Suzie Pierrepont has ended an eight-year wait for a national junior title.

She lifted the British under-23 crown after a 3-1 victory against top seed Lauren Siddall (Yorkshire) in Manchester.

Her last national success was winning the under-12s title.

Pierrepont, 19, from Brighton, said: "I'm really pleased. It's a great title to win and a tremendous confidence boost.

"It's been a long time coming and I'm young enough to win it a few more times."

It was not plain sailing for the former Varndean student.

She lost the first game 10-8 after leading 6-1 and was in danger of collapsing after going 6-0 down in the second.

But Pierrepont recovered to win 9-7 and dropped just two more points to clinch victory.

She said: "I had a brain freeze which lasted until I was 6-0 down in the second game but then I got myself together."

Pierrepont turned professional this year and has competed in Europe and the United States on the women's international tour.

She said: "Going professional has been worthwhile because it has improved my game and given me experience at the highest level.

"I am breaking even, although I've helped bump up my income with coaching in America. Playing world-class players in different conditions has brought my game on and gave me an edge in Manchester."

Pierrepont has captained England to the European under-19s and under-17s team titles and skippered her country to a bronze medal in the World Championships in the same age group.

She said: "I've had a reasonable amount of success as a junior and hopefully it will stand me in good stead, now I'm trying to make a career out of my sport."

Rachel Willmott, the national under-17s champion from Horsham, was defeated 3-1 in the semi-finals by Siddall.

Willmott, a pupil at Farlington school, was making her debut and saved three match points in the third game and reduced the deficit to 2-1.

Her mother Linda, a coach at Horsham, said: "Rachel showed a lot of spirit against a bigger, stronger and older opponent."

Jenna Gates (Henfield) was knocked out in the second round by Siddall 3-0 (10-8 10-8 10-8).

Tom Pashley, 16, from Horsted Keynes, lost 3-0 to Joel Hinds (Leicestershire) in the opening round.

The match was closer than the scoreline suggests as Pashley was pipped 11-9 11-8 11-9.

Brighton College student Chris Simpson, the national under-17s title holder who recently captained England to a bronze medal at the World Under-19s Team Championships, withdrew from the event with a back injury.