Matt Sampson and Guy Williams score world ranking wins in Spain
Tuesday 22 April 2025
Matt Sampson scored a win and almost made it a victory double on the final day of week two on the Spring MET IV in Oliva Nova, Spain, but had to settle for second in the top-billed 3* Grand Prix.
“I’ve had a great week, it’s great to have Ebolensky and Daniel jumping here,” said Matt. “It’s a great show and the facilities are fantastic.”
Matt jumped to the top in the Gold 1.45m Final with Rachel Evison’s Ebolensky. Fifteen from a start list of 60 qualified for a hotly contended over Spanish course-designer Javier Trenor’s 13-fence, 16-effort in this world ranking class, but Mat was the quickest second time out. He knows seasoned campaigner Ebolensky so well and the Clinton x Heartbreaker 16-year-old mare responded to his every move to score a 0.18 second win. Graham Babes slotted into second with the 11-year-old Monks I Am Casall, who bounced back to form after a few weeks recovering from a virus.
“Ebolensky was fantastic, she jumped amazing in the jump-off,” said Matt.
Matt was also in the frame for the feature 1.50m Grand Prix, on this occasion riding James Davenport’s handsome stallion Daniel. The 59 starters were reduced to 14 for the jump-off by the 13-fence course, Matt taking a brief lead on the Heartbreaker x San Patrignano Mister 17-year-old. However, Spain’s Teresa Blasquez-Abascal fired Nasa De Toxandia into the top spot in the latter stages to win by 0.60 seconds.
“He jumped fantastic and was unlucky to be beaten, but he was good all week, jumping clear and placed in both the qualifiers, so all in all I had a great week. It’s lovely to be out here jumping and hopefully it’s been a good preparation as we’re heading to Fontainbleu this week,” added Matt.
Guy Williams was another world ranking winner, outpacing 82 rivals in the ClipMyHorseTV Gold 1.45m speed to win by 1.42 seconds on the 10-year-old mare BH Gringos Legacy (Tullibards Bennys Legacy x Colourfield). Izac Ketteridge finished fourth here on Cashallco while Guy’s daughter Maisy claimed fourth in the initial Gold 1.45m speed aboard Blossom’s Billy Heinz.
Iwan Carpenter scored another Gold 1.40m win in a 42-horse speed on the Chacco-Blue 15-year-old Merllyns Chacco-B by 0.63 seconds while Skye Higgin beat 81 rivals in the initial Gold 1.40m speed with 0.32 seconds in hand on the Quaprice Bois Margot 10-year-old Fly For You.
Jessica Hewlett led a top two in the 64-entry Silver 1.40m speed on the 12-year-old Ilmar HBC with a 1.18 second advantage over Chris Smith’s Heartbeat Z and Olivia Gent topped the Bronze 1.40m Final by 0.13 seconds in an 18-horse decider with the nine-year-old stallion Qwintoe Achterhoek. Tony Pearson also clocked up a Bronze 1.40m win on the 12-year-old Wyoming 19, outpacing 34 rivals to win by 0.31 seconds.
Brits were also in form in the supporting classes – William Walker headed a Bronze 1.35m speed on Ustino, Phillip Spivey galloped to the top of a Gold 1.30m two-phase with Billy Van Gogh, Tom Whitaker seized victory in a Silver 1.30m speed on Unicorn Di June and Tom Harrison topped a Bronze 1.30m speed on Mega White VJ and Melissa Garry won a Silver 1.25m speed with Billy Elsyng. In the age classes, Charlotte Smet returned triumphant in an early Six-year-old 1.25m on Kinmar Joey and Leo Lamb won a Five-year-old 1.15m two-phase riding Commeet Van Het Dingenshof Z.
Image: 1clicphoto Herve Bonnaud
.JPG "Sophia Rogers makes a winning return and Rachel Proudley claims a championship double at Pony of the Year Show")
