The Pembrokeshire sporting year was celebrated once again on Friday evening with the Sport Pembrokeshire Awards, held at Folly Farm.

The Awards recognise all that is good in Pembrokeshire sport, across all sports, ages and abilities, including those volunteers who make it all possible behind the scenes.

Ceri Coleman-Phillips of BBC Wales Sport once again took up the presenting responsibilities to the large audience, ably assisted by Cris Tomos.

This year’s winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award was footballer Simon Davies.

Simon had a fantastic career in the Premier League, most notably with Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.

The winger scored in the Europa League final for Fulham in 2010, won 58 caps for Wales, scoring six goals, and captained his country during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

He was named Welsh Footballer of the Year in 2002 and Fulham's player of the season in 2007-08, before eventually leaving the club in 2013. 

In July, that year he returned to his boyhood club, Solva and played against St Ishmaels, paying £3 subs for the privilege. 

Gareth ‘Alfie’ Thomas introduces the Special Award

From one former Wales international to another as Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas introduced a Special Award for the evening.

Gareth announced the footballers of the Wales Women’s Street Football Team as award winners for their incredible run to the quarter-finals of the Homeless World Cup in Oslo.

The team trains in Haverfordwest and featured five fantastic Pembrokeshire women, co-captains Tor Planner and Marie Tilley, alongside Claire Mantripp, Sam Lewtas and Bryony Davies.

The players wore the Welsh jersey with pride and made history, yet each have overcome personal adversity - including homelessness, mental health problems and social exclusion.

The Pembrokeshire connection continues through the proud Team Manager Jo Price, a former Wales and Arsenal goalkeeper, and on the support staff was Anji Tinley, Manager at the Garth Youth & Community Project, who is also a Pembrokeshire County Councillor.

The Chairman’s award for 2025 was presented by Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman Councillor Maureen Bowen.

The Award went to ‘Cruising Free’ from Neyland Rowing Club, who have completed one of the world's greatest challenges – rowing the mighty Atlantic Ocean.

Demonstrating extraordinary courage, endurance, and unity, Sophie Pierce, Janine Williams, Miyah Periam, and Polly Zipperlan completed the gruelling 3,200-mile row between Lanzarote and Antigua raising money for cystic fibrosis and Paul Sartori.

At 32, Sophie Pierce, who lives with cystic fibrosis, became the first person with the condition ever to row an ocean, while 70-year-old Janine Williams became the oldest woman in history to complete the feat.

Together with Polly and Miyah they proved that teamwork and perseverance can conquer any obstacle.

Tavernspite and Templeton take the School Award

The 2025 School Award was awarded to the Federation of Tavernspite and Templeton Schools.

The Federation has also demonstrated strong inclusion ethos and practices to ensure all pupils get the same opportunities to experience and enjoy a range of sports.

The Federation promotes Parkrun as a brilliant way of helping people to get active, meet friends and enjoy being outside, while also promoting strong leadership development through the Parkrun Ambassador scheme.

The Federation has also demonstrated strong inclusion ethos and practices to ensure all pupils get the same opportunities to experience and enjoy a range of sports.

This includes adapted PE equipment, wheelchair races, and Sport Pembrokeshire collaboration and outstanding support for disadvantaged learners, highlighted by Estyn as best practice.

Everyone involved congratulated by Cllr Rhys

Summing up another fantastic Sport Pembrokeshire Awards, Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “My congratulations go to everyone who won awards and all those nominated.

“We are so lucky to have such a strong sporting scene here in Pembrokeshire and my thanks go to all those who do so much work to ensure people of all ages and abilities can take part in the sports they love.

“Thanks also go to our sponsors Valero, Folly Farm, and Pure West Radio for their assistance in putting on this celebration of sport in Pembrokeshire each year.”
 
The winners are as follows: (And PembrokeshireSport.co.uk will present unrivalled coverage over a number of days alongside superb images from Matthew Kelly of RAW Photography)

Girls U16’s                                          Ava Tyrie (Brazilian Ju Jitsu Pembroke MMA)
Boys U16’s                                         Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)
Club of the Year                                  Milford Haven Hockey Club
Junior Disability Award                      Jake Evans (Llangwm RFC)
Young Volunteer of the Year               Alannah Heasman (Haverfordwest High School)
Junior Team                                        Merlin’s Bridge FC Under 14’s 2024/25
Unsung Hero                                       Jenny Lewis (Clarbeston Road AFC)
Senior Team                                        Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club
Male Achievement                              Liam Bradley (Triathlon)
Female Achievement                           Sanna Duthie (Running)
Disability Sport Award                       Rachel Bailey (Boccia)
Club Organiser                                    Silfan Rhys-Jones (Fishguard Table Tennis Club)
Coach of the Year                                James North (Kilgetty AFC)
School Award                                      Tavernspite & Templeton Federation of Schools
Chairman’s Award                              Cruising Free (Neyland Rowing Club)
Special Award                                     Street Football Wales
Lifetime Achievement                        Simon Davies (Wales, Spurs, Fulham, Everton & Solva AFC)