TEENAGE Wiltshire showjumper Jessica Mendoza enjoyed the best result of her career in Hong Kong last week.

Riding Spirit T in the Gucci Gold Cup – a CSI5* competition – Jess finished runner-up to the legendary John Whitaker, losing out to the former world and Olympic silver medallist in a jump-off by just 0.62 seconds.

But she did finish ahead World No.1 Scott Brash on Hello Annie in third and her efforts earned almost 15,000 euros in prize money.

Whitaker set the pace in the 10-rider jump-off. with a rapid time of 40.70 seconds.

Jessica was the last rider to go and kept everyone on the edge of their seats with a superb clear round, narrowly failing to match Whitaker’s time.

She also enjoyed a sixth-placed finish with Spirit T earlier in the week competing in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy.

Mendoza is a member of the World Class Development Programme funded by UK Sport’s National Lottery.

She has now switched from the family base at Tockenham in Wiltshire to Eindhoven in the Netherlands putting her closer to major European competitions.