Recognition for Vale's top sporting personalities
Celebration has again been the theme of a special event
recognising and rewarding talented sportspeople from across the
Vale of Glamorgan.
Organised by the Vale District Sports Council and supported by
the Vale Council's Sports, Arts and Play Development Team, the
area's prestigious annual Sports Personality of the Year event was
held at the Memorial Hall in Barry.
The event was hosted by popular television presenter Arfon
Haines-Davies and special guests included Glamorgan cricketer Dan
Cherry, one of the county's leading batsmen, shooter Joanne Brekke,
and Commonwealth Games medallist and athlete John McFall, British
record holder for the 100m, 200m and long jump (disability in Class
42), European bronze medalist (200m) and currently ranked third in
the world.
Also assisting with the presentation of awards were Vale Cabinet
Member for Tourism and Leisure Cllr Gwyn John, AM Jane Hutt, Cllr
Jeffrey James, Paul Sawyer, of Ty Hafan Children's Hospice, and
District Sports Council chair Angela Price.
Vale Council Sports, Arts and Play Development Manager Karen
Davies, said: “The level of shortlisted candidates this year, as
ever, was extremely high. We were lucky to have world, European,
British and Welsh medallists at the event.”
Angela Price thanked committee members for the work put into
organising the event and the Sports Development Team for their
assistance.
Cllr John said: “The sports personality event provides an ideal
platform to acknowledge the tremendous sporting achievements taking
place in the Vale.”
There were nine category winners and a special presentation to
tae kwon do coach Leon Shakespeare, on behalf of the Welsh Local
Sports Council, by vice-chairman Mervyn Fleming. Last year's Vale
Coach of the Year, Leon received the WLSC's Coach of the Year award
after beating off competition from across Wales.
All winners, whose names will be engraved on appropriate
shields, and runners-up received commemorative glass trophies.
They were:
School – Eagleswell Primary, Llantwit Major; runners-up, Rhws
Primary and Palmerston Primary, Barry.
Team – Vale Karate Under-15s boys’ team; runners-up, Boccia
Rollers (Barry Leisure Centre) and Barry YMCA gymnastics team.
Volunteer – Colin Buffin (gymnastics); runners-up, Vicci
Efstathiou (swimming and disability sports) and Julian McTavish
(swimming).
Coach – Catherine Watkins (gymnastics); runners-up, Pete Haysham
(gymnastics) and David Wedlake (surf lifesaving).
Disability sport – Gareth Lloyd (swimming and gymnastics);
runners-up, Amy Mitchell (swimming) and Andrew Davies (boccia and
multi-sport).
Junior female – Kiera Brennan (gymnastics); runners-up, Lorelei
Westcott, Olivia Parry and Ruby Hartery (all gymnastics).
Junior male – Brett Morse (shot putt); runners-up, Iwan Mepham
(gymnastics) and Balazs Vincze (swimming).
Senior female – Karen O’Donoghue-Harris (surf lifesaving);
runner-up, Olivia Bryl (gymnastics).
Senior male – Ian Le Breton (Penarth Rifle Club); runner-up,
Benjamin Pym (yachting).
Caption above: Senior male winner Ian Le Breton
with Glamorgan cricketer Dan Cherry and Vale District Sports
Council chair Angela Price.