This week Bill Carne met up with Lowri Hart and her mum Mandy to chat about her continued success in badminton, but also to find out a little more about her commitment to being a great Gold Young Ambassador on the scheme run by Sport Pembrokeshire at County Hall . . .

If ever there was a young sportsperson who is sure to be a shining example to the less enthusiastic members of sporting activities in her school then it is Lowri Hart in Pembroke Comprehensive because she has a bubbly personality, as well being a tremendous sports player in her own right.

Lowri is highly ranked in Welsh badminton and has already travelled into Europe to earn that success at junior level and has recently come runner up to her older sister Jordan in the Welsh Senior Ladies' final and joined her in achieving the runners-up spot in the Ladies' Doubles!

So it is no surprise that she was invited to take on the role of Gold Young Ambassador at the school, charged with the role of encouraging those who have yet to savour the joys of sporting or leisure activities to give things a try.

Her name was put forward by Mrs McMillan and Lowri had no hesitation in accepting the chance to go on a day-long course at the Cardiff City Stadium with a number of others from Pembrokeshire under the guidance of Matthew Freeman from Sport Pembrokeshire, who drove them up to Cardiff in a mini-bus.

Her mother Mandy, who along with father Derek,  gives her total support in all she does, took her across to Haverfordwest to be picked up and was ready and waiting on her return to the county town, and is particularly delighted to see her younger daughter getting involved.

"There were over 100 pupils from all over Wales and we had great meetings all day which showed us what to do to encourage others to join in with us during lunch-time activities and after-school sessions.

"They were given by Platinum Young Ambassadors who had been through the same course the previous year and also by adults who were coaches in a range of sports and were full of enthusiasm as they talked about commitment, how to encourage others, taking lunch-time classes in things that are not our specialties, and talking in assemblies in year seven, eight and nine classes, and with pupils from junior schools in our area.

"At the end of the day we were presented with a certificate to mark our starting the scheme and in school I'm looking forward to helping in any way I can.

"I was hoping to help out at the Sport Pembrokeshire Awards in Folly Farm at the end of 2017 but I wasn't able - because I was very proud to be there receiving the award for the 'Girls Under 16' category!”

Lowri's own specialist sport is undoubtedly badminton, where she started out by watching Jordan play at an increasingly high standard and as soon as she tried her own hand showed a real talent that has been carefully nurtured by all the Hart family, and her coaches in the various age groups, linked closely to her own skill levels and total commitment.

Ask Lowri about her hero in the sport and she would have no hesitation in nominating Jordan, whom she clearly idolises - but one day hopes to match and even beat in terms of performance.

She is already well on the way to following in big sister's footsteps because her impressive list of successes so far include representing her country at 10 years of age and then winning the girls under 13s singles and doubles in 2015. The following year was even more successful because Lowri not only won two more under 13 titles but added gold medals in the Welsh under 15s singles and doubles in March, followed by an even more amazing gold medal in the under 17s singles a few months later!

More honours came her way in 2017 as Lowri won all three under 15 titles alongside first place in the under 17 singles and mixed doubles – and a silver in the Welsh Senior Gold Tournament as well as success at tournaments at UK level.

Not content with that terrific haul Lowri competed in the Junior Olve Badminton International held in Belgium at Easter 2017 and earned the silver medal against 50 other competitors from 15 countries as well as representing Wales in U17 European Championships in Poland

Going back to the recent Welsh Senior Ladies Championships, Lowri was seeded No 2 behind Jordan and the pair won their games to set up the Hart Family singles final.

Mum Mandy told us: "Jordan was sick at the thought of playing Lowri because she hated the idea of upsetting her younger sister but Lowri wasn't affected in the slightest and relished the thought of taking her on because she is naturally a confident 15 year old.

"They were level at 16-all in the first set before Jordan won it 21-17 and went on to claim the second set by 21-14 to win her third Welsh Ladies' Singles' title - but Lowri really enjoyed herself and added a second silver medal when the pair lost 19-21, 19-21 in the final of the Ladies' Doubles."

There is still some way before Lowri has to make important decisions about her future but in the meanwhile she is happy to carry on playing badminton and trying to improve not only her overall skills but her placing in the rankings at Welsh, British and European levels in her age group and at senior level as time goes on.

"I certainly want to follow Jordan in going off to college and then later to university, hopefully at Loughborough, where she did so well.

"I wouldn't mind playing like she does at a professional level in countries like France but before that I am really looking forward to being involved as a Gold Young Ambassador in school because I would like to see some of those who never take part in getting some satisfaction at a range of sports and leisure activities.

"It will help with general fitness and well-being so I am committed to doing all I can."

It is lovely to hear someone as talented as Lowri Hart so eager to help and we are sure that she will do a great job - and we wish her every success because she is a beacon light in the terrific Young Ambassador scheme and is a credit to her family, school and county in all she does!