TEENAGE riding star James Reis is aiming to help England conquer the world after receiving a surprise senior international call-up.

The Ferndown youngster has been selected to represent his country in the International Mounted Games Association’s 27th World Team Championships in Wales next month.

James, who will compete on his pony Maestro, has previously represented England at under-17s level in European events in both Wales and Ireland.

But since turning 17, he became eligible for promotion to the adult ranks and was picked to compete at the top level at the first time of asking.

James is set to lock horns with far more experienced rivals in the global showpiece but he is confident about making the transition.

He told Echo Youth Sport: “I was really surprised.

“Usually, they pick 25-year-olds so I didn’t think I was going to get picked. I will be riding with quite a lot of older people.

“It is going to be harder but I think it should be all right.

“I am a bit nervous but I think I am going to be all right.”

James, who is studying for A-levels in mathematics, chemistry, biology and psychology at Ferndown Upper School, started out in the Poole and District Pony Club at the age of six.

Mounted Games is a branch of equestrian sport in which very fast races are contested by riders on well-trained ponies.

Providing a test of athletic ability, riding skills, agility, hand-to-eye coordination and determination, Mounted Games sees participants compete in a number of different disciplines.

One is called Sword Lancers, where riders gallop past a line of poles and try to collect metal rings on the end of a sword.

In another game, Tyre Race, riders race up the ring, leap off, scramble through a motorbike tyre and then vault back on before the finish.

James will line up for England at the championships at the David Broome Event Centre in Wales for qualifying heats before teams go forward to B and C finals.

He will be hoping to be among the top-eight teams that move on to compete for the world title at the prestigious Royal Welsh Show in front of an expected packed grandstand of 4,000 spectators.

James’s mum Nicki said: “We’re very proud of him.

“He represented the south of England at Uttoxeter at the weekend and somebody came up to me and said it was very good that he had been selected considering he was only 17 in October.

“It is quite rare for them to be selected so young so we were very surprised.”