waltham, MA, was named high-point amateur after rounding out the top 12 aboard Missdemeanor.

Momrow and Curb Appeal stepped into the derby ranks during the 2016 season.  The pair placed consistently at the Vermont Summer Festival last year with Thursday’s victory marking their first win together at the Vermont Summer Festival.

“It feels great,” said Momrow, who also won the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby riding Curb Appeal during week seven of the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. “He seems to love the derbies and he jumps a little extra special in these classes. It has been really fun to do them with him. In a lot of derbies, he wins the first round and then gets a little green in the handy, but today he stepped it up and stayed consistent.”

Kelly purchased Curb Appeal, a seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Unaniem, at a VDL auction in Wellington, FL, three years ago.

“I don’t know if it was his plan for Curb Appeal to be a hunter, but the second I rode him it became our plan,” said Momrow, who trains alongside Kelly at Stepping Stone Farm in Albany, NY. “Next year, I would like to move him up to 3’6” and bring him into the international derbies.”

Stepping Stone Farm has 38 horses at the Vermont Summer Festival with riders spanning all levels. Of their experience at the show, Momrow noted, “We have had a great time so far. We have riders from the short stirrup right through the equitation, amateurs, and the grand prix. On Mondays, we always go out and do fun things in the area, so it’s always a fun summer bonding experience for the barn.”

In addition to her share of the prize money and a monogrammed winner’s scrim from Mona’s Monograms, Momrow was presented with a Land Rover Experience Driving School off-road excursion by class sponsor, Eastern Hay.

Competition returns to the Grand Prix ring at the Vermont Summer Festival on Saturday, July 15, highlighted by the spectator-friendly $30,000 Battenkill Grand Prix beginning at 1 p.m.

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. Offering more than $750,000 in prize money over the course of its six-week run, the Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest hunter/jumper competition as well as the state’s richest sporting event based on purse. Outside the show ring, exhibitors are immersed in the charm of Vermont's shopping, dining, and outdoor activities.

Competition at the 2017 Vermont Summer Festival runs weekly from Wednesday through Sunday, beginning each day at 8 a.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children from Wednesday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $9 for adults and $5 for children with 100% of all gate proceeds benefiting the Manchester Community Library, Meals on Wheels of Bennington County, and the Rotary Club of Manchester.

For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.

$5,000 3'3" NEHJA Hunter Derby, presented by Eastern Hay
Thursday, July 13

Rider  Hometown  Horse  Scores
1. Amy Momrow  Wellington, FL  Curb Appeal  86/83.25=169.25
2. Cassandra Orpen  Westport, CT  Major Key  85/83.5=168.5
3. Gregory Prince  Sherborn, MA  Benicio  82/85=167
4. Sarah Barge  Bloomfield, NY  Guess B  81.5/84=165.5
5. Kristen Bumpus  Concord, MA  Carington  80/83=163
6. Shaine Brooks  Poestenkill, NY  Justified  81/81=162
7. Alison MacDonald  Stowe, VT  Chalk Hill  83/78=161
8. Katie McVeigh  Mount Kisco, NY  Goyard  84/76=160
9. Sarah Hyde  Scituate, MA  Algarve  78/80=158
10. Kay Bella  Argyle, TX  Symbolic  79/74=153
11. Maeve O’Donovan  Pittsford, NY  KT Caraco  72/72=144
12. Macenzie Ingenito  Waltham, MA  Missdemeanor  71/68=139