KARATE queen Collette Glynn just failed in her bid to retain her European Shotokan women's title in Switzerland last week.

The 29-year-old single mum from Clock Face was beaten at the semi-final stage by the eventual winner, the Belgian number one, but did manage to keep her pledge to bring home a medal from all the top competitions she enters by taking the bronze.

"All the fights were very hard but the Belgian girl was very good and I certainly learned some lessons," said Collette, who works in the stores at 103 Air Defence of the Royal Artillery at Prescot Road, as well as serving there as a territorial army soldier.

The former life-guard, who now has 21 gold medals, six silver and six bronze for karate at national and international level, was the only British woman to win a team fight.

And although she took a punch to the throat during the competition, British champion Collette, who is also physical training instructor at the TA's Jubilee Barracks, is undeterred. "I'm determined to win the title back," she said.