23 October 2007

The unsung heroes of Welsh Athletics have been toasted at a prestigious ceremony, sponsored by Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne.

The backroom staff were recognised for the wide range of work that is undertaken behind the scenes – from enlisting youngsters into the sport and integrating disability sport at club level to handling photo finish at international fixtures.

While 17 awards were presented at the ceremony in Llandrindod Wells last weekend, just five winners will now go forward to a UK ceremony, staged by UK Athletics.

Swansea Harriers Athletics Club picked up the award for Track and Field Club of the Year as well as Junior Club of the Year Award after a highly successful 12 months. The club will now be aiming for an extra lap of honour when it attends the ceremony at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham on 1 December.

Cwmbran Harriers will be well represented at the Birmingham ceremony as they will be fielding a coach and official. Dave Lester, who was presented with the Newcomer to Officiating award, and Dave Lewis, who was named Performance Coach of the Year, will both be hoping for a spot on the UK rostrum.

Steve Livett of Menai Track and Field is also Birmingham-bound after he picked up the Welsh Athletics gong for Club Development following his successful work with the club’s junior section.

Finally, Sport:Cardiff is going all out to raise the chequered flag at the National Motorcycle Museum in the Local Authority Partnership of the Year category, having already been recognised for its efforts at Wales level. Steve Morris – Manager of Sport:Cardiff – collected the award.

Indeed, Sport:Cardiff has shown a high degree of commitment to the development of athletics. This year, they committed financially to a long-term agreement with Welsh Athletics to support the employment of a full-time development officer. The partnership between Sport:Cardiff and Welsh Athletics is so fruitful that it is now being used as the model for the rest of Wales.

ALL WINNERS:

SOUTH WEST WALES

Track and Field Club of the Year – Swansea Harriers Athletics Club

Junior Club of the Year – Swansea Harriers Athletics Club

Off Track Official of the Year – Kevin Corcoran, Swansea Harriers Athletics Club

Track and Field Official of the Year – Colin Davies, Swansea Harriers Athletics Club

Services to Officiating – Derek Crowder, Porthcawl

Participation Coach of the Year – Delyth Brown, Carmarthen and District Harriers Athletics Club

Athletics Partnership of the Year – Swansea Harriers AC and Swansea Schools

SOUTH EAST WALES

Inclusivity Club of the Year – Cwmbran Harriers

Young Volunteer of the Year – Ian Dwight, Cardiff Amateur Athletics Club

Newcomer to Officiating – Dave Lester, Cwmbran Harriers

Performance Coach of the Year – Dave Lewis, Cwmbran Harriers

Podium Coach of the Year – Darryl Maynard, Cwmbran

Coaching Development – Gwyn Williams, Cardiff

Local Authority Partnership of the Year – Sport:Cardiff (City and County of Cardiff)

NORTH WALES

Off Track Club of the Year – Eryri Harriers

Club Volunteer of the Year – Neil Dunn, Deestriders Running Club

Club Development – Steve Livett, Menai Track and Field