Abigail Wisson, 15, formerly of Wicken, pictured, has been kickboxing for eight years with Krusader Martial Arts, which is based in Potterspury. She recently became the International Sports Kickboxing Assoc-iation's junior British kickboxing champion after winning a match with a 14-year-old in Coventry.

She won four fights prior to her championship tournament, including competitions against a 28-year-old and a 23-year-old. Since then, Abigail, who now lives in Milton Keynes, has been invited to compete in the United States in April and has received sponsorship from Tito Ortiz, an American mixed martial arts fighter. This has enabled her to buy new equipment including a head guard, shin guard and gum shield. As well as competing, Abigail has also been studying hard at Bury Lawn School, in Stantonbury.

She first became interested in the sport when she was invited by a kickboxer to watch some of the training.

She said: "I liked a lot of sports. I asked if I could go along next time and I fell in love with it. I have achieved so much in the past eight years.

"It is different compared to other sports. It was something which clicked with me."

She paid tribute to the help she had received from Keith Gray, master at Krusader, and the support from her father, Simon, who was her corner partner during fights.

Her mother, Zena Yates, said: "I am really proud of her. I think it is a brilliant thing for someone of her age to have achieved and I hope she will continue for many years with it."