Ocala, FL – The final week of the 2024 Summer Series kicked off in style this morning with the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix. Thirty-six athletes vied for top honors, but it was Will Simpson (USA) who claimed victory aboard Elizabeth Phillips’ Imar (Carrera VDL x Dumara).
FEI Level II course designer Eric Hasbrouck set a challenging course, and 11 riders managed to navigate a clear first round, with one rider choosing to save her horse for another day.
Simpson and his 11-year-old KWPN gelding were the first to go clear to lead off the jump-off. “I noticed Eric’s jump-off course right away and thought, ‘This is going to be fun; I want to get in there,’” Simpson laughed. “The course had a nice serpentine across the middle. From two to three, I didn’t have a set number in mind—maybe a 12-stride line—but with a horse as balanced and capable as Imar, you can see the distance as you go. I think I saw a ten-stride distance in the air over the second. I angled the next jump and sliced the fence perfectly. The last line was tricky, coming out of a two-stride with 10 penciled in, but I considered nine or even eight strides. I got a good approach to the in but was a little airy on the out, so I stuck to nine.”
Their strategy paid off, clocking in at an unbeatable 43.880 seconds to secure the win.
“He’s an incredible horse,” Simpson shared. “I started riding him at the beginning of the circuit. He’s got unbelievable quality and scope, and it just took us some time to get to know each other.”
Simpson credited his success to his dedicated team. “This is a team effort, from the sponsors to everyone on the ground. Elizabeth Phillips is a fantastic owner and Bryn Stromberg does an incredible job taking care of the horses. When everything clicks, and the horse and rider see the same distance, it’s amazing.”
Just a hair behind, Tracy Fenney (USA) rode MTM Farm’s eight-year-old Holsteiner mare Can Talk To Me TD MTM (Catoki x Ocarina) to a time of 43.883 seconds, securing second place.
Dorothy Douglas (USA) and MTM Pablo (Perigueux x Celina), an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, finished third with a time of 43.943 seconds.
Results: $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix
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Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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