Great Britain’s Sampson’s ‘unforgettable’ win in 89th German Jumping Derby

That was the reaction of 28-year-old British rider Matthew Sampson after winning the prestigious German Jumping Derby in Hamburg this weekend.

Riding the 12-year-old bay mare Gloria van Zuuthoeve, the 246th-ranked Sampson was one of three riders to progress to the jump-off with their horses, with a time of 170.84 seconds in the first round and 50.53 seconds in the tie-breaker – the only pair to have two clear rounds, ahead of Germany’s Gilbert Tillmann on Claus Dieter and Sandra Auffarth on Nupafeed’s La Vista. Another British rider, Holly Smith, made it into the top five finishers on the intimidating course, with her partner Quality Old Joker.

“Gloria went very fast [and] after two rounds she was pretty tired…. But she was amazing and this is the biggest win I have ever had,” Sampson said. Watch Matthew Sampson and Gloria here.