Royal Cromer's Amber Ratcliffe wrote her name into the record books when she successfully defended the English schools' U16 championship at Delamere Forest, Cheshire.

Royal Cromer's Amber Ratcliffe wrote her name into the record books when she successfully defended the English schools' U16 championship at Delamere Forest, Cheshire.

The 14-year-old is the first girl

ever to retain the title - and she did it in considerable style, writes Lyndsey Hewison.

She won by four shots after returning scores of one-over 73 and level par 72, which exactly matched the CSS for the day.

As a bonus she cut her handicap to its lowest level yet of 1.8.

'I really wanted to win again and I am so pleased, it's a good feeling,' said Ratcliffe, who is a member of the English Women's Golf Association's Midlands Select Squad.

She will still be eligible for the championship next year and is already hoping for a hat-trick of wins.

Ratcliffe has a remarkable record in schools golf. She has also twice won the Norfolk schools' title and is additionally the reigning South East of England champion.

As a result of her successes, Ratcliffe will represent England in the two annual schools' internationals against Wales and Scotland.

She played solidly throughout the championship, but was disappointed with her putting.

However, her long game was in super-accurate condition: 'I was focused on fairways and greens and I was hitting it pretty straight - it was a really tight course with lots of thick rough. But I had so many putts that horseshoed out.'

In the first round, Ratcliffe made a steady score, despite a couple of three-putts.

In the afternoon she started with a bogey and was two-over after eight.

A sparkling spell of three consecutive birdies around the turn got her to one-under and she dropped just one more shot.

Ratcliffe, who attends Sheringham High School, will be playing in this week's English girls' U15 championship at Market Rasen in Lincolnshire.