Zoe Smethurst is targeting a place in the Great Britain archery squad after making a champion start to her career.

Zoe is only 11 but can now proudly claim to be the Leicestershire, East Midlands and National recurve champion for her age group.

The Bushloe High School pupil has won all three since June and has won her County matches in contests against Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.

Zoe's first success was the Leicestershire title with a total of 1,188 points out of possible 1,296, shooting 12 dozen arrows over three distances, 10, 20 and 30 yards.

In the East Midlands event, she scored 1,196 points and, in the national, scored 792 points from eight-dozen arrows used after being reduced from 12-dozen arrows because of high winds.

Zoe, who lives in Wigston, is also the title-holder for Leicestershire and East Midlands when it comes to the most points scored.

Zoe only started shooting with the Bowmen of Glen Archery Society three years ago after her father, Julian, decided to take up the sport again after a break.

Zoe's mother, Christiana, says: "The next stop is the East Midlands squad and then Great Britain, and she would like to shoot for her country.

"She has said that on several occasions, but at the moment she is just too young.

"The distance is 70 metres and she is not strong enough to do that.

"But the sky is the limit if she keeps going and as long as can avoid getting injured."