A TEENAGER who was named Mr UK for his age group in a national bodybuilding competition is now setting his sights on his first international event.

James White, 18, is a kitchen fitter by day but in his spare time he trains hard in the gym in the hope of adding an international title in bodybuilding to his name.

Mr White, from Catterick Garrison, said he first started weight training when he left school for something to do.

He said: “I had nothing to do so my dad said I should go to the gym. I had done a bit of weight lifting while at school and done some boxing before, but I really enjoyed the training and kept going until I was getting really good.

“I never thought about competing until a few months ago when my friend encouraged me to enter one and I came second, meaning I went straight through to the British finals in Newcastle.”

Mr White said entrants are judged on their poses – something he had never done before but that he enjoyed learning about.

“You start off with the mandatory poses as a group then you come out on stage individually to do your own routine, trying to show off your best muscles and stand out from the crowd,” he said.

“I get a real buzz from going out on stage and it is a really good atmosphere backstage too.”

Mr White will compete in Rome on October 24. To sponsor him contact jameswhite1873@hotmail.com.