East Dorset, VT-August 10, 2003- Courtney Phibbs and Snepts won the $35,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix, closing event of the Vermont Summer Celebration, which was the final horse show of the 5-week Vermont Summer Festival.

The $35,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix drew a field of 22 entries. U.S. Olympic veteran rider Buddy Brown designed the course and 9 horses had fault-free rounds to qualify for the timed jump-off.

The timed jump-off consisted of eight jumping efforts and a time allowed of 48 seconds. First back in the order was Equifit Pizarro with Meredith Taylor riding a clean round but incurring 2 time faults. The next fault-free round was the third in the order, Leann Flavin and Julius who finished in a time of 47.118 seconds.

The next five horses each incurred either jumping faults or time faults. Finally, the last to go was Snepts with Courtney Phibbs riding for the Court-Lin Frae Farm. Courtney and Snepts proved that the last was the best, producing a fault-free round in a time of 45.772 seconds and taking the victory. Leann Flavin and Julius were second placed. Belynda Bond riding Seacove for owner, Kim Semyan, finished in third place.

Armando Hassey riding Lizzeppe won the Show Jumping Hall of Fame $10,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic. Armando and Lizzeppe beat a field of 19 horses, of which 9 returned for the timed jump-off. Only three horses had double clean rounds.

Ellen Toon won both the older Amateur Owner Hunter Over Fences Classes riding Alexia for JT Farm and ended her stay in Vermont as the Circuit Grand Champion in the Amateur Owner Hunters 36 Years and Over division. Reserve Champion was Lion De Ore for owner and rider Dee Thomas.

In the Amateur Owner Hunter 18-35, Storyteller with owner/rider Robin Swinderman was 2nd placed in the first over fence class and won the second over fence class. Robin and Storyteller from Norristown, FL were Circuit Grand Hunter Champion in the Amateur Owner Hunters 18-35 Years. Candlelight with Megan McGuire of Whitehouse Station, NJ, was Champion in the younger Amateur Owner Hunters for the week while Storyteller and Robin were Reserve Champion.

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England's largest "AA" rated hunter/jumper horse show. This year's event included five USET-recognized $35,000 Grand Prix held on the last day of each show and five $10,000 Mini Prix held on the Friday of each show. Each of the five weeks also featured a $10,000 Show Jumping Hall Of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class, part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series which determines which junior and amateur/owner riders will qualify to ride at the 2003 National Horse Show.

For further information on the 2003 Vermont Summer Festival, please call (802) 362-9023. For full results, visit the Vermont Summer Festival website at www.vt-summerfestival.com.