WAITSFIELD, VT-August 21, 2000-The final three weeks of show jumping on the Vermont Summer Festival circuit brought top competitors to New England's largest "A3" rated hunter-jumper horse show circuit.

Mary Lisa Nicholson of Brookeville, MD, was the third rider to take a grand prix victory gallop in the 2000 Vermont Summer Festival. She rode Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Chovnick's horse, Graf Rossini, to victory in the $30,000 NGL Grand Prix.

Nicholson was one of only three riders who advanced to the jump-off from a starting field of 22 riders. She watched Ian Silitch and Bill Lowry both navigate their horses to a clean round, so the pressure was on Nicholson to beat Silitch's time of 43.029 seconds. She took advantage of knowing the time to beat and finished clean with a winning time of 41.628 seconds.

After finishing second to Nicholson in the NGL Grand Prix, it was Silitch's turn to claim the win in the next week's $30,000 Sugarbush Grand Prix. , Silitch of Sperryville, VA and his horse, Cable Bay, was one of only four riders who advanced to the jump-off from a starting field of 20 riders. His clean jump-off time of 38.813 seconds topped Nicholson's time of 39.688 aboard Graf Rossini.

During the final week in Vermont, Nicholson returned to the winner's circle with her victory in the Mad River Festival $30,000 Grand Prix. Riding Rolling Acres' horse, Kick the Clouds, Nicholson was one of only three riders from a field of 24 riders to advance to the jump-off. Mario Deslauriers and David Raposa each finished the jump-off course with four faults. Nicholson's clean round in 43.553 seconds secured her second Grand Prix win in five weeks at the Vermont Summer Festival.

In Explorer Biolan/NHSF Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic action, Lindsay Dawn Curtis of Needham, MA dominated the competition. During the third week of the Vermont Summer Festival she bested 15 competitors and dominated the six-person jump-off with Costello. She was the only rider to go clean and won the Classic with a time of 34.845.

The following week, Curtis was in the winner's circle for the second consecutive week with Costello. Brian Walker of Quebec and his Leroy finished second, followed by Rory Hovel Sperryville, VA and In Flight in third.

In the final week of the Festival, Jennifer Jones of Marion, SC, won the Explorer Biolan/NHSF Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic over a field of 18 competitors. Jones and Hillary Schlusemeyer's Let's Dance Jil rode clean in the six-person jump-off to take the win. Lili Fortin of Montreal, Quebec finished second aboard Accino, followed by Mary Moricolli of Wilmette, IL and her Feleena in third.

Circuit championships were also awarded to consistent winners in the series. Grand Prix winners Nicholson and Silitch won the Regular Working Hunter and Preliminary Jumper (High) Circuit Championships, respectively. Sarah Willeman of Hamilton, MA won the USET Circuit Championship for her consistent performance with Play Right throughout the five-week Festival.

Jennifer Jones earned three circuit championships. She took the Junior Hunter (16-17) with Onyx, and the Low Hunter with Preview. She also won the Junior/Amateur-Owner (High) with Let's Dance Jil.

The Junior Hunter (15 & Under) circuit championship was awarded to Derek Braun and Que Sera. He also claimed the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper (Low) championship with Alibi. Callie Leone also claimed two circuit awards. She won the Medium Pony with Salvandi Speakeasy and Green Pony with Saranac. For further information on the results of the Vermont Summer Festival Series please see the weekly results posted on the website www.vt-summerfestival.com.