SWANSEA SCOOP FIVE AWARDS AT ATHLETICS CEREMONY
Swansea Harriers is toasting its success after scooping six gongs at the Welsh Athletics Club of the Year Awards, sponsored by Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne.The club was recognised on the weekend for its success in track and field, junior development and for its partnership work with Swansea Schools at a ceremony in Llandrindod Wells.Swansea Harriers – the largest athletics club in Wales - is now hoping for an extra lap of honour as they go forward to a UK ceremony, staged by UK:Athletics at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham on 1 December.The club was rewarded for its commitment to the recruitment and development of junior athletes.Potential new athletes have benefited from increased competitive opportunities. A series of development meetings for under 11, under 13 and under 15 athletes has been introduced which have proved extremely popular and has had a knock-on effect to the club’s growth.The club has recently established a new pioneering junior academy of athletics based at the West Wales Indoor Athletics Centre (WWIAC) in Swansea. The club has achieved major success in all competitions this year including success in the British Athletics League, finishing third in division two and they crossed the line top of division three in the UK Women’s League. Matt Newman, Chief Executive of Welsh Athletics, said:“Swansea Harriers has experienced dramatic advances over the last two years. The club has taken advantage of the new WWIAC facility and fused this with good club mentality, progressive thinking and hard work from a team of dedicated and committed volunteers. The club is very proactive in terms of development and this is coupled with forward planning and the production of a sustainable pathway for future years. It augurs very well for the future.”
The club has done an enormous amount of work with local partnerships including the Local Authority, the University of Wales Swansea, Swansea Schools Athletics Association and other key organisations.The athletics talents also secured the most number of any club in Wales to field finalists at the Welsh Junior Track and Field Championships. Meanwhile, Swansea was also celebrating as two coaches were also recognised for their commitments to Welsh Athletics. Kevin Corcoran took the Off Track Official of the Year Award.Kevin Corcoran commits an enormous amount of time to Swansea Harriers and is involved in athletics at a number of levels.During the last 12 months alone, he has successfully organised the West Glamorgan Cross Country League, for the tenth year running, as well as the Inter Regional Cross Country Championships in Singleton Park last December.Corcoran serves as timekeeper, recorder, starter, marshal and, when he has got the time, athlete!The highly organised official also helps out with websites and shares his vast knowledge onto other officials within the sport. Joining the Swansea celebrations was Colin Davies who also made it onto the podium at the Awards Ceremony, winning Track and Field Official of the Year.Officiating for more than 25 years, Colin Davies is a long-term servant of Swansea Harriers. As a qualified field official, he referees at British Schools International Matches and numerous Welsh Championship events.He travels the length and breadth of the country and officiates at high profile, televised events in Gateshead, Sheffield and Crystal Palace.Not one to put his feet up, he switches to officiating at road and cross country events in the winter. He has also served on the Welsh Athletics Officials Committee and represented Wales at UK:Athletics committees.Finally, Derek Crowder was honoured for his dedication to the sport. With more than 25 years of service, the Swansea Harriers official from Porthcawl was presented with the prestigious Services to Officiating Award. His skills have taken him to a number of international fixtures and championships including the Commonwealth Games. Crowder has expertise in the areas of photo finish and timekeeping as well as being a highly decorated track judge, field judge, and off track official for both road and cross country.
CARDIFF WIN HAT-TRICK OF TITLES AT ATHLETICS AWARDS
Cardiff is toasting success after scooping three gongs at the Welsh Athletics Club of the Year Awards, sponsored by Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne.Cardiff-based coach Gwyn Williams picked up the Services to Coaching Development Award. An established coach, he has worked with many international athletes over a number of years.As a long jump coach, he is currently honing the talents of Gable Garenamotse who won silver medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and 2006.Williams is also a successful sprints coach. He was the man behind the scenes when Doug Turner won a European silver medal in 1998.Meanwhile, Sport:Cardiff – City and County of Cardiff’s sports development unit – won the Local Authority Partnership of the Year award. It is now hoping for an extra lap of honour as they go forward to a UK ceremony, staged by UK:Athletics at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham on 1 December.Sport:Cardiff has shown a high degree of commitment to the development of athletics. This year, they committed financially to a long-term agreement with Welsh Athletics to support the employment of a full-time development officer.The partnership between Sport:Cardiff and Welsh Athletics is so fruitful that it is now being used as the model for the rest of Wales. 2007 has seen focussed development in schools and clubs as well as a consistent, comprehensive range of activities being brought onstream right across the city.Partnership working has resulted in a number of key events being staged which include the Great Welsh Run, Cardiff Cross Country Challenge, Cardiff Marathon and Cardiff 10K.The development of a new athletics stadium will also be a major boost to athletics in Wales.Meanwhile, Cardiff AAC’s Ian Dwight, 24, also joined the celebrations. He also made it onto the podium as Young Volunteer of the Year. He joined the club at the age of 13 as an aspiring athlete, representing Welsh Schools and Welsh Athletics at age-group level.Since then, he has juggled his own training commitments with giving the club a massive helping hand. He is now in his third year as team manager of Cardiff’s Welsh Junior Legaue Track and Field Team which means he is working with more than 60 athletes as well as coordinating parents and coaches.Two years ago, Dwight helped set up the club’s reception group for new athletes entering the sport. This group has flourished over the last 12 months and now acts as a feeder system into Cardiff AAC.A qualified coach, Dwight also plays a vital role on identifying and developing talent.
CARMARTHEN COACH WINS ATHLETICS AWARD
A Carmarthen coach has received a top accolade at the Welsh Athletics Club of the Year Awards, sponsored by Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne. Delyth Brown, who coaches at Carmarthen and District Harriers Athletics Club, collected her award at a ceremony in Llandrindod Wells.Winning the Coach of the Year (Participation) award, she was recognised for her dedication and commitment to introducing young athletes to the sport. Matt Newman, Chief Executive of Welsh Athletics, said:“Coaches like Delyth are absolutely crucial in the future of our sport. They are at the coalface in terms of recruiting youngsters into athletics and to keep them motivated and enthused. Delyth has an exemplary track record in bringing forward young talent, particularly in the area of steeplechase.”The former Welsh cross-country international has been coaching at the club for seven years. She looks after around 30 athletes ranging from under-11s to seniors.This year, her athletes won an impressive haul of steeplechase medals at the Welsh Junior Championships. She can also boast the fact that many of her athletes have gone on to achieve international honours. Angharad Davies, one of Brown’s protogés, is the Welsh record holder over 1500m steeplechase and Aneura Phillips is the Welsh Schools 300m champion.Brown also supports Caryl Granville who is tipped as one of Welsh Athletics’ brightest stars. She is the Under-20 UK multi-event champion.
NORTH WALES ATHLETICS CLUBS PICK UP GONGS
North Wales featured highly in the Welsh Athletics Club of the Year Awards, sponsored by Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne. Eryri Harriers, Deestriders Running Club and Menai Track and Field Club all picked up accolades at a ceremony in Llandrindod Wells last weekend.Eryri Harriers was named Off Track Club of the Year for its success in the disciplines of ultra distance, cross-country, road and mountain running.Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the club continues to grow and produce international athletes across all age categories. Club members are involved in the running and organising of major events across Wales.Last month, two Eryri athletes were selected to represent Wales at the World Mountain Running Trophy in Ovronnaz, Switczerland. Neil Dunn was also in the winners’ enclosure, receiving the Club Volunteer of the Year Award. A loyal supporter of athletics, Dunn has served as a volunteer coach for many years even through times of ill health.In 2007, he even juggled his club commitments with his own training for the British Transplant Games where he won gold in the 400m. Even after he underwent surgery, he reorganised his schedule to dedicate more of his time to the club.Completing the North Walian hat-trick at the Awards Ceremony was Steve Livett of Menai Track and Field Club who was awarded for his services to club development. Livett is now hoping for an extra lap of honour as he goes forward to a UK ceremony, staged by UK:Athletics at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham on 1 December. He has been instrumental in ensuring the junior section has become an integral part of the club. He is Club Secretary and Junior Team Manager. He is dedicated to the development of young athletes and is heavily involved in development initiatives and competitions.The junior section is now in line for promotion into the National Young Athletes League. The club also exceeded expectations when they finished third this year in the Welsh Junior League Plate Final. Livett has also worked hard to source sponsorship and investment into junior athletics.
CWMBRAN ATHLETICS CELEBRATES FOUR GONGS
Cwmbran is toasting its success after scooping four gongs at the Welsh Athletics Club of the Year Awards, sponsored by Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne. Cwmbran’s Darrell Maynard – a former physical training officer for the British Army – was presented with the Coach of the Year (Podium) award. He is the man behind the success of 400m hurdler David Greene who was triumphant in the European U23s Championships this summer. He also works with Richard Hill and a number of disability athletes including John McFall and Tracy Hinton who are both tipped for success at the Beijing Paralympics. Maynard is also a black belt in Akido and a foster carer. And Cwmbran Harriers was recognised on the weekend for its inclusivity work with disability athletes at a ceremony in Llandrindod Wells. Cwmbran Harriers has successfully integrated many disabled athletes into mainstream athletics and have helped develop athletes who are supported by the Disability Sport Wales Academy programme including up and coming talent, Jenny McLoughlin. The club has recently set up a new indoor athletics session as part of a Disability Sport Wales initiative to increase capacity for athletes with a disability.The club also boasts two individuals who received accolades who are now hoping for an extra lap of honour as they go forward to a UK ceremony, staged by UK:Athletics at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham on 1 December.Dave Lewis won Coach of the Year (Performance) while Dave Lester won the Newcomer to Officiating. Coach Dave Lewis has served Cwmbran Harriers for more than 30 years. Specialising in middle distance and endurance, his current squad consists of more than 25 athletes from under-13s to over-40s! Eleven of his athletes have achieved Welsh International Honours in 2007. Young protogé, Jamie Bussell, took the silver in the steeplechase at the UK School Games. Lewis continues to produce both GB and Welsh international athletes, reinforcing his status as one of Wales’ best coaches.And Lester may be a newcomer, but has quickly made great strides in officiating, demonstrating a strong ability to learn and develop in all areas of the sport. Mentored by higher profile officials within the sport, he has shown huge enthusiasm in an area which struggles to attract new recruits.Lester is dedicated and is now well-respected by officials across Wales and is a real asset to athletics in Wales.
WELSH ATHLETICS WINNERS AIM FOR UK LAP OF HONOUR
The unsung heroes of Welsh Athletics have been toasted at a prestigious ceremony, sponsored by Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne.The backroom staff were recognised for the wide range of work that is undertaken behind the scenes – from enlisting youngsters into the sport and integrating disability sport at club level to handling photo finish at international fixtures.While 17 awards were presented at the ceremony in Llandrindod Wells last weekend, just five winners will now go forward to a UK ceremony, staged by UK:Athletics.Swansea Harriers Athletics Club picked up the award for Track and Field Club of the Year as well as Junior Club of the Year Award after a highly successful 12 months. The club will now be aiming for an extra lap of honour when it attends the ceremony at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham on 1 December.Cwmbran Harriers will be well represented at the Birmingham ceremony as they will be fielding a coach and official. Dave Lester, who was presented with the Newcomer to Officiating award, and Dave Lewis, who was named Performance Coach of the Year, will both be hoping for a spot on the UK rostrum. Steve Livett of Menai Track and Field is also Birmingham-bound after he picked up the Welsh Athletics gong for Club Development following his successful work with the club’s junior section. Finally, Sport:Cardiff is going all out to raise the chequered flag at the National Motorcycle Museum in the Local Authority Partnership of the Year category, having already been recognised for its efforts at Wales level.Indeed, Sport:Cardiff has shown a high degree of commitment to the development of athletics. This year, they committed financially to a long-term agreement with Welsh Athletics to support the employment of a full-time development officer. The partnership between Sport:Cardiff and Welsh Athletics is so fruitful that it is now being used as the model for the rest of Wales.
For more information on the awards, please contact Jane Williams at Welsh Athletics Ltd on 029 2033 8274
SOUTH WEST WALES
Track and Field Club of the Year - Swansea Harriers Athletics Club
Junior Club of the Year – Swansea Harriers Athletics Club
Off Track Official of the Year – Kevin Corcoran, Swansea Harriers Athletics Club
Track and Field Official of the Year – Colin Davies, Swansea Harriers Athletics Club
Services to Officiating – Derek Crowder, Porthcawl
Participation Coach of the Year – Delyth Brown, Carmarthen and District Harriers Athletics Club
Athletics Partnership of the Year - Swansea Harriers AC and Swansea Schools
SOUTH EAST WALES
Inclusivity Club of the Year - Cwmbran Harriers
Young Volunteer of the Year – Ian Dwight, Cardiff Amateur Athletics Club
Newcomer to Officiating – Dave Lester, Cwmbran Harriers
Performance Coach of the Year - Dave Lewis, Cwmbran Harriers
Podium Coach of the Year - Darryl Maynard, Cwmbran
Coaching Development - Gwyn Williams, Cardiff
Local Authority Partnership of the Year - Sport:Cardiff (City and County of Cardiff)
NORTH WALES
Off Track Club of the Year – Eryri HarriersClub
Volunteer of the Year – Neil Dunn, Deestriders Running Club
Club Development – Steve Livett, Menai Track and Field
