Will Simpson of the West Coast Active Riders Organization Masters Valkenswaard Grand Prix
Equestrian News Release
Valkenswaard, Holland- July 31, 2005- America brought home another victory on the final day of the Valkenswaard Horse Festival I after Will Simpson conquered the Grand Prix with his horse Boxster. Out of 47 international competitors, Simpson was one of eleven riders to qualify for the 1.45 M jump-off . After Eric Van der Vleuten of the Netherlands executed an impressive jump-off time of 41.03 seconds, a faster time seemed unachievable. Simpson and Boxster returned to excel with a blazing time of 39.88, surpassing Van der Vleuten’s time by more than a second. Simpson, president of the West Coast Active Riders Organization, hails from Thousand Oaks, California and rides for El Campeon Farms.
“All of us at WCAR wish to congratulate our fantastic president, Will Simpson, for his victory at Valkenswaard!” expressed Gabriella Salick, Executive Director of the West Coast Active Riders Organization. “We’re so excited back here in California as both West Coast riders and as Americans. We are cheering for all of our fellow Americans showing in Europe this summer.”
Boxster, Simpson’s bay gelding, was foaled in 1992 and is owned by Karen Tinney, Stuart Tinney, and Timothy Game.
Eric Van der Vleuten finished the Grand Prix in second place with his horse Paloma, and Swiss rider Steve Guerdat of the VDL Groep Team came in third aboard Tijl van Het Pallieterland.
The Valkenswaard Horse Festival runs for two weeks, starting on July 29th and ending on August 7th. During these two weeks, riders may qualify to compete in the International Concours Valkenswaard, held August 11th through the 14th. The CSI Valkenswaard ranks third on the world ranking list of best outdoor showjumping events and offers classes for top-level competitors, as well as amateur riders and young horses.
The Young Horse Final, a 1.30 M class for six and seven year old horses, took place on Sunday as well. Abdel Said of Egypt acquired first place aboard Harmony Sky-High with a jump-off time of 29.66 seconds. Said, who trains under Emile Hendrix, was the only rider to complete the short course within 30 seconds. Belgian rider Bart Soetaerts took the lead of the 1.25 M Special Invitational Competition, with American rider Louise Otten following in second with her chestnut Max Utopia.
American Julie Hicks and her horse Lord Rudi triumphed in the 1.35 M Special Invitational. Hicks, currently residing in the Netherlands, captured her lead over Johan Levot by three seconds. Levot, a Stal Tops native, finished in second place with his horse Syrion.
Abdel Said succeeded again to win the 1.35 M Small Tour class with a speedy finishing time of 34.87 seconds. Said achieved such a fast time by making a tight turn inside a double combination and significantly shortening his track.
Dutch rider Piet Raymakers and his thirteen year old stallion Van Schijndel’s Kris stole the lead in the 1.40 M Medium Tour Competition. First to go in the jump-off, Raymakers set the pace with a time of 32.57 seconds and held the lead the entire class. “I saved time by leaving out a few strides between the first two fences, and then I took a few risky turns,” Raymakers reported.
Along with exciting classes, the Stal Tops Showground also provides all-weather facilities and accommodations. Despite the heavy rain and thunderstorms during the week of Horse Festival I, the footing, stabling facilities, and arenas were unaffected by the weather. A representative from the organization expressed, “We are less dependent upon weather conditions now because we have such ideal facilities. In order to attract the very top riders, we need to have as professional of a set-up as possible.” The Valkenswaard Horse Festival hosts 75 international competitors and 45 special invitational amateurs, with over 30 countries represented at the tournament.
For more information on the Valkenswaard Horse Festival, please visit the website at http://www.csivalkenswaard.com
For information about WCAR programs and memberships, please visit their website at http://www.westcoastactiveriders.com
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