SHOT put star John Nicholls has described gaining a silver medal at Sunday's European Veterans Championships as the best feeling of his career.

The 40-year-old from Stockton Heath has been competing for more than 20 years but nothing has matched the enjoyment gained from his second place in the Polish city of Poznan at the weekend.

His throw of 15.05m put him one centimetre ahead of German favourite Enrico Pyritz and only 15 centimetres behind the Pole Marek Stolarczyk and it was the narrow margins involved that gave him the satisfaction.

He said: "The World Masters Indoor Championships bronze I got earlier in the year was probably better on paper but this was the best feeling because the competition was so close.

"The European field is pretty much as strong as the world one.

"They were all 6ft 5ins and 18 stone and I'm only 5ft 11ins and 16 stone. I was like a midget compared to them!

"In round one I was winning after throwing 14.60m but I got overtaken and I was third after round three.

"The others were getting better and I was getting worse, so I thought I could losing my podium place if I didn't act.

"Then I threw 15.05m in round four and just hung on in there for silver.

"For a split second I even thought I had won in the last round because I nailed the throw and knew it was a good one.

"I wondered why they weren't measuring it before I realised the red flag was up because I had fouled at the back of the circle.

"In the end the gold medallist threw beyond that mark and in a funny sort of way I was quite glad really because I didn't want any regrets."

Nicholls felt he had only an outside chance of a medal in Poznan but was delighted that he performed to his best while others did not.

He said: "If I throw 15 metres that's as good as I get so I can't complain, even if I finish last.

"I think I have performed on the big stage this year because of experience. I have just found out what works for me over the past couple of years.

"And only finishing second at the British Championships a couple of weeks ago did me the world of good. It was a disappointment but it made me really focused again."

Nicholls will compete for Sale Harriers in the British Cup semi final in Stoke on Sunday as the club bid to qualify for the final on August 19.

That final could be the last event of his career, although he will decide his future on a beach in the Balearics.

He said: "I'll go on holiday to Menorca with the family after the British Cup Final and make a rational decision.

"At the weekend I felt there was no way I could give this up but that was an emotional time and that is the never best time to make a decision."