Rachel Wilmott has successfully defended her British under-13s crown with the help of a world class coach.

The 12-year-old from Horsham overcame Leicestershire's Sara Mattharu 9-0, 9-0, 9-2 in the final at Nottingham watched by her new guide Mike Harris, who also coaches world No.3 Linda Charman.

She said: "I am delighted to win again and be the best player in Britain. It feels great and Mike certainly played a big part.

"He has coached me for the past couple of months at Corals in Hove. He is very good on technique and fitness."

Nerves The Farlington pupil admitted she got an attack of nerves before the final.

The top seed said: "I was edgy. I won the title last year when I was a year younger than a lot of the players so I was expected to do well this time. But the final turned out easier than my semi which was hard."

Even though Deon Saffery, from Yorkshire, the No.3 seed, ran her close in each game during their last-four showdown, the result was still an emphatic 3-0 as Rachel sailed into the final.

She added: "I want to be No.1 in England and No.1 in the world. I have seen Linda Charman reach the top and that is inspiring as she is from Sussex. I am determined to make it."

Harris, a national senior and junior coach, said: "She is a class player with a big talent and an ice-cool temperament. She doesn't often flinch. She is far and away the best player of her age in Britain and would probably be rated in the top five or six at under-15s.

"But she is only 12 and we will take things slowly."

Rachel's next big test is the British Open in January.

Harris said: "She will be up against players from all over the world. Especially dangerous are the Egyptian girls. This will show us a little more of what Rachel can do."

Close Tom Pashley, 12, came close to making it a Sussex double when he was hit by a hamstring injury while leading 1-1 and 6-1 in the third game of the boys' final against James Snell (Devon).

The Hurstpierpoint College pupil's movement was limited but he still only lost by a point in each of the last two games.

Harris said: "Tom could have stopped and maybe he should have done, but he showed guts. He was just running on adrenalin. The only way he could win was to outthink his opponent and he came close. I am not saying he would have won but the injury made a big difference. His coach Graham Stevenson has done a good job with him."

Susie Pierrepont, 15, from Brighton College, was beaten in the last 16 of the under-17s event against No.1 seed Laura-Jane Langthorne (Lancashire) who went on to win the title.

Tina Rix, 16, who trains with Susie at Corals, was defeated 3-0 in her semi-final against Langthorne.