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Billy Truman really loves his sports
If ever there was a competition for nine year olds in the county who shows a real talent in a whole array of sports then one of the prime candidates would have to be Billy Truman, whose current sporting CV would include tennis, golf, swimming, football and athletics, where he is county champion in his age group for cross-country running at Oakwood Leisure Park!
36 holes in a day – and a winning league debut at nine!
Billy’s current sporting love is golf, where he has reduced his handicap from 54 to 25 in a short period of time after only taking it up last summer. He plays under the guidance of Christine Burton at Trefloyne Golf Club in Tenby and can already boast of being the youngest player to represent the club in a senior league competition after enjoying his early morning round and then being roped in to play in a league pair during the afternoon because Trefloyne found themselves a player short. He certainly kept his end up because he and his partner were all square at the final hole and actually won as they kept their nerve and the opposition didn’t! Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that he actually enjoyed playing 36 holes in one day!
Welsh ranked two in tennis
Prior to that, Billy was a very ably tennis player who not only played for Pembrokeshire at under 10 and under 12 levels but represented Wales against Southern Counties and won two of his three matches. He started out playing mini-tennis with Tom James and took to it like a duck to water, winning lots of tournaments and generally showing his capabilities all over South Wales and further afield.
He was invited to coaching sessions with Pete McCraw, who used to coach Maria Sharapova, and attended several Tennis Wales Talent days but such were the demands being placed on young players that they were expected to put in a minimum of nine hours per week, with two morning sessions in Swansea, starting at 8am, and a further two afternoons at the same venue. It was impossible for Billy to miss so much school, which was a great pity since he was ranked No 2 for Wales at that stage.
Swimming starlet
Billy has also enjoyed swimming for the Tenby Dolphins and in December last year won all his races in the club championships and broke several club records en route. He has competed in the Pembrokeshire sprint championships since the age of five and last year won the breaststroke and backstroke, as well as coming second in the butterfly event, really pleasing coaches his excellent coaches John and Steph Amos.
Football flair
In rugby he has played a little tag rugby but has concentrated on his football, where he is already playing for Pembrokeshire under 11s, a year above his age group and being well coached by Angie Nicholls. He has captained his team, which is looked after by Lloyd and Jason, and attended the Cardiff City Development Centre in Carmarthen but stopped to concentrate on his tennis. He plays in midfield for St Teilo’s School in Tenby and although the school is small in number they make up for that in quality, as they proved when they not only won the local indoor competition but went on to represent Swansea City at a competition in London. They didn’t manage to win the event but certainly flew the Pembrokeshire flag with some pride!
Following in family’s footsteps
Billy hails from the Truman family of Tenby fame since his late granddad Mike and dad Neil were very good rugby players with the Seasiders. Neil also played for Pontypridd, Pembrokeshire County, Welsh and British Colleges, whilst mum Delyth represented Wales under 18s at netball, has run the Cardiff and London Marathons, with both of them heavily involved as PE teachers in the county. Billy’s older sister Hari is also a useful sporting player since she has swum for the county, plays for Tenby Netball Club and enjoys her golf.
Cross Country grit
Neil has run the Cardiff half marathon and it seems that Billy has inherited his parents’ ability to run because he has taken part in the Oakwood Pembrokeshire Primary Schools’ Championships since he was in Year Two, running up an age group to start and finishing a creditable 12th, followed by third place, second place and, in October, top spot as reward for his perseverance. It shows why he does so well in any sport that he sets out in because he has an in-built ability linked to determination and is quick to thank all his coaches for their time. His problem eventually will be which sport or sports to focus on but in the meanwhile Billy Truman will continue to get stuck in and do well – and we wish him every enjoyment and success in whatever he does!
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