Sussex's golden girl Charlotte Kerwood made one of the best decisions of her young life when she answered an advert offering scholarships for budding shooting stars.

That was when she was just 12-years-old. Today, three years later, she is celebrating at her home near Fletching after winning the double trap event at the Commonwealth Games at Bisley, Surrey yesterday.

When she goes back to Walden Park School, Heathfield in September not only will she have a gold medal to show her friends, but she will also be able to tell them about meeting the Count and Countess of Wessex who were among the first people to congratulate her after her gold medal-winning performance yesterday.

Double trap is better known as clay pigeon shooting and although her father Dan runs a shooting range on a farm near Sheffield Park, it was only three years ago after reading that advert that she took up the sport. It appears she is a natural.

Charlotte said: "I saw an advert offering a scholarship to any young lady who wanted to compete at double trap.

"There aren't a lot of ladies who shoot. I liked shooting so I thought why not? Fortunately for me the trials went well."

That is a bit of an understatement. She won both selection shoots at the British Grand Prix in Hertfordshire and the English Championships in East Yorkshire.

She also claimed the European junior title in Italy with a score of 94 out of 120, five fewer than Sweden's Pia Hansen, the Sydney Olympic champion, who claimed a bronze medal in the senior event.

Charlotte and her family currently live in a mobile home on land they bought recently while they redevelop a rundown house.

Father Dan said: "It hasn't been easy, sometimes, living like we are. But Charlotte is helping to keep us all cheerful with her success. My wife, Jan, and myself are proud of what she's done."

Charlotte's potential was quickly spotted by the British shooting hierarchy. When she was selected as England's youngest ever Commonwealth Games shooting competitor last month team management thought taking part in the 2002 Olympics in Athens might come too early for Charlotte. Her achievement yesterday should make them change their minds.

Ian Coley, the British Olympic shooting manager, said: "Charlotte is the youngest lady double trap shooter we've ever had. It's astonishing that she has made such rapid progress.

"She has got all the attributes. Charlotte conducts herself well on the line and doesn't show any signs of pressure. She has a marvellous temperament and ability "She has to put in a lot of a hard work and show plenty of commitment so we can help get her up to gold medal standard. The advert was put in because there is such a dearth of lady shooters. We want to encourage them by offering to pay for cartridges, entry fees and training."

Modest Charlotte admits her temperament has helped her achieve such a rapid rate of progress.

She added: "I don't get nervous or distracted. There is nothing else going through my mind. I just keep my eye on the clay "That's just the way I am and I know I am fortunate to be like that."