It may have only been bottled water, but Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Matthew Sampson (GBR) kicked off their press conference for the 1.60m Friends of the Meadows Grand Prix with a well-deserved ‘cheers.’ 

The two riders stopped the jump-off clock on exactly 38.00s, respectively; sharing the win in the biggest class of the week during the final day of competition at the Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ CSI 5*/2*. They also made the record books, earning the first recorded CSI 5* tie in Spruce Meadows history. Patricio Pasquel of Mexico took third with Babel.

When chided that it would be hard to best O’Shea and Imerald Van’t Voorhof’s blazing-fast time, Sampson agreed. “I went for the tie,” Sampson said, laughing. “Luckily, the tactic paid off!”

“I’ve had Imerald—he’s 14 now—since [the end of his] 8-year-old year, and he’s been just a fantastic horse for me,” said O’Shea of the Belgian warmblood gelding by Emerald. 

“He’s jumped everywhere, and this is third CSI5* Grand Prix win. He won here just a few months ago [in the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup CSI5*]. He loves it here at Spruce [Meadows]. He loves the big jumps and he grows when he goes in [the ring].”

This is O’Shea’s first season competing at Spruce, and according to the Irish rider, the venue’s expansive grass fields and notoriously hefty fences came with a bit of a learning curve. 

“I did four weeks here this summer, and at first, I didn’t do that well,” O’Shea said. “I was just confused by the wider jumps—it took me a while to adjust to it, and some of the horses as well. Now, it feels more comfortable [to me].”

Paul O’Shea and Imerald Van’t Voorhof. © Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk

Sampson, though competing for his second year at Spruce Meadows, earned his tie win aboard the 13-year-old KWPN mare, Ebolensky—a relative newcomer to this level of competition.

“It’s actually my horse’s first [1.60m] CSI5* Grand Prix. She really stepped up here last year to the bigger divisions,” said the British rider, who produced Ebolensky since her seven-year-old year. 

“She’s super careful and she really tries her heart out, so that’s why I haven’t pushed her to jump so high before. But she really felt ready for it in this summer series,” he added, noting that he first entered Ebolensky in a 1.30m class at Spruce Meadows in June and gradually worked her up to the 1.60m level.

“We aimed for this grand prix for a couple of months, so to have this win today is really nice.” 

Their historic tie now in the rearview, both Sampson and O’Shea are already looking ahead to next week, and the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ CSIO 5*/CSI 3* tournament. That could include the illustrious CP ‘International’ Grand Prix, part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. 

“To be able to jump on the big grass fields [ahead of the ‘Masters’] and to get the horses fit and feeling good and in shape and to get this result just fills you full of confidence for what’s to come next week,” Sampson said—and he would know.

The British rider is in the thick of the winning streak of a lifetime, logging 18 international victories at Spruce Meadows and BC’s Thunderbird Show park since June. In fact, Sampson also won Sunday’s CSI 2* Friends of the Meadows 1.45m Grand Prix aboard Curraghgraigue Obos Flight earlier in the day.

“Obviously, we don’t get to go to CSI5* events every week, and there’s some big hitters coming next week. [Hopefully] we can try to give them a run for their money!” he joked.

“This is a big Grand Prix in itself,” O’Shea agreed. “I’m very happy to be here and to have this opportunity ahead of next week.” 

Added Sampson,  “Fingers crossed we can try to keep it going!”