Simon McCarthy Takes the Cake in the $30,000 Traverse City National Grand Prix

By Jumper News on 2025-07-08

Traverse City, United States – July 06, 2025 – Simon McCarthy (IRL) was back to winning ways in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring on Saturday with a victory in the $30,000 Traverse City National Grand Prix aboard Gotcha during opening week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders.

Eighteen competitors took to the Mauricio Garcia (PUR) designed track with eight returning for jump-off. McCarthy laid down the winning ride as the first in the jump-off to go clear on a time of 39.011 seconds with partner Gotcha, a 14-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Rock Ridge Farms.

“There wasn’t a clear round in the jump-off before I headed in, but I knew I had Olivia Sweetnam coming after me,” said McCarthy. “She’s half my age but unbelievably fast, so I knew I had to put the pressure on.”

McCarthy was right to put on the pressure ahead of Sweetnam as the 16-year-old from Wellington, FL, finished on the heels of the lead after pocketing her first three-star win a day earlier. She finished clear in 39.422 seconds with 14-year-old mare Capitola, owned by Monika Preston.

**Simon McCarthy** (IRL) & **Gotcha** are presented as winners of the $30,000 Traverse City National Grand Prix by Bradley Bowns of Traverse City Horse Shows.

Gotcha, out of Stakkato, has been a long-time international mount for McCarthy, competing through the five-star level and most recently taking second in a five-star speed in April.

“She’s had a break over the past few months, so I wanted to use this week to keep her in shape and get her back in the ring,” said McCarthy. “We’re building towards the Nations Cup here in a few weeks. She’s quite difficult to keep fit, but she felt great out there today.”

Closing out the podium was Alexandra Ryden (USA) of Cary, NC, and Irandole du Flot, owned by Precision Equine. The pair finished double-clear with a short course time of 41.942 seconds.

The 11th season of GLEF features six weeks of FEI competition running through August 10, showcasing an FEI Nations Cup CSIO3*, 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.

Final Results – $30,000 Traverse City National Grand Prix

1) Simon McCarthy (IRL) & Gotcha – 0 / 0 – 39.011

2) Olivia Sweetnam (USA) & Capitola – 0 / 0 – 39.422

3) Alexandra Ryden (USA) & Irandole du Flot – 0 / 0 – 41.942

FULL RESULTS

Source: Press Release from Traverse City Horse Shows