Sheer sporting class at the Sport Pembrokeshire Awards

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

Hosted by Sport Pembrokeshire- Pembrokeshire County Council’s 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 year’s 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 Chairman’s 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.

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

Also honoured with a Chairman’s 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, Western Telegraph, Folly Farm and Radio Pembrokeshire.”

This year’s winners and finalists in each category were:

Coach of the Year

Winner: Amy Yelland

Finalists: Pete Freeman, Andy Edmundson and Nathan Probert

Female Sporting Achievement

Winner: Amy James

Finalists: Becky Harries and Ella Richardson

Male Sporting Achievement

Winner: Andrew Salter

Finalists: Pat Currie and James Coney

Boys Under 16 Achievement

Winner: Liam Cullen

Finalists: Kieran Griffiths and Matthew Williams

Girls Under 16 Sporting Achievement

Winner: Gabrielle Ridge

Finalists: Bethan Morris and Kelsey Williams

Disability Sport Award

Winner: Emma Martin

Finalists: Laurence Brown and Victoria Walters

Junior Under 16 Disability Sports Award

Winner: Morgan Bugler

Finalists: Harry Thomas and Jemma Bowie-Hallam

Unsung Hero Award

Winner: Micky Phillips

Finalists: Nigel Roberts and John Williams

Club Organiser Award

Winner: Ron Hovell

Finalists: Dave Howarth and Clodagh Llewellin

Team Achievement

Winner: Neyland Cricket Club 1st Team

Finalists: Johnston AFC 1st Team and Fishguard and Goodwick RFC 1st XV

Junior Under 16 Team Achievement

Winner: Pembrokeshire U15 County Cricket Team

Finalists: Haverfordwest County Football Academy U12s and Camrose U13s Football Team

Contribution to School Sport

Winner: Ben Sutton, Stephanie Harris and Rhian Perry.

Finalists: Hayden Gove & Molly Lewis and Rachel Thomas.

Pick up a copy of Wednesday's Western Telegraph for all the photographs from a great night.