Capes caps fine effort with PB

TOPS: Vincent Capes won by 95kg over his nearest rival. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

RATHKEALE College pupil Vincent Capes was in a class of his own in the sub-junior 74kg class at the New Zealand power lifting championships in Auckland over the weekend.

Capes, 16, was competing in only his third competition but his lack of experience never showed as he registered totals of 150kg in the squat, 97.5kg in the bench press and 190kg in the dead lift for a total of 437.5kg.

That was a personal best by 17.5kg and had him finishing 95kg ahead of his nearest rival.

Even if he had been lifting in the 83kg division, Capes would have been in strong contention for a medal, possibly even a silver.

Not surprisingly his Carterton-based coach John Quinn was delighted with Capes' effort.

"We knew he had that sort of potential but you can never be sure they will produce it on the big day," Quinn said.

"He seems to thrive on pressure, the big occasions don't seem to worry him."

It was Quinn who suggested Capes should have a crack at power lifting after coaching him in the hammer throw.

He was good enough in that sport to come third in the senior boys event at the North Island secondary schools championships but his build was always likely to count against him developing into a top-liner.

"He's absolutely mad on the gym and has such a great work ethic I could see him doing well in power lifting," Quinn said.

"He's on a level footing there because they compete in their own weight groups, it suits him perfectly."

Capes will head to Palmerston North this coming weekend to contest the Central Districts bench press championships.