"I TRAIN five times a week, play football every Sunday and enter boxing matches on a regular basis."

These are not the words of some top world-class athlete - well not yet anyway - but of pretty 14-year-old schoolgirl, Vicky James.

And to describe her as a "supergirl" would not be amiss because, not only does Vicky excel at sport, she's also a whizzkid in the classroom - especially at maths.

That's in addition - if you'll pardon the pun - to being the current title holder of Junior English Thai-boxing Champion - beating her 15-year-old opponent in straight rounds.

All rounder Vicky is in Year 10 at Rivington and Blackrod High School and began Thai-boxing last year.

Since then, apart from winning that very prestigious title, she's won four armbands and doubled her gradings.

For the uninitiated among us, the modest Heaton teenager explains: "When I first started Thai-boxing I used to train about twice a week, then as I became more competitive I extended my training to five nights."

She stresses: "Training to fight is hard work but my instructors at Bolton Thai-boxing Club really encourage me - they're fantastic and I always want to do my best for them, I'm actually the 17th champion the club has produced."

And the training is incredibly strenuous - press-ups, sit-ups, squats and skipping, all needed to fight competitively.

Her first fight was in Burnley in June of this year when she beat her competitor in 4 rounds, each one lasting one-and-a-half minutes.

To look at this schoolgirl, with her shiny dark hair cut into a fashionable bob, it's hard to imagine her petite frame battling it out in the boxing ring.

But Vicky is quick to correct me on my perception of Thai-boxing.

"It's all about discipline, self-confidence and respect and the training helps build all this. It's definitely not about anger and, you see, that's what a lot of people don't understand - it's not there to be misused.

"Thai-boxing teaches us to remain calm in a situation - don't get angry or bully people. Only about 10 per cent of Thai-boxing students want to fight in the ring - the other 90pc train for self-defence, fitness and confidence."

However Thai-boxing is but one string to Vicky's bow. She's also captain of her school football team and plays for Bolton Girls Football Club.

"My position is midfielder,' she says, "and I really love the game. I started playing for Bolton Girls about three years ago and we have matches every Sunday.

"I have to train for football as well - that's every Tuesday - so I suppose I'm quite fit really."

Now if you think all this sport takes Vicky's mind off the more academic subjects - you'd be wrong.

She is a model student, according to her school teachers, and tries hard in all subjects - particularly in maths.

Maths' teacher at Rivington and Blackrod High, Mr Malcolm Richmond says: "Vicky's only been in my class since September - when she started the GCSE maths course.

"But she has quickly shown herself to be a competent mathematician with good powers of concentration and self-discipline in producing accurate solutions.

"She seems to enjoy the challenge of questions and responds positively to guidance and instruction."

Mr Richmond also praises Vicky's determination. "She's determined and has a desire to succeed in a 'never be beaten' way."

But the teenager accepts all praise with engaging modesty.

"I suppose I do work hard," she muses, "but I'm lucky that I enjoy learning and," she giggles, "I have to admit maths seems to come naturally."

So does she prefer the classroom or the sports field? She's quick to amswer. "Sport," she laughs, "I love it - I'd do it all the time if I could.

"I could never give it up - I'd like to work in sport when I leave school, perhaps teach it."

Her school sports teacher, Ann Devine adds: "It's clear Vicky loves her sport - she's determined to succeed and to do this she works extremely hard.

"She's a credit to the school."

IS you child a Superkid?

We want to hear about all the Superboys and Supergirls in the Bolton area. They could excel at a sport or past-time. Perhaps they're really good neighbours, work hard for a charity or are just an ideal son or daughter.

Now it's YOUR chance to tell everyone what terrific children or grandchldren you've got!

Write and tell us all about them (including a recent photo if you like) to: SUPERKIDS, Angela Kelly, Features Department, Bolton Evening News, Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1DE. We'll feature as many as we can.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.