John Whitaker gave British hopes a boost ahead of the Olympics with a triumphant day at the Traxdata Royal International Show at Hickstead.

Whitaker, who looks a certainty for the Sydney Games, won the West Sands Selsey British Grand Prix for a second successive year.

Aboard Virtual Village Calvaro, whose brother Michael Whitaker rode to second place last year, John showed some well-timed good form with a trip down under just six weeks away.

Although he had one fence down in the six-man jump-off, Whitaker was quick enough to beat the time set by Saudi Arabian Khaled Al Eid.

As it was only his sixth show on Calvaro, Whitaker was delighted with his performance.

He said: "I am very pleased. It is always nice if you can win with a clear round, but a win's a win.

"The fence in the jump-off was actually my fault. I pushed a bit too much.

"I felt I jumped a really good first round. I watched Khaled go (in the jump-off) and he was still in the lead, so I knew what I had to beat."

Asked if he felt confident ahead of the Olympics, Whitaker added: "I have to be. To win a Grand Prix gives you a bit of confidence.

"After Aachen, where I jumped a double clear, this was just what I needed."

The 13-fence course proved tough for a strong international field of 28 riders.

There were only six clear rounds, excluding young Irishman Cameron Hanley, who went clear but was outside the fast 104-second limit.

Among a cluster of riders who had only one fence down were, to the disappointment of the sizeable crowd, Michael Whitaker and Robert Smith plus fellow Brit Di Lampard.

Chasing the £3,000 first prize, Al Eid led the jump-off on Kashn Al Aan Eastern Night and immediately set the standard with one fence down in a time of 62.89 seconds.

Next up was Dutchman Emile Tacken on the temperamental Miss Montana, who the crowd really took to, but although he was quick, Tacken had two fences down.

The first of the three Brits, Rob Hoekstra, went next and he put the last fence down in a time of 63.28, just outside the Saudi Arabian.

Tim Stockdale went next but he had one fence down in the slowest time of the jump-off, 63.72.

Then came Whitaker who clipped the penultimate fence but had done enough to beat Al Eid's time in 59.08.

It left only 20-year-old Irishman Cian O'Connor to go, but he had two fences down and the title was Whitaker's.

Despite missing out, Al Eid was delighted with his performance and the Belgian-based rider revealed the irony behind his second place.

He said: "I used to train with John Whitaker, for a year in 1992, and now he beats me.

"I even walked the course with him before the jump-off.

Hoekstra, who finished third, said: "That was the last fence I thought I would have down, but I am pleased."

Earlier in the day German Gilbert Bockmann had produced an excellent display to win the £1,000 first prize in the Royal International Chase.

Riding Bockmann's Life, he beat Argentinian Ramiro Quintana into second place on Lacost. Third was Dutchman Jur Vrieling and fourth was Britain's Nick Skelton on Lalique.

Meanwhile John Whitaker will be back on Calvaro in today's Samsun Nations Cup of Great Britain.

The draw has not been kind to the hosts, as they will be second of the seven competing nations to jump. The plum seventh spot went to Germany.

However, hopes are high for the British team, although they face tough competition in the shape of Sweden, France and current Nations Cup series leaders Ireland, not to mention Germany, Holland and Saudi Arabia.