Woodford Green boasts a British weightlifting champion after Joe Hill won the Under-18 Championship in the 94kg weightclass at Lilleshall National Sports Centre.

Hill, 18, made lifts of 112kg in the Snatch and 130kg in the Clean & Jerk for a personal best 242kg total which is more than 2.5 times his own bodyweight of 90kg.

The teenager’s impressive result was the highest total of the day across all weightclasses and he says he was delighted with the victory.

“I’m chuffed to bits,” said Hill, who trains at Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club. “I thought I’d come second because I had some really strong compeitition but I put the pressure on and he pulled out in the end.

“To be a British champion is really good – people have been saying it down the gym a bit and I still can’t really get my head round it.”

The win capped a fantastic year for Hill, which has included wins at the Novice Championships in January and the Junior Regional Championships in September.

Hill started weightlifting after leaving school at 15 and he now has his eyes on selection for national squads.

“I’d love to get into the Commonwealth team which is picked in January but that will be difficult because there’s some really strong competitors at the moment,” he said.

“But hopefully I can be selected for the European juniors – my eventual aim is to make the World Championships and place in the top five.

“Hardly anyone from this part of the world has really achieved that so that’s my long-term ambition.”

Hill is currently under the tutelage of former Great Britain weightlifter Giles Greenwood and says “he couldn’t ask for a better coach”.

Greenwood was pleased with Hill’s win at Lilleshall and believes national selection is now a realistic target.

“Joe takes his training seriously,” Greenwood said. “His hard work is paying off with continuous improvement and some impressive performances this year culminating in winning the British Under-18s.

“He’s got potential and should hopefully make the national junior Under-20 team in 2014.”

Hill, who is now looking forward to the English Championships later this year, is seeking sponsorship to help fulfill his goals.

Anyone interested should email joehill331@gmail.com.