A TEENAGE boxer from County Durham is proving determination and a high pain threshold are the ingredients for success as she walks away with her fifth championship gold medal.

Ellie Barker, 13, of Bishop Auckland, has just returned from Bangkok where she was crowned winner of her category at the Second International Thai Martial Arts Games.

The Bishop Barrington pupil proved herself in the under 48kg for 11 to 13-year-olds when she went head to head with a Russian athlete.

Currently number one for her weight and age in the country, Thai boxer Ellie was invited to take part in the world Muay Boran championship.

“It was my first time and was very hot which made it more difficult,” she said. “It was great. I really like the competitiveness.”

The youngster was encouraged by her father Anthony Barker to take up the sport at the age of six and had her first fight at ten years old.

Since then she has competed in 41 fights across Europe and the globe, trained in Thailand for three weeks last year and has won three silver and five gold medals in world championship competitions.

Mr Barker said: “I wanted her and her sister to be able to protect themselves and do it for the fitness side as well. Ellie just really excelled.”

Thanks to a live stream courtesy of Mr Barker, Ellie’s classmates watched as she reigned supreme at the open air stadium in Thailand this month in 30 degree heat.

Support from home continued in the wake of her success as she was cheered on by her friends over a video message.

The athlete trains six days a week at Auckland Martial Arts Academy, in Bishop Auckland, for at least two hours after school as well as in the morning on weekends.

And in the weeks leading up to tournaments she gets out running every day before school, goes to the gym and attends strength and conditioning sessions.

She is also subject to a strict diet with no typical teenage goodies in the form of fizzy drinks, crisps and chocolate.

Ellie even faced a greater challenge this month as she competed in Muay Boran, a martial arts which with different rules to her usual combat sport of Muay Thai.

Her father puts her success down to discipline and a high pain threshold.

“It (fighting) doesn’t really hurt but I do come out with bruises,” added Ellie, who hopes for a career in the sport.

Ellie received a £1,000 grant from the County Durham Community Foundation which covered the cost of her latest trip.

She will compete again in Birmingham in June and if she qualifies will head back to Thailand in October.