LIKE most A-level students at this time of year, Hartlebury's Danielle Lawson knows she has got a number of tough days of revision ahead of her in preparation for her exams, writes Geoff Berkeley.

But unlike her classmates at RGS Worcester, Lawson, who is studying Biology, Physical Education and Textiles, has also got a few opponents to see off first before she can start hitting the books hard.

Ranked second in Great Britain and 119th in the world at under-20 level, the 17-year-old is one of the country’s most promising fencers and is determined to continue marking her mark on the international stage.

The teenager’s talents with a blade were made clear last year when she came 11th at the Women’s Epée European Under-17 Championships in Slovenia, 26th at the World Under-17 Championships in Uzbekistan and 14th at the Commonwealth Under-17 Championships in South Africa.

She then claimed individual and team gold at the Sainsbury’s UK School Games.

Her mother, Jane, said it was an “amazing” year as her daughter had also been accepted onto the first level of the British Fencing Talent Pathway.

Having progressed to under-20 level in September, Jane said she was expecting a “quiet” 2016, but Lawson has shown no signs of slowing up as she earned a spot at next month’s Under-20 European Championships.

“We weren’t expecting her to achieve great things in her first year at under-20 level as it was a big step up,” she said.

“But she has actually got really good results and qualified for the European Championships. There are a lot of people in her age group, but not many get very far in international competitions, so she has done really well.”

After being selected for the British women’s épée squad for the Under-20 World Cups, Lawson (pictured) surpassed her expectations by finishing 44th in Budapest, 34th in Laupheim, 94th in Helsinki and 33rd in Burgos.

The former Sytchampton Primary School pupil, who is the current holder of the Under-18 Women’s Epée British Youth Championship, recently came sixth at the Under-20 National Championships and has just returned from a competition in Italy.

Jane said it had been a busy period managing her competition schedule alongside her schoolwork, but she insisted RGS had been very supportive, with the school’s PE department providing her with strength and conditioning training.

“She is trying to do her A-levels at the same time, so it has been quite intense,” she said.

“The school are really good at supporting her and she works really hard. As the European Championship is at the beginning of March, she has not got long until then and once they are over she wants to settle down and do some serious revision.”

Lawson is now set to train with her coach Nick Chapman before travelling to Novi Sad in Serbia as part of the GB team of three women’s épée fencers for the European Championship, which begins on March 4.

“It is really difficult to get high up in Europe as there are so many good countries represented, but she is just hoping to get far as possible,” Jane said.

“She came 11th in the under-17s Europeans last year, which is really good for a British fencer, so I think a last 16 or a last 32 spot would be her aim and those points would go towards her world ranking.”

Jane added: “I think going to an Olympics is everyone’s dream, but it is a tough route to get there, so you have just got to get as high as you can, compete in the world championships and carry your dream on from there.”