Kevin McCarthy Leads from Beginning to End at Vermont Summer Festival
August 11, 2019 - East Dorset, VT
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Ireland’s Kevin McCarthy claimed a one-two finish in the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on Sunday, August 11, to conclude the six-week Vermont Summer Festival held at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.
McCarthy was the first entry in the ring aboard his own Catch A Star HSS, and the pair set the standard with a clear round over the track set by course designer Ken Krome of Westminster, MD. Six additional horses qualified to join McCarthy and Catch A Star HSS in the jump-off, but none would catch the jump-off time to beat of 30.77 seconds set by McCarthy and the nine-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare.
Coming the closest to catching McCarthy’s time was McCarthy himself aboard his second mount, Easton. The 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by McCarthy crossed the finish line in 33.85 seconds for second place.
“Catch A Star HHS is naturally fast, so we set down a good time, and it held up for a good win today!” said McCarthy, who has had a highly successful season at the Vermont Summer Festival, having earned two grand prix victories and two welcome stake wins with Catch A Star HSS, as well as two welcome stake wins with Easton, in addition to other top finishes in the amateur-owner jumper divisions.
“All in all, it was a fantastic show,” said McCarthy, who will now return to his home base in Cazenovia, NY. “A big thanks to the show for all of the work that goes into this behind the scenes.”
Finishing in third behind McCarthy was Amy Shafmaster of Portsmouth, MA, who stopped the jump-off clock with a clear round in 36.05 seconds aboard her own Dalton de la Fresniere. Fourth place with a time of 37.45 seconds went to Elizabeth Stroh of Ocala, FL, and Canoso, owned by Cloverly Farm LLC. Fifth place with the only additional double-clear effort went to Maya Nayyar of New York, NY, riding Notaris, owned by Maya Nayyar, LLC.
Prior to his High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic victory, McCarthy also topped Sunday’s $5,000 North American League (NAL) Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic riding his own Gwen MC 1, while his longtime girlfriend, Keely O’Hara of Cazenovia, NY, rode Bahis de Magica, owned by Maarten Huygens, to the win in the $2,500 NAL Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic.
Now concluding 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.
For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.
$10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic – Sunday, August 11
Rider Hometown Horse Faults/Time
1. Kevin McCarthy Ireland Catch A Star HSS 0/0/30.77
2. Kevin McCarthy Ireland Easton 0/0/33.85
3. Amy Shafmaster Portsmouth, MA Dalton de la Fresniere 0/0/36.05
4. Elizabeth Stroh Ocala, FL Canoso 0/0/37.45
5. Maya Nayyar New York, NY Notaris 0/0/38.88
6. Elizabeth Stroh Ocala, FL Coralina 0/4/39.12
7. Serena Marron New York, NY Cacan 0/4/42.58
8. Cheryl Scott Franklin Lakes, NJ Justify 4/80.53
9. Tessa P. Brown Jamaica, VT Herman hof ter Zeedycke 8/83.26
10. Sydney Smith Madison, CT Kolohe 12/78.14
