Edited press release from Spruce Meadows

The CSIO5* 1.50m Suncor Winning Round was the first competition of the day at Spruce Meadows, and twenty-six horse-and-rider combinations representing 15 nations had qualified for the event earlier in the week. The 455m track was designed by FEI course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) and featured 12 obstacles (15 jumping efforts) all having to be completed in 69 seconds or less.

In this class, the top ten riders come back in reverse order of faults for the winning round. World no. four ranked rider Conor Swail (IRL) and Nadal Hero & DB (Kannan x Polydor) held the lead for a time with a clear ride in 59.60s, but Matthew Sampson (GBR), who has had an amazing 2022 tour at Spruce Meadows, fired into top gear aboard Ebolensky (Clinton x Heartbreaker) and posted a clear round in a time of 58.14s. With one left to go, Sampson held the top of the leaderboard. Kent Farrington (USA) was determined to come out on top with Creedance (Lord Z x Notaris), and with an amazing turn crushed Sampson's time, but the back rail of the final oxer fell as he pushed through the finish line with a final score of four faults and 55.93s dropping him to 6th. 

This win in the Suncor Winning Round marks Sampson's 43rd top ten finish this season and 17th win. With those stats, Sampson was presented with the Xerox Rider of Year award following the completion of the first round of the BMO Nations Cup.