Young table tennis star Kate Nixon’s success in the National Championships has earned her a place in the England team for the Cadet Six Nation Championships in Denmark.

The 13-year-old Ilkley Grammar student Nixon was in inspired form in the under-14 championships last Saturday, beating Keighley’s Fion Myers and then number one seed Zanna Hall without dropping a set en-route to the final in Tipton.

She then lost out 3-1 in a tense championship decider, and that convinced England selectors to give her the nod to represent her country.

Nixon will travel today with her coach Sally Shutt and will play against the home nation as well as Germany, France, Holland and Sweden “It was amazing to see her do so well and there is no prouder moment as a parent than to see your daughter called up to the national squad,” said her father, Chris.

He added: “It brought a tear to mine and her mother’s eyes after seeing all her hard work in training pay off. Hopefully now she goes on to represent her country in the best way she can possibly do and that’s what I’m sure she will do.”

Chris is now hoping that his daughter can continue her steady progress after going a game further than she did in last year’s tournament.

“She got to the semi-finals at the nationals last year so she is making that natural progression, which is really what you want to see at this stage in her career.

“We are taking it all one step at a time and that’s how we see it going forward for her. She has done so well to get where she is, so she isn’t thinking about what could happen and is just focusing on her own game and improving.

“I used to play too and I can really relate to the pressure that she feels. I’m an absolute nervous wreck and it’s like I’m playing every point with her when I’m watching.

“It’s a big commitment for me and her mother to take her to training after school and then at weekends you have the tournaments so we are away for at least three out of four each month.

“But we wouldn’t have it any other way because it is seeing her become the best she can possibly be and that’s all you want to see as a proud parent.”