CARLOW’s Sam Watson partnered the in-form Imperial Sky to victory in the CCI4*-L at Ballindenisk last weekend as the Fell family hosted the first of the country’s international horse trials this year.

Second (32.2) after the dressage phase judged by the ground jury of Germany’s Gerd Kuest (C) and Ireland’s John Lyttle (H) and Joanne Jarden (B), Watson picked up 0.4 of a penalty when a second over the time of 10.17 minutes on Saturday’s cross-country phase. However, he sealed victory with a clear round on Sunday as, Belgium’s Geoffroy de Jamblinne, who had led from the start on 32, had two fences down with Consequent Pia Z.