Simon McCarthy Soars to the Top in the $32,000 Speed Challenge CSI 3* at Traverse City

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Simon McCarthy & Narcotique V/H Dingenshof in the $32,000 CSI3* Speed during GLEF 1 in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring

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Traverse City, United States – July 03, 2025 – Ireland’s Simon McCarthy (IRL) rode to victory on opening day of international competition at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders on Thursday. He topped the $32,000 Speed Challenge CSI 3* aboard Narcotique v/h Dingenshof to kick off the 11th season of GLEF and top show jumping at Flintfields Horse Park.

The mid-summer series features six weeks of FEI competition running through August 10, showcasing an FEI Nations Cup CSIO 3*, the FEI North American Youth Championships and the return of Major League Show Jumping CSI5* competition to Traverse City. Highlights also include the $100,000 USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Central Spectacular and weekly qualifiers for the all-new  $150,000 Traverse City Equitation Championships debuting in September. 

McCarthy, 29, set the pace as the first to enter the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring, leaving the rest of the field to chase him over Mauricio Garcia’s (PUR) course.

The only competitor to come close to his time of 60.60 seconds was Charlotte Jacobs (USA) riding 10-year-old Irish-bred gelding Thomascourt Ballypatrick, owned by North Star Sport Horses.

Jacobs, who currently sits within the top five of the Traverse City Leading Rider standings, stopped the clock in 60.68 to take second.

Fellow American Daisy Farish (USA) and Etonemoi del Cabalero finished third in 62.37 second for owner Lanes End Showjumping.

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Simon McCarthy & Narcotique V/H Dingenshof in the $32,000 CSI3* Speed during GLEF 1 in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring

” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/jumpernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025.07.03.99.99-Traverse-City-CSI-3-1.45-Cel-Simon-McCarthy-Narcotique-van-het-Dingenshof.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/jumpernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025.07.03.99.99-Traverse-City-CSI-3-1.45-Cel-Simon-McCarthy-Narcotique-van-het-Dingenshof.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/jumpernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025.07.03.99.99-Traverse-City-CSI-3-1.45-Cel-Simon-McCarthy-Narcotique-van-het-Dingenshof.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-203243″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/jumpernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025.07.03.99.99-Traverse-City-CSI-3-1.45-Cel-Simon-McCarthy-Narcotique-van-het-Dingenshof.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/jumpernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025.07.03.99.99-Traverse-City-CSI-3-1.45-Cel-Simon-McCarthy-Narcotique-van-het-Dingenshof.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/jumpernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025.07.03.99.99-Traverse-City-CSI-3-1.45-Cel-Simon-McCarthy-Narcotique-van-het-Dingenshof.jpg?resize=150%2C100&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/jumpernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025.07.03.99.99-Traverse-City-CSI-3-1.45-Cel-Simon-McCarthy-Narcotique-van-het-Dingenshof.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/jumpernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025.07.03.99.99-Traverse-City-CSI-3-1.45-Cel-Simon-McCarthy-Narcotique-van-het-Dingenshof.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1 1200w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>

Simon McCarthy (IRL) & Narcotique v/h Dingenshof are presented as winners of the $32,000 Speed Challenge CSI 3* by Bradley Bowns of Traverse City Horse Shows. 

“She’s very fast at this level, so even going first didn’t affect us too much,” admitted McCarthy. Together, he and Narcotique v/h Dingenshof have notched 14 international victories, more than half being over speed tracks. “I stick to my own plan with her and I’m very grateful for the results she has given me.”

Narcotique v/h Dingenshof—a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Harley x Chacco-Blue)— has become a consistent campaigner for McCarthy as he now focuses on stepping up some of his young stock. 

“Her job has been to be a speed horse recently as I’ve been giving some of the younger horses time to develop into the grand prix,” he said. 

“This summer is very exciting and I’m fortunate to be coming back to Traverse City for some of the bigger events,” added McCarthy, who will point two up-and-coming nine year olds at the five-star offerings taking place later in the season.

Three-star competition continues during GLEF I with the $32,000 AVID Hotel Welcome Stake CSI 3* on Friday before culminating with the $117,000 Meijer Grand Prix CSI3* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon. 

Final Results – $32,000 Speed Challenge CSI 3*

1) Simon McCarthy (IRL) & Narcotique van het Dingenshof – 0 – 60.60

2) Charlotte Jacobs (USA) & Thomascourt Ballypatrick – 0 – 60.68

3) Daisy Farish (USA) & Etonemoi del Cabalero – 0 – 62.37

Source: Press Release from Traverse City Horse Shows

Photos: © TCHS / Megan Giese Media


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