Winsley fencing prodigy Sophie Williams says she will go all out for victory at the Junior World Championships in Belfast next month even if it means eliminating a lifelong friend to get there.

The Millfield School pupil is ranked third in the UK at Under 20 level but was only chosen for the competition, which starts on April 5, after an appeal, when she fell short of the required points total.

However with red tape having now been cut, the competitive 18-year-old is determined to make an impact. “I’m really happy because initially I wasn’t selected,” she said.

“You needed 7.500 points to qualify and I only achieved 7,200 but I appealed and got in.

“It’s on home ground for Great Britain in Belfast so I think they should have picked a full team from the start anyway.

“The top four in this country are really strong and we have known each other for a long time so are all good friends.

“We may have to face each other at some point in the competition and and while you want everyone to do well, you can’t afford to have mixed emotions and have to concentrate on your own performance should that happen.”

Williams only took up the sport when a schoolmate suggested going to an after-hours club at the age of 11.

Now she dreams of competing for her country at the London Olympics in 2012.

On the completion of her A-levels in the summer the bright student will take time out from education to dedicate herself to fulfiling her ultimate goal. “I love fencing and it’s a good anger outlet,” she joked.

“There’s not many sports where you can beat up the other person.

“I want to compete for Great Britain at the Olympics and will start training full-time in Cornwall with top Hungarian coach Peter Frolich later this year.

“University College London have been really good and said they will wait for me to take up a place to study for a neuroscience degree.

“I also can’t thank the British Legion enough as their sponsorship will allow me to train.”

Williams is competing at the Public Schools fencing championship, the largest youth event of its kind in Europe, in Nottingham this week. She earned a bronze medal in the Epee discipline on Wednesday.