The iconic British archer competed in three Olympics and rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s for his feats in athletics and strongman circuits.
In May 1966 AW: The Youth Spotlight column featured a couple of 16-year-old pitchers: Joe Bagner and Jeff Capes. While Boogner, a promising teenage discus thrower, won the British boxing title and fought Muhammad Ali for the world crown, Capes became Britain’s long-standing record holder, World’s Strongest Man winner and multiple Highland Games champion.
Cape, who died this week aged 75, also won two European indoor titles and two Commonwealth Games gold medals during a stellar throwing career. In addition, he participated in three Olympic Games.
In total, he improved the British record from 19.56m to 21.68m, which he held between 1972 and 2003, and competed for the British a remarkable 67 times. At the height of his glory, the Crystal Palace shooting range was moved straight into the center of the house so that he would be center stage. A bona fide athletics icon, he would often start competitions in a tracksuit and then take it off in the fourth or fifth round when “he meant business”.
Jeff Capes (Mark Shearman)
Amazingly, Capes was the youngest of five brothers and ran a 4:48 mile and competed in cross country in his early years. This running ability never left him in the throws either, as long before the Mondo Duplantis-Carsten Warholm sprint duel he beat Brendan Foster not once but twice in the exhibition 200m, first at Gateshead and then at Spalding.
A turning point for Capes as an athlete came when he met international sprinter Stuart Storey. A self-confessed “tear-taker,” Cape went downhill under Story and began setting age records from the age of 16. They also remained lifelong friends when Storey sadly broke the news of Capes’ death AW:.
Jeff Capes (Mark Shearman)
In true Rocky Balboa style, Capes learned how to lift in the weight room while working on Lincolnshire ranches alongside his father and eight siblings, before later combining a police career with his athletics and strongman triumphs.
In his long career, 1974 was his best season when he won the European indoor and Commonwealth titles and announced himself as a truly world-class thrower. However, his biggest throw ever came in 1980 when he threw 21.68m at Cwmbran. That year she went to the Moscow Olympics aiming to win a medal, but a back injury hampered her chances and she finished fifth.
Once he said AW:“I think I might be the only athlete to have won so many athletics awards and become world champion in three different sports, rather than an MBE, but I’m sure that’s because I was up against Margaret. Thatcher in 1980 so athletes could compete in Moscow, sacrificing my police career.’
Jeff Capes and Stuart Storey at the England Awards (Mark Shearman)
Outside of athletics, he was a six-time Highland Games champion and won the World’s Strongest Man title in 1983 and 1985.
Somewhat oddly, given his enormous size, after his sporting career he became a top breeder of sorrel at his home near Grantham. His passion for breeding small birds saw him crowned the president of the club of ruffians, as well as winning the world title.
He also gave a lot to the sport, coaching athletes such as Rebecca Peake, Rachel Wallader and Sophie McKenna among others. He also developed the Lincolnshire Throwing Academy in Holbeach for the shot and discus with his coaching sponsor and assistant Paul Wilson, going on to guide Scott Lincoln to become an Olympian and British No.1 shot putter.
Jeff Capes with some of his athletes (Mark Shearman)
Capps’ own family has produced only a handful of high-profile pitchers. Her children, Lewis and Emma, ​​have reached international level, while Lawson Capes, her grandson, recently won national age group titles and became the fifth member of the family to represent their country at the event. Lawson’s older brother, Donovan, also won the English Schools title.
“I finished my career knowing I was No. 1 in the world in three different sports, which proves the importance of setting goals and objectives as early as possible in any athletic career,” Cape once said. “I have never accepted second best and this attitude has enabled me to travel the world, make many friends and challenge the best.”
Jeff Capes with his daily diet (Mark Shearman)
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The post Shooter, strongman and Highland Games legend Jeff Capes has died aged 75 appeared first AW:.
