Simpson stepping up after Sharjah 2* Grand Prix success

David Simpson claimed his first international win of 2023 with victory in the €26,200 CSI2* Grand Prix in Sharjah, UAE on Sunday.

Co Derry’s Simpson partnered eight-year-old bay gelding Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve and the pair saw off 11 other combinations in the jump-off of the 1.45m Grand Prix after a superb round of jumping.

Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve were the fastest combination to jump clear in the jump off, finishing their round in 39.58 seconds to secure the win on the ever-improving gelding.

Owned and ridden by Simpson, Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve has been constantly moving up the ranks and shows plenty of promise for the future – the result comes as no surprise as this combination have been in good form in the early part of 2023, and placed second in a 1.40m class in the CSI2* in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.

David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve after the pair won the 2* Grand Prix in Sharjah, UAE

Simpson told of his delight at the performance and told horsesportireland.ie that his mount is ready for a step up in class.

He said: “It is amazing to win a Grand Prix with this stallion. We bought him as a two-year-old from Karel Cox and to break him and produce him to this level has been a privilege.

“He’s going to jump his first 5* next week and I’ve no doubt he’ll carry on his great form. Thank you to Debby Lax, our co-owner, for her belief in myself and Pjotr.”

It was a successful class for the Irish as Tipperary’s Shane Breen finished fifth, riding eight-year-old bay mare Instrumental. Owned by Rapidsrock AB, Instrumental and Breen jumped clear in the jump-off in a time of 43.33 seconds.

Trevor Breen and Toyger finished within the top 20 after one fence down in the opening round.