Lawson Capes of Bourne Grammar School wins a gold medal for England in a Home Nations meeting in Wales
Lawson Capes set a huge new personal best on his way to winning gold for England in a Home Nations meeting in Wales at the weekend.
Capes threw 18.53m to take victory at Carmarthen in a strong international competition which featured many stars of the future.
The weather was a huge challenge for the athletes as they left behind 30 degree temperatures to travel into a western front storm coming in off the Atlantic that brought monsoon conditions.
The event had the top two athletes from each competing nation of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Capes went in as number one in the United Kingdom but had major competition from Theo Hanlon of Ireland with the duo being just 20cm apart at a previous international earlier in the season.
The former Bourne Grammar School pupil opened up with a modest 17.12m but that was answered with 17.46m by the Irishman.
Conditions were not improving but the athletes handled it well and Capes threw 17.81m in the second round to take back the lead.
Hanlon again answered it with 17.89m to take the lead back again, but Capes then entered the ring in the third round really up for it and smashed out a 18.53m for a huge personal best which broke the 18-metre barrier.
The Irish athlete came back with 17.90m which was still an improvement before Capes fouled out on his final throws.
Hanlon was still fighting back and threw a new personal best of more than 18-metres to register 18.37m which was just short of Capes' winning effort.
It was Capes' second gold medal from three internationals - he came second in the other - and his meeting was then capped off by being voted as the best male athlete performance of the day by the England management team.
His father and coach, Lewis Capes, said: "He has done it again and amazed us with an unbelievable distance.
"He displayed a true champion pedigree by fighting each round to win against huge pressure and horrendous conditions."
Lawson is now looking to further challenge himself and travel around Europe by attending the best competitions on a European Tour next season.
However, there is no financial support in the sport and he is looking for major sponsors to assist with this campaign to challenge the best in Europe.
Anyone interested in sponsorship can email Lewis Capes on capes@talktalk.net for further information.