MATHEW SAMPSON SECURES ANOTHER WIN AT THE $500,000 1.60M ‘AON GRAND PRIX AT SPRUCE MEADOWS PAN AMERICAN
Day 4 - Spruce Meadows Pan American Presented by Rolex
The $500,000 1.60m ‘AON Grand Prix Presented by Rolex’ wrapped up inside the International Ring at Spruce Meadows, featuring 26 competitors tackling a demanding course designed by Anderson Lima. With 14 fences, clear rounds were a rare sight and faults were common, despite the generous time allowance of 82 seconds.
Irish riders have been enjoying a string of successes at the Meadows, and early on, Jordan Coyle and Chaccolino (starter number 5) became the first to clear the course. However, the challenge intensified quickly, as many riders encountered faults at the triple combination, Canada plank, oxer, and skinny verticals (see course design here), with some riders even crashing.
It wasn’t until starter number 15, Jordan’s younger brother Daniel Coyle, rode Incredible to a clear round that a jump-off was guaranteed.
As the competition progressed, more riders carried faults. Starter number 23, the 2024 winner Mathew Sampson on Daniel, delivered a third clear round, and the final rider, Darragh Kenny aboard Diaroubet, confidently completed a picture-perfect clear.
In the jump-off, Jordan Coyle was the first to go, setting the pace in 44.26 seconds. His brother Daniel followed with a faster, faultless round in 43.86 seconds.
Sampson then galloped through his round in 43.72 seconds, also clearing. Darragh Kenny, aiming to beat the clock, finished with 8 faults in 43.17 seconds.
--ENDS--
TOP 10 PLACED:
- Matthew Sampson and DANIEL (GB)
- Daniel Coyle and INCREDIBLE (IRE)
- Jordan Coyle and CHACCOLINO (IRE)
- Darragh Kenny and DIAROUBET (IRE)
- Vaclav Stanek and QUINTIN (CZE)
- Tiffany Foster and ELECTRIQUE (CAN)
- Katie Laurie and DJANGO II (NZL)
- Mario Deslauriers and COSTA QUICK PS (CAN)
- Alejandro Mills and BRETZEL DU MARAIS (MEX)
- Carly Campbell-Cooper and BARETINO PS (CAN)
Full results here
Photo by Spruce Meadows Media / Mike Sturk