Fermoy’s John Rice returned home from the 2016 World Throwers Club World 56lb Championship in Derby this month with seven medals, as well as the award for the Men’s 65+ Overall Winner of the Championship.

The Grange AC competitor has enjoyed a most successful start to the year, having set a world record while competing at the All-Ireland Open finals in February.

Mr Rice collected three gold medals, a silver and a bronze across the five disciplines – Putt, Distance, Hammer with turn, Hammer, and Hammer for height.

Throwing 35lbs in each event, he subsequently won gold in both the Triathlon and Pentathlon events, as well as the overall award for Men’s 65+.

Mr Rice trains locally in the Fermoy Rowing Club gym and holds a number of world records competing in various Irish Drug Free Powerlifting Association events across the world.

He is currently preparing for the IDFPA World Championships in June, to be held in Wrexham, Wales, and the qualifying events that precede it.