EXTRA training paid off for Isaac Larkin and Louisa Sheppard as they both qualified for the British Schools Under 17 Weightlifting Championships.

The Oasis Club lifters from Ellesmere Port won the boys and girls’ Year 9 categories respectively at Sunday’s Northern England Schools U17 Weightlifting Championships, which took place at their home club.

They will now go on to compete for national honours at the British Championships which will be held at Oldbury College in Birmingham on Saturday, March 8.

The pair have benefited in the run-up to this competition by training at the Wright Robinson Sports College in Manchester with other weightlifting youngsters of their own age as well as working at Oasis with their clubmates.