Emma’s on form at gymnastics – and plays other sports, too
Emma Martin won the ‘Girls Under 16 Disability Sport Achievement’ section in the second annual Sport Pembrokeshire Awards, having represented Wales in the Special Olympics in Glasgow and already preparing for the next Special Olympics next year.
But Emma, who lives in Llandeloy, is also a keen all-round young sports lady since she plays football every month with the Cleddau Warriors and is a more than useful swimmer with the Pembrokeshire Puffins.
Football and swimming success
The football falls under the guidance of Angie Miles, plus Huw Bevan, Steve Brown and Co at Clarbeston Road and Emma really enjoys her participation, as she does when she swims in the front and back crawl for the Pembrokeshire Puffins at galas around South Wales. She has won her share of local events and comes as payment for her commitment because she rarely misses a training session and at 12 years of age still has plenty of time to improve her technique.
Enjoys gym lessons
Emma attends Portfield School where she is in the Inclusion Class for Tasker Milward School – and enjoys gym lessons in school as well as being an eager member of the Pembrokeshire Disability Gymnastics Club, where she competes in the vault, on the floor, beam and ‘A’ bars. Not content with that little lot, Emma, who has wonderful support from her family, has also taken part in trampoline competitions in Cardiff – and has medals for that particular discipline as well!
This year saw Emma achieve first place for her skills in floor exercises at the Rotary Gymnastics Championships in Cardiff and was joint first in the overall event at a national competition held at the National Institute for Sport, Sophia Gardens in the capital city.
Coach’s delight
Jean Jones, her coach, was delighted when Emma was pre-selected for the next Special Olympics, held at Leicester in 2009 and regularly attends squad training in Cardiff as part of the Welsh squad.
“She is a pleasure to have in our club” said Jean, “and we hope she achieves the success she deserves next year after so much hard work already.” It is high praise from someone who knows and we join her in wishing Emma Martin continued success in her chosen field of gymnastics!
