Selby’s knockout performances earn top Vale sports award
11 May 2012
London 2012 Olympic boxing prospect
Andrew Selby has added another title to his collection by
picking up a top honour at the Vale of Glamorgan Sports Personality
of the Year Awards.
The 23-year-old flyweight, who is one of four Vale athletes to
have already booked a spot on Team GB for this summer’s Games, won
the ‘Senior Male’ award for a string of dazzling victories in the
ring.
Barry-born Selby is the current European Champion, and World
Championship silver medalllist, and those in the know are tipping
him as a top medal hope for London 2012.
Selby was one of the many talented local sports performers and
sports volunteers whose achievements were recognised at the awards
evening, organised by the Vale of Glamorgan’s District Sports
Council with support from the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s sports
and play development team.
The awards evening didn’t take place last year, so these awards
celebrated performances during both 2010 and 2011. Among the other
winners who collected awards on stage at the Memorial Hall in Barry
were...
JUNIOR MALE (AGE 14+)
Winner: Matthew Whitfield (right)
Sailor who enjoyed an exceptional 2011, winning a World Junior
Championship, and three national championships in different dinghy
classes. He was also named 2011 Welsh Young Sailor of the Year.
Runner up: James Hignett
An up and coming tennis star, in 2010 James reached a career
high junior ranking of number one in Wales and number two in the
UK. He has since been awarded a scholarship to play tennis and
study at the University of New Mexico in the USA.
Runner up: Joshua Thomas
Cowbridge Comprehensive School pupil Joshua is a talented
swimmer who has the ability to excel in a variety of different
disciplines. He is ranked number one in Wales over a number of
distances in freestyle and is also highly ranked in butterfly. Josh
was selected to represent the Welsh under 18 team at the
Commonwealth Youth Games on the Isle of Man.
JUNIOR MALE (AGE 13 AND UNDER)
Winner: Jack Cafaro (right)
A wonderful talent in the world of fencing, St Athan resident
Jack is a member of the Llantwit Major Fencing Club. At only 12
years of age, he has competed against fencers two years older than
him to win gold medals and he promises to have a very successful
future.
Runner up: Richard Dangerfield
All-round sportsman who faces decisions about which sport to
pursue at an elite level. Richard is a talented football and rugby
player, and is also the current Welsh schools under-13 javelin
champion, throwing a distance of over 34 metres.
Runner up: Adam Sylvester
Cricketer who is an excellent team player. Adam has represented
Glamorgan for the last two seasons and has also been chosen to
attend Welsh squad training, going on tour to the South West of
England and the Midlands.
JUNIOR FEMALE
Winner: Rachel Hignett (right)
St Cyres pupil Rachel is a double international athlete. This
season she made her debut for the Wales under 19s ladies football
team, before going on to captain the under 17s and scoring her
first international goal in Moldova. In the summer of 2011 Rachel
was selected for the Welsh under 16 hockey team, while she is also
a second dan karate black belt.
Runner up: Annie McAteer
Annie is a valued member of the Penarth Rifle Club where her
chosen category is smallbore rifle shooting. She has won several
medals and has represented Great Britain.
Runner up: Bethan Sloan
Bethan is excelling in swimming, and is first in the rankings
for the 100m and 200m breaststroke in the Welsh girls under 15
category and is sixth in her age group in the UK for both
categories.
SENIOR MALE
Winner: Andrew Selby (right with compere Arfon Haines
Davies)
Gifted and stylish Flyweight boxer who
has qualified for the London 2012 Olympics. He is ranked number two
in the world and is one of the favourites for gold in London. He
has collected a host of titles in the last few years, became the
first Welsh boxer in 86 years to win a European Gold Medal, and had
the honour of being voted Boxer of the Year by the British Olympic
Association.
Runner up: David Stopgate
Badminton player who has enjoyed a long and successful career.
David currently represents Wales in the Veterans section and has
won titles across the UK during the last two years. He is also
chairman of Holm View Badminton Club and treasurer of the Cardiff
and District Badminton League.
Runner up: Rhys Pugh
In 2011, Rhys became Wales’ top ranked amateur golfer and
represented Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup against the USA
in September of that year. Despite being the competition’s youngest
competitor at 17 years of age, Rhys won all his matches, and his
last day singles match win against the US Amateur champion Kelly
Kraft ensured a Britain and Ireland victory for the first time
since 2003.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SPORT AWARD
Winner: Gwyn John (right with compere Arfon Haines Davies)
Involved in football in the Vale of Glamorgan
for 50 years, Gwyn John has done a remarkable job to help the
‘beautiful game’ flourish in the county. Such was his passion to
establish a team in Llantwit Major, in 1961 he negotiated to have a
set of goalposts from the defunct Trebeferad AFC. He, with his
mates, carried these posts through the fields from Trebeferad to
the Recreation Ground in Llantwit.
When they arrived at the Recreation Ground he was told that he
could not put the posts up as he would have to apply to the Parish
Council for permission to rent the ground for a pitch. Other people
in the area heard of their plight and in June 1962 a meeting was
called to form a Football Club in Llantwit. At this time he was
told that a football team wouldn’t last five minutes in the town,
and that comment proved to be the inspiration needed and he was
determined to see the club succeed.
Fifty years later and the club is still thriving and the club
plays in the South Wales Amateur League. Gwyn's roles at
the club over the years has included Assistant Secretary, Club
Secretary, fundraiser, administrator, team manager and every role
that needed to be filled.
In 2001 he turned his focus to developing the game for children
and has assisted Llantwit Club in running 18 sides comprising of
mini and junior players under the age of 16. With the support of
his wife Gloria, Gwyn John has ensured that the junior game is
flourishing in Llantwit Major.
DISABLED SPORTSPERSON
Winner: Heather Williams (right)
A dedicated member of the Boccia Rollers Club, Heather also
competes in the similar sport of Bocce. In August 2011, Heather’s
bocce talent led to her selection for the Welsh team that competed
at the World Special Olympic Games in Athens, where she won a Gold
in both the singles and team events and a bronze in the
doubles.
Runner up: Susan George
Along with Heather, Susan also plays for the Boccia Rollers and
was chosen for the Welsh bocce team that competed in the World
Special Olympic Games. Susan won Gold in the team event, Silver in
the singles and bronze in the doubles.
Runner up: Tracy Marchment
A member of the Barry Beavers swimming club, Tracy has won a
number of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at galas during the last
two years. In September 2011, she became Welsh champion in the
200m, and she is now the British champion too.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Winner: Barry Tennis Club, Men’s Team (right)
Imagine Barry Town FC beating the likes
of Arsenal or Liverpool to reach the semi finals of the FA Cup!
Well, that was the reality for the men’s team at Barry Tennis Club
in 2011 when they became one of the top four teams in the UK by
reaching the semi-finals of the Aegon Team Tennis Tournament in
Bournemouth. Several of the club’s players are ranked in the top
ten in Wales. Club representatives are pictured here.
Runner up: Barry Beavers Swimming Club
The Beavers are a team of 19 swimmers of mixed ages, and they
travel across Wales to take part in swimming galas. They have won a
number of medals and cups during the last two years and club
members have represented Wales.
Runner up: Cottrell Park Golf Club Ladies’ First Team
Since joining the Glamorgan and Monmouth League in 1999 in
Division 9, they have been promoted virtually every year, and in
2011 they recorded their greatest achievement of becoming the
champions of division 1.
JUNIOR VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Jessica Richards (right)
A pupil at Llantwit Major Comprehensive School, Jessica is an
excellent example of a junior volunteer who always goes above and
beyond her duties. She is a Gold Ambassador for the Vale of
Glamorgan Council, encouraging pupils to take part in sports and
has been closely involved with the 5x60 initiative, helping out in
lunchtime and after-school sports sessions.
Runner up: Morgan Davies
Morgan volunteers at the Vale Allsports Club, which is a
disabled sports club with over 25 members. He has also volunteered
at disability sports weeks and play schemes run by the Vale
Council’s sports and play development team, always showing
excellent commitment.
Runner up: Lucas Dwyer
A dedicated volunteer for the Barry Beavers Swimming Club who
has worked with both children and adults at the club. His voluntary
work has contributed greatly to him achieving his Duke of Edinburgh
bronze and silver awards and he is now working towards his gold
award.
SENIOR VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Angela Price (right)
Angela has devoted her life to helping people with disabilities
and has been volunteering for 42 years. She helped set up the Barry
Beavers Swimming Club, and in her time she has helped hundreds of
people learn to swim including Dame Tanni Grey Thompson. She has
given up so much of her time for others and this award was
recognition of that dedication.
Runner up: Nick Hall
Nick has been instrumental to the success of Penarth Rowing
Club.
He is a very determined, goal setting coach who is extremely
passionate about sport. The number of rowers at the club has
increased greatly due to his efforts and he has helped Penarth
Rowing Club become a presence at regattas across Wales.
Runner up: Chris Economides
A volunteer at the Barry Beavers Disabled Swimming Club, Chris
has worked hard to gain coaching qualifications and attends the
club each week to train swimmers of all ages. He has also
undertaken fundraising for the Barry Beavers and club members look
up to him for his dedication and enthusiasm.
Thanks to everyone who made nominations for the Vale of
Glamorgan Sports Personality Awards and thanks to everyone involved
in the event and event sponsors.