The battle for places at the Sydney Olympics will add an extra edge to this year's Traxdata Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead.

Leading riders and the best horses from Britain, as well as 14 other nations, will be at Hickstead, starting today and climaxing on Sunday with both the Traxdata King George V Gold Cup and the Hasseroder Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

The feature event will be on Friday when the Samsung Nations Cup of Great Britain will be contested by seven nations.

This will be the final trial for the British showjumping team, while the dressage Olympic squad will be named at the end of the dressage nations cup.

Of the 12 nations sending riders for the dressage nations cup, seven are fielding complete teams.

Hickstead owner Douglas Bunn said: "I always think every show is going to be the best and this is no exception.

"It is appropriate that the two Olympic squads being sent to Sydney will, in essence, stem from this British Horse Society show as well as again putting Sussex on the equestrian map."

HICKSTEAD opens today with the BSJA Winter Showjumping Finals and tomorrow sees the British Grand Prix.

Ownership of a £25,000 sports car, donated by sponsor Lotus, has added zest to the Horse and Hound Evening Grand Prix on Saturday.

The event has evolved into a head-to-head between showjumpers and eventers, and has attracted riders like Nick Skelton, brothers John and Michael Whitaker, Robert Smith, Blyth Tait, Mark Todd and Ian Stark.

On Sunday Skelton will be trying to win the men-only King George V Gold Cup for a second successive year.

Twelve months ago Skelton had spectators out of their seats by clinching the cup for a fourth time in the penultimate ride of a ten- man jump off.

Ireland's Jessica Kurten will be looking to defend her title in the all-woman field for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.