34 Horse & Hound 8 August 2019
Pictures
by
Lucy
Merrell
and
Sportfot
SHOWJUMPING
Matt Sampson hasa birthdayvictory
and the Union flagfliesproudlyacross
allthreedaysofaction
Historic first win for
SPEED king Matt Sampson
signed and sealed what was an
all-round triumphant week for the
home side when he became the
first Brit to win London’s CSI2*
grand prix.
Most combinations couldn’t
get within shouting distance of
last year’s victor, Spencer Smith
of the USA, a protégé of Eric
Lamaze, on the 11-year-old mare
Idee-Fixe D’Exaerde. He posted a
staggeringly quick round early
LGCT LONDON
CSI2* classes
in the 13-strong jump-off that
lured the rest to fault, particularly
on the demanding second half
of the track. It was a course that
required a full house of scope,
speed, accuracy and bravery. With
multiple speed Derby victories
under his belt, Matt, riding the
talented eight-year-old Geneve R,
was shouldering British hopes in
final draw.
The Dutch gelding, jumping
only his second two-star grand Sienna Charles and Chinta Van Geluut Z top Sunday’s 1.30m
MattSampsonandGeneveR claim
the top spot in only the gelding’s
second two-star grand prix