Carmarthenshire’s Sporting Talent Celebrated

World cup cyclist Manon Lloyd was among 12 sporting talents crowned winners at the Carmarthenshire Sports Personality Awards on Friday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At a glittering ceremony, hosted by Radio Carmarthenshire presenter, Jay Curtis, winners from across the county were honoured for their achievements at Y Ffrwnes Theatre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event rewards and honours people of all ages and abilities who contribute to sport in Carmarthenshire. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The awards are organised by Carmarthenshire Council’s sport and leisure team and recognise the sporting achievements of athletes, coaches and volunteers across Carmarthenshire. Executive board member for regeneration and leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “Once again the quality of entries received this year was outstanding and it really does get more difficult for the judging panel year on year. What a great night it was celebrating the huge wealth of sporting talent we have here in Carmarthenshire.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Manon Lloyd was named Sports Personality of the Year for her outstanding success during 2015 which included a securing a gold medal as part of the team pursuit representing Great Britain in the World Cup and competing in the U23 European Track Cycling Championships in Italy securing a gold medal as part of a team. In addition the 20-year-old was the only Welsh rider and youngest to finish in the Womens Tour of Britain. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Netball coach, and former player, Wendy Lewis was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Wendy, from Llanelli, represented Wales at both junior and senior level. Playing wing attack, she gained eight caps at Under 21, her first being when Wendy was 17 years old and 14 senior caps for the Senior Welsh Netball Team during 1979 through to 1989. Wendy was part of the Welsh team that beat England in 1980 and Wales have not beaten them since. Since retiring from playing, Wendy still plays an active role in netball both locally and nationally as a coach, umpire and mentor. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over £420 was collected for Cariad Charity. Co-founder Anthony Hamilton-Shaw spoke about the work the charity does and also donated a defibrillator for the raffle. Media partners were Radio Carmarthenshire and the main sponsor was Owens Group. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The winners ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Young Sportswoman of the Year, Jessica Roberts for cycling
• Young Sportsman of the Year, Liam Beard for Gymnastics
• Sports Volunteer of the Year, Rebecca Caddell, rugby
• Young Volunteer of the Year, Maisie Mackenzie, Young Ambassador and Hockey
• Community Sport Coach of the Year, Noreen Liles, Indoor Bowls
• High Performance Coach of the Year, Duncan Kinnear, Judo
• Disabled Sportsman of the Year, Oliver Griffith-Salter, Wheelchair Basketball
• Disabled Sportswoman of the Year, Tyler Charleston, Alpine Skiing
• Young Team of the Year, Ysgol Dyffryn Aman Senior Girls Rugby Team 7s
• Team of the Year, Llanelli Warrior RFC and Outstanding Services to Sport, Brinley John, Cricket

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