“He was a tremendous figure in British athletics and introduced the crowds back again to our sport. Fiercely independent, aggressive, but constantly protective of your groups that he captained with distinction.”
Capes, who died this 7 days aged seventy five, also received two European indoor shot set titles and two Commonwealth Game titles gold medals during a stellar throws profession. Moreover, he competed in 3 Olympic Game titles.
“His feats will never be matched – to become elite level throughout lots of power sports – strongman, athletics and Highland Online games – is intellect blowing.”
Following retiring from energy athletics in 1987, Capes continued his involvement while in the Activity by coaching younger athletes and performing like a referee at toughness competitions in the UK.
In the course of tea breaks during the haulier’s lawn, Capes built up his arm muscles by Keeping two 4st measuring weights above his head. He also put in place a makeshift gymnasium with two buddies.
More a short while ago together with his son, Lewis, he has nurtured his grandsons as fantastic throwers. Lawson is presently rated initially in the united kingdom and 12th all time with the U17 Adult men's shot put and Donovan has experienced terrific accomplishment over a nationwide level and now competes from the US for Adams Condition.
In his debut online games, the gifted sportsman who also represented his county at basketball, soccer and cross state, he finished in 20th area.
Away from the rigours of demonstrates of strength, Capes’s key fascination was breeding budgerigars. He became involved with the hobby after staying sent to arrest a person in Peterborough in 1970.
His final Highland Games championship came in 1987, marking the tip of the era for his aggressive profession.
He bred the birds for a lot more than four a long time - getting his 1st three birds from the man he went to arrest for failing to pay for a fine in 1969 when he was from the police.
Holding down a complete-time position and getting a world athlete also proved tough for Capes since the law enforcement have been hesitant to permit him break day to show up at each Levels of competition he wanted to. By the tip of your 1980 Olympics, at which he came fifth, the entice of professional rewards and an absence of powerful British shot-Placing Competitors intended Capes was wanting to embark on the next stage of his job.
But his normal ability was not often questioned, as his 67th and final Global outing, at read more Cwmbran in Wales, proved. On that celebration Capes extended his possess British shot-Placing history to 21.
He labored as a coalman and an agricultural labourer right after faculty, his official biography to the Geoff Capes Basis indicating he gained a reputation for “being able to load 20 plenty of potatoes in 20 minutes” ahead of signing up for Cambridgeshire Constabulary in 1970, wherever he served for ten years.
This ensured his invitation on the 1980 Entire world's Strongest Gentleman and on his 1st entry he came third powering the by then much more skilled Bill Kazmaier and Lars Hedlund. In 1981 he returned and enhanced to next position, yet again driving Kazmaier, and in 1982 he came fourth.