WEIGHTLIFTING expert Philip Karlsson is used to the boys he trains winning medals.

Now the long-serving coach at St Birinus School in Mereland Road, Didcot, has picked up his own national award.

Mr Karlsson, 61, has been named 2015 Community Coach of the Year by British Weightlifting, the sport’s national governing body.

He was given the award for identifying talent and developing weightlifters at domestic or international level. The award is handed out to coaches who go above and beyond the call of duty in helping weightlifters.

Ben Watson, who won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in 2014, said he owed his success in weightlifting to the school.

Mr Karlsson said: “This award follows on from Ben Watson’s success and I am delighted – I haven’t won anything like this before.”