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Disability Sport:
Richard’s in the swim with awards’ success
Richard Young – Special Olympics Gold Medallist
Winner, Disability Sport Category
Richard Young was the only swimmer from Pembrokeshire to attend the Special Olympics GB Games in Leicester in July 2009 and to gain his place Richard had to qualify, and he did this by attending many competitions.
Hard work and commitment
He competed in the Special Olympic Regional in Cardiff (November 2008). Pembroke (December 2008), Birmingham (February 2009), Swansea (April 2009), and Richard trains in Pembroke once a week, Tenby once a week, and in Cardiff leading up to the Leicester Games.
Long-term success
Richard has now been swimming for the Special Olympics for 13 years, since Leicester was his fourth National Games. All Richard’s hard work, training and travelling lead to this 24yr old gaining two gold medals, one bronze medal, and a 4th position ribbon at the National Special Olympics in 2009.
Next challenge
He has now set himself the challenge of completing the Tenby to Caldey Island swim in 2010 and id dedication and commitment to swimming are anything to go by then he will achieve another big challenge for this likeable young man!
Leah Scott – Gymnastic Performer and Coach
Finalist, Disability Sport Category
Leah Scott is a very determined individual and always puts 100% into everything she does, especially in her chosen sport of gymnastics, where she started out as an eager competitor and has done really well to qualify as a coach.
As well as training very hard herself to compete in the Olympics she also helps coach the younger children after being one of the first people with special needs to pass a coaching course to teach children.
She has also obtained the Level One coaching certificate to coach Special Needs Children. She coaches voluntarily on a Thursday from 4.30 – 63.0 she then does two hours gymnastics herself. She has built up her confidence and self esteem and showed what a talented gymnast she is in her own right by winning four gold medals and one bronze medal at the Special Olympics competition in Leicester this year. She did Pembs proud in that competition, and she also trains once a month in Cardiff with the Welsh Squad as further proof of this modest young lady’s involvement.
Colin Bond – Target Shooter
Finalist, Disability Sport Category
Colin Bond joined the Modern Print Inclusive Target Club in 2007 and he took to the sport immediately, achieving the qualifying score for the NSRA/Ely National Championship, truly an amazing achievement in itself in view of his disability.
He then went on to win a silver medal in the fourth division of that competition and he is an inspiration to us all because he is paralysed down his right side due to a stroke. Thus he shoots using a ‘Belgium Spring Stand’ which enables him to shoot against able bodied shooters in the National Shoots. The fact that he is naturally right handed and has taught himself to shoot left handed makes his achievement all the more amazing. The whole club feels he richly deserves recognition and we can only agree in wishing this talented sportsman further success as reward for his absolute determination to conquer his disability.
Rhys Eynon – Mencap British Football Team Member
Finalist, Disability Sport Category
Rhys Eynon is a regular squad and team member of Cleddau Warriors AFC (the disability football club in the county) and Rhys’s achievements have been great over the last season.
He rarely misses training and turns out for the club on match days as the club play in the South Wales league and often travel as far as Newport (Gwent) to fulfil fixtures. In addition to playing for the club Rhys achieved his Football Leaders Award in July and assists with training the junior teams in the club as further proof of his commitment.
Following a number of selection days, Rhys was rewarded with his place in the Mencap GB team which travelled to Geneva at Easter time and came 8a very creditable eighth position.
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