Edited press release from Spruce Meadows 

Sunday marked the final day of the Spruce Meadows 'Continental' CSI5*/2*, presented by Rolex. Throughout the week riders qualified for the final event, the CSI5* 1.60m Friends of the Meadows Grand Prix, presented by Rolex. Twenty horse-and-rider-combinations representing eight nations tackled the track set out by FEI course designer Anthony d'Ambrosio (USA), each hoping to pass all the tests and qualify for the jump-off. 

Seven of the athletes made it to the jump-off, including 2022 Spruce Meadows Summer Series Grand Prix winners Paul O'Shea (IRL) and Matthew Sampson (GBR). O'Shea riding his 2022 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Grand Prix winning mount, Imerald Van't Voorhof (Emerald x Bacardi Orange de Muze), laid down a quick clear ride in the jum- off with a time of 38.00s. Sampson knew the time to beat but today, aboard the grey mare Ebolensky (Clinton x Heartbreaker), could only catch O'Shea, not beat him. The duo posted the exact same time of 38.00s flat in the jump-off and for the first time in Spruce Meadows history, there would be two winners of a five-star Grand Prix.

"We love Spruce Meadows, to be able to jump in the big grass fields before next week ('Masters' CSIO5*) and have this result - it builds confidence," Matthew Sampson said on his win and about heading into next week's 'Masters' CSIO5*.

"This is a big Grand Prix in itself, I'm very happy to be here and have this opportunity ahead of next week," Paul O'Shea said on his shared win in the Friends of the Meadows Grand Prix, presented by Rolex.

Patricio Pasquel (MEX) on Babel (Billy du Lys x High-Flyer) placed third, while Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa (BRA) on Alea Marathon (Mylord Carthago x Allegreto) took the fourth place and Tiffany Foster (CAN) on Hamilton (Quadros 3 x Acolord) fifth. 

The first competition on the North American Ring on Sunday was the Friends of the Meadows CSI2* Grand Prix 1.45m. Eight  athletes representing five nations passed the first round tests with flying colours and proceeded to the jump-off. Matthew Sampson of Great Britain has been one to watch all year at Spruce Meadows. Aboard Curraghgraigue Obos Flight (Obos Quality 004 x Errigal Flight), Sampson laid down an incredibly quick clean round in the jump-off in a time of 38.00 seconds flat.

Current world number ten, Kent Farrington (USA) riding Electrique (Emerald x Voltaire) came close, posting a clear round in a time of 38.34s and finishing in second place. This marks Sampson's fifth 2022 Spruce Meadows season win with Curraghgraigue Obos Flight.

Juan Jose Zendejas Salgado (MEX) on Tino la Chapelle (Mylord Carthago x Verdi) placed third, Rowan Willis (AUS) on Wellington Grey Goose (Corlensky G x Grandero) fourth and Katie Laurie (AUS) Mccaw MVnz (Corofino II x Cassini II) fifth.