Matthew Sampson & Gloria van Zuuthoeve. ph: 1clicphoto.com/Nicole Ciscato.
The 2017 Autumn Mediterranean Equestrian Tour continued this week at the Oliva Nova Equestrian Centre in Spain, and concluded with Sunday’s €30,000 Grand Prix. On November 5th, Great Britain’s Matthew Sampson and the 11-year-old mare Belgian Warmblood mare Gloria van Zuuthoeve (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Glorieux) topped the leader board with a win in the feature event of the day.
“My horse has been wonderful here in Oliva Nova,” commented Sampson. “She won another big jump-off class last weekend.”
The 1.45m course, set by Germany’s Werner Deeg, counted 13 obstacles and 16 efforts, with a time allowed of 80s. Of the 72 entries, 15 horse-and-rider combinations cleared their way to the jump-off over a shortened, eight fence-track.
In the jump-off, Sampson and Gloria van Zuuthoeve set the standard early on with their winning time of 43.77s – which turned out to be unbeatable in the end.
“I have been riding my horse Gloria for a year now. The plan is to try and keep her, and try to get into some bigger shows,” commented Sampson. “She has done a fantastic job here at the Autumn MET. She has a huge stride, and the way the course was built really suited us today.”
Poland’s Cassandra Orschel, who also found success at the Autumn MET, came closest to the young Brit. Riding the 11-year-old Hanoverian mare Acanthya (Adlantico AS x Argentinus), Orschel took the runner-up position with a time of 45.36s.
Great Britain’s Amy Inglis and the nine-year-old mare AES Wishes (Guidam x Wellington) placed 3rd with a time of 47.78s.
The 2017 Autumn MET now enters its last week of competition, before it closes off next Sunday 12th of November.
For the full results, click here.