PHILIPPA Ernst showed she can hold her own against the old heads as she boosted her medal tally at the UWK World Karate Championships, writes Ben Collins.

The 18-year-old from Holcombe Brook was selected to represent England at the tournament in Slovenia last month and returned home with a bronze medal and two silvers.

The former Woodhey and Bury College pupil turned 18 in March so has only just stepped up into the senior ranks in March.

And despite competing in the 18-35 age bracket in her individual event, she claimed bronze in the under 65kgs weight category.

“There were a lot of experienced girls in there and Philippa won four tough fights to get the bronze so she did really well,” said her father, Julian.

Philippa also won two silvers in the team fighting events, helping England finish sixth in the overall table, with 43 countries having taken part in the competition.

She now hopes to build on that success as she travels across Europe for a busy schedule over Christmas, beginning with the UWK England Open Championships in Sheffield on November 22.

Next up is next month’s WUKF European Champions Cup in Romania in December, then the Malta Open in March and the WUKF World Championships in Dublin next June.

Karate is not currently an Olympic sport but will be a demonstration sport at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Philippa trains two evenings a week at the USKA Dojo on Hardman Street, Bury, under her instructor Peter Allen, with whom she has trained for 13 years.

Her family currently covers all travelling costs but would welcome sponsorship. If interested, contact her father Julian Ernst on 0161 761 4795 or 07748 773544.