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Sheer sporting class celebrated

sporting classHUNDREDS of people turned up to celebrate this years Sport Pembrokeshire Awards last Friday.

Outstanding sporting achievements from across the county were recognised at the prestigious annual event at Folly Farm.

Hosted by Sport Pembrokeshire- Pembrokeshire County Councilís sports development service – this year’s awards attracted more nominations that ever before across a wide range of sports and proved to be a very emotional evening.

Among those recognised was former rugby player Peter Morgan, who was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Last years Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Peter Morgan attended school in Haverfordwest and played schools, county and international youth rugby before an outstanding career at Llanelli – clocking up 274 appearances and a total of 425 points over a decade. At 19 he replaced JPR Williams as full back in the Welsh side and also played for the Barbarians.

He remains Pembrokeshire’s only British Lion touring South Africa in 1980 as the youngest of the squad. This year for the first time there were two winners of the Chairmanís Special Achievement Award. Lisa Starkey, who works at Fishguard Leisure Centre, was honoured for her calm-headedness under pressure.Earlier this year she put her first aid expertise into action when she saved the life of young footballer Nicky Badland, who collapsed with a heart attack on the pitch at Fishguard during a training session.

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Without her quick thinking and intervention it is almost certain he would not have survived.

Also honoured with a Chairmanís Special Achievement Award were Tenby rugby player and Iron Man competitor Nicky Rees and his friend Gareth Scotcher, who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease.

As a team the pair showed the very best of sporting camaraderie by taking on the challenge of the Tenby Long Course weekend with Gareth completing the 2.4 mile swim in a special tow cradle and the 112 mile bike ride on a special tandem bike before finishing with a 26.2 mile run! Councillor Elwyn Morse, Cabinet member for Sport and Leisure said the awards recognised not just the hard work and effort that went into sport in Pembrokeshire but also the pluck and sporting heroism that often went with it.

We have a very high standard of award winners this year, who epitomize the very best of sporting endeavour, he said.

The rise in nominations every year and the increasing number of sports represented reflect the depth and range of sport played in our county.

Ben Field, Manger of Sport Pembrokeshire said the success of the awards scheme was due to the hundreds of coaches, parents and volunteers that kept community sports clubs going week in, week out throughout the year.

It’s community sport at its best and its down to them that grass roots sport in Pembrokeshire is alive and kicking! He said.

The Pembrokeshire Sports Awards is sponsored by Valero, Folly Farm, Radio Pembrokeshire and various local businesses.

This years winners and finalists in each category were:

Coach of the Year:
Winner: Amy Yelland
Finalists: Pete Freeman, Andy Edmundson and Nathan Probert
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Female Sporting Achievement:
Winner: Amy James
Finalists: Becky Harries and Ella Richardson
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Male Sporting Achievement:
Winner: Andrew Salter
Finalists: Pat Currie and James Coney
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Boys Under 16 Achievement:
Winner: Liam Cullen
Finalists: Kieran Griffiths and Matthew Williams
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Girls Under 16 Sporting
Achievement:
Winner: Gabrielle Ridge
Finalists: Bethan Morris and Kelsey Williams
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Disability Sport Award:
Winner: Emma Martin
Finalists: Laurence Brown and Victoria Walters
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Junior Under 16 Disability
Sports Award:
Winner: Morgan Bugler
Finalists: Harry Thomas and Jemma Bowie-Hallam
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Unsung Hero Award:
Winner: Micky Phillips
Finalists: Nigel Roberts and John Williams
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Club Organiser Award:
Winner: Ron Hovell
Finalists: Dave Howarth and Clodagh Llewellin
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Team Achievement:
Winner: Neyland Cricket Club 1st Team
Finalists: Johnston AFC 1st
Team and Fishguard and Goodwick RFC 1st XV
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Junior Under 16 Team
Achievement:
Winner: Pembrokeshire U15 County Cricket Team
Finalists: Haverfordwest County Football Academy U12s and Camrose U13s Football Team
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Contribution to School Sport:
Winner: Ben Sutton, Stephanie Harris and Rhian Perry.
Finalists: Hayden Gove and Molly Lewis and Rachel Thomas

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