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Boys (under 16) Sporting Achievement Section
Harry’s on the way to top gymnastic honours
Harry Owen – Welsh and British Gymnastics Champion
Winner, Boys (under 16) Sporting Achievement Award
During 2009 Harry Owen has become International U17 Gymnastics Champion at the Celtic Cup in Scotland in February and represented the Wales Men’s team at an international in Norway in April where he won an individual bronze medal on parallel bar.
Record medal haul
In September, at his last U.K School Games Harry brought his tally of medals to 11 – a record for the most medals won by any competitor in any sport since its inception in 2006. Harry featured in the Sky Sports & S4C programme about gymnastics, becoming UK Champion on vault, winning silver on rings and a bronze in the overall competition, plus a silver representing Wales in the team competition.
Total commitment
His dedication and commitment to gymnastics has been so total that since September, with co-operation from Greenhill School & Welsh Gymnastics Commonwealth Games Squad, Harry has reduced his GCSE commitment to allow him to train every afternoon in Swansea with Welsh coach Chris Jones. This increased training schedule of 29 hours a week should significantly raise his scoring level and therefore improve his chances of selection for next year’s Commonwealth Games, which would be no more than this popular Pembrokeshire gymnast deserves after so much dedication to, and enthusiasm for, his chosen sport of gymnastics.
Elliot Scotcher – Welsh international junior footballer
Finalist, Boys (under 16) Sporting Achievement Award
Elliot Scotcher is an outstanding prospect and has played for Cardiff City at every age level up to U15s, and captained the side on many occasions, playing in the midfield against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa.
At 14 yrs old, Elliot was selected to play for Wales under16s and gained six caps, which included a two-match tour of France, where he captained the side and showed what a natural leader he is.
Last month he was picked to play in the Victory Shield against England, Scotland and Ireland which was televised on Sky Sports and although an illness prevented him playing against England he was back in action for the final match and really caught the camera’s eye with his skills and commitment.
Although released by Cardiff in August, Elliot has attracted interest from seven other clubs, including Birmingham, Bristol, and Wolves & Ipswich so his future looks bright indeed. Elliott’s commitment and attitude to training and matches are unquestionable. Until recently he was travelling three times a week to training, plus another long haul on Sundays for matches for the past three years.
Elliott has been a Welsh team member against Switzerland, Belgium, the Tri Nations and Republic of Ireland, France and England – and this likeable young man has flown the Pembrokeshire flag with distinction in his quest for sporting excellence.
Alaric Jones – Sporting All Rounder
Finalist, Boys (under 16) Sporting Achievement Award
There can be few nine year olds who have shown promise in so many different sports as Alaric Jones, who lives in Troopers’ Inn.
Alaric has signed a one year contract with Swansea City FC for the U9s and trains in Swansea three times a week where he plays in places such as Torquay, Plymouth & Swindon.
In cross Country, he won two years’ running the Pembrokeshire Schools Cross Country Competition in Oakwood, and won the Dyfed Schools competition in Carmarthen as an added bonus.
He swims for Haverfordwest Seals and also trains three times a week with them, having broken two records in Club Championships and won gold in all four strokes in recent Pembrokeshire Championships.
In triathlon, in his first year of competing in this tough sport he won the Pembrokeshire Triathlon, Cardiff Triathlon & Pencoed Triathlon and he was thrilled when he was awarded his medal at Pencoed by the World Champion, Helen Jenkins. He also trains for this one night a week!
Alaric has also taken up athletics and has started training this season with the Pembrokeshire Harriers but is too young to compete.
Above all, Alaric is 100% committed to all his sporting teams and always gives his all – and it will be interesting to see which sport this multi-talented youngster finally chooses when it becomes time to specialise!.
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