Tag Archives: Will Simpson

HITS, HITS, Show Jumping

Will Simpson Wins Third HITS Thermal Grand Prix with Victory in $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

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(c) ESI Photography. Will Simpson and The Dude take first in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix.

Thermal, California (January 25, 2015): Competition in the Grand Prix ring is heating up at HITS Desert Horse Park, as Will Simpson stretched his streak to three with a win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix with Monarch International’s The Dude.

Forty-one starters took to the SmartPak track but only thirteen left all the jumps up and qualified for the jump off. Simpson and The Dude, who won $7,500 for their effort, were the fastest with a jump off time of 39.562, but by just less than a second over second place winner Christian Heineking, riding Charika for Isabella Terry with a time of 40.312. Simpson, riding another Monarch International-owned horse, Katie Riddle, came in a close third with no faults in 40.675.

“This circuit is heating up already with these jumpers,” said Simpson. “The Dude felt so good in the victory gallop, I think he thought he was going back in to do it all over again. One good horse elevates the entire string and I have two right now – pretty sweet. The nice part, too, is that Hannah Heidegger [who trains with Simpson and came in sixth on Monarch International’s Geledimar with a time of 45.346] is putting pressure on me to stay on top of it all, too. She is right in there just about every time now, too.”

Heineking, riding Chakira to the second place win, said, “The jump off was technical enough and with thirteen in it, you had to be on your game. I liked the course and it looks like the HITS circuit here this year is going to be special. I really look forward to coming from Texas for these competitions. It’s going to be a horse race in some of these.”

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com

Competitions, HITS, Show Jumping

Will Simpson Wins HITS Thermal $50,000 Equine Couture/TuffRider Grand Prix

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(c) ESI Photography. William Simpson and Katie Riddle jump to victory.

Thermal, California (January 21, 2015): Will Simpson won his second Grand Prix victory in the first week of HITS Thermal Desert Circuit I, this time on Katie Riddle, owned by Monarch International and the Von Heidegger family, in the $50,000 Equine Couture/TuffRider Grand Prix.

Simpson and Katie Riddle jumped with no faults in both the first round and jump off, with a time of 43.070 to win $15,000, topping a final field of 12 riders on Sunday. Second place went to Jaclyn Duff from Edmonton, Alberta, who jumped clear in both rounds on her own Pater Noster, with a jump off time of 43.759, taking home a prize of $11,000.

Discussing Sunday’s win and Katie Riddle, Simpson said, “The courses all week have been perfect for the welcome week leading into a big circuit. Horses have been on winter break but every horse I have seen this week has gotten better and better.”

“Competing with the best of these riders only makes you better,” said second-place finisher Duff. “They push you and leave no room to pull on the reins.”

John Pearce of Bermuda Dunes, California placed third on his own Son of a Gun, with a clean round in the jump off time of 44.088, to win $6,500. Simpson, on The Dude, finished ninth in the class. Simpson topped the leaderboard earlier in the week in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on The Dude, also owned by Monarch International. Florencio Hernandez, of Mexico City, Mexico, designed the Grand Prix course.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com