Matthew Sampson and Django Blue Clinch Victory for Two Phase CSI4* at Bolesworth

Matthew Sampson won the CSI4* two-phase Naylors sponsored class here at Bolesworth yesterday evening on board the bay gelding, Django Blue.

55 riders rode out into the international arena for the opening 1.45 meter four star showjumping class. Following the dressage, spectators looked on in awe at the demanding course that lay ahead for competitors and their horses.

The two phase class saw riders who cleared the first round of the jumps continue through to the second round jump off. Of the 55 riders that started only 30 riders made a first clear round, 18 of which, including young talent and one to watch Harry Charles, rode a double clear.

Riding the winning double clear, Matthew and Django stopped the clock on an unbelievable 26.99 seconds, beating off competition from the UK’s best known and respected competitors including John Whitaker, William Funnell and Amanda Derbyshire.

In second place was Great Britain’s Chloe Aston, a young rider who has enjoyed considerable success over the past couple of years. Riding the dark bay gelding, Kolibri Classic, Chloe has come a long way since her first under 21’s win at Horse of the Year Show in 2013.

Ellen Whitaker proved she was back on track with her horse, Casaktie. Finishing in third place for this class, Ellen has bounced back onto the scene having taken a few years break from international competition to start a family.

American rider Laura Kraut was the only non British rider to be placed in the top six. Riding her Longines Global Champions Tour horse, Sfs Vincomte, the Olympic Gold Medalist stopped the clock on 29.47,  less than one second behind Ellen Whitaker’s clock time of 28.79.

Irish contingent; Trevor Breen, riding Clyde VA and Billy Twoomey on his ride, Lady Lou, both managed a double clear coming in seventh and ninth place respectively. Other Irish riders included Shane Breen, Anthony Condon and Peter Moloney.

Friday’s line up of international sporting competition includes the Watts Commercial Finance CSI4*1.50M, Carden Arms 148cm Grand Prix and the Equitop Myoplst Puissance.

To keep up to date with all the action, via the event’s livestream, please click here.

Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.