TOCKENHAM teenager Jessica Mendoza’s Olympic prospects have been handed a major boost after she was included in the British show jumping squad for the upcoming FEI European Championships, in Aachen, Germany.

The 19-year-old, who has recently based herself in Holland, has been named in the four-strong party for the championships, which take place between August 19-23.

The Europeans are the last major championship before next year’s Games in Rio, offering those selected the chance to cement their places at the final qualifying event.

Mendoza, a member of the Lottery-funded World Class Programme Podium Potential squad, and horse Spirit T have been named alongside Joe Clee, Ben Maher and Michael Whitaker.

All four selected riders will contest the team competition, with the three best scores counting, while the top 25 horse and rider combinations will be invited to contest the Grand Prix, from which the individual medals are decided.

There will be three Olympic qualifying places awarded from the Aachen championships to the highest-placed nations not already qualified after the Team Final.

Mendoza has earned her spot after an excellent year in which she climbed into the top 100 in the world rankings for the first time.

“It’s amazing but Spirit’s jumped absolutely brilliantly this summer and deserves it,” said Mendoza.

“It was never in my plan at the beginning of the year but she kind of made it the plan as she just kept getting better and better each time we stepped up a level.

“We have come up from national to international competition together and then from CSI 2* to CSIO 5* and as a result, I feel I know her inside out; we trust each other totally.

“I’m looking forward to competing with the rest of the team. We jumped together in Rotterdam where we not only won, but also really got on as a team, which gives me great confidence.

“I’ll also have my parents with me and I just can’t thank them enough for the support they have always given me.

“Dad coaches me and mum consistently helps out with the horses; they have always believed in me and I’m pleased that they are going to be alongside me in Aachen and able to enjoy it.”