Sport can gladden your heart at times

Being asked to MC at the Sport Pembrokeshire awards for the second year was an honour and another chance to see what sport can do for people if they give it a chance – and they certainly give it a chance in Pembrokeshire.
Heart-warming stories, inspirational characters and a genuine feeling of esprit-de-corps that can only uplift those in attendance and take one away from the sometimes-held feeling that no-one really wants to ‘get stuck in’ anymore.
As well as the fact that they were well organised by Ben Field and the Sport Pembrokeshire bunch it was smashing to see sportsmen, women and children from 10 to 80 receiving awards – and to be safe in the knowledge that there are many more in each category who could qualify for serious consideration in future years.

‘Old timers’ are a shot in the arm

Starting with the ‘old timers’, it was a shot in the arm to see how delighted Des Shanklin was with his ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award – and how pleased Ken Tucker was to travel down from Merthyr to present the trophy to someone he had worked with in Welsh Football for almost 50 years.
Helen Evans received the ‘Unsung Hero’ award for several decades of devotion to equestrianism in Pembrokeshire, helping loads of aspiring young horse riders to pursue their interest, whilst Mark Watson coaches Pembrokeshire Puffins, the swimming club for youngsters with a disability, and Ian Eynon is treasurer of Preseli Karate Club, Cleddau Warriors and Pembrokeshire Puffins (Phew!)  Bill Marchant has worked tirelessly for Pembrokeshire Cricket for a similar length of time and Stuart Beresford was a finalist in the unsung hero section.

Youngsters inspire everyone

At the other end of the age scale there were talented youngsters like Lauren Bell, potentially a brilliant athlete, and Andrew Salter, as good a young cricket that has come out of the county for many years. The finalists, like Ellie Meopham and Zoe Priestley, plus Harry Owen and Michael Beckett, are all destined to succeed because they work so hard. They are also supported superbly by their families since they have to travel so far to compete – and there were loads of families in attendance at Folly Farm to show how supportive they are. The young gymnasts who form the Pembrokeshire Tumbling team are another breath of fresh air.
Then there were the athletes with a disability, all of them showing that will to be part of the sports set-up. Jacob Thomas is a breath of fresh air with his commitment to Boccia, as is Darren Briggs, who has been a good gymnast for eight years and as enthusiastic as ever. Rhianne Cole and Emma Martin are exactly the same in gymnastics whilst finalists Poppy Kirner, Amy Barrett, Marcus James, Joshua George and Louie White also have that real enjoyment of participation.

Johnny’s message is inspirational

One of the other highlights of the night was the video message, relayed via the big screen, from Jonathan Thomas, the Ospreys and Wales flanker. He had been filmed at the Liberty Stadium by Cllr Rob Lewis and in his video clip he gave loads of encouragement to all those watching, saying how proud he was to be from Pembrokeshire and how, with hard work and commitment, one can reach the top level, as he has done. There was a lump in my throat as he spoke, and I suspect others there felt the same!

Stop whingeing – and get stuck in

Compare that with the whingers who say that sport has nothing to offer them and it is easy to say that sport can be a vehicle for enjoyment, fitness and a real dose of satisfaction in oneself. I really do believe that there is sport for all, having recently enjoyed watching a training session at Pembrokeshire Disability Gymnastics Club, a short mat bowls match featuring several octogenarians, and a coaching course for aspiring young footballers.

Clear message

So my message is clear: for those who take part in sport, (especially football!) enjoy it and don’t allow nastiness to officials to spoil things, for the couch potatoes amongst you – get stuck in to some sporting activity and enjoy it.

And who knows? Perhaps one day we’ll see you at the Sport Pembrokeshire awards, picking up a trophy for playing or being a top administrator, coach or unsung hero!