Devon, PA – May 3, 2012 –One of the newest additions to this year’s Brandywine Valley Summer Series horse shows presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) will be the Moran Family Award, which recognizes excellence in the equestrian industry. Donated by Caroline Moran and her family, the inaugural award in 2012 will be presented to Mr. Leonard A. King, the ”Face of Devon.” Scheduled with June 27-July 9, the Brandywine Valley Summer Series will feature two weeks of top notch hunter/jumper action at the prestigious Devon Show Grounds.
Few have contributed more to the development and growth of the show jumping industry than Leonard King. Much of his 40-year career has been dedicated to bringing the sport of show jumping to the popularity it holds today. King was one of the founding members of the American Grand Prix Association in 1978 and remained its President through 1999. In his role as President, he helped to unify Grand Prix events into a series and lured in the first major corporate sponsor of show jumping, Mercedes Benz. He was co-producer and co-manager of The American Gold Cup, The Philadelphia Horse Show, The Baltimore Jumper Classic, The Valley Forge Grand Prix and the inaugural FEI World Cup in the United States in Baltimore, MD. King has been involved with the Devon Horse Show for 47 years and has held the position of Chairman or President for the last 15 years. In 2010, he was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame.
Having grown up in a row house in Chester, PA just outside of Philadelphia, King was given his first pony at age 12. He quickly developed a love of horses and a few years later, became an avid foxhunter with both the Rose Tree Hunt and The Radnor Hunt. In the hunt field, he met Pat, his wife of 47 years and an accomplished hunter rider. King is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he perfected a talent for painting leading to numerous exhibitions of his works.
The Moran Family Award will be presented to King before the Johnson Horse Transportation $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby held on Sunday, July 1. This award will recognize King for his years of dedication and service to the sport of show jumping. We believe that his devotion and continued passion for the sport has made The Devon Horse Show what it is today, a tradition in The Brandywine Valley.
In addition to this special awards presentation, the Brandywine Valley Summer Series will be hosting a number of exciting events, including the Get Real Get RAW $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby and the $5,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Jr/AO Jumper Classic. The show will also feature the Small Hunter division and week two has been designated as a WCHR Member event.
Exhibitors, sponsors, vendors and guests can find out more information about the Brandywine Valley Summer Series by visiting http://brandywinevalleysummerseries.com. The event is led by top rider Louise Serio, while Mike Rheinheimer will run the horse show management.
Photo Credit: Moran Family Award will recognizes Leonard King at the 2012 Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: James L. Parker. Photo may only be used in relation to this PMG press release.
BRANDYWINE VALLEY SUMMER SERIES FAST FACTS:
WHAT: An exciting ‘AA’ hunter/jumper/equitation horse show presented by THIS benefitting the Chester County Food Bank and Abby Miller Foundation. In 2011, the Pennsylvania Horse Show Association named the event “Horse Show of the Year”.
WHEN: Week I: June 27 -July 1, 2012 and Week II: July 4-8, 2012, with a local day of competition on Monday, July 9, 2012.
WHERE: The prestigious Devon Show Grounds in Devon, PA.
FEATURES
• Johnson Horse Transportation $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
• $5,000 Get Real Get RAW National Hunter Derby
• $5,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Jr/AO Jumper Classic
• $3,500 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Low Jr/AO Jumper Classic
• Small Hunter Division
• Hunter and Jumper Grooms Classes
• Leadline Classes
• WCHR Member Event: Week II, July 4-8, 2012
BENEFICIARIES:
The mission of our show is to provide 'AA' quality competition that highlights the participation of our local community. The opportunity to include Abby Miller Foundation and the Chester County Food Bank as beneficiaries ties directly to that goal.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Louise Serio – Chair of the Horse Show Committee - (610) 636-0678
Jennifer Burger – Sponsors Relations – 716-830-8544
Gillian Grant – Sponsors/Beneficiaries– (302) 427-9622
Blair Balmer – Vendors - blair.balmer@gmail.com
Rebecca Walton – Marketing & Press – (561) 753-3389
Mike Rheinheimer – Horse Show Manager - mwrheinheimer@msn.com
Website: http://brandywinevalleysummerseries.com
DIRECTIONS:
From Philadelphia International Airport:
Follow signs to I-95 South and follow I-95 South approximately 5 miles. Merge onto I-476 North via exit 7 toward Plymouth Meeting. Follow I-476 North for approximately 13 miles to exit 13, US-30. Turn left onto US-30 West. Follow US-30 West for approximately 3 miles and the Devon Horse Show will be on your left.
From the Northeast:
Follow I-95 South. Look for I-476 approximately 5 miles South of the Philadelphia International Airport. Merge onto I-476 North via exit 7 toward Plymouth Meeting. Follow I-476 North for approximately 13 miles to exit 13, US-30. Turn left onto US-30 West. Follow US-30 West for approximately 3 miles and the Devon Horse Show will be on your left.
From the South:
Follow I-95 North toward Philadelphia. Once you’ve crossed into Delaware, keep right and take I-495 North via exit 5D toward Port of Wilmington / Philadelphia. Follow for I-495 North and remerge onto I-95 North (Crossing into Pennsylvania). Follow I-95 North to I-476 North. Take I-476 N via exit 7 toward Plymouth Meeting. Follow I-476 North for approximately 13 miles to exit 13, US-30. Turn left onto US-30 West. Follow US-30 West for approximately 3 miles and the Devon Horse Show will be on your left.
From the East:
Follow the Schuylkill Expressway / I-76 West to I-476 South. Merge onto I-476 South via exit 331A on the left toward Chester. Follow I-476 South for approximately 2 miles to exit 13, US-30. Turn left onto US-30 West. Follow US-30 West for approximately 3 miles and the Devon Horse Show will be on your left.
From the West:
Follow the Pennsylvania Turnpike / I-76 E toward Philadelphia. Take exit 326 toward Valley Forge. Stay in right lane after the tolls. Merge onto US-202 South via exit 328A toward West Chester. Follow US-202 South for approximately 2 miles. Take the PA-252 North exit toward Devon. Make a left onto Valley Forge Road / PA-252. Continue to follow Valley Forge Road for approximately .5 miles and make a slight right turn onto Devon State Road. Follow Devon State road for approximately 1 mile until you reach a dead end. Make a left onto Old Lancaster Road and then an immediate right onto Waterloo Road. Turn left on to Lancaster Avenue / US-30 East and the Devon Horse Show will be on your right within .2 miles.
HOTELS:
OFFICIAL TRAVEL COORDINATIOR: Connections at EquestrianTravel.com
Equestrian Travel
800-262-9974
404-842-0000
www.equestriantravel.com
Please call or click today for special room rates!
Courtyard Marriott - Devon
762 West Lancaster Pike (Rt. 30)
Wayne, PA 19087
610-687-6633
Best Western The Inn at King of Prussia
127 South Gulph Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Clarion Park Ridge Hotel
480 North Gulph Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Comfort Inn Valley Forge
550 West DeKalb Pike
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Courtyard Marriott - Malvern
280 Old Morehall Road
Malvern, PA 19355
Courtyard Marriott - Valley Forge King of Prussia
1100 Drummers Lane
610-687-6700
Crowne Plaza - Valley Forge
260 Mall Boulevard
King of Prussia, PA 19406
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com
For more information about the Brandywine Summer Series please visit http://brandywinevalleysummerseries.com or call Louise Serio at 610-636-0678.
