At 63 years of age Elaine Gunning is no longer an active sporting participant but can look back on a rich early involvement when she was a very successful athlete, especially in the 100 metres and hurdles, where she was a county champion on a regular basis, but in other participant sports like hockey and netball alongside the likes of tennis, squash, swimming and aerobics - plus becoming a Welsh international in rugby at time when the game for women was in its infancy.
 
Elaine also has a fascinating and inspirational tale to tell of success in her work as a lawyer, despite leaving Haverfordwest Secondary Modern with a couple of exam passes, right through to having her own successful business - but more of that later.
 

Started rugby almost by accident in college

 
Her involvement with the oval ball game came after she had eventually qualified to study law at Cardiff University and she attended a Fresher’s Event looking for things to do - and when she passed the ladies’ rugby section bumped into a student called Sue who started to chat and told Elaine she had the requirements to play the game, despite the fact that she had never played and knew very little about it.
 
“She told me I was the right height and build to play in the forwards in a position called second row, which needed a physical commitment as well as other requirements - and it sounded just right because I had always enjoyed the hard training, plus rough and tumble involved in some other sports I had played.
 

A sharp learning curve followed

 
“So, I turned up for the first training session and was hooked from the outset, especially the tackling
and work in the rucks and mauls (which had to be explained to me!) - and I went to every session
and found, to my utter surprise, to see my name on the team sheet for the first game, as we played all
the other Welsh Colleges and a few from England as well.
 
“We played our games at Talybont Fields, just behind the Llys Talybont Halls of Residence - and I
remember the first time I scored a try because I had no clue about technicalities of the game and
when I put in a big tackle, I collected the loose ball and charged towards the opposition’s line, when
suddenly the coaches started to scream to me to ‘touch the ball down’.
 
Luckily, I hadn’t reached the dead-ball line and so I did as they were showing me from the
touchline - but had my leg pulled for weeks!
 

Welsh honours followed . . .

 
“As I gained an understanding of the skills and techniques I was moved to No 8 and it was there
that I stayed throughout the three years I was in college as we came close to reaching the universities’
final, without quite doing enough - and was honoured to be chosen as ‘Player of the Year’ for
all of them.
 
“Then in the final season I attended the college’s sport formal dinner, a black-tie for the men and
long evening gowns for us girls - and I was absolutely gob-smacked when my name was called out
as ‘Female Sports Person of the Year’. I had to go up on stage and my trophy was presented by
Emlyn Hughes - and it’s nice to think that my name is engraved on the perpetual trophy - although
it is ‘Elaine John’ because I was a single girl then!”
 

. . . And Welsh selection, too!

 
Elaine also attracted the attention of the Welsh Colleges’ selectors because she was invited to attend
trials for the Welsh Students’ team and after a series of trials played in the red jersey against their
counterparts from England at Bristol’s ground.
 
‘It was a great thrill.” Admitted Elaine but there no caps for women in those days - but I still have
my jersey, hanging neatly in a wardrobe at home. Then I was chosen for the Welsh Women’s team
to go on a tour abroad but I was still in my final year before passing my law degree and couldn’t
afford the air fares and hotel costs which weren’t covered by the WRU in those days!”
 

Family matters. . .

 
Elaine’s life story is just as compelling because she was brought up in Coronation Avenue, in
Prendergast, Haverfordwest, where she still lives today, the daughter of ‘Nobby’ John, who was
part of the well-known quartet of brothers that also included Herbie (of ‘The Bull’ fame (David
and Aubrey, with mother Margaret being a useful athlete in her younger days, with Elaine having
Kevin and Kathy as her siblings. Her daughters Rose and Lily have also dabbled in athletics, with
Rose recently completing the Bristol Marathon and Lily being a cross-country runner in her school
days.

As well as the sports we documented earlier on, Elaine could often be seen jogging in the area, with
her elder daughter in the specially-adapted push-chair!
 

New challenges undertaken

 
“I used to work with Welsh Water as an administrator when I decided I needed new challenges so I
went back to college and took my A Levels.
 
“It was a big step but I went even further and took my degree on a Legal Practice course at Cardiff
University – and from there I worked as articled clerk with Vicky Haines, a local solicitor before
taking my monster step by moving to London and working in Westminster as a lawyer, specialising
in licensing laws for big companies.
 
“I was involved in sorting out the licensing certificates for famous night clubs like ‘Stringfellows’
and Lord’s Cricket Ground, meeting well-known people like Winston Churchill’s grandson.”
 
It was upon the death of her mother that she returned home to Haverfordwest and whilst working locally
with Lowless & Lowless she attended Pembrokeshire College and obtained her PGCE with a view
to passing on all she knew to others aspiring to join the legal profession .
 

Back home for a short spell with Haverfordwest Ladies

 
“Haverfordwest Rugby Club was just starting out with a ladies’ team and I played for them, despite
having reached the age my mid-30s, but with my style of play I was beginning to find the knocks
harder and harder to recover from.
 
“So, I decided it was time stop playing and immersed myself in work – and at the ripe old age of 63
I now have my own company ‘Security Lettings Ltd based in Haverfordwest’, which specialises in
residential property management and we devote much time to Stand Up To Racism.
 
“But I still look back with great fondness on those exciting days as a rugby player and my only
regret is that there weren’t the same range of chances that there are for girls and women today – and
there were no caps awarded then, which is a shame, but I still have my Welsh jersey still hanging
somewhere safe at home in a wardrobe – and who knows, I might even get round to having it
framed!
 

And finally . . .

 
“But I loved my involvement with rugby and athletics, and also dabble in tennis, netball, squash,
aerobics and swimming at different times. My advice to young girls these days is to try a range of
sports and there is sure to be one that will suit you,
 
“It is a great means of getting to know others, grow in confidence and – who knows – might lead
you somewhere you couldn’t dream of at the start!”
 
PembrokeshireSport.co.uk can only say we totally agree with Elaine Gunning, who is hugely
engaging and inspirational character, with a story to enjoy, which we certainly did in our chat
with her!