Harrisburg, PA – October13, 2016 – Sophie Simpson and Why Not intimidated the competition jumping fast and fault-free early in the lineup to win the Individual Phase One of the Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Championship at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, presented by The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund.
“My plan always for the speed is to just go have a nice clear,” said Simpson. “The second I try to go fast it doesn’t really work out very well, so I just have to be smooth and relaxed and it all works out.”
Sophie Simpson and Why Not © Al Cook/ alcookproductions.com.
The 17-year-old resident of Jupiter, FL, jumped seventh in the lineup and watched as the remaining riders in the field of 35 attempted to beat her time of 55.710 seconds on the Steve Stephens-designed course. Katherine Strauss nearly dethroned Simpson jumping All In to a clear round score 56.542 seconds for second place. Madison Goetzmann and Wrigley had a faster time than Simpson and Why Not, but they knocked down a rail. Since jump faults were converted to seconds in the speed class, four seconds were added to their time of 52.955 leaving them in third with a score of 56.955.
Simpson was thrilled with her victory, especially since she had not been able to ride her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood for nearly a month, relying on her mom and trainer Nicole Shahinian-Simpson to prepare for Harrisburg.
“My mom’s been riding her and keeping her fit for me. I just rode her the other day for the first time in a while,” said Simpson. “But I have had this horse three years, so I know her very well.”
Scores from the Welcome class carry over into Friday’s USEF Prix de States Team Championship/Phase Two of the Individual Championship. The Championship culminates on Saturday evening with the top 60% from Phases I and II.
Sophie Simpson and Why Not © Al Cook/ alcookproductions.com.
Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper Championship Phase One Top 20:
More About the PNHS
The Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1999 that assists in funding therapeutic riding and equine rescue programs. The proceeds from the PNHS are divided between the PNHS Foundation and The Harrisburg Kiwanis Youth Foundation. The PNHS Foundation gives to equine programs while the Kiwanis Foundation donates to youth programs. The PNHS has donated $1.68 million dollars to the Kiwanis Youth Foundation since its inception in 1947 and has donated $350,000 to local therapy and equine groups since 1999. Applications for grants are accepted throughout the year with action upon requests awarded in September.
Now in its 71st year, the PNHS is one of the most historic horse shows in the U.S., featuring the best in the sport of hunters and jumpers and is the launching ground for many future Olympians. 15,000 spectators, and 1,000,000 live feed viewers will enjoy ten days of national top competition as 1,400 top Junior and Adult competitors vie for eight national championships – including the prestigious Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Final and the Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual and Team Championships. The top jumping riders and horses are expected to compete in the$100,000 Prix de Penn National Grand Prix Presented by The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund, which will be held on the final day of the show on October 22.
The show also features special theme days, Family Fun Day, and great shopping, with over 70 vendors featuring clothing, antiques, art work, jewelry and equestrian products. For more information, updates, promotions, and more, visit www.PANational.org or call (717)770-0222. For those who cannot make it to PNHS in person, the World Equestrian Center Live Feed can be viewed throughout the 10 days of the show and can be accessed through a link on the PNHS website atwww.PANational.org or through www.EqSports.net.