Taking a year out to concentrate on squash looks to have paid off for Oxford teenager Rosie Hamilton.

The former St Edward's School pupil, 18, has seen her under 19 ranking soar to No 21 in Europe after playing in a series of tournaments across the continent.

And she is now looking to maintain that level as she heads off to study medicine at Manchester University.

Hamilton said: "I decided to take a year out to play on the junior tour and see where it got me.

"It has definitely been worth it as I am now ranked No 15 in England and was No 9 last month.

"I wasn't in the top 20 last year, I wasn't even close.

"I needed the chance to just go for it."

Hamilton, who represents the Esporta club, has been playing squash for six years.

She was in the Oxfordshire team which finished third in last week's under 19 county championship in Manchester.

In the past year she has played tournaments in Prague and Vienna as well as the British championship in Sheffield.

As for the future, Hamilton said: "I will certainly play for the university, but it will be hard to train as much.

"From September to February I was training six days a week and often twice a day.

"I won't lose anything technique-wise though.

"The experience of playing tournaments was one of the biggest factors in improving my game.

"Hopefully, I will be able to keep the fitness up."