Sport review of 2003 (From Barry And District News)

Sport review of 2003

JANUARY started well with boys and girls aged five to six giving the thumbs up to football fun centres organised by the Vale of Glamorgan Council's sports development unit.

Held at the Holm View and Llantwit Major leisure centres, the MacDonald's-sponsored courses were run in conjunction with the Football Association of Wales.

For 10 weeks, the youngsters focused on technical work, with development coaching and small-sided fun games. All participants received balls, certificates and a MacDonald's meal voucher.

There were also prizes for the most improved players and those with the best shooting skills.

FEBRUARY brought a huge improvement for the Barry Wildcats Lacrosse Club. The Wildcats Juniors (U14s) had just completed their third and final round of lacrosse matches at Dunvant Rugby Club in Swansea.

With two matches to play, Barry needed to win at least one to be sure of securing second place.

They played a hard match against an unbeaten Cardiff team, and were narrowly beaten 5-4 by the opposition.

But they were better matched against Llanlli/Swansea and their experience over the newer team gave them a 6-1 win.

Also, the senior side were invited to take place in the prestigious Welsh Senior Mixed Eights. With very little time to train after accepting the invite, they didn't make it through the knock-out rounds but they were elated to have beaten Cardiff Univeresity B and Swansea University.

The Barry YMCA Kyokushin Karate club celebrated in March. Five members of the club travelled to Tokei, London Bridge, to compete in a full contact tournament for experienced and novice fighters.

The competition drew senior fighters from as far away as Japan and Norway.

Lee Bennett, 2nd Dan, achieved first place in the lightweight experienced category, having beaten his younger brother Spencer Bennett, 1st Dan, during a tough fight in the final.

The youngest grade in the team, Lee Harvard, the only blue belt, 8th kyu, fought with great spirit against much higher ranked opponents and earned himself a third place in the novice category. All five produced incredibe performances on a world stage.

The Barry YMCA Kyokushin Karate club celebrated in March. Five members of the club travelled to Tokei, London Bridge, to compete in a full contact tournament for experienced and novice fighters.

The competition drew senior fighters from as far away as Japan and Norway.

Lee Bennett, 2nd Dan, achieved first place in the lightweight experienced category, having beaten his younger brother Spencer Bennett, 1st Dan, during a tough fight in the final.

The youngest grade in the team, Lee Harvard, the only blue belt, 8th kyu, fought with great spirit against much higher ranked opponents and earned himself a third place in the novice category. All five produced incredibe performances on a world stage.

IN APRIL, youngsters showed how much fun sport can be.

They got involved in the tag rugby initiative in the prestigious Vale of Glamorgan Hotel sports training facility, which is used by the national team. Run by the Vale of Glamorgan Sports Development Unit in conjunction with the Welsh Rugby Union and Dragon Sport, the scheme aimed to maximise participation in the sport by boys and girls and to increase skill levels.

It further sought to recruit more parent volunteers to gain basic coaching qualifications and offer additional opportunities for the youngsters.

The under-eight-year olds who took part enjoyed an action-packed day.

MAY shone on the Barry YMCA Gymnasts team who achieved tremendous success at the annual gradings at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff.

The British National Development Plan gradings consisted of six club grades and three elite level grades, and Barry had entered gymnasts at various levels.

Very few gymnasts reach the Compulsory and Elite level grades, but Barry could already boast six young members who had passed the highest level.

All of the 27 girls who entered the gradings clearly demonstrated that they have a bright future ahead of them and the coaches congratulated them all for their excellent work.

In JUNE, everyone rooted for Matthew Laver, who at just 11-years old, was competing in a Welsh national snooker tournament.

The young player joined a further five boys, all under 14, to take on England in Leicester.

Having loved the sport since the age of three, Matthew was relatively new to the game, taking up playing the sport this year. But the points he had totted up at that point gave him the very respectable rank of fifth out of 46 young players in Wales.

He was described by his tutor, Anthony Davies, as a natural left-hander and a genuine talent. Matthew was looking forward to turning professional as soon as he is old enough.

IN APRIL, youngsters showed how much fun sport can be.

They got involved in the tag rugby initiative in the prestigious Vale of Glamorgan Hotel sports training facility, which is used by the national team. Run by the Vale of Glamorgan Sports Development Unit in conjunction with the Welsh Rugby Union and Dragon Sport, the scheme aimed to maximise participation in the sport by boys and girls and to increase skill levels.

It further sought to recruit more parent volunteers to gain basic coaching qualifications and offer additional opportunities for the youngsters.

The under-eight-year olds who took part enjoyed an action-packed day.IN APRIL, youngsters showed how much fun sport can be.

They got involved in the tag rugby initiative in the prestigious Vale of Glamorgan Hotel sports training facility, which is used by the national team. Run by the Vale of Glamorgan Sports Development Unit in conjunction with the Welsh Rugby Union and Dragon Sport, the scheme aimed to maximise participation in the sport by boys and girls and to increase skill levels.

It further sought to recruit more parent volunteers to gain basic coaching qualifications and offer additional opportunities for the youngsters.

The under-eight-year olds who took part enjoyed an action-packed day.

JULY, and the warm weather brought success for 10-year-old Ruby Hartery. The Barry YMCA gymnast pulled off a great performance at the British Grades Final.

Topping her age group on the Welsh Grades competition, Ruby was one of only four gymnasts from across Wales chosen to represent her country at the British finals.

She was the top scoring Welsh gymnast in the compulsory level 3 competition.

The achievement was made even more special by the fact that it was the first time Ruby had represented Wales. Her coaches Linda Gee and Sonia Lawrence were thrilled by her dazzling performance.

AUGUST provided the perfect weather for a get-together, which is why Anne Davies chose this time of year to hold a very special event.

A keen bowler, Anne, of Heol Sirhwi, is a founder member of Millwood Bowling Club and, as President of the Glamorgan County Women's Bowling Association, she decided to hold her President's Day this month.

She was joined by fellow members, Glamorgan bowlers and committee members, as well as representatives from clubs in the country for a highly enjoyably day. They had friendly games of bowls before enjoying a sociable gathering.

SEPTEMBER saw the triumphant return of James Savory, who came back from the Special Olympic World Games with five medals.

James had been able to fund the trip thanks to a payout from the Barry Round Table, and had won gold in the rings and vault, silver in the horizontal bar and bronze in the pommel horse and all-around event.

For good measure, he also won a fifth place ribbon for the parallel bars and a sixth place ribbon for his floor work.

The 20-year-old was one of the members of Team Great Britain for gymnasts.

He lives in Barry and trains with Penarth Gymnastics' Special Needs Section.

NOVEMBER saw gymnastics in the headlines again. This time, young Lorelai Wescott was hitting the top spot at the British Rhythmic Gymnastics grades finals in Burton-Upon- Trent.

The talented ten-year-old performed a free routine comprising ballet, dance and gymnastic skills. Her hoop routine, which was full of large throws and catches, and body skills, delighted everyone.

Both routines earned the highest score in her grade, as she competed against 11 other gymnasts.

It was a fantastic achievement for the rhythmic gymnast. At that time she had only been involved in the sport for a short period, but she had worked very hard.

IN DECEMBER, the Vale Karate Junior Elite Squad coach Bo Channon took the title of Welsh Men's Kata Champion for the third time in the Welsh karate governing body's open championships.

While he was enjoying his success, his club members were also making names for themselves in an action-packed All-England Children's Championships, held in Dudley.

This event was hosted by Wayne Otto, OBE, the world's most successful karate champion, as verified by the Guinness Book of Records. The squad boasted five new accolades.

It was a hugely successful year for the squad, with many wins in different tournaments and tests.

Everyone was looking forward to a break over Christmas before returning fighting fit in the new year.