WARRINGTON Sports Personality of the Year John Nicholls has hailed 2007 as the best year of his career after clinching another shot put gold at the British Masters Championships.

Nicholls recorded a throw of 14.99m in the opening round of the over 40s event in Birmingham on Sunday and that throw gave him a massive victory margin of 153 centimetres, even beating the winning distance from the over 35s event by 68 centimetres.

The 41-year-old from Stockton Heath had previously won the British Masters Indoor Championships as well as the European Veterans Indoor Championships and a 21st successive Cheshire Championships this year and was delighted to end his season with four out of four titles.

Nicholls, who clinched the Warrington Sports Personality prize in February, said: "I knew if I threw near 15 metres no-one else could match that, and I opened up big and stamped my authority on the competition. It was done after round one really.

"That's four out of four and I didn't really believe I could do it at the start of the year, but I'll enjoy it while I can.

"I can't really comprehend what I've done but it has to be my best year.

"It was weird after I'd won because it was a bit of anti-climax. I've had such a good year that I don't want it to finish, I want to keep carrying on."

Nicholls has already turned his focus to the World Masters Indoor Championships in France in March and reckons belief will be the key if he is to clinch a first world title.

He said: "I'll go to win, but to win a world title is something beyond what I can believe at the moment.

"But I look at what I've done and think I must have a chance.

"I need to find another half a metre but I just need to really believe I've got a chance."