PROMISING fencer Abigail Watkins targets further success on the European stage when she represents Great Britain in Bratislava on Saturday.

The 14-year-old, who attends Royal Grammar School Worcester, has been selected by British Fencing to fly out to the Slovakian capital after a successful debut in Copenhagen last month.

Fencing epee, the St John’s teenager, who trains at Malvern Hills Fencing Club with coach John Rees, secured a European ranking of 325 after winning three out of six pool matches.

Her father Richard said she had gone beyond her coach’s expectations as she only took up the sport three years ago after being inspired by the Canadian Pentathlon team who visited Malvern before the 2012 Olympics.

“When she went to Copenhagen, her coaches were saying to her, ‘Don’t expect to get very far’,” he said.

“But she made the cut and was very successful.

“When I asked her what she thought, she said, ‘They’re fast’, as there is a pretty big step up from British fencing to that standard.

“She went with 15 others, so if organisations are taking the same amount of promising fencers then the competition is going to be stiff.”

He thanked RGS, Sport Worcester and charitable organisation CG5 for their support.

Teenager Watkins, who is Welsh under 16s champion and ranked 17th by British Fencing, will take part in both the under 17s and 20s national championships in London next month.