This is Plymouth -- SONNY WEBSTER'S decision to put a promising golfing career on hold and concentrate on weightlifting must be one of the smartest moves the young sportsman is likely to make.Webster, who is a finalist in The Herald's Sports Personality awards, briefly turned his back on lifting weights and went back to school at Filton, near Bristol, to pursue a career in golf.
The former Ivybridge Community College student's dream, as a then 16-year-old, was to make a career for himself on the golfing circuits of Europe and the USA.
The dream's very much still alive, but on the back-burner for Webster, who since returning to weightlifting has become a record-breaking British senior champion and a Commonwealth Championship junior silver medallist.
That is, in addition to claiming a best-ever finish at a top European competition.
So, at 19, Webster's career is nearing to a major lift off with the Commonwealth Games beckoning in 2014 and the Olympics two years further down the line.
If, as is expected, Webster wins selection to represent England at the Glasgow Games, he is likely to meet his former PE teacher and mentor at Ivybridge, weightlifting legend Michaela Breeze, who has come out of retirement and will go into battle for Wales.
Webster, who returns to see his folks in Ivybridge as regularly as studies at Bath University and training at Bristol's Empire Club allows, says he is in a good place now and that the burning ambition to succeed in weightlifting still burns brightly.
He said: "I'm really excited about my weightlifting career and this year have enjoyed some great results.
"Given what I've achieved in 2013 becoming British champion and raising the bar for myself, I wonder how far along I'd be if I hadn't taken those months out to study golf.
"Don't get me wrong, I still want to play on the (golfing) circuits with my mate from Plymouth, Leon Fricker, but realistically, I'm playing to my strengths now and staying with weightlifting.
"I've got a great coach at Bristol in Andy ***** and my progress has been very rewarding, and in addition I am enjoying my course at Bath Uni.
"So, life's good but I'm not going to lose sight that I will need to continue to work and train hard, as there would be a lot to lose should I let my standards drop.
"That's not going to happen as it is my dream to compete at the Commonwealth Games and also go to the Olympics in Brazil."
Webster, who is one of the finalists for the main prize at The Herald extravaganza on Wednesday, January 15 is looking forward to heading further south to Plymouth.
He said: "I've been nominated in the past for the junior categories, but being in the main award is great news.
"I'm really looking forward to coming back down for the event – it is a terrific event."
Among the many highlights of a remarkably successful 2013 for the former scholar from the South Hams, is his storming success at the British champs.
He became British champion in July and in so doing broke the national under-20 clean and jerk and total records, amassing a monster 317kgs.
More recently, Webster who missed out on competing in last year's Olympics by the narrowest of margins, enhanced his reputation with a superb display competing for Team GB at the European Championships in Estonia.
Webster's October-fest included smashing two British records and finishing just outside the medals in the 94kgs bodyweight category.
He snatched 145kgs breaking the previous best by 6kgs and then in the c&j lifted 175kgs to gain another British record.
His total earned him fourth place – Webster's best finish in Europe.
Last month at the Commonwealth Championships in Malaysia, Webster won silver in the junior class and fifth-place overall. Reported by This is 4 hours ago.