Athlete and Strongman

GEOFF CAPES is the most capped British male athlete of all time. Even though he retired from UK athletics in 1980, with 67 international caps – and returning 35 wins.

Amazingly, he held the British and Commonwealth shot-putt record of 71ft 31/2in, set at Cwmbran in 1980, which stood for 23 years.

During his athletic career, which began in 1967, he won 17 National titles, was twice Commonwealth Champion, won two Gold, two Silver and one Bronze medals at European Championships, was three times European Champion, competed in three Olympic Games and was awarded The Queen’s Jubilee medal in 1977, for services to the community.

Geoff turned professional in 1980 to take part in strong man competitions and Highland games. He was twice the World's Strongest man and took the titles of Europe's Strongest man and Britain's Strongest Man three times each. He was World Highland Games Champion on six occasions. His autobiography is entitled 'Big Shot'.

Geoff lists among his hobbies fishing and gardening, but his real love is exhibition Budgerigars.

It surprises some people that a man of Geoff Capes' physical stature should be gentle enough to keep and breed birds. However, he is a true son of the Lincolnshire fens and cared for injured birds and animals from when he was a young boy. Hardly a day passed without the Capes' household serving as a refuge for a recovering Pheasant, Owl or Jackdaw.

As a champion Budgerigar exhibitor he has enjoyed many show successes. He is an elected member of the Budgerigar Society's General Council and serves on its disciplinary committee – which fits in well with his appointment to the Bench as a Justice of the Peace and his previous service in the Police Force.

The Budgerigar Breeding Page gives some idea of how dedicated Geoff Capes is to his hobby.