Whitaker on mend after operation

John Whitaker, Britain's leading showjumper, appears to be on the mend in a Swedish hospital following surgery after a brain haemorrhage last Friday.

Whitaker's wife, Clare, reported today that he is sitting up, knows who he is and is able to talk. She said: "The nurses say he is not a good patient because he's getting very demanding, but that's a hopeful sign."

A spokesman for the hospital at Uppsala warned that these are early days in the Yorkshireman's recovery and that the next 48 hours are critical.