GRASSROOTS: ANDY SIMPSON

When I used to arrive at a point-to-point to ride, I, like many others, naively had little knowledge of what really went on behind the scenes and just how many incredible people it took to orchestrate the slick running of the day for our enjoyment.

Andy Simpson is one such person instrumental in pointing and wears many hats. A BHA Doctor, senior racecourse doctor at Cheltenham racecourse, on the rota for meetings at Stratford and Warwick, and has recently been appointed by Paul Miller, Chief Executive of the PPA, as the PPA’s go-to medical advisor.

Simpson works three days per week as a GP in Minchinhampton, near Stroud, and spends the other two days and weekends on various commitments in the equestrian world. He takes me back to the beginning. “My wife has always had a horsey interest, and thirty years ago there was a job advertised in a GP practice in Minchinhampton, where I still am now, and because it was near Gatcombe, which was a horse trials she had been to and knew the locality, I applied!”

I asked Simpson how he became involved with the equestrian world, and he explained: “I was very interested in Resuscitation and started assisting the ambulance service with RTA’s, and through that, I met someone involved at Cheltenham racecourse. My first role in equestrianism was at Little Gatcombe. The nature of the job is meeting people, and word of mouth opens doors, and I later became involved at Cheltenham. People kept saying you should do pointing, and about ten years ago, I got involved. I enjoy it, it is such a great day, and I love the people in it.”

Simpson spends his summers involved with eventing and covers Badminton, Gatcombe, Cornbury, Hartpury and Oxstalls and the winter months immersed in team-chasing, racing and point-to-pointing and explains to me the difference between the sports: “The injuries are similar but the day is so different, racing you are up and down on your feet all day keeping very busy whereas in eventing there is a lot to do now and again!”  

Simpson serves as a senior doctor at Paxford, Siddington, Cocklebarrow, and all Chaddesley Corbett meetings. I am keen to know more about what happens on the day and he says: “The ruling is a minimum of two doctors on the day, the ones I cover which do generally always attract a large crowd we have three, you can manage with less but to ensure racing is kept to time it is best to have three and this also allows for greater flexibility.” He backs this up by explaining to me the procedure at Cheltenham: “There are three of us who act as senior at Cheltenham, myself, Lee Humphreys and Jon Mutimer and one of us is always on duty at a meeting. Alongside us on race day are four or five doctors, and for example, at the festival, two would be dedicated to the crowd.”

In a world where health and safety is continually becoming more important and the pressure is on to be well educated in every scenario, the PPA arranged seminars throughout last season, the summer and autumn to help and educate doctors and vets but also for secretaries, clerk of courses and the on the day ‘team’ to be up to date with medical rules and paperwork. Simpson says: “The pressure on secretaries is enormous, there are new levels of professionalism, and Paul has recognised and supported this. Jerry Hill has been incredible, always looking ahead and getting the sport into a healthy and less risk place which is so important. It is undeniable that the risk is higher for amateurs and we have to make sure teams work together in the correct way and paperwork is correct.”

Simpson is quick to thank Caroline Davies and Sue Smith: “Caroline is head of the Racecourse Association and has always been a great support. I met Sue at Cheltenham, and she went on to work at Badminton, so that’s how I then ended up involved there. Working with and meeting the right people leads to so many opportunities.

Chatting to Simpson has been fascinating and enlightening, and it is clear he has a real invested interest in the future of our sport. He confirms: “I love pointing, I really enjoy walking through the lorry park, immersing myself in the atmosphere. The people are lovely and I really enjoy doing something to help.”

Long may Andy Simpson be involved in our sport. Next time you see him, give him a thank you!