EQUESTRIAN: Team gold for Jessica Mendoza (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Lyneham showjumper Mendoza stars at European Pony Championships

8:00am Thursday 26th July 2012 in Sport

WILTSHIRE’S Jessica Mendoza returned from the European Pony Championships in Fontainebleau, France last weekend with a showjumping team gold medal for Great Britain and a highly creditable fifth place in the Individual Showjumping Competition aboard her horse Tixylix.

Her GB team-mates Millie Allen and Alex Chitty took the gold and bronze individual medals respectively.

"It's been brilliant to bring home another gold in my last season as a pony rider," said Jessica, from Lyneham.

"Tixy is amazing. She's now won four golds and one bronze medal in five European Championships.

"That is quite a record for one pony."

All five British pony team members finished in the top 12 places individually - a spectacular result.

Talking after the awards ceremony, British Showjumping Pony Chef d'Equipe Katrina Moore said: "Our performance throughout the championships has been superb and once again just shows what incredible depth of talent we have within the sport.

"The entire team have been fantastic and to have all five riders finish within the top 12 placings, along with bringing home a team gold, is something that we all, as a nation, should be incredibly proud of."