DERRY show jumper David Simpson claimed his first international win of 2023 with victory in the €26,200 two-star Grand Prix in Sharjah, UAE, last Sunday.

West Sussex-based Simpson partnered eight-year-old bay stallion Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve to one of 11 clears in the first round, from 46 starters.

Against the clock, just five managed a second clear with Simpson breaking the beam in 39.58 seconds to earn the top prize of €8,646. He saw off Palestine’s Vladimir Tuganov with Conquida de Revel PS (0/0 40.87).

Shane Breen finished fifth with Instrumental, an eight-year-old Swedish-bred mare by Qualdandro who, previously ridden by Peder Fredricson, joined his string earlier this year.

Delighted

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 two-star in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.

Simpson commented: “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 five-star 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.”

Shane Breen won Friday’s 1.30m Table A aboard his 2022 Hickstead Derby winner Can Ya Makan. The Team Z7-owned 17-year-old stallion was the fastest clear in 55.43 seconds.

Galway’s Michael Duffy won Sunday’s seven-year-old class with the Breen Equestrian and Team Z7-owned Geniale Star Kervec (Quick Star x Diamant de Semilly). The mare was clear in all three seven-year-old classes at the venue, and won in a time of 41.47secs in the final.