Emma making ripples as top stone skimmer

And it all happened after she took to a lake in Shropshire for a bit of fun with her children.

The mother-of-seven was up against some of the nation's best female throwers.

And she amazed not only herself but the crowds lining the bank near Bishop's Castle as she bounced the stone over 40.5 metres of water, smashing the previous course record of 39 metres set in 2010.

Emma lives in Far Forest, near Kidderminster, but spent her younger years by the coast.

She said: "I used to live by the sea so I've had a lot of practice over the years, but even I was surprised when I beat the record and came first.

"It was a fantastic day and there was something for everyone there – it was as much fun to watch as to take part."

She also managed to beat all other competition in the ball throwing contest, which was one of the many games held at the stone-themed event that also included rolling and piling.

A total of 120 competitors took part in the contest, with each having four stones.

Each piece of slate thrown at the event was hand-selected by the event organisers and shipped in over the Welsh border from Welshpool by specialists Mid-Wales Stone, ready for the day which aimed to raise awareness of prostate cancer. The skimming competition was judged on distance but the stone had to bounce at least three times and stay in lane to be counted and in with a chance of winning.

Heather Ashton, one of the organisers, began the event six years ago to raise awareness of prostate cancer and the family fun day was full of information on the condition for participants and spectators.

She said: "It was a gorgeous summer day and everyone was out and about enjoying their picnics.

"I couldn't believe it when Emma threw her stone, it just went on and on and on.

"We hope that Emma will return on the last Sunday of June 2014 to defend her title."

With thousands turning out to the unusual competition the organisers managed to raise more than £1,500 for cancer charities.