On top of the world - that's 16-year-old Emma-Marie Elmes after hearing that Eastwood Mercedes dealership SMAC Continentental were to pay the £1,500 to enable her to compete in the World Karate Association Championships in the United States in September.

SMAC came to the rescue after an Echosport appeal for help from Furtherwick Park School, where Emma-Marie is a pupil. The British team member, who is an expert is creative kata - a form of karate choreographed to music - is seen celebrating with SMAC director Steve Farnsworth.

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.