East Dorset, VT—July 24, 2002— Jeffery Welles, 40, of Pound Ridge, NY took top honors riding Aziza, owned by Redfield Farm, in the $2,500 Open Jumper class at the Valley Classic Horse Show, part of the 2002 Vermont Summer Festival at Harold Beebe Farm, in East Dorset, VT on Wednesday.

Welles, a USET veteran, made to the jump-off with only one of his three mounts, but one was all he needed to win. Aziza, a 7-year-old Oldenburg, completed the course in 32.430 seconds. Kristi Smith, of Rockport, MA, riding Jennieta, owned by Knights Fork Inc had the fastest jump-off time until Welles and Aziza, but they were bumped to second with a jump-off time of 32.671. Michael Dorman of Jamison, PA, riding Femalin, owned by Caroline Lloyd was third with a jump-off time of 35.311.

“She’s a really fast mare, Welles said of the young mare. “There was only one other quick round, Christi, who was second, so I just took the right track, went at a gallop and she was right there. She’s a super mare.”

Welles also had a rising star in the class. Ashley Baker, 20, of Greenwich, CT, came in fourth with a double clear and an impressive jump-off time of 37.166, riding Dollar d’Amour. Baker is a student of Welles and is quickly making a name for herself on the circuit.

“Ashley is doing great,” said Welles. “She is just starting to move up into the open division now, and is handling it quite well. She’s one to watch.”

Welles is hoping to make an appearance with one of his horses in the featured show jumping event on Sunday, the $35,000 Mount Equinox Grand Prix, sponsored by Nutraceutical. This USET-recognized event features top riders and horses both nationally and internationally in the most exciting class of the Vermont Summer Festival.

The Vermont Summer Festival, New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter-jumper horse show circuit, continues with the Valley Classic through Sunday, the Manchester and the Mountains Horse Show, July 31-August 4, and the Vermont Summer Celebration, August 7-11.

For further information, please visit the Vermont Summer Festival website at www.vt-summerfestival.com or call 802-362-7548.

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