Micky's Pembrokeshire
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Gary’s great in providing sport and leisure opportunities galore!
Gary Nicholas has been heavily involved as a player in rugby, cricket and football for a number of years and is now perfectly placed to encourage others to be involved in sporting and leisure activities across a hugely wide spectrum of the population in his role as Leisure Services Officer for Pembrokeshire County Council.
His remit is to work with the managers of all the leisure centres across Pembrokeshire and one only has to chat to Gary for a short while to see his genuine enthusiasm for what the leisure centres aim to provide, and his pride in his staff, who help provide activities from ‘Aqua-natal’ for expectant mothers to swimming classes for those lucky enough to have retired, from table tennis to toddlers’ classes, from GP cardiac referrals who need a fitness programme drawn up and monitored to gymnastics!
Heavy involvement and excellent support
Gary would say that he has been very lucky to have been involved for 15 years, firstly as manager of Crymych Leisure Centre for seven years. He had attended school at Ysgol y Preseli and adds that it was just like going back home after four years at college in West Sussex, where he studied Sports Science. He learned all about the job there before moving into County hall, where he works closely with Chris Payne, the Leisure Services Manager, and Julie Collings, the Marketing and Development Officer.
“We are very lucky to have excellent managers at all our superb leisure centres,” said Gary, “and the staff are all well-trained, enthusiastic and motivated in encouraging participation at all the activities in our leisure centres. We regularly assess what we provide and up-date what we offer so that we cater for as wide a range of the public as possible.”
Triathlons prove to be the tops
One classic example of this outlook can be found in the new triathlons established last year after a single one in Fishguard before that to set the scene. There were four last year at Fishguard, Crymych, Tenby and Haverfordwest, and Gary was understandably delighted at the number of entrants who took part for the first time. The same four will again go ahead in 2012 after a duathlon at St Davids to open this year’s events, which will have a two-mile run, followed by a seven-mile cycle and then another run of one and a half miles. The aim is to target more beginners although others will use it to warm up for other competitions and this is fine with Gary and Co at Pembrokeshire Leisure.
Practising what he preaches
It is nice to record that Gary also practises what he preaches because he got involved himself in last year’s Haverfordwest Triathlon and was pleased by his performance. This was particularly so in the swimming because prior to his training he could only manage a couple of lengths in the pool – and after lots of practice managed the full 16 lengths before the 12 miles of cycling and three-mile run.
“It was a real challenge,” Gary told us, “and I will certainly give it another go this year!”
He will continue to build on his swimming prowess as Paul Dowey continues to build on the success of swimming in the county.
Rugby involvement
Gary can certainly lay claim to being an all-round sportsman because he is a more than useful rugby player and cricketer, as well as being a good footballer in his younger days. He started his rugby at Ysgol y Preseli, where Robert Jones was the teacher and they went through five seasons without losing a single match.
Gary played at scrum half alongside Matthew Hill, Ben Harries and Greg England before moving to the Crymych Youth team and then off for his four years at West Sussex College. During his time there Gary played for the college team which appeared at the Middlesex Sevens and beat Saracens and Leicester before losing out to Northampton on the hallowed turf at Twickenham!
From there it was on to senior rugby at Narberth, other than one season back at Crymych. He often played at scrum half, with brother Rob at No 10, and still had a couple of games this season at the ripe old age of 37. Gary played in a KO Cup Final against Tenby at Pembroke Dock and was disappointed to be on the losing side – but also played in a number of Junior Union Finals which Narberth won.
Other sports – and a sporting family
On the cricket front, Gary regularly played for Maenclochog and then Crymych – although he started out with Dinas at junior level alongside quality players like Alun Evans, Andrew and Adrian Harries. Again he often joined brother Rob in the early batting line-up and they appeared in several Alan Brown Cup Finals. Gary’s top score was 95 against St Ishmaels in Division Two, where he got himself out late on, trying to increase the run-rate!
Gary played football as a nipper at Goodwick United in a team that was at the top of local junior football, alongside Tenby, with quality players like Mark Delaney, Alun Evans, James Richards and with Mike Delaney and Adi John looking after them. The family connection is continued because his other brother, Nigel, was a classy defender with Aberystwyth and Carmarthen – and went on a week’s trial with Chelsea when he was 26! The family sporting involvement is further maintained by sister Alison, who was a very good runner with Preseli Harriers.
“They have all been good sports players – but at least I am the youngest,” he says with a chuckle!
But we are pleased to announce that there is an even younger member of the Nicholas clan because Gary and his wife Nerys, whom he describes as his greatest supporter in all he does, are now the proud parents of the recently-arrived Tomos James Nicholas!
Real pride and commitment
Back on the Leisure Services front, one only has to chat to Gary for a short while to see his genuine pride in what they provide for all ages across Pembrokeshire, and his eagerness to keep adding to the amazing list of activities and support provided.
“We are pleased with what we provide but not complacent,” he told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk, “and are ready for the challenges ahead with a great staff and superb facilities.”
Having used them ourselves we can only agree and long may Gary Nicholas and Co continue to lead the way in encouraging people to have healthier life styles and a real enjoyment from participating in sport and leisure activities in Pembrokeshire!
PHOTOS:
Gary Nicholas.
Playing cricket for Crymych in Alan Brown final.
Gary in support of Narberth's Puku.
Gary on the burst.
Gary with Martin Brown.
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