Jack Whitaker wins at the Dallamires Stables Cup British Showjumping event, son of Michael and nephew of John, both former Olympians

Jack Whitaker celebrated his birthday with fine form after registering his first win at an event only days after he turned 22.

Whitaker who resides in Whatton, secured a win from the final draw with horse, Equine America Q Paravatti N in the Dallamires Stables Cup.

It was his first win at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show.

Whitaker comes from a famous show-jumping family.

He is following in his father Michael, and uncle John's footsteps who both represented Great Britain at the Olympic level.

“It’s really nice to get in my first win here," said Whitaker.

"I never had much luck on ponies and in the last few years, I’ve been there or thereabouts.

"Lately I’ve been second a lot of times, I was second in the Newcomers the other night,” said Whitaker, who lives at the family home in Whatton, Nottinghamshire.

Twenty-seven riders initially tackled a technical course standing at a substantial 1.55m in the two-round competition with the top seven qualifying for the second round.

London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Scott Brash’s beautifully controlled, easy round on the talented Hello Valentino claimed an early lead.

Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca wiped more than three seconds off the time and looked to be sitting comfortably in the top spot on Jappeloup.

However, Whitaker had other ideas.

Using his final draw to maximum effect, Whitaker executed a deceptively fast, smooth round to wipe 1.59 seconds from the top time.

Whitaker said he watched the runs in the collecting ring on the screen.

“I watched a few in the collecting ring and knew the really quick ones were faster than Lorenzo but had one or two fences down.

"So I thought the class wasn’t that fast anyway and I just did my round. "My horse is not that slow but she’s a bit difficult to contain so I usually end up slower as I’m trying to slow her down all the time, but she was in a nice rhythm and jumped well."

“She’s full of life and as soon as I say go, she’s gone.

"That’s the problem, as soon as I let her go, she goes too fast.

"I’ve got Grand Prix aims with her, you never get to the end of her, she’s full of blood and energy.

"My dad thought as I’d been second a few times I might really go for the win.

"He kept saying just keep it as smooth as possible, get your rhythm and keep the canter and don’t try and move out of your rhythm.

"I think I did that.”