Welsh Sports Association members Disability Sport Wales and Street Games were among the winners at the celebration of sporting achievement this week, which saw Sport Wales and BBC Wales join forces once again to hold the country’s biggest annual sporting awards event at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport.
The Organisation of the Year award went to Disability Sport Wales (pictured left) for achieving over a million inclusive community participation opportunities per year and a host of world media winning athletes.
The Sporting Experience of the Year was awarded to the StreetGames charity’s Us Girls project. The programme was rewarded for attracting new ‘hard-to-reach’ female participants, new volunteers, coaches and leaders.
Other winners include Welsh Athletic‘s board member, Christian Malcolm as Coach of the Year, with success for volunteers from Boxing, Swimming and Weightlifting.
Rugby Union centre Jonathan Davies was crowned the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2017, finishing ahead of runner-up Geraint Thomas (Cycling), with Natalie Powell (Judo) in third place. Davies was one of the stand-out performers of 2017, having been voted the British and Irish Lions man of the series in New Zealand. The centre played every minute of the three Tests against the All Blacks as the Lions secured an historic series draw.
The winners were:
- Team of the Year – Cardiff Devils
- Coach of the Year – Christian Malcolm (Athletics, Newport)
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Alan Curtis (Football, Swansea)
- Special Recognition Award – David Watkins
- Carwyn James Young Sportswoman of the Year – Catrin Jones (Weightlifting, Anglesey)
- Carwyn James Young Sportsman of the Year – Ben Woodburn (Football, Liverpool FC)
- Volunteer of the Year – Fateha Ahmed (Swimming, Cardiff)
- Inspiring Young Person of the Year – Hannah Nolan (Multi-sport, Llandudno)
- Organisation of the Year – Disability Sport Wales
- Sporting Experience of the Year – Us Girls
- Unsung Hero – Mike Blake (Fell Running, Caernarfon)
- Community Coach of the Year – Mark James (Boxing, Newport)
Lawrence Conway, Chair of Sport Wales, said: “We received a record number of inspiring nominations for this year’s awards and tonight’s finalists showcase the passion and hard work going on in the communities here in Wales.
“I am proud of all the volunteers, coaches, leaders and organisations who are helping to build a more active and healthier nation, and it was a real honour to see them recognised as the true heroes of Welsh sport.
“Their achievements will no doubt encourage others across the country to get engaged in the community and help shape their Welsh sport of the future.”
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