Games festival fever to sweep county

SPORTING greats from Carmarthenshire’s past and present will combine with a massive jamboree across Carmarthenshire when the Commonwealth games Queen’s Baton arrives in the county on May 27th.

They are among 130 Welsh sporting greats and pillars of the community announced today who will carry the baton across Wales when the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s baton Relay arrives in Cardiff after having been paraded through townships and even across underwater reefs across the Commonwealth since September last year.

Events are being planned from Dylan Thomas’s Boathouse, Laugharne; Ammanford, Llanelli and Carmarthen when the Queens Baton spends day four in the county of five in Wales en route to Glasgow.

The three main town events are in the planning stage. Llanelli is hoping to replicate its Christmas Carnival atmosphere with a Commonwealth Mardi Gras themed parade through the town from the Town Hall to East Gate and an afternoon of festival fever.

County executive board member for leisure services, Cllr Meryl Gravelle said she was sure this would be a truly memorable colourful spectacle.

“We want to see as many people as possible showing that same Christmas carnival spirit bedecking themselves out in fancy dress and finery to join in the fun.

“There will also be a lot of Commonwealth themed fun in Ammanford and Carmarthen.”

Other activities proposed for the day in Llanelli include street entertainers, craft stalls, cookery demonstrations, sports events, dancing, music, open air stage performances and themed workshops.

Details of events planned in Ammanford and Carmarthen on the morning and evening of May 27th are being finalised.

Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay Carmarthenshire baton bearers

Queen’s Baton Day 4 in Wales – Carmarthenshire

Neil Rees : Former Commonwealth Games medal-winning bowler from Llanelli

After joining Parc y Dre Bowls Club at just 11 years of age, Neil has been a member for 25 years and has earned 50 caps for Wales. Neil, aged 35, competed at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpar where he won bronze in the fours, and then went on to compete in the Manchester Games in 2002.

Hedydd Davies : Carrier of the Commonwealth Baton in 1958 and 2002 from Carmarthen

Former athlete, Heydydd from Carmarthen has a long relationship with the Commonwealth Games after carrying the baton at the first Queen’s Baton Relay in 1958, competing in the marathon at the Edinburgh games in 1970 and carrying the baton again during the 2002 relay.

Awarded an MBE in 2007 for his services to athletics, the 73-year-old represented Wales on 30 occasions over more than 20 years, claiming nine Welsh senior championships, including four marathon titles.

John Phillips: Boxing referee and community volunteer from St Clears

Actively involved in boxing for 43 years, John refereed at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada and has played a vital role in encouraging children in the community to get involved in sport. Regularly giving up his time to judge and referee at amateur boxing events, he is currently the officer in charge for the Western Division and is extremely passionate about the sport.

Myrddin John: Man formerly at the helm of Team Wales from Llandybie

Myrddin is an internationally renowned sports administrator who formerly represented Wales in weightlifting at the 1958 Empire Games in Cardiff. He went on to become the chief at the Commonwealth Games Council, a position which he held for 23 years, whilst also attending 11 Commonwealth Games in varying roles ranging from coach, weightlifting manager, general manager and Chef de Mission.

The former schoolteacher was appointed general secretary of the Wales Weightlifting Federation in 1966 and became President in 2011. He also held the post of vice-president of the International Weightlifting Federation, comprising 187 countries and was elected as a vice-president of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Anwen Butten : Nurse and elite bowler from Carmarthen

A ward sister by day at the West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen, Anwen, aged 41, manages to juggle her day job with family life and a successful international bowls career. Anwen has competed at three Commonwealth Games and has two bronze medals under belt. She has been selected to compete for Wales at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Lee Williams: Rugby Sevens and Scarlets star from Carmarthen

A Wales international rugby sevens player, Lee first started playing the game for the under eights in the Gwendraeth Valley village and soon went on to work his way through the academy system at the Scarlets. With Pontyberem RFC and UWIC RFC also on the list of clubs that Lee, aged 27, has made appearances for, he has played more than 50 times for the Scarlets and has scored 12 tries.

Lee has represented Wales ay both U18 and U19 level and has been a regular part of the Wales Sevens team since 2006, competing at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and winning the IRB World Sevens Championships in Dubaiin 2009.

Tapani Kalmaru : Commonwealth archer from Llanelli

Dedicated to archery since the age of 11, Tapani, aged 24, has represented Wales and GB at both junior and senior level. From his humble beginnings at Castle Archers in Newcastle Emlyn he went on to compete for Wales at the Delhi 2010.

Natalie Lucitt-Jenkins : Former British Champion and Commonwealth gymnast from Llanelli

At just 13 years-old, former gymnast Natalie Lucitt-Jenkins became British Champion after starting out in the sport at Llanelli Gymnastics club at the age of six. Just three years later Natalie was selected for the British squad and moved to Swansea Gymnastics Club in order for her to maintain the required hours of training. In 1996 and 1998 Natalie was selected to compete at the European Championships and she competed for Wales at the Kuala Lumpur 1998 Commonwealth Games finishing fifth in the beam. Since her retirement from the sport, Natalie, aged 30l, has dedicated her time and energy to helping develop gymnastics in her community.

Delfryg John, Involved in weightlifting for over 50 years, from Nantgaredig

Although never a competitor in the sport, Delfryg John has been involved in weightlifting for over 50 years. He has been to eleven Commonwealth Games with the 1958 Empire Games in Cardiff being his first. He has been heavily involved with the national squad as a marshal, team manager and a referee and judge.

Kevin Evans, Triple Commonwealth medal-winning boxer from Carmarthen

Proud Welshman Kevin Evans is the only boxer to have won three Commonwealth medals. His medal run began at the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur where he won bronze he then added another bronze from the Manchester 2002 Games and topped it off with a silver medal from the Melbourne 2006 event. Kevin came out of retirement to compete at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and is now the owner of the Prizefighter Gym in Carmarthen where he regularly trains his nephew and Wales squad boxer Calum Evans.

Stephen Perks: Former athletics head coach from Carmarthen

Originally from Llanelli but now living in Carmarthen, Steve Perks became the Welsh National Coach for sprints and relays in 1990 and moved on to be the head coach for the athletics team at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada. At the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, Stephen coached the GB and NI 4x100m Men’s Relay Team of Jason Gardener, Darren Campbell, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis to the gold medal.

Peter Arthur Former weightlifting Olympian and Commonwealth bronze medallist from Glanamman

D
uring his weightlifting career 76-year-old Peter qualified for two Olympic Games – Mexico 1968 and Munich 1972 – and also took part in the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, the 1966 Games in Jamaica and the 1970 Games in Edinburgh, securing two bronze medals along the way

Peter was left unable to take more than a few steps after suffering a stroke over a year ago, he has been working hard on the treadmill four days a week at Ammanford Leisure Centre and has progressed to be able to walk a mile and a half. Through grit and determination the former British Steel worker is now able to use his right hand to eat and write and gradually getting back to his full singing voice.

Aled Arnold, Former Commonwealth weightlifter from Ammanford

Aled Arnold compete in the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland where he won two bronze medals for Wales.

Austyn Shortman: Swimming Coach to some of Wales’ Glasgow 2014 hopefuls

Now living in Carmarthen, Austyn, aged 41, once represented England as a swimmer in the Auckland Commonwealth Games, gaining two silver medals in the relay events. He moved to Wales over 15 years ago and is now part of the Welsh National Coaching team striving to help Wales’ future swimmers reach their potential.