A KENDAL schoolboy has won first prize in two international piano competitions.

Richard Japerte, nine, who goes to Castle Park School, went to Riga in Latvia to compete against other young pianists from around the world.

There were 42 competitors from different countries, and Richard won came first.

This amazing achievement was duplicated later in Paris, at the international piano competition which took place in the Noisiel Conservatory in Paris.

Richard's mother, Natalija Japerte, who helps teach her son, said that Richard was very happy with this result and that he now has a strengthened determination to go on competing in the future.

Along with the help of his mother, who is a piano and accordion teacher at Castle Park School, Richard was helped by David Battersby, piano teacher at Windermere School.