Team GBR

A showjumper on the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) World Class Development Programme has triumphed at the London International Horse Show 2009 following a thrilling jump off.

Matt Sampson (19), from Sheffield, won the Accenture Young Show Jumper of the Year class at Olympia riding Rush On M on Saturday 19 December, beating off competition from sixteen other riders.

It was a closely fought competition with nine riders competing in the jump off. Five went clear but Matt just edged second placed Joe Clayton by less than three tenths of a second.

Matt said: ‘It was such a close class so I’m delighted to have won. The crowd was great and helped to create a brilliant atmosphere which definitely spurred me on. It’s been a fantastic year for me so to finish it off with a win is just amazing and makes all the hard work seem worthwhile. I’m hoping to build on my success for next year and compete at a more senior level so this win has given me a real boost.’
 
The BEF’s World Class Development Programme aims to provide Britain's elite riders with the best preparation to represent Equestrian Team GBR at International level.  Funded by UK Sport, the Programme incorporates the three Olympic sports of dressage, eventing, show jumping and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage.

Selection to the World Class Programme is based on results combined with potential to contribute to team success at major championships. Performance is continuously assessed and riders are regularly reviewed. The Programme is divided into Development (Start and Potential), and Performance squads across each discipline.

The Programme has been funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, primarily from the National Lottery, via UK Sport since 1998.