DERRY’S David Simpson showed his class with some great results at the Hickstead International Arena last week, the high point being his win in the 1.40m ClipMyHorse.TV Sussex Cup Grand Prix on Sunday on board the 10-year-old stallion Pjotr van de Kruishoeve. The pair have enjoyed success at the venue previously, including winning the Al Shira’aa Derby in 2023.
Simpson was last to go of the 59 starters and produced one of six clear rounds to secure a place in the jump-off, where he jumped clear again and in a very fast time, almost two seconds ahead of Sophie Paxton on Glasgow Z in second.
Following his latest win at the venue, Simpson said: “He’s won quite a few classes in the main ring at Hickstead including the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Final and the Derby, and he just loves it in there. It wasn’t crazily big, but it was very technical and trappy, and every line you really had to pay attention as a rider.”
Galway’s Jessica Burke also featured in the class, placing fifth on board Romelus de Muze and eighth with Seapatrick Toulon.
Marking their mark
The first week of the All-England September Tour was held at Hickstead from August 27th to 31st, with Irish riders making their mark.
The opening Four-year-old 1.05m Star of the Future qualifier saw Ireland’s Ian Smith among the joint winners on board Ballylennon Pending, while the Five-year-old equivalent saw Taylor Peare taking the win with BP Indiana. The day’s 1.10m Amateur Championship qualifier was won by Sorcha Collins riding RS My Sina VD Kalevallei, while the 1.10m Senior Newcomers qualifier saw Liam Hayes place eighth on board Now What II.
Simpson got his first win of the show in the Seven-year-old 1.35m Star of the Future qualifier riding Billy Whiskey. The 1m Open championship qualifier saw Smith take eighth place with Jiabeau Van Bouverie.
Thursday saw another good day for Simpson, with a win in the 1.40m Open class on board Ovidius VD Donkhoeve, where he also placed fifth with Billy Fern. Peter Moloney placed ninth in the class riding ECE Emer.
The day’s Four-year-old 1.05m Star of the Future qualifier saw Melanie Davidson on NK Monkey 47 among the joint winners, while the Six-year-old 1.25m qualifier saw a one-two for Jessica Burke on HK Dominatara and Billy Be Kind respectively.
Friday’s Five-year-old 1.20m Star of the Future class saw Barry Drea placing fourth on board Okehurst Dragon, while the six-year-old equivalent saw Moloney finish sixth with Neyra Des Dames and Burke in seventh on Billy Be Kind.
The 1.20m Amateur championship qualifier saw Ian Foster finish in the runner-up spot on Sanda Cruz Odeveld, with Kyla Grieve on Nuit St Georges Du Gibet placing seventh in the 1.10m equivalent.
The 1.10m Senior Newcomer class on Saturday was won by Derek McCoppin riding Kolisco, with the rider also placing fifth with Comme Cruising 19.
Meanwhile, there was success for 12-year-old Dougie Breen, son of Irish show jumper Shane Breen and his wife Chloe, in the Hickstead 1.10m Amateur Championship.
Breen junior got through to the jump-off with two horses; he won the class with Avalon Du Carpont and also placed fourth with Hucalinde DV. He said afterwards: “I was lucky, because I had two chances!”