Braintree's Lauren Manning has beaten off top competition to become the overall champion of all the girls in the Toyakwai Karate Association in the Southern Region.
Lauren, 12, who attends the Tabor High School in Braintree, scored the most points throughout the year in all her competitions to become the champion, and she was presented with a splendid trophy for her achievements.
She also won the National Open Championships, which were held in London in November.
Although she was in competition with 15 other girls, some who were black belts, and older than herself, Lauren attained first place for her katta routine and third place in her kumite - katta being a set move routine and kumite being a sparring contest.
Lauren has come a long way in a short time in karate, as she is already a purple one stripe and has been attending the Braintree Shotokan Karate club for just over a year.
Her ambition is to continue to pile up the points in competitions in 2000, (in the events, three points are gained for a first place, two for a second place and one point for a third place), and Lauren extended her thanks to her sensei's, Lac Lawrence and Dean Simpson, for their coaching and guidance.
Top girl . . Lauren Manning displays the style that has won her a major karate title.
Picture: MARK LEES
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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