Kidlington's Mick James is the World Masters Benchpress Powerlifting champion - in bizarre circumstances - just four years after he took up the sport competitively.

Mick James

Initially, the 53-year-old, who weighs 66.1kg, thought he had won silver in the 67.5kg category, with a lift of 142.5kg at the event in Killeen, Texas.

However, it wasn't until the medal ceremony, that James, a driver for Unigate Dairycrest in Oxford, was told he had struck gold, after the Japanese winner was disqualified for breaking the strict clothing criteria, after he wore more than the permitted briefs and leotard.

James said: "It was bizarre. It wouldn't have given him any advantage. He was the favourite anyway.

"The competition went OK. I was pleased, because I beat last year's world champion. It wasn't too nerve-wracking. I just concentrated on what I was doing. I didn't think about the others.

"When it came to the medal ceremony and they called the third and second place people forward I got a bit nervous.

"But when they called me up for first place I couldn't believe it. I couldn't stop smiling," said James, a member of the Kidlington weightlifting club.

In a very tight competition, James lifted just 2.5kg more than former world and European champion Kapor from Hungary.

The American was a further 5kg behind in third place.

It was the first time James, a divorced father-of-two, has competed internationally.

James got some excellent hints from reigning ladies World champion at 56kg, Toni Hollis, with whom he trains at Gosford Sports Centre three times a week.

He said: "She's done it all before, and that helped me a lot.

"I have only been competing for four years. I was training a year before that.

"I first got interested when I read a weightlifting magazine and thought 'I reckon I could do that'.

"I didn't realise Kidlington even had a weightlifting club until I heard about the Gosford sports centre. I went along, and it all started from there.

"Training can be quite enjoyable, particularly if there is a group of you, because you can keep each other going."

James, is now preparing for this weekend's British Masters Championships in Birmingham.

"I've got a bit of a dodgy shoulder at the moment, but I'm hoping it will be OK for Saturday."

Next month, James is taking part in a three-man team challenge at Gosford Sports Centre, involving teams from all over the country.

James tackles the benchpress, while his teammates will take part in the squat and deadlift.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I love competing."