Ireland’s Sam Watson pulled off one of the more convincing solo wins of the season when taking first place at the two-star event in Weston Park, England after four days of hectic competition.
The 23-year-old Carlow-based rider, who had never won a three-day event before, took pole position on the first day of the competition with a highly competitive dressage score of 44.00, and never faulted in the two phases that followed.
Riding the eight year-old Irish-bred Puissance gelding 'Hoyo', he went clear in cross-country within the time on Saturday, and produced two clear rounds in show jumping today, finishing at the top of the 46-strong field with a fence in hand.
Afterwards Watson said: ‘This was very satisfying. It may be my first three-day event win but to be honest it feels more like a job done than wild elation. The horse came here with not a great deal of experience but he did have the talent, and I think we'll be seeing a good deal more of him in future, as he continues to improve.’
'Hoyo' is jointly owned by Sam's father John and Clodagh McStay, and was bred by Stephen Lanigan-O'Keeffe at Mount Juliet in Co. Kilkenny.
