BRITISH fans will be able to see the improvement of up-and-coming showjumping star Jessica Mendoza, 19, at first hand this summer.

Jessica has committed to ride in two of the domestic circuit's forthcoming majors – the Bolesworth International (June 18-21) and the Longines Royal International at Hickstead (July 28-August 2).

Jessica's move to Eindhoven in the Netherlands from her family base at Tockenham in Wiltshire has been thoroughly vindicated as she became Britain's 10th ranked rider last month and moved into the world's top 100 (currently 97th slot).

She is behind only Laura Renwick in the British female rankings on the Longines list.

The global nature of the sport at the highest level has seen Jessica gain consistent results this spring in Italy, Hong Kong, France, The Netherlands and Belgium. She has just returned from the Longines Global Champions Tour in Shanghai having achieved a triple clear to finish sixth in the Grand Prix on Spirit T.

This weekend she attempts to defend her Cum Laude Clinic Eindhoven Derby title.

Twelve months ago she took the Eindhoven title in her first ride ever in a jumping Derby on Ramiro de Belle Vue, beating Derby-specialist William Funnell to take home the winning prize of a Mini-Cooper car. Jessica will be competing on the same horse again this time.

"Last year we had trained Ramiro specially for the event, concentrating on building his fitness so he was ready for the 22 fences he had to jump," she said.

"It worked last year so we've prepared him much the same way again this time."