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Hannah doubles up for Wales in football and hockey
Hannah Lewis is 14 years old and is already a double Welsh international in football and hockey, as well as representing her school, county and West Wales in netball.
Hannah hails from the sports-mad Lewis family from Milton, near Carew, and she has been playing football since she was eight in the Carew junior teams run by Clive Sillence and Mark Hicks until the time came when she wasn’t allowed to play alongside boys anymore and so – determined young lady that she is – she wrote to her MP to protest but he wasn’t able to help her in her quest for equality!
Panthers’ player
Then she joined the Pembrokeshire Panthers girls’ team which practised on the Haverfordwest astroturf and then went off to Belgium to win a big tournament there as she played in the centre of midfield. They came runners-up the following season and also competed well in the Aberystwyth tournament – but she damaged ankle ligaments there and couldn’t play for a while.
From there it was off to train with the West Wales squad alongside sister Hayley, Ffion Ashman, Angharad James and Angharad Jenkins, which meant regular trips to Swansea.
Welsh selection
Then Gerry Rigby recommended her for training with the Welsh Development squad and she thought she had missed her chance for a while – until out of the blue a letter arrived inviting her to represent Wales against Finland in both Cardiff and Llanelli. Wales lost the matches 2-0 and 3-1 but it was a great experience for Hannah, nonetheless – and Stebonheath in particular had a big crowd to cheer the Welsh girls on.
Two weeks later saw her playing for Wales against Scotland and although they lost both matches they played really well in the second one to show how much they have developed. Hannah loved every minute and is already looking forward to January, when she will enjoy being presented with her Welsh cap, along with friend Angharad James.
Hockey cap
Not content with being capped in football, Hannah has also represented Wales in hockey in the centre midfield position after playing for both school and Tenby Ladies up front. Again it was her teacher, Miss Reynolds, who recommended her for squad training and a practice session but although she didn’t think she had made the grade at first she was selected for the Four-Nations Tournament in Largs, Scotland, against the host country, Ireland and England.
It was a wonderful occasion, not least because most of her family were there, including parents Carol and Mike, sister Kirsty, grandparents Maurice and Eileen Rees, plus Donald and Joan Lewis, aunt and uncle Julie and Steve, all cheering her on.
Netball and a deserved nomination
Hannah used to play netball on a regular basis as she also represented Pembrokeshire and West Wales. But she found that she had to give something up to focus on doing well in her other sports – but she still helps the school team out in tournaments as a centre, when needed.
Her sporting prowess has caught the eye because this season saw Hannah nominated for the ‘Female under 16 Achievement’ section of the Sport Pembrokeshire awards, where she received a lovely engraved trophy to mark her achievements.
The announcer praised her efforts as he listed all that she had done – and he was absolutely right to do so because there is no doubt that Hannah Lewis has been a real credit to her family, school and county!
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