WILLOW JOHNSON has become a British champion at the tender age of eight.

Willow last month scooped the British Tots title in artistic roller skating at the championships held at the Andover Leisure Centre.

She beat off 20 fellow skaters from around the UK to lift the title.

She has also been excelling at international competitions and in May she picked up a bronze medal at an event in Holland.

Swindon-based Willow started competing at the age of five but it was only after she came to the notice of Martin Pickering, head coach at the well known Stalham Artistic Roller Skating Club in Great Yarmouth at the beginning of 2015 that her career took off.

A trial weekend in Yarmouth confirmed her promise to Pickering but travelling to the Norfolk coast every weekend for coaching was never a feasible option.

Instead, Pickering put the Johnsons in touch with Lewis Clarke who runs one of Stalham’s satellite clubs out of Deer Park School in Cirencester.

Willow, a perfectionist with her skating and her school work, has thrived since training for eight hours every weekend after joining Clarke, who has been coaching for approximately 30 years.

She has already made plenty of sacrifices for her sport – giving up invitations to friend’s parties and family functions – as she chases her dream of representing Great Britain at the world championships.

Willow’s mum Tracey said: “Willow has a great relationship with Lewis.

“He is quiet, kind and patient and encouraged her right from the beginning to be positive.

“He is a brilliant coach who brings out the very best in her skating.”

Clarke said: “I skated at national level as a youngster and as an adult I was head coach at Stratford Park Skating Club where I served for 10 years before starting up my own club in Cirencester where I live.

“In 2013, I was contacted by Martin Pickering, the head coach at Stalham ARC, asking if I would coach for them.

“It was an honour to be asked to be part of such a successful skating club. I have been coaching for them now for a year and a half at Deer Park.

“What I offer skaters, is a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. I am very patient with all my skaters – something I bring from the time I was driving instructor.

“Willow had been training with me for four months in the run-up to the championships.

"Plans for the future include to compete in the European Championships. However, this is all very expensive, so we are hoping that out there is an understanding business that would be willing to sponsor Willow.”