The pinnacle of Alex Rosser's career to date is finishing fourth at the World Para. Swimming Series final in Berlin. The
Team Wales 2018: athlete profiles Published March 2018
Contents Foreword
3
Table Tennis
113
Message from our Board
4
Triathlon
118
Chef de Mission’s message
6
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
123
Good luck messages
8
Wrestling
137
Player profiles: team sports:
Athlete profiles by sport: Aquatics (Swimming & Diving)
11
Men’s Hockey
140
Athletics
25
Women’s Hockey
153
Boxing
50
Netball
172
Cycling
56
Men’s Rugby 7s
185
Gymnastics
73
Women’s Rugby 7s
193
Lawn Bowls
82
Shooting
97
Squash
108
List of all athletes by sport Contact
203 206
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Foreword We are proud to introduce the Team Wales athletes selected by Commonwealth Games Wales to represent our nation at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. This document contains profiles for the 200+ athletes, across 15 sports, competing for Wales at the Games.
We believe. We respect. We inspire.
#TimCymru | #TeamWales #ysbrydoliaeth | #whoinspires you
A message from our Board
As we approach the 21st Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia we should recognise the significance of this event, thank all our investors and congratulate our athletes and officials who will represent our country. Gold Coast will welcome more than 6,600 athletes and team officials from 70 Commonwealth nations to share in the celebration of sport, entertainment and culture. Wales will have a team of around 320 athletes, officials and HQ staff who we are very proud to select and call ‘Our Team’. We will compete in 15 sports and welcome women’s rugby sevens, a sport which will make its Commonwealth Games debut. In addition to the largest ever para programme, and for the first time at a Commonwealth Games, an equal number of men’s and women’s medal events will be contested. Our 15 sports will all compete as Wales, together, proud under our own flag with 3 million supporters in Wales standing tall and patriotic behind us. We are a very proud nation and have earned the respect of others, not only for our sporting performance but for our behaviour, our support of each other, our respect for other countries and for the great team spirit we always create. Thank you to all the volunteer officials who like all of the Board and many of the athletes are involved with sport alongside full time jobs. No different to the athletes, coaches and officials we all aim to give a personal best performance to ensure we provide an outstanding performance environment for our athletes to excel. Thank you to all our investors and commercial partners, notably CGI, University of South Wales, Welsh Government and Sport Wales. We are proud of all of our commercial
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relationships and recognise they are an incredibly important part of our Team.
To represent your Country is always an honour and privilege for any sportsperson. We are a proud sporting nation with a great sporting history. Sport is a language that smashes down barriers like no other activity. Being physically active and medal success contributes to a healthy and happy Wales. People at home will be watching you, our athletes, and we hope you inspire others to be healthy, be active and be happy. Gold Coast 2018 will be an amazing experience for all our athletes, no doubt these games will be a challenge, competition will be fierce but equally exciting. Relish every moment at the games, time will pass quickly but your memories will last a life time. All we ask in return is that you be the best you can be, perform to your full potential and fulfil your personal goals and ambitions. You are role models and your conduct and achievements will inspire and motivate future generations. Congratulations to you all on being selected to represent Wales, it is both an honour and privilege and will be a totally unforgettable experience.
Helen Phillips MBE, Chair - Commonwealth Games Wales
on behalf of the Commonwealth Games Wales Board
5
Anne Ellis OBE, President Commonwealth Games Wales
Chef de Mission’s message
Croeso i Dîm Cymru! Welcome to Team Wales! Achieving your place in the team has taken dedication, talent and perseverance – you are now part of Team Wales at Gold Coast 2018. Wales has competed at every Commonwealth Games since they began – one of only a handful of countries to do so. Personally, it is an incredible privilege to be able to lead Team Wales. I also feel very lucky to be part of a fantastic team of committed and passionate athletes and support staff. Whilst everyone in our team has worked hard to get to this point, we are very grateful to our partners, CGI and USW who help us take a team like this to Australia, so a BIG thank you to them. Our team has agreed two main goals – to be the best prepared we can be and to inspire through our performance and behaviour. It goes without saying that all of you as athletes, are striving towards achieving your personal bests, which could lead to medals. Know that we will be cheering you all the way. Be proud of your achievements and enjoy the experience.
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The other challenge we have set ourselves is for every single person on the team to be able to say that they have inspired someone through their performance and behaviour at the Games, whether it’s to take up a sport, or go for a walk, or volunteer to help out at a local sports group. The important thing is to continue the legacy of more people of all ages enjoying sport in Wales and by making the team at these Games, you are a role model. We also want to inspire the locals out in the Gold Coast and hope that the usual Team Wales friendliness, alongside commitment will win us more friends and support from the local Gold Coast community and the wider Commonwealth family, as well as show what a fantastic country Wales is! I know your commitment, performance and your attitude will add to the wonderful reputation that Welsh people have, of competing with passion and belief, respecting competitors and the local culture and inspiring through actions. I look forward to welcoming you all to the Gold Coast. Prof. Nicola Phillips Chef de Mission Team Wales 2018
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British High Commissioner to Australia
I am delighted to welcome Team Wales to Australia for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. As UK High Commissioner I’m cheering for all our teams; but I will be shouting the loudest for Team Wales given my own connections: my Mum was originally from the Rhondda and, though I was brought up in London, my family have since returned to Wales and live in Brecon and Cardiff. Quite simply, Wales is the place I call home. And you can expect the sort of welcome in Australia that you would find in the Welsh hill-sides, with a huge ex-pat population (1.2 million British nationals live here - many with Welsh heritage) and an open, warm and relaxed local culture that feels immediately familiar. But of course there are big differences too, not least coming from the tail-end of a long, cold Welsh winter to the heat of a late Australian summer. I’m looking forward to seeing you all in action and feeling the hwyl. Menna Rawlings, British High Commissioner to Australia
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Welsh Government
I’d like to wish Team Wales every success at this year’s Commonwealth Games. To represent Wales is an incredible achievement and has involved a great deal of hard work, commitment and determination. I do hope that you enjoy the experience and I have no doubt that you will make Wales proud. We are all behind you. Good luck. Rt. Hon. Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales
I am delighted that I will be at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast to see Team Wales compete. The Commonwealth Games holds great importance to us as it is the only opportunity that Wales has to compete in a multi-disciplinary world class sporting event as a nation in our own right. My very best wishes to the coaches, support staff and all the athletes. I look forward to cheering you on! Ken Skates AM Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport
Since becoming Minister with responsibility for sport in Wales, I have seen an abundance of talent across many different sports. Wales has a record of producing athletes who are able to perform on the world stage. You are undoubtedly helping to inspire people of all generations to take part in sport, fulfil their potential and to keep fit and healthy. My sincere best wishes to the whole of Team Wales for an enjoyable and successful Games.
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Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM Minister for Culutre, Tourism and Sport
Our partners: CGI & USW
Over the past four years we have been delighted to support Team Wales in the run up to the Gold Coast. We wish every member of the team success in Australia to achieve your dreams; whether that be competing at your first international Games, recording a personal best or winning a medal. We hope you enjoy the whole experience – from staying at the Athletes’ Village, visiting the Team Wales clubhouse, meeting competitors from around the Commonwealth, to competing in your chosen discipline. We are supporting you from afar and watching with pride. Tara McGeehan President, CGI UK
I am delighted that I will be at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast to see Team Wales compete. The Commonwealth Games holds great importance to us as it is the only opportunity that Wales has to compete in a multi-disciplinary world class sporting event as a nation in our own right. My very best wishes to the coaches, support staff and all the athletes. I look forward to cheering you on! Professor Julie Lydon Vice-Chancellor, University of South Wales
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Aquatics Jazz Carlin
Harriet Jones
Xavier Castelli
Alex Rosser
Georgia Davies*
Beth Sloan
Kathryn Greenslade
Alys Thomas
Aidan Heslop
Jack Thomas
Calum Jarvis
Chloe Tutton*
Daniel Jervis
Harriet West
Ellena Jones * = Welsh speaker
Aquatics
12
Jazmin Carlin Swindon & Swansea, living in Bradford Upon Avon 17/09/90 200m free, 800m free @Jazz Carlin
Gold Coast 2018 will be Jazz’s fourth Commonwealth
It is a sporting career made all the more impressive by the
Games and she will head down under hoping to add to her
fact that Jazz has overcome recurring bouts of tonsillitis
impressive tally of four medals.
and glandular fever during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, preventing her from qualifying for her first Olympics.
In Delhi 2010, she won Wales’ first medal of the Games with silver in the 200m freestyle and followed up with a
But the comeback queen has shown incredible grit and
bronze in the 400m freestyle. Four years later in Glasgow,
determination. She now trains at the University of Bath
she wowed Wales winning gold in the 800m freestyle and
with coach Dave McNulty. Recently, she has been dipping
a silver in the 400m freestyle. She was Wales’ first woman
her toe into open water competition. In October, she fin-
to win gold in the pool since Pat Beavan in 1974.
ished in 11th place at the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup event in Hangzhou City, China.
In 2016, she became a double Olympic medallist winning two silvers in the 400m and 800m freestyle events in Rio.
Aquatics
13
Xavier Castelli (formerly Mohammed) Cardiff
28/03/90
100m back, 200m back, 200m IM @castelli_xavier
@XavierCastelli
Xavier - who will turn 28 ahead of the Games in the Gold Coast – is one of the most senior members of the Team Wales swim squad. He trains at City of Cardiff Swimming Club with Graham Wardell who took over from Dave Haller who retired in 2015. Wardell competed at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and has been one of the UK’s most successful swimming coaches. In 2017, Xavier earned two bronze medals at the British Championships in the 100m and 200m Backstroke. Xavier finished eighth in the 200m Backstroke at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. His mother taught him to swim.
Aquatics
14
Georgia Davies* Swansea 11/10/90 50m back, 100m back @Ge0rgiaDavies90
@Georgiabdavies
The backstroke sprint specialist is one of the senior
two golds in the 50m and 100m backstroke, lowering her
members of Wales’ swimming team and she will be
personal bests. At the World Championships, she reached
defending her title in the 50m backstroke.
the final of the 50m backstroke.
She will also be aiming for a podium position in the 100m
She is a former Swim Swansea Swimming Club alumna
backstroke in which she claimed silver in Glasgow.
where she trained under American coach Bud McAllister. She is now based in Turkey where she swims for 18 hours
Georgia also made it onto the Delhi 2010 medals table.
as well as undertaking weight and core stability sessions.
She bagged bronze in the 50m back. She is a double
She is coached by James Gibson MBE, a former world,
Olympian, having raced at both London 2012 and Rio
European and Commonwealth champion in the men’s
2016.
50-metre breaststroke event.
Recent results certainly augur well for the Gold Coast. At the 2017 British Swimming Championships, she won
Aquatics
15
Kathryn Greenslade Preston
18/01/98
200m free, 200m back @KatGreenslade11
@katgreenslade
A swimmer with many talents. Kathryn plays the piano and studies medicine at the University of Edinburgh. In between her studies, she manages to squeeze in nine or ten swim sessions a week as well as a few visits to the gym. Her talents are cultivated by Shannon Rollason, University of Edinburgh’s Head Coach, who was a key figure in Denmark’s recent run of international success. She started swimming when she followed her brother’s footsteps into the pool.
Aquatics
16
Aidan Heslop Plymouth (Mother from Blaina, Blaenau Gwent)
His victory in the 10m platform event at the Scottish
18/04/02
Diving Championships earned him a score that would
Diving - 3m and 10m platform
have secured a silver medal in Glasgow 2014.
@aidan_heslop His training at the Plymouth Life Centre (former training He is the first diver from Wales to compete at a
base of Tom Daley) with coach and Olympian Sally
Commonwealth Games for 20 years. And at just 15, Aidan
Freeman is carefully balanced with his GCSE studies: “I
Heslop is bursting with talent.
am allowed out of school two days a week for a two hour training session but I make up for it by staying for an
In 2017, due to his young age, he required special
extra lesson three times a week before going straight to
dispensation to compete in the International Cliff Diving
training.”
Championships in Switzerland. From the giddy height of 18.5m, Aidan became the elite men’s champion of the
Aidan started diving just before his eighth birthday: “Mum
21-strong field, scoring 20 points ahead of the silver
booked me and my brother in for a crash diving course
medal.
- 45 minutes every morning for a week in the Easter holidays. We loved it and booked the second week of the
But his talent is by no means restricted to the cliff-face.
holidays too!”
His twists and turns from the platform are also earning him plaudits. In 2017, he secured 10m bronze at the
The last time a Welsh diver competed at the Games was
European Junior Championships and he has impressed at
in Kuala Lumpur 1998. Four-time Olympian Bob Morgan
senior level too, winning bronze at the FINA Grand Prix in
also won 10m platform gold in Auckland 1990 and silver
Madrid.
in Victoria 1994.
Aquatics
17
Calum Jarvis Ystrad
Daniel Jervis
12/05/92
Neath
100m, 200m free
09/06/96
400m free, 1500m free @daniel_jervis1 @danieljervis1
The bronze medallist in the 200m freestyle event at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will be aiming to reach the podium once again in 2018. The 25-year-old trains at the National Centre for Swimming in Bath with Jol Finck, who is also coach to Adam Peaty and James Guy. Calum fits in ten swim sessions a week, four visits to the gym as well as his
The painter and decorator-cum-swimmer from Resolven in Neath Port Talbot had the nation on the edge of their seats four years ago when he nailbitingly won Commonwealth Games bronze in the 1500m freestyle. In personal best times, the 21-year-old stormed to double gold at the British Championships in 2017 over the 800m and 1500m freestyle events, earning him selection for the World
studies in Strength and Conditioning.
Championships in Budapest.
But it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Calum. Just a few
He started swimming with his grandparents after his
weeks before the Olympic trials in 2016, illness forced him out of the qualifying events. He says it was the most
grandfather had a heart attack and took up the sport, and went on to join a swimming club at the age of eight.
difficult point in his career. He is coached by Adam Baker at the Wales National Pool in Swansea.
Aquatics
18
Ellena Jones Swansea
05/01/97
400m free, 800m free @ellenaj97
@ellena_jones97
Freestyler Ellena Jones, 20, juggles her promising swim career with studies at Swansea University. She was first introduced to swimming after her parents took her for lessons as a child. She was one of very few athletes from Wales that competed at the 2011 Youth Olympic Festival where she won gold, silver and bronze. She also competed for Team Wales at the Isle of Man 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games where she won a bronze medal in the 4x100 freestyle and silver in the 4x200 freestyle. She is currently coached by Adam Baker who was appointed lead coach at Swim Wales’ National High Performance Centre in 2015.
Aquatics
19
Harriet Jones Cardiff 27/05/97 50m fly, 10m fly, 200m fly @harrietjoness_
@harrietjoness
Her role model is swimming legend Michael Phelps
stroke for stroke down the final 50m of the 17/18 years
and her favourite sporting moment is his final race. Yet
100m fly with Loughborough University’s Charlotte
20-year-old Harriet Jones is making waves of her own. She
Atkinson. Both touching in 1:00.29, they tied for silver. She
swims out of City of Cardiff Swimming Club with coach
followed it up in the 19 and over category at the 2017
Graham Wardell, undertaking 12 sessions a week.
British Summer Championships by winning a silver in the 200m butterfly and two bronze medals in the 50m and
She represented Wales at the 2013 UK School Games
100m butterfly.
where she collected two silvers in the 100 and 200 fly. She has already travelled to the Gold Coast so has some
January 2018 saw Harriet produce her best performance
idea of what awaits her down under. She enjoyed three
to date at the USA Swimming Pro Series in Austin Texas,
weeks of intense training and conditioning as part of
breaking two time Olympian Jemma Lowe’s Welsh national
a group of ten top swimmers from Wales. She trained
record in the 50m butterfly.
alongside Olympic stars Chloe Tutton and Ieuan Lloyd. She is a former pupil of Bishop of Llandaff in Cardiff and At the 2016 British Summer Championships, she went
Cowbridge Comprehensive.
Aquatics
20
Alex Rosser Torfaen
27/09/96
200m free S14 @alex_rosser27
@alex_rosser97
The pinnacle of Alex Rosser’s career to date is finishing fourth at the World Para Swimming Series final in Berlin. The former West Monmouth Comprehensive School pupil is currently studying for a Sport and Exercise Science degree at Swansea University. He is also a part-time swimming instructor for the Torfaen Leisure Trust. He is coached at the Wales National Pool by Christian Whelan, Hayley Baker and Adam Baker. But it is his parents who first inspired him. Both international swimmers, Adam would watch them train from an early age and he began competing himself at the age of seven. In fact, his father Ian Rosser was his first ever coach. Ian still coaches the Torfaen Dolphins.
Aquatics
21
Bethan Sloan Cowbridge
Alys Thomas Swansea
23/06/96
100m fly, 200m fly
100m breast, 200m breast @bethsloan
10/10/90
@alys_thomas
@bethsloan7
The Cowbridge swimmer trains at the City of Cardiff Swim
Competing in her third Commonwealth Games, Alys’s form
Club with coach Graham Wardell. Such is her dedication
in 2017 bodes well for a solid performance on the Gold
to excel in the pool, she has paused her chemistry degree
Coast. She won silver in the 200m Butterfly and bronze in
studies at the University of Liverpool in order to focus on
the 50m Butterfly at the 2017 British Championships. She
training.
also successfully defended her 100m Butterfly title earning her safe passage to her first-ever World Championships in
To help make ends meet, Beth works part time jobs in
Budapest.
retail, hospitality and she also tutors A level chemistry students.
In Hungary, she raced in the 100m and 200m Butterfly events achieving a top 15 finish in both.
Her proudest moment came in 2014 when she reached a semi-final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. 2016
Coached by Stuart McNarry, Alys trains with City of Swansea
saw Beth smash the Welsh senior record in the 200m
Aquatics.
breaststroke in a time of 2:23.21. She is a former Cowbridge Comprehensive School pupil.
Aquatics
22
Jack Thomas Swansea, trains in Llandudno
30/05/95
200m free S14 @JackThomas1995
It’s been a story of ups and downs for Jack Thomas. At Glasgow 2014, he won bronze in the 200m freestyle S14 event and went on to secure two silver medals at the European Championships in Eindhoven in the 100m Backstroke and 200m Individual medley as well as a bronze in the 200m free. The following year Jack broke his wrist, which ruled him out of the 2015 World Championships, and his coach of five years moved on. He admits he lost his way with training but in October 2016, he “decided that it was not over” and that “it was time to fight back”. And that’s just what he did. He found a new coach and at the 2016 British Championships, he set four new British records. He now trains at Llandudno Swim Centre with coach Chris Davies. When he’s not training, he can often be found volunteering at the pool. Jack started swimming at the age of three. His parents, Mark and Wendy, took him to the local pool in a bid to burn off his excess energy.
Aquatics
23
Chloe Tutton* Rhondda Cynon Tafff
17/07/96
100m breast, 200m breast @chloemtutton
Chloe Tutton was 13 when her talent was spotted by the now retired Dave Haller – the coach behind the likes of David Davies, Duncan Goodhew and Mark Foster. Still training out of Cardiff International Pool but now coached by Graham Wardell & Dale Frantzeskou, she is now a firm fixture in the Welsh team. This will be her second Commonwealth Games, having competed in Glasgow. But it was in April 2016 that she raised eyebrows, winning the 200m breaststroke at the British Championships in a new British record time. Her record breaking swim sealed her place on Team GB for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio where she finished in an amazing fourth place. Although widely regarded as a Breaststroke specialist, Chloe is certainly not limited to swimming one stroke. She is the current Welsh Short Course Record holder in the 100m & 200m freestyle, 200m breaststroke, 200IM, 4x100m freestyle team, 4x200m freestyle team, and she also currently holds the Welsh Long Course Record in the 200m breaststroke, 200IM, 4x100m freestyle team.
Aquatics
24
Harriet West Leicestershire
09/08/97
100m fly, 100m back @harriettwest
@west_harriet
She made all four finals in the 50m fly, 100m fly, 50m back and 100m back at the 2017 British Summer Championships in Sheffield. And for the first time ever, she went under the minute for the 100m fly, narrowly missing out on bronze. She also helped the Loughborough girls’ medley relay team claim bronze. Following the Championships, she was whisked off to New York with the Welsh squad to compete in the US Open where she raced against some of the USA’s best swimmers. A Loughborough University student, she trains on site nine times week in the pool with a further three sessions in the gym. And she is back at the pool every Saturday morning teaching swimming. As a junior, Harriet won the 100m fly at the British Summer Championships for two years running.
25
Athletics Hollie Arnold
Caryl Granville
Osian Jones*
Jenny Nesbitt
Rowan Axe
Dai Greene
Rhys Jones
David Omoregie
Olivia Breen
Ben Gregory
Elinor Kirk*
Carys Parry Evans*
Becca Chapman
Josh Griffiths*
James Ledger
Sally Peake
Melissa Courtney
Jonathan Hopkins
Heather Lewis
Ieuan Thomas
Andrew Davies*
Caryl Jones*
Tom Marshall
Bethan Davies
Morgan Jones
Curtis Mathews * = Welsh speaker
Athletics
26
Hollie Arnold MBE Grimsby
26/06/94
F46 Javelin @holliearnold2012
Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold will now be aiming to add Commonwealth Games medallist to her name. She has been a firm fixture in the GB team ever since she made her Paralympic debut at Beijing 2008. She was just 14-years-old and the youngest member of Team GB. Claiming World Junior Championship medals in 2009, 2010 and 2011, she broke onto the senior scene with a bronze at the IPC Athletics World Championships in 2011. She finished fifth at the London 2012 Paralympics and is a three-time World Champion gold medallist, having triumphed in 2013, 2015 and most recently in 2017 in London. She also became the Paralympic Games gold medallist at Rio 2016 after recovering from injury. She is a formidable talent and trains in Loughborough full-time with coach David Turner. She is a former member of Anthony Hughes’ training group in Cardiff where her talents were cultivated alongside Aled Sion Davies and Nathan Stephens.
Athletics
27
Rowan Axe Cardiff
17/05/91
1500m @RowanAxe
@rowanaxe
Cardiff middle distance runner Rowan Axe is inspired by Wales’ former marathon world record holder Steve Jones. He will be busy clocking up the mileage during the winter before an overseas camp ahead of the indoor season. He is coached by former Olympian Craig Winrow at St Mary’s University in London. Having graduated from St Mary’s, he now works there as an assistant to the Endurance Performance and Coaching Centre programme. “It means so much to me knowing I may potentially be able to represent my country at a major championships like the Commonwealth Games. The thought of being able to run for Wales and support Team Wales, a team that has provided me with so many amazing opportunities throughout my running career, would be something I would pride myself on for the rest of my life.” His favourite sporting memory is running his personal best of 3:38 at the Watford BMC in 2017.
Athletics
28
Olivia Breen Guildford (family from Cardiff)
26/07/96
F38 Long Jump and T38 100m @BreenOlivia
@livvy_breen
Olivia made a name for herself at the London 2012 Paralympic Games when she raced in the T38 100m and 200m sprints. She also helped the GB T35-38 4 x 100m team secure bronze after she ran the first leg. She also represented Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – this time in the long jump, narrowly missing out on the medal table, finishing fourth. She added a bronze and a silver medal in the 100m and the 4 x 100m respectively to the medal collection at Swansea’s IPC European Championships in 2014. More recent achievements augur well for the Carrara Stadium. At the 2015 IPC World Championships, she just missed out on the medals again in the 400m, finished 6th in the long jump and powered the GB 100m relay team brilliantly to gold and a new world record. At the 2016 Paralympics in Rio, she finished 7th in the 100m and 12th in the long jump. In 2017, her training and focus really paid off. She became IPC World Champion in the long jump so will travel to the Gold Coast brimming with confidence.
Athletics
29
Rebecca Chapman Cardiff
27/09/92
Long Jump @beccachapman18
@beccachap18
Rebecca – or Becca as she is known to friends – says achieving the A standard for the Commonwealth Games is her proudest moment to date. It was at the 2017 British Championships and her jump of 6.54m broke the Welsh record that had stood for 35 years. Her performance also marked her recovery from illness in 2017. Becca has completed her studies at Cardiff Metropolitan University and now is employed as a lecturer and athletics coach. She is coached by multi events and jumps specialist Francis Baker as well as Gwyn Williams who coached Gill Regan to two Commonwealth Games. It was Gill’s record that Becca finally broke.
Athletics
30
Melissa Courtney Poole 30/08/93 1500m, 5000m @mcourtney93
@melissacourtney3
She is leaving no stone unturned in her preparation for
Now on medication, she is again training at her best and
her first ever Commonwealth Games. And for Melissa
has been running personal best times across all events.
Courtney, it’s all about altitude. In late 2017, she headed to the Pyrenees and she will also venture to Kenya before
She lives in Loughborough and trains at the University’s
returning to the UK in February for indoor racing.
High Performance Athletics Centre under the tutelage of Rob Denmark, running a staggering 60-85 miles a week
She achieved her first GB vest in 2015 at the European
depending on the season and competition.
Under 23 Championships. But behind the scenes, qualifying for the event had been a rocky journey. Two
Her running began at school when she was seven. At 11,
months prior to qualifying, the 24-year-old had been in
her racing moved up a notch on the track and in cross
intensive care. She suffered another episode two years
country. She soon joined Poole Athletic Club where she
later in January 2017 when it was discovered that Melissa
trained every week.
has a rare inherited metabolic disorder which means her body is unable to digest protein which leads to a build-up of ammonia in her bloodstream.
Athletics
31
Andy Davies* Forden, Welshpool
30/10/79
Marathon @fellrunningandy
@fordendogs
Before his pupils even arrive at college, PE teacher Andy Davies has already been out training. And as soon as his work is finished for the day, he is back out again undertaking his mileage in preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The 38-year-old farmer’s son from Mid Wales does most of his training in the rural hills with his terrier, Scrappy. In 2017, he lowered his personal best at the London Marathon to 2:15:11 and was selected to represent Great Britain at his first-ever World Championships where he finished 31st. He was a late starter in marathon running, having spent ten years playing football for then League of Wales side, Caersws. He won the Welsh League Cup three times and played in Europe, before switching his attention to marathons in 2007. This will be Andy’s second Commonwealth Games appearance, having finished 17th at Glasgow 2014.
Athletics
32
Bethan Davies Cardiff 07/11/90 20km Race Walk @Beth_Davies7 / @bethanldavies
With one team member short and in borrowed, sweaty kit,
She achieved a good performance at London’s IAAF World
Beth Davies discovered her love of race walking.
Athletics Championships in 2017: “I had a great race hitting all my goals; a top 30 placing, first Briton home, a 93
Little did she know when she ventured to the start line
minute clocking and no technical infringements. I was so
that her first ever performance would be spotted by coach
overwhelmed as I crossed the finish line, I couldn’t quite
Andi Drake, director of the National Centre for Race Walk-
believe what I achieved.” And, importantly, she was the
ing who asked her to join his training sessions. It wasn’t
second placed Commonwealth athlete home.
long before her runs were swapped for race walks. She is a neuroscientist and is a Research Assistant in the She has had to master the race walk technique and over-
Cardiff Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Research Group
come the disappointment of disqualifications which she
at Cardiff University. When she’s not working, she is most
describes as “an occupational hazard of race walking.”
often found training up and down Cardiff’s Taff Trail.
Athletics
33
Caryl Granville Carmarthen
24/09/89
400m hurdles @CarylGranville
@carylgranville
Her career has seen its ups and downs but Caryl Granville’s day job puts everything into perspective. She is a Specialist Cardiac Physiologist at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff: “Seeing patients experiencing the worst day of their life having a heart attack, or some other cardiac event, inspires me to achieve as much as I possibly can while I’m able to. Life is short!” She is coached by Darrell Maynard but it all started for Caryl at her local club, Carmarthen Harriers, with coach Delyth Brown. Her biggest disappointment came in 2014 when she suffered an injury just weeks before selection. Eighteen months of recovery forced Caryl to question her future. But hard work pays off and, last July, she ran a personal best of 56.59 at the Loughborough EAP Open Meeting: ”I finished fifth in a top class field but I didn’t know how fast I had run. The stadium announcer went through the results while I was in the warm up area and I couldn’t hear him. I had to wait for my parents’ reaction from the balcony - a big hug to each other and a little dance - and my Mum had to sign the time to me with her fingers! I loved that my parents found out first and got to be the ones to tell me. I made running a huge PB even more special.”
Athletics
34
Dai Greene Llanelli 11/04/86 400m hurdles @DaiGreene Eight years ago, Dai Greene wowed Wales. Winning gold
himself to play with his left foot to be more like him. He
in the evening Delhi heat, he followed up spectacularly
joined the Swansea City youth side at the age of 13, yet
on the gold won at the Europeans in Barcelona just a
turned down a professional contract three years later.
few months before. He continued his fantastic form at the World Championships in South Korea in September
He continued to play football, for Manchester City’s youth
2011, overtaking a formidable field in the final straight.
side, but switched to athletics in his late teens. When he began hurdling, he found he could hurdle using both legs:
Knee injuries struck in 2012 resulting in a fourth place
“The reason for this was the hours of practise I’d done on
finish at the London Olympics. Injuries, however, have
my weaker foot. If Ryan hadn’t been a hero then I would
continued to hamper his career. He failed to qualify for
never have had as much success on the track.”
the final at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and he also missed out on the Rio Olympics.
He credits coaches Darrell Maynard, Malcolm Arnold as well as current mentor Benke Blomkvist for his success. He is
As a child, Dai was a talented footballer. Keen to emulate the talents of his hero Ryan Giggs, he taught
based at Loughborough University.
Athletics
35
Ben Gregory Aylesbury
21/11/90
Decathlon @bengregz
Ben Gregory says he is in the greatest physical and mental shape of his life. This will be his third Commonwealth Games, having graced the decathlon stage at Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014. His proudest moment of his career came at Glasgow’s Hampden Park when he won the pole vault, his favoured event. His overall placing was sixth. “It’s everything to represent your country on the biggest stage. I’m fortunate enough to have competed at two previous Games and they are the highlight of my career. It’s a privilege and a great honour to wear the Welsh vest and you really feel part of a close-knit team. I love that about the Commonwealth Games - we have great camaraderie and support for one another unlike any other team.” Even from when he was very young, Ben knew he wanted to become a top sportsman. Inspired by the successes of Dean Macey and Daley Thomspon, it was in his teens he decided he wanted to make it in decathlon. Ben is a part-time model represented by W Model Management and has even appeared in a VISA advert with Usain Bolt.
Athletics
36
Josh Griffiths* Swansea
03/11/93
Marathon @JoshGriff311
@JoshGriff11
Swansea Harrier Josh Griffiths certainly turned heads at the London Marathon last year – incredibly it was his marathon debut – when he finished as fastest Briton, qualifying for the World Championships. Even more remarkably, Griffiths is self-coached, clocking up the miles on the track at Carmarthen and the roads of Gorslas in Carmarthenshire. “When I started out in the sport,” says Josh. “I always dreamed of one day being able to pull on the red vest of Wales at a Commonwealth Games, and it is a dream that has inspired me to train so hard over the last few years.” He will be preparing at a series of warm weather and altitude training camps. He finished 39th at London’s World Championships.
Athletics
37
Jon Hopkins Bridgend
03/06/92
3,000m Steeplechase @Jonny_Hops
@jonny_hops
When illness and injury struck halfway through a running scholarship at an American university, Jon Hopkins considered giving up athletics altogether. But then he stumbled across steeplechase and made the decision to give it one last shot. And its’s a good job he did. In 2015, he climbed inside the top five British rankings and won the British Universities Championships in the same year. He won bronze at the European Athletics Festival in Poland in 2016. More recently, in 2017, he has been achieving honours at home and abroad. Winning the BUCS Championships and the England Manchester International, he also won bronze at the Europejski Festiwal Lekkoatletyczny and bronze at the Gouden Spike in the Netherlands. He is coached by Chris Jones, Welsh Athletics’ National Endurance Coordinator.
Athletics
38
Caryl Jones* Narberth
Morgan Jones Builth Wells
04/04/87
Marathon @cmjrun
20/09/94
T47 100m @carylmairj
@Morgan_Jones47 @morganj_47
She turns 31 on the day of the Opening Ceremony and
Morgan is a member of the Christian Malcolm training stable
is set to compete on the final day in the marathon over a
in Newport and Cardiff. This is his first Commonwealth Games
spectacular coastal course.
appearance.
She achieved her A standard in her GB debut at the Amsterdam Marathon, where she finished 11th, running well inside the time needed to book her spot in Team Wales. Completing the course in 2:34.16, she delivered the third fastest marathon time by a Welsh woman behind record holder Susan Tooby with a time of 2:31.33 (set at Seoul Olympic Games, 1988) and Tracey Morris who finished fourth at 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2:33.13.
He is a teaching assistant at Caldicot School and studies MSc Sport and Exercise Science at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He started out as a long jumper after meeting Anthony Hughes of Disability Sport Wales. After three years of working with coach Sean Power, he decided to focus on sprinting with Christian Malcolm.
Her talent has been nurtured by Delyth Brown and George
His favourite sporting moment was competing at the IPC
Edwards while her current coach is Alan Storey. She trains
Grand Prix in Dubai where he finished third in the T47 200m.
around 100 miles a week which is an incredible feat considering she helps run the family farm and also works as a Chartered Accountant.
Athletics
39
Osian Jones* Caernarfon
Rhys Jones Tonypandy
23/06/93
Hammer @OsianDwyfor
30/06/94
T37 100m @osiandjones
@RhysJonesRuns @rjrinastraightline
Osian caught the athletics bug as a spectator at the Man-
At the age of two, Rhys Jones says he “cheated death” and
chester Commonwealth Games in 2002: “Ever since that day
was resuscitated three times. But remarkably, he has grown up
I have been hooked on athletics.” And now he is gearing up
to become one of Wales’ most talented Paralympic sprinters.
for his second Commonwealth Games appearance as a Team Wales athlete. In July, he entered Wales’ history books when he smashed the Welsh men’s hammer record that had stood for more than three decades. Shaun Pickering’s record had stood since 1984 but was broken by Osian’s throw of 69.20 at the Belfast International meeting.
He has represented Great Britain at two Paralympic Games - London 2012 and Rio 2016. And in 2017, he finished fifth at the World Para Athletics Championships in London. He has already claimed medal honours for Wales, crossing the finish line with bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
He then stretched his personal best to 70.00 at an interna-
He is coached by four-time Olympian and double
tional throws meet in Poland.
Commonwealth Games medallist Christian Malcolm. He arrived in the sport “by accident”. His talent was spotted when
He is a part-time pharmacist and is coached by Commonwealth Games silver medallist Carys Parry. He competes for the Liverpool Harriers.
he went along with a friend to local football club RCT Tigers.
Athletics
40
Elinor Kirk* Swansea
26/04/89
Marathon @eli_kirky
@elinor.kirk
It will be Eli’s second Commonwealth Games, having competed in the 5,000m and 10,000m in Glasgow four years ago. She made her marathon debut in Florence in November 2017, finishing 4th and clocking an A standard time (2:36.22), sealing her place at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. She is a member of Team New Balance Manchester – a professional running team coached by international endurance athlete Steve Vernon. In the middle of studying her degree in medicine, Eli opted to spend time in America at the University of Alabama to compete in the prestigious NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). And her career highlights include finishing 2nd in the 10,000m at the NCAA Championships in 2014. Swansea-born, one of her favourite places to run is the rugged coast line of South Wales on a wet and windy day.
Athletics
41
James Ledger Swansea
13/07/93
T12 100m @JamesLedger93
@jamesledger93
Coached by four-time Olympian Christian Malcolm, the 2018 Commonwealth Games is James’ first major championships at senior level: “It would mean the absolute world to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games. All the years of hard work I have put into the sport are paying off.” Notable highlights in James’ career include winning silver at the 2011 International Blind Sports Federation World Youth Games in Colorado Springs: “Wearing my first Great Britain vest was a very proud moment.” He also triumphed in the long jump, winning gold at under 20 level at the 2012 UK School Games in the Olympic Stadium. James’ talent was spotted when he joined the Swansea Harriers in a bid to improve his speed for the football pitch: “It wasn’t until I realised, because I couldn’t see the ball very well, that people would pass me by with ease that I thought I need to do something about it and get quicker! I joined my local athletics team and that’s where my true sporting journey began. I fell in love with sprinting and everything to do with it.” James works for Disability Sport Wales as the National Youth Board Co-ordinator and studies at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Athletics
42
Heather Lewis Pembrokeshire
25/10/93
20k Race Walk @heatherkatie4
It’s been a tough year for Heather Lewis. Not all races have gone to plan but she has remained motivated to train and race. She has always been interested in athletics but it wasn’t until she took part in a 1k walk in the Louise Arthur competition that she discovered her love of race walking. Her favourite moment to date is when she was selected to race in the World Cup as a junior: “This competition meant a lot to me as I had a great race even in the hot conditions. I really enjoyed the experience and knew that I would love to keep improving and being selected for teams.” In 2017, she was selected to compete in the European Race Walking Cup in which she finished 39th.
Athletics
43
Tom Marshall Ceredigion
12/06/89
1500m @tommarshall1500
Wales has its famous weather to thank for the fact that Tom Marshall will be lining up in the 1500m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. A torrential downpour meant that Tom’s PE teacher cancelled the scheduled rugby lesson and sent the class out on a run instead. That was back in 2006; the same year his coach Jamie Thie was competing at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Raised on a farm in Rhayader in Mid Wales, the outdoors has always played a big part in Tom’s life. He won two medals at the British Championships, earning him a scholarship at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma where he gained an MBA. Alongside his training and competing, Tom works as a business development manager for Sporttape, He has around 50 Welsh international vests over road, cross country, track and mountain. In 2017, he lowered his personal best to 3:37.45 at the Muller Anniversary Games at London’s Olympic Park.
Athletics
44
Curtis Mathews Cardiff
22/01/92
Decathlon @cmathlon_5
When he isn’t training or competing, you would likely find Curtis Mathews running with one of his canine friends. He runs a dog walking business called Health Hounds with Winter Olympian and girlfriend Mica Moore. In fact, Curtis received his call up while at the Pyeongchang Games where he was supporting Mica in her bobsleigh medal pursuit. He is coached by Mica’s father Lawrence Moore but his talents were first cultivated by Mike Guest who spotted him at a schools’ competition. This is his second Commonwealth Games appearance after competing at Glasgow. He had overcome injury prior to the event and finished with a personal best points score. To compete at a second Games is a dream come true: “It means being able to compete against some of the best athletes in the world and providing a platform for me to really step up to the challenge and exceed expectations.”
Athletics
45
Jenny Nesbitt Worcester
24/01/95
10,000m @jennynesbitt
@jennynesbitt1
In her first ever 10,000m race, she beat athletics legend Paula Radcliffe. She is now set to compete for Wales at the Commonwealth Games, having received a late call-up. She received confirmation of her selection in March and joins a talented group of female distance runners from Wales that includes Elinor Kirk, Caryl Jones and Melisssa Courtney. Her career has not been without setbacks. In 2012, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease which forced her to spend months in hospital and was unable to walk or even carry out every day activities. Overcoming this condition in 2014 and reintroducing running into her life has required a significant amount of courage and determination. She says it is her greatest achievement. She has also undergone two surgeries to the knee in the last 18 months : “It makes my selection feel even better, and I’m really hoping that I can produce my best performance on the Gold Coast and use the Games as a springboard to progress even more.”
Athletics
46
David Omoregie Haverfordwest
01/11/95
110m Hurdles @davidomoregie
Missing out on the Rio Olympics by a whisker – he ran
This will be his first Commonwealth Games experience. He
inside the qualifying time five days after the selection
set World Junior and European Junior records in the 60m
cut-off date – is motivating David Omoregie to success on
hurdles indoors. He also won bronze at the 2014 World
the Gold Coast.
Junior Championships and won the 2015 European Under 23 Championships over the 110m hurdles.
And David – whose talent has been likened to Wales legend Colin Jackson – even ran a personal best later in
He credits one of his first coaches, Mike Guest, as being
2016 which would have earned him bronze in Brazil.
the most influential in his career as he nurtured his early talent.
Raised in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, David now lives and trains in Jamaica, where he is coached by 2009 world
Younger sister Sarah is also showing huge potential. She
sprints hurdle champion Brigitte Foster Hylton. As part
won silver at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in
of the MVP training stable, he is surrounded by some of
the shot put.
the best athletes the world has ever seen, including Asafa Powell, Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Athletics
47
Carys Parry Evans* Church Village
24/07/81
Hammer
Carys, the unstoppable hammer thrower, is set to compete at her fourth Commonwealth Games, having competed at Melbourne, Delhi and Glasgow. The 36-year-old from Church Village can already boast a silver medal from Delhi eight years ago with a throw of 64.93. At Glasgow, she finished fifth and, in 2017, she achieved her sixth successive title at the Welsh Championships and 13th overall. It followed a difficult winter of recovery after she snapped her ankle while walking her dog. As well as adding a sixth successive title to her list of accolades, she also threw two Commonwealth Games A standards (65.25m and 65.32m). Carys is a freelance theatre worker and trains in Cardiff. She only took up the hammer after becoming bored with going ‘round and round the track as a middle distance runner”. She is coached by Adrian Palmer. Her first coach was Bill Kingsbury MBE who died in 2011. He devoted more than 70 years to coaching and playing sport.
Athletics
48
Sally Peake Hawarden
08/02/86
Pole Vault @SallyPeake1
On the final night of the athletics at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in torrential rain, Sally Peake won silver in the pole vault for Wales. It was all the more impressive considering she won the medal using borrowed poles after hers had been lost on a flight back from the US two months earlier. She is now gearing up for her third Commonwealth Games after finishing third at the British Championships in July 2017. She was a gymnast before trying her hand at pole vault. Coached by Scott Simpson, Head of Coaching and Performance for Welsh Athletics, she trains in Cardiff and works as a physiotherapist.
Athletics
49
Ieuan Thomas Newport
17/07/89
1500m @ThomasIeuan
Ieuan runs with Team Thie - Jamie Thie’s training stable in Cardiff. He had always played rugby and football as he was growing up. It wasn’t until he started running home from football matches and doing school cross country that he discovered his love and talent for distance running. Joining his local club, he turned his back on other sports and within four months he had won his first Welsh vest. He is inspired by past greats Steve Jones, Steve Prefontaine and Sir Roger Bannister to current runners such as Eluid Kipchoge in the marathon: “I’m also inspired by my coach James and all of my training partners. I’m also inspired by those just starting running for the first time, completing their first 5k perhaps. To me that’s as big an accomplishment as any.” He represented Great Britain at the 2017 World Championships in London: “The race didn’t go as planned but what an ovation I received in the stadium. That will stay with me forever.” He ran his first Commonwealth A standard in California earlier this year, despite falling over mid-race: “Being able to get back up and still run the time was incredible and made it all worthwhile.”
50
Boxing Rosie Eccles Billy Edwards Lynsey Holdaway Kyran Jones Sammy Lee Mickey McDonagh Lauren Price
Boxing
51
Rosie Eccles Chepstow
Billy Edwards Denbighshire
23/07/96
64kg
64kg
@Rosie_Eccles96
@BillySEdwards
17/06/96
Rosie may be considered a late starter, pulling on the gloves
A seven times national champion, Billy joined Colin Jones’
at 16. But she has already stamped her authority on the
National programme when he impressed at the Welsh
64kg category. Her career highlights to date came in 2016
Championships with a slick, counter punching style, beating
when she won silver medals at the British and the European
tough opponents.
Championships. She has notched up numerous medals from international competitions that have earned her a ranking
In 2017, he defeated Stacey Pearson of Afan Spartans to
spot inside the world’s top 10.
defend his Welsh elite light welterweight crown in Cardiff.
Rosie boxes out of Pontypool ABE. Her progress is under the watchful eye of Colin Jones, Wales national coach. Her first coach was Doug James and she credits him and Colin for her success to date.
The 21-year-old boxes out of Dyffryn Boxing Club in Colwyn Bay with coach Wesley Jones. He became Welsh Schoolboy Champion in 2010 and, 12 months later, he became Welsh Junior Champion. He defended that title in 2012 before going
She is a full time MSc student in Sport Psychology at Cardiff
on to seize Welsh Youth titles in 2013 and 2014. He is a
Metropolitan University but manages to squeeze in work as
former Ysgol y Creuddyn pupil.
a cycle courier, racing around the streets of Cardiff delivering restaurant food. She is already eyeing a place on Team GB at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Boxing
52
Lynsey Holdaway Merthyr Tydfil
Kyran Jones Newport
10/01/85
48kg
75kg
@Lynseyboxer
@jones_kyran
30/01/98
kyranjones1998
Merthyr Tydfil southpaw Lynsey Holdaway is an established
Kyran has been part of the Wales programme since the age of
name on the circuit and recent performances certainly augur
12 and he made his international debut for Wales’ schoolboys
well. She lifted the 48kg crown at the prestigious 2017 In-
in 2011, helping Wales to their first win over Ireland for 20
ternational Box Am Tournament in Tenerife and she was also
years. He impressed by beating Irish captain and European
the champion at the 51kg weight category at the Belgrade
bronze medallist Chris O’Reilly.
Winner International Boxing tournament. Her proudest moment to date is seizing silver at the 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam in the 48kg category. Lynsey missed out on a spot at the Glasgow 2014 Common-
More recently in 2017 at the Welsh Championships, the southpaw middleweight overcame experienced Dowlais man Jamie Evans who had seen off Joe Calzaghe Jnr in previous rounds.
wealth Games so will be looking to make amends on the Gold Coast.
He boxes out of Gelligaer ABC under coach Bill Summers. Kyran – who will turn 20 before the Games - is currently
She receives support from the national programme based out of Sport Wales with Colin Jones as well as her club, Merthyr Ex Serviceman’s ABC with coach Gareth Donovan.
taking a gap year.
Boxing
53
Sammy Lee Swansea
14/01/99
81kg @sammylee173
Sammy, the youngest member of the Wales programme, burst onto the scene in 2015 with a dazzling display at the Welsh Championships. He then went on to win the British title. His skill and success have earned him a spot inside the world’s top five youth rankings. In July 2017, he travelled to the Bahamas with Team Wales for the Commonwealth Youth Games where, on the final day, he claimed gold, helping Wales finish 10th on the medal table. It was Wales’ 13th medal of the Games. He is a member of the Swansea based Premier ABC, which has produced more than 100 Welsh champions over the years, and is coached by Stephen Brophy. His first coach was Mario Macrinally. He is now part of the Wales national programme with head coach and fellow Swansea man Colin Jones.
Boxing
54
Mickey McDonagh Pembroke Dock
18/08/98
60kg @mickey_boxer1
@mickeymcdonagh1
The Merlins Bridge lightweight is certainly one to watch.
Merlin Bridge under the guidance of head coach Graham
He has already been snapped up by the GB Boxing’s
Brockway.
Podium Potential squad He started out at the age of eight at Pembroke ABC and And it’s no wonder. He is described by Wales Performance
won his first Welsh title at 11. Mickey is one of eight
Manager Chris Type as a ‘clever and slick boxer’. He is a
children (he has four sisters and three brothers) and he is
seven times Welsh Champion and he has twice lifted the
regularly cheered on by his family, although his Mum Lizzy
British crown. His reputation grew even stronger in 2017
is terrified until he is safely out of the ring!
when he was named ‘best boxer of the tournament’ at the Bosnia Mustafa tournament where he won gold in the
It comes as no surprise that Mickey has the 2020 Olympic
60kg class.
Games in Tokyo set firmly in his sights.
He splits his time between Sheffield as part of the GB programme and in Wales with national coach Colin Jones. He has spent the last decade as part of the club at
Boxing
55
Lauren Price Bargoed
25/06/94
69kg @LLPrice94
With one Commonwealth Games medal already under her belt, Lauren Price is a key contender on the Gold Coast. Women’s boxing made its debut on the Games schedule in 2014 and so Lauren, winning bronze, became Wales’ first ever Welsh woman to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games. She narrowly missed out on a place in the final after losing an extremely tight split decision. Since then the welterweight has won bronze at the European Championships in Sofia in 2016. In December that same year, she received the call up from GB Boxing to join the Podium squad and is now targeting a berth at the Tokyo Olympics. She is also part of the national programme in Wales and is coached by Mark James at Pontypool Boxing Club. Her first ever coach was Billy Summers.
56
Cycling James Ball
Sam Harrison
Dylan Kerfoot-Robson
Lewis Oliva
Elinor Barker
Joe Holt*
Pete Kibble
Jessica Roberts
Megan Barker
Ciara Horne
Manon Lloyd*
Dani Rowe
Rhys Britton*
Rachel James
Peter Mitchell
Luke Rowe
Eleanor Coster
Hayley Jones
Jon Mould
Ethan Vernon
* = Welsh speaker
Cycling
57
James Ball Newport
24/06/91
Para-cycling @Ballyj2012
@Ballyj91
His hopes of competing at the London 2012 Paralympic
James then produced breath-taking performances with
Games in athletics came crashing down as the result of a
pilot Matt Rotherham. After just a few weeks of training
persistent hamstring injury. He decided to swap one track
together, they became double World Champions in the
for another; the speedy, steep banks of the Velodrome.
tandem time trial and sprint in March 2017 in Los Angeles.
Ball was paired with pilot Craig Mclean who won silver on
He has now switched to race with Pete Mitchell. The duo
the track at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The duo got off to
is set to race at the UCI Para Cycling Track World Champi-
a great start by winning bronze at the Manchester Para-
onships in Rio before then making a beeline to the Gold
Cycling International. It secured selection to the 2016 UCI
Coast:
Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Italy where they bagged bronze in the tandem sprint.
“It would mean everything to me to represent Wales on the biggest sporting stage,” says James. “I’ve always
The expulsion of Russia from the Rio Paralympics gave
wanted to go to a Commonwealth Games but my athletics
James and Craig a lifeline as Team GB was offered a num-
events were never selected.”
ber of extra places. They finished fifth in the kilo.
Cycling
58
Elinor Barker MBE Cardiff
07/09/94
Track endurance/Road @elinorbarker
Elinor is certainly one to watch. She became an Olympic gold medallist in the team pursuit at Rio 2016 (in a world record time) and boasts a tally of seven UCI Track Cycling World Championship medals, five UEC European Track Championship medals and two Commonwealth Games medals. In Glasgow 2014, Elinor stormed to silver in the points race and bronze in the scratch. Her talents are not confined to the track, however. On the road, she has won gold at the 2012 UCI Junior Road World Championships and she will be riding for Wiggle next season. She and sister Megan joined local club Maindy Flyers with coach Alan Davies who also helped hone the talents of Geraint Thomas and Owain Doull.
Cycling
59
Megan Barker Cardiff
15/08/97
Track endurance/Road @megbarker97
Younger sister of Elinor Barker, the Commonwealth Games will be something of a family affair. She and her sister stumbled upon track cycling when they saw the Maindy Flyers in action on their way to swimming lessons. And it was a fortuitous discovery. 2017 saw Meg make her senior debut and she has impressed at international events, picking up a number of top three spots. In 2016, Megan was signed to Team Breeze – a new GB road and track cycling outfit – which aims to inspire more women to cycle more regularly. She impressed at junior level on the boards of the Velodrome, winning the team pursuit at the European Championships.
Cycling
60
Rhys Britton* Pontypridd
31/05/99
Track endurance @Rhysbritton1
@Rhysbritton_1
Inspired by the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the medal-winning antics of Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish, Rhys headed to the nearby Wales National Velodrome as soon as he was old enough. Ever since, he has strived to reach the top of the sport. The biggest challenge to date came as he was entering his first junior season. Breaking his collarbone, he has had to fight to return to a competitive level on the road. He has since showed huge promise, winning bronze in the Junior World Track Championships in the Team Pursuit in 2016, breaking a national record in the process. He has also won silver at the Junior Europeans. In October 2017, British Cycling revealed that Rhys had graduated from its junior academy to the senior academy. “As a proud Welshman, being selected for the Commonwealth Games would mean an awful lot,” says Rhys. “In cycling this is the highest level where we can represent Wales. I’ve been dreaming of representing Wales at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games ever since it was announced, and to represent Wales would be ticking off one of my goals for my career.”
Cycling
61
Ellie Coster Newport
31/01/96
Track sprint @EllieCoster
@elliecoster1
A winner of multiple medals at the British Track Championships as a youth and junior rider, she has claimed several top 10 placings in UCI class 1 track races over the last 12 months. She was selected to ride for Wales at the 2017/18 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Pruszkow in November 2017. She was inspired to give cycling a go when she watched the Beijing Olympics in 2008. She trains at the Wales National Velodrome in Newport and the Sport Wales National Centre.
Cycling
62
Sam Harrison Crosskeys
24/06/92
Joe Holt* Swansea
13/10/97
Track endurance
Track enduarnce
@_SamHarrison_
@joeholt97
@joeholt1011
Gold Coast 2018 will be Sam’s third Commonwealth Games.
A full-time rider, Joe splits his time between Manchester and
In Glasgow, he rode as a domestique for Geraint Thomas who
Italy. He was introduced to the sport by his father who was,
secured secure gold for Wales in the road race.
according to his son, “a good rider back in the day”.
He discovered his love of cycling when he was encouraged by friends to try out the Wales National Velodrome soon after it had opened its doors. He swiftly joined local club Cwmcarn Paragon.
He won the European Under 23 Championships in the Team Pursuit in 2017 but cycling at the top level is always going to be demanding:“The first year on the GB Under 23 Academy was a tough one for me. Moving away from home and moving
At the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, Sam finished fourth
up a level of racing in both distance and terrain, it was a big
in the Points race. He then progressed to the British Cycling
learning curve and one that took me a while to get used to.”
Academy Programme in Manchester. In October 2017, British Cycling revealed that Joe would In 2013, Sam took silver in the team pursuit at the World Track
be returning to the Great Britain Cycling Team Senior
Championships. He then won gold at the Under 23 National
Academy for a second year. Prior to the Gold Coast, Joe will
Time Trial Championships and bronze in the team pursuit
be preparing on the roads of Italy as well as a winter’s track
at the UCI Track World Cup in Aguascalientes. In 2016, he
racing which will include World Cup events.
claimed bronze in the Points race at the UCI World Track Cup in Glasgow and joined Team Wiggins.
Cycling
63
Ciara Horne Kenilworth
Rachel James Abergavenny
17/09/89
Track endurance
Track sprint
@ciarahorne1
@rachyjames1
30/08/88
@rachyj1
Having just missed out on a spot at the Rio Olympics, it has
Rachel was persuaded to take up cycling by sister and double
been the prospect of racing for Wales at the Commonwealth
Olympic medallist Becky James.
Games that has kept Ciara in the sport. In 2016, she won bronze medals in the team pursuit at the Track World Championships and the team time trial at the World Road Championships: “It was pretty incredible! It still gives me goosebumps just thinking back to the noise of the crowd. It was unreal!”
She enjoyed a few years as a successful tandem pilot to Paralympic riders, winning double gold at the 2013 UCI Paracycling Track World Championships. This is her second Commonwealth Games. In Glasgow four years ago, she piloted former swimmer turned cyclist
She works part time as a physiotherapist for the Cwm Taf
Rhiannon Henry. But now she is going it alone on the boards
health board and was a swimmer until the age of 18. But
of the Velodrome.
after shoulder surgery, she struggled with the endless lengths in the pool. It was at university she took up cycling. She trains six days a week out of the Sport Wales National Centre, the Wales National Velodrome as well as the roads of South Wales. She is engaged to team-mate Lewis Oliva.
Rachel’s strongest event is probably the Keirin. She achieved two podium positions in the event in 2017 - in July in Oberhausen where she sprinted to silver and then bronze in September at an international track race in Panevežys.
Cycling
64
Hayley Jones Port Talbot 26/09/95 @hayleyjones95
@hayleyj95
She is the daughter of Louise Jones - the first female gold medallist in cycling at the Commonwealth Games. So she certainly has a cycling pedigree on her side. Hayley started out in 2001 and currently rides for Sheffield-based Team WNT. She was a member of the record-breaking, gold medal winning British team pursuit squad at the World Junior Championships in 2013. Twelve months before, she won bronze in the team pursuit at the same event. More recently, in 2017, she won gold in the Scratch race at an international track race in Panevežys. She has relocated to live near the Wales National Velodrome in Newport.
Cycling
65
Dylan Kerfoot-Robson St Asaph
04/03/96
Road/Mountain biking @DylanKerfootRob
@dylankr
St Asaph rider Dylan Kerfoot-Robson has always dreamt of competing at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games, ever since he watched his father, a former Welsh title winner and later a World Masters Champion, race on his bike. And he is doing it in style. He will be Wales’ first mountain biker to compete at a Commonwealth Games since 2006. He won his third consecutive Welsh Mountain Bike Cross Country win last summer at the Royal Welsh Show Ground. He is also the current Elite Welsh Road Champion and so will of course also be on road race duty in Australia. He has broken his collarbone twice but there’s no stopping Dylan. He now rides for Team Wiggins and splits his gruelling training between the Wales National Velodrome in Newport, the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff and of course the roads of Wales. Sport certainly seems to run in the family. Mum Louise has a background in athletics. Younger brother Sol is showing huge potential in cyclo-cross while sister Seren is enjoying success at a range of sports.
Cycling
66
Pete Kibble Cowbridge
24/03/98
Road @PeteKibble
@peterkibble1
It’s a case of ‘like father, like son’ in the Kibble family because Pete will be following in his Dad’s footsteps when he arrives on the Gold Coast with Team Wales. His Dad is a former professional triathlete and he competed for Wales in Auckland, back in 1990. “This means a great deal to me as a proud Welshman as this is the highest level possible when competing for Wales,” says the Cowbridge rider who is a member of Zappi Racing Team. His best results include winning stage 2 of the 2016 Junior Tour of Wales on the Rhigos Mountain. He has proved to be a resilient rider. In 2013, he chopped off a finger in a mountain bike accident. Two days later, following surgery, he managed to secure a podium position at the National Time Trial Championships.
Cycling
67
Manon Lloyd* Carmarthen
05/10/96
Track endurance/Road @manonlloyd96
@manonhaflloyd
Manon has climbed the British Cycling ranks and is now a fully-fledged member of its Podium programme. 2016 proved to be hugely successful for the Carmarthen rider, winning gold at the European Under 23 Track Championships in the team pursuit and European bronze at senior level in the same event. At the UCI Track Cycling World Cup, she signalled her intentions to excel on the track by winning double gold – in the team pursuit and the madison – which earned her selection for her first World Championships. The following year was also fruitful. She won gold in the Madison and bronze in the points at the Under 23 Track European Championships. This was followed up by a silver medal in Berlin from the senior European Championships. She has recently signed to Drops Cycling Team to pursue her road ambitions in 2018, after adding to her CV a top ten finish at the National Road Championships and a third place overall on the Tour Series.
Cycling
68
Peter Mitchell
Jon Mould
London
Newport
12/01/90
Track endurance
@petemitchellGB
04/04/91
@jonmould91
Pete Mitchell and James Ball will be going for gold at the Commonwealth Games. But while the duo will be working
In 2017, he won silver in the scratch at the Track Cycling
together down under, it hasn’t always been the case. Pete is
World Cup. And in 2016, he notched up a record-breaking
the pilot rider for James Ball and they will be competing in the
tally of 11 wins on the Tour Series.
Paracycling events. But they haven’t always shared the same bike. At the UCI Manchester Para-cycling International, James was piloted by Matt Rotherham while Pete Mitchell was acting as the eyes on the track for Paralympic gold medallist Neil Fachie. James and Matt looked like the pair to beat as they eased through to the final against Neil and Pete who had to work hard in their semi-final. But Fachie and Mitchell raised the game to finish as victors. Racing with Neil Fachie, Pete became double World Champion in 2014. They became the first pair to break the one minute mark in the kilo. Defending their titles two years later, they went into the 2016 Paralympics as favourites but could not hold off the Dutch. They claimed silver.
He is also a former European Madison Under 23 Champion and 2013 National Madison Champion. Jon grew up in Newport and was able to make the most of the Wales National Velodrome as a youngster. When he was 14, he went along to a youth session and the rest is history. He represented Wales at the 2014 and 2010 Commonwealth Games and is assisted by Welsh Cycling’s head coach Darren Tudor.
Cycling
69
Lewis Oliva Monmouthshire
Jessica Roberts Carmarthen
23/08/92
11/04/99
Track sprint
@jessroberts99
@Lewis-oliva
He is currently studying medicine at Cardiff University and
She is a member of the GB Senior Academy, having impressed
was inspired to take up cycling after watching Jason Queally
at junior level. In 2016, she won silver in a hotly contested
grab Olympic gold. He and his brother went along to the
points race at the World Junior Track Championships. It
Wales National Velodrome to try it out for themselves.
followed a successful outing at the UEC Under 23 and Junior
Having risen through the ranks of British Cycling’s Olympic Development and Academy Programmes, Lewis became part of the Podium Sprint Programme in April 2013. He has produced solid form since his departure from
European Track Championships where she secured double junior bronze in the Omnium and Team Pursuit. Her talents also shine on the road. In 2017, she won the Welsh National Junior Road Race.
Manchester to study medicine. In 2017, he won gold at the British Keirin Championships. World Cup outings have also
“It means a huge amount. It’s always a proud moment pulling
proved productive – he won Keirin silver representing Wales
on your national jersey, so to race in the Welsh kit at the
at December’s Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Canada;
Commonwealth Games would be one of the highlights of my
a career best result.
career so far.”
This will be his third Commonwealth Games. He also plays the drums and is engaged to team-mate Ciara Horne.
Cycling
70
Dani Rowe MBE (nee King) Southampton, lives in Cardiff
21/11/90
Track endurance/Road @Daniking1 She is a three-times World Champion and Olympic gold medallist. Her Olympic ambitions were realised at London 2012 in the team pursuit alongside Laura Kenny and Joanna Rowsell. They broke the world record in the process. Dani represented England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games but after basing herself in Wales for the last five years she has decided to switch to Wales. She is married to fellow cyclist Matt Rowe and lives in Cardiff. She suffered a setback in 2014 after hitting a pothole while training, breaking five ribs and puncturing her lung. She spent 10 days in hospital. Her talent was spotted at the age of 14 when the British Cycling Talent Team visited her school. She is the daughter of Trevor King, a former biathlete who competed in two Winter Olympics.
Cycling
71
Luke Rowe Cardiff
10/03/90
Road @LukeRowe1990
Luke Rowe has cemented his position as one of the world’s best classics riders and lead out men. He assisted Geraint Thomas to the gold medal at Glasgow 2014 and has raced in three Tours de France (2015,2016, 2017). But, in August 2017, just 10 days after the Tour had ended, Rowe broke his right leg in over 20 places when he jumped into shallow water while whitewater rafting. He now has a metal rod in his lower leg and is recovering well, optimistic that he will be even stronger than before. And he is now looking forward to what will be his third Commonwealth Games. Luke first sat on a bike at the age of three. Once his legs were long enough to reach the pedals on the back of a tandem (with ‘kiddy cranks’ on), father Courtney would take him to ride the roads of South Wales. His mother Alyson and brother Matt would ride on another and they would even venture further afield, to the Tour de France and Paris Roubaix.
Cycling
72
Ethan Vernon Barton-le-Clay
26/08/00
Track endurance @EthanVernon22
@EthanVernon_
Currently studying A-levels at Bedford Boys and training six days a week, Ethan is performing quite a juggling act. He started riding BMX bikes at the age of three and began racing in the Velodrome at 14. Inspired by Ed Clancy and “every other GB Olympic cycling champion”, Ethan is making great progress and can’t wait to perform at the Commonwealth Games. His favourite sporting moment to date came in 2017 when he became National Junior Pursuit Champion over both 3km and 1km, breaking the national records en route. He is coached by Stuart Blunt at British Cycling.
73
Gymnastics Latalia Bevan
Laura Halford
Clinton Purnell
Josh Cook
Abigail Hanford
Jolie Ruckley
Jac Davies*
Holly Jones
Emily Thomas*
Benjamin Eyre
Iwan Mepham*
Gemma Frizzelle
Maisie Methuen
* = Welsh speaker
Gymnastics
74
Latalia Bevan Merthyr Tydfil
Josh Cook Barry
26/01/01
19/10/00
Women’s Artistic
Men’s Artistic
@Latalia01
@josh_cook2015 @josh_cook101
Teenage talent Latalia Bevan has enjoyed a successful year,
You could say Josh Cook is the comeback king of the men’s artistic
she has competed for Great Britain as a Junior and senior, and
team. Following serious injuries, he has even had metal rods inserted
was also selected for UK Sport funding.
into his arm.
She performed for GB at the World Challenge Cup in Szombathely, Hungary. And on the domestic front, she won silver on the beam at the British Championships in March. She is also a two-times winner of the all-around title at the UK
Yet in 2017 he achieved two British Under 18 medals on the floor and vault at the British Championships in March. The 17-year-old was also invited to compete in the Masters floor competition at the tournament where he was able to test his talents against senior gymnasts.
School Games (2015 and 2016). In 2016, she also achieved second place on the bars at the Junior Commonwealth Games
He is in full-time education at Penarth’s Stanwell Comprehensive
Championships, along with team gold.
School yet he trains for 20 hours a week at the Barry YMCA with Peter Haysham. He started out by going along to a pre-school gymnastics
Her talents were honed at St Tydfils Gymnastic Club but she
class. His early talent was nurtured by coach Stephen Wardle.
moved to the Sport Wales National Centre when she was eight years old where she trains six days a week with the national team and Head Coach Tracey Skirton. She is now schooled at the nearby Whitchurch High School.
He has been inspired to succeed by Olympic gold medallist Epke Zonderland: “because I have met and trained alongside him.”
Gymnastics
75
Jac Davies* Carmarthen
09/06/96
Men’s Artistic @JacDavies96
@jac_davies96
As a boisterous pre-schooler, Jac Davies was sent off to gymnastics by his parents for fear of his boundless energy and the havoc he was wreaking on the furniture. He was four years old. It was in 2005 that he became determined to compete for Wales. He was watching Wales win the Grand Slam: “I was eight years old watching Wales vs England on the TV, a game which Wales won, which set them on course to win the championship. After that game, I went out into the back garden and recreated every moment, it was then I knew that all I would want to do would be to compete for Wales.” Further inspiration was drawn from the 2006 Commonwealth Games where Wales’ David Eaton won silver on the high bar. Jac trains at Swansea Gymnastics Club and he also works as a Learning Support Assistant at Coleg Sir Gar. He credits the support of coaches Sharon Evans and Chris Jones for helping him to the top levels of his sport. He is a three time Northern European Champion and in 2017 he became the joint British Pommel Champion.
Gymnastics
76
Benjamin Eyre Huntingdon
Gemma Frizelle Born in Carmarthen, living in Cardiff
17/10/98
02/05/98
Men’s Artistic
Rhythmic
@gemmafrizelle
@b_eyre_ Benjamin – or Benji – is a product of the Huntingdon Olympic
Inspired by Commonwealth Games medallist Frankie Jones,
Gymnastics Club where he has trained alongside Louis Smith,
Gemma Frizelle is hoping to make her own moment in history
one of Britain’s most decorated gymnasts in history.
on the Gold Coast. Back-to-back all-around silver medals at the
Following his brother into the sport as a youngster, the 19-year-old is currently taking a gap year to focus on training and coaching, before starting his university studies at Loughborough in September.
2016 and 2017 British Championships has placed Gemma as one of Britain’s most accomplished rhythmic gymnasts. In 2016, she won medals in all four apparatus finals and in 2017, she won gold with the ball.
In 2016, Benji placed third all-around at the Men’s London
She trains seven hours a day, six days a week at the Sport Wales
Open, tying for the bronze with Huntingdon team-mate Tony
National Centre as well as the Welsh Gymnastics facility in
Duchars. He is also a British Championships medallist and UK
Cardiff’s Trade Street. This involves rhythmic training, strength
School Games medallist.
and conditioning, ballet and cardio – all under the guidance of coaches, Nia Evans, Ioana Popova and Jo Coombs. She started out as an artistic gymnast, but switched over to rhythmic on advice from the Welsh national choreographer. She has taken a year out from her sport and exercise science studies at Cardiff Metropolitan university to fully focus on training.
Gymnastics
77
Laura Halford Cardiff
Abigail Hanford Swansea, now living in Cardiff
25/02/96
13/05/02
Rhythmic @laura_halford
@laurahalford
Rhythmic @abigailhanford
She was part of Wales’ magical rhythmic team that won
2018 will certainly be a big year for young Abigail Hanford. The
an unprecedented eight medals at the Glasgow 2014
fifteen-year-old will not only compete at the Commonwealth
Commonwealth Games team. Laura – who won a silver and
Games in Australia, she will also be sitting her GCSEs this
two bronze medals - is now gearing up for Gold Coast 2018.
summer.
“Being selected will mean so much to me because of how much hard work that myself, my coaches and all the staff at Sport Wales, have put into my training and preparation over the past three years. All the hundreds of hours spent in the gym will most definitely have been worth it, especially the really hard days when I felt like giving up.”
In a quest for success, she has moved from her home in Swansea to live and train in Cardiff. She attends school at the nearby Whitchurch High School. Perfecting her skills from 7-9am and then again from 4-8pm, it is a rigorous schedule.
She is the number one rhythmic gymnast in Britain, having won the British all-around title for a fourth time in 2017. She
She started gymnastics when she was seven years old after a
manages to squeeze in degree studies in Sport and Exercise
friend recommended she try it. Her role model is Frankie Jones.
Science at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Gymnastics
78
Holly Jones Swansea
Iwan Mepham* Barry
06/01/01
09/10/96
Women’s Artistic
Men’s Artistic
@hollysjoness
@iwan_mephh
@hollysjones
@iwan_mephh_
Swansea gymnast Holly Jones has already enjoyed her
Two serious knee injuries won’t even stop Barry’s Iwan Mepham
fair share of medal winning. At the Junior Commonwealth
competing in gymnastics. But he says the psychological challenge of
Championships in Namibia in 2016, she came away with
“picking himself back up again” has been the biggest hurdle he has
three gold medals – on the vault, the floor and in the team
had to overcome in his career to date.
event. In the same year, she travelled to Brisbane with Welsh Gymnastics for a training camp. She is currently studying for A-levels at Morriston Comprehensive School and she trains at Swansea Gymnastics Centre five days a week.
His proudest moment came when he reached the final in the men’s all around final at the 2014 Commonwealth Games as the youngest competitor. The Barry gymnast has actually represented Wales in table tennis.
Coached by Natalie Lucitt-Jenkins, her proudest moment
But his love of gymnastics began when he was just three years old.
came at her first senior British Championships where she
His parents took him to a gymnastics class and his potential was later
won a silver medal on the vault. Her sporting journey has
spotted by coach Colin Buffin and he was snapped up into the elite
seen her overcome serious injuries to her back and she has
class led by Peter Haysham.
demonstrated considerable determination in her recovery. Holly started going to gymnastics classes at the age of three.
The former Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg pupil studies at Swansea University and he also coaches at Vale Gymnastics Centre.
Gymnastics
79
Maisie Methuen Pontypool
22/06/01
Women’s Artistic @MMethuen
@Maisie_rose_methuen
Believe it or not, Maisie discovered gymnastics at a friend’s birthday party at the age of four. Her tenacity and talent has led to her becoming one of Britain’s most exciting and successful espoir and junior gymnasts. She points to her appearances at the European Youth Olympic Festival as her proudest moments. In 2015, she claimed silver on beam and two years later she stepped things up a notch to secure all-around junior gold as well as floor and vault silver. As well as a long list of British Championship triumphs, she is also able to boast success at the 2016 Junior European Championships where she not only finished fourth in the allaround final but she also helped clinch silver in the team event. 2017 saw Maisie step up to senior level and she did so in style, winning gold in the floor event at the British Championships in March. It was an achievement that has filled her with confidence ahead of the Gold Coast. Ever since she was eight, she has dreamt of competing for Wales at a Commonwealth Games. She trains at Sport Wales six days a week and she is coached by Wales national coach Tracy Skirton-Davies.
Gymnastics
80
Clinton Purnell Rhondda Cynon Taff 05/05/89 Men’s Artistic
Clinton is a leading figure of the men’s team. At 28, he has racked up a long and prestigious record of successes. Gold Coast 2018 will be his third Commonwealth Games, having competed at Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014. He captained the Wales team in Glasgow but, behind the scenes, he had been battling with a shoulder injury weeks before the event. A second injury to the bicep – which required surgery - meant Clinton sat on the sidelines for a lengthy spell. But on his return to competition in 2016, he won silver on the vault at the London Open. Clinton recalls his gymnastics journey began when he balanced a bean bag on his head while walking across a beam at his local leisure centre, saying: “and then it all kicked off!” As well as training and competing, he also works as a fitness and gymnastics coach and public speaker.
Gymnastics
81
Jolie Ruckley Cardiff
Emily Thomas* Barry
24/09/02
09/01/96
Women’s Artistic
Women’s Artistic
@jruckers2002
@emilythomas01
Jolie Ruckley’s career has been far from injury free. At the
A-levels student Emily will be headed to the Commonwealth Games
2017 British Championships, she came away with junior
with a huge boost in confidence. In her first year competing as a
bronze medals in the all-around, uneven bars, beam and
senior in 2017, she received the call up from British Gymnastics
floor despite the fact she had been out with injury for 18
to join the GB senior squad. This means that while the bulk of her
months.
training is undertaken at the Sport Wales National Centre, she also
Forced to miss the 2016 British Espoir Championships, she had previously won the all-around and floor events at the 2015 competition.
attends monthly squad sessions alongside World and Olympic gymnasts. She achieved success at the 2016 Junior Commonwealth Games in
The 15-year-old trains at the Sport Wales National
Namibia, reigning victorious in the individual all-around, the uneven
Centre under coach Tracey Skirton-Davies. Her training
bars and the team event.
commitments are carefully balanced with her schooling at Radyr Comprehensive.
Her gymnastics career was kick-started at the age of four: “Mam took me to a fun day session due to me being a hyperactive kid.”
At three years old, Jolie went to Gym Tots and was
Her talent was also spotted by a teacher while Emily was busy
encouraged to join a gymnastics club.
cartwheeling across the playground. Her mother quickly took her along to Bridgend YMCA where she coached.
82
Lawn Bowls Anwen Butten*
Gilbert Miles
Jonathan Tomlinson
Laura Daniels
Ross Owen
Pauline Wilson
Stephen Harris
Daniel Salmon
Philip John Wilson
Jonathan Hubbard
Jess Sims
Emma Woodcock
Byron John
Caroline Taylor
Marc Wyatt
Raymond Lillycrop
Julie Thomas
* = Welsh speaker
Lawn Bowls
83
Anwen Butten* Cellan, Lampeter
29/08/72
Triples and Fours @AnwenButten
@anwenbutten
Anwen is one of the most experienced Commonwealth
in the triples. This silver was incredibly her fifth World
Games athletes on the planet; 2018 will be her fifth
Championship medal.
Commonwealth Games, having made the cut for Wales every four years since Manchester 2002.
Anwen, a cancer clinical nurse specialist with Hywel Dda University Health Board, was inspired to play at the age
Her first outing for Wales in Manchester earned her a
of 13 as she was watching her mother compete for Wales
bronze medal with partner Joanna Weale in the women’s
at international level. She is still coached by her Mum
pairs. She was unlucky in Melbourne but returned to
and the Butten bowls pedigree is set to continue with her
the podium in Delhi in 2010 when she secured another
children, Alis (19) and Hari (17), who are now playing as
bronze in the women’s pairs with Hannah Smith.
Wales internationals.
Determined to make it a hat-trick, she will be building
On home turf, she plays for Lampeter Bowling Club during
on a superb performance at the 2016 World Outdoor
the outdoor season and for Carmarthen Indoor Stadium
Bowls Championships in Christchurch where she won
during the winter.
a silver medal with Kathy Pearce and Emma Woodcock
Lawn Bowls
84
Laura Daniels Skewen, Neath
Stephen Harris Ebbw Vale
31/05/85
Singles, Pairs
15/11/75
Triples, Fours
A full-time accountant and a self-confessed film buff, Laura
You could say that lawn bowls is in the genes. The love of the
is gearing up for her first ever Commonwealth Games. But
sport has been passed down between three generations: from
while this is her Games debut, she is certainly not making up
grandfather to father to son, Stephen.
the numbers. In November, Laura won the prestigious women’s World Singles Champion of Champions title in Sydney. She has also a gold medal to her name from the 2016 World Championships with partner Jess Sims and has amassed a string of Welsh national titles over the years. She tasted gold medal success at the 2015 World Indoor Bowls Championship in the women’s singles. She also partnered with Paul Foster to win World Indoor Bowls Mixed Pairs titles in 2013 and 2014.
He started to play at around 14 years of age. He plays the outdoor game at RTB Ebbw Vale Bowls Club and then in the winter, he heads under cover to Blaenau Gwent Indoor Bowls Club. He represented Wales at the 2015 Atlantic Rim Games and the 2016 World Bowls Championships in New Zealand. He works full-time but manages to train two or three times
Laura started playing Short Mat Bowls at the age of 12 after
a week. His first ever coach was Gareth Humphreys who was
seeing her older brother in action.
dubbed ‘Mr Bowls’. A lifetime spent in the sport earned the coach an MBE in 2013.
Lawn Bowls
85
Jonathan Hubbard Kilgetty
06/09/74
Para-bowls @JonnoCH74 @jonnoch
From sitting on the sidelines at his local club to competing
He plays for Tenby Bowling Club and Heatherton Indoor
at the Commonwealth Games for Wales; Jonathan
Bowls Club. He also volunteers at his local Citizens Advice
Hubbard has made quite a journey.
Bureau and is a trustee of a local charity.
Jonathan – who suffers from cerebral palsy – used to
He can’t wait to represent Wales at the Commonwealth
watch his parents play at his local club in Tenby. He was
Games. He says it would be a ‘lifetime achievement’ and
16 and soon got fed up of spectating and persuaded
plans to use the opportunity to showcase disability sport.
someone to show him the basics. “From that day, I was
Together with Raymond Lillycrop and Pauline Wilson,
hooked”, he says.
Jonathan won a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games test event in Queensland which augurs well for his
The forty-three year-old says his greatest challenge is overcoming cerebral palsy but he admits he has a ‘never say die’ attitude. He now plays bowls at the highest level with and against non-disabled players. He has never had a coach and has found his own way in the game, finding and adapting ways to bowl that work for him.
return visit in 2018.
Lawn Bowls
86
Byron John Pontarddulais
04/12/54
Para Lawn Bowls Director @ByronJohn4
Byron will act as the eyes of Gilbert Miles who will be representing Team Wales for a second time at the Commonwealth Games, having competed in Glasgow in 2014. Byron is also Gilbert’s coach and the pair have stepped up training with a varied programme of individual and pairs practices as well as Para Team squad sessions and Team Wales away days. Having played bowls since 1979 for Pontarddulais Bowling Club, Byron has represented Carmarthenshire on many occasions at both County championships (winning in 2000) and senior county championships and at a national level on one occasion.
Lawn Bowls
87
Raymond Lillycrop Milford Haven
01/08/96
Para-bowls
Together with Jonathan Hubbard and Pauline Wilson, Raymond won a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games test event in Queensland which augurs well for his return visit in 2018. When he isn’t bowling, he works as an office administrator in a furniture manufacturing factory – Norman Industries - that employs and supports people with disabilities in Haverfordwest. He has been active in urging employers to see past jobseekers’ disabilities and has led a group of young people in making a film to get their message across with the national charity, Fixers. Coach Jim Lewis invited him to join Pembrokeshire Disabled Bowls Club when he was 15 after he gave the sport a go a part of a school taster session. He now trains four to six hours a week at Milford Haven Leisure Centre. His favourite sporting moment came when he played for Wales for the first time in the Home Nations Championships against Scotland and England.
Lawn Bowls
88
Gilbert Miles* Swansea
20/07/45
Para-bowls
Gilbert was inspired to play bowls after watching it on television. Friends then invited him to start playing at Pontarddulais Bowls Club. That was in 1995. He has a huge collection of Welsh titles spanning singles, pairs and triples events and he has been a runner up in the British Isles singles on three occasions. This will be his second Commonwealth Games. Sadly, he lost his wife to cancer the same year he competed at Glasgow 2014. In September 2013, Gilbert competed at the 8 Nations Commonwealth Invitation Championships along with mixed pairs partner, Rosa Creen where they scooped second place helping Wales take third place in the overall Para-Sport event. Previously a keen rugby player, he played for Wales at under 19 level. Gilbert is coached by Byron John and he plays at Swansea Indoor Bowls Club.
Lawn Bowls
89
Ross Owen Mountain Ash
Daniel Salmon Cardiff
06/01/94
Triples, Fours
21/07/94
Singles, Pairs
@RossOwen14 A hugely promising player, Ross was encouraged by his
It has helped nurture the talents of Gareth Bale, Geraint Thomas
grandfather to start playing bowls at the young age of four.
and Sam Warburton. And now Whitchurch High School in Cardiff
He trains at the Harlequins Bowls Club and Cynon Valley Indoor Bowling Club.
can add Daniel Salmon to its sporty alumni. While he will be making his debut appearance at the
The keen Cardiff City FC supporter is described as a brilliant
Commonwealth Games, it will be Daniel’s third trip to the Gold
role model for young players. With a huge collection of
Coast to play on the greens at Broadbeach Bowling Club. And
Welsh national titles, he has also managed to find room in
his performances to date augur well for Wales’ medal tally. In
his trophy cabinet for international accolades.
April 2017, he stormed to victory in the World Under 25s Men’s Singles and he furthered his experience at the venue in June
In 2016, he headed to the Gold Coast to compete in the
when he travelled with Wales’ elite squad to compete in Test
Under 25s World Championship where he finished runner
matches.
up. He will be hoping his return visit to the Gold Coast in 2018 will be as, if not more, fruitful. 2016 also saw Ross represent Wales at the World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.
He started playing when he was just 10. Inspired and coached by his father Ben, he has always dreamed of representing Wales at the Commonwealth Games.Daniel will now be preparing by playing on indoor greens to ready himself for the fast, outdoor greens on the Gold Coast.
Lawn Bowls
90
Jess Sims Llandrindod Wells
03/10/90
Pairs, Fours
As a teaching assistant at Crossgates Primary School, near Llandrindod, Jess will have an entire classroom of supporters cheering her on. And while she will be making her Commonwealth Games debut, she is unlikely to be fazed by the high-profile event, having won gold in the pairs at the 2016 World Championships in Christchurch with partner Laura Daniels. She is also no stranger to the Gold Coast. She has competed there on two occasions; her first visit in November 2014 was particularly fruitful – she was selected to compete in the World Junior Championships and flew home with the bronze medal in the ladies singles. She plays outdoor bowls for Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club and heads to Radnorshire Indoor Bowls Club during the winter season. She first got involved through a school taster session at the age of 11. The local club visited all the primary schools in the area – and Jess was immediately hooked. She credits much of her success to her first ever coaches, Geoff Writtle and Alan Price, whom she met when she first attended the junior section at Radnorshire. And they have stuck by her side ever since.
Lawn Bowls
91
Caroline Taylor Berriew, Powys
20/08/73
Triples, Fours @TaylorACWtaylor
@acwtaylor
Caroline is no stranger to success and is an established name on the international bowls circuit. She is a double World Championship medallist, winning a silver medal in the pairs in 2004 and a bronze medal in the triples in 2012. When she was 30, Caroline won the national singles title when she was nine months pregnant and gave birth to her son William just 12 days later. She juggles a hectic training and competition schedule – which takes up two to four evenings a week plus most weekends – with looking after her two sons as well as working as a director in a family run business. And it doesn’t stop there! She also spends three days a week in another family business making and fitting curtains, blinds and upholstery. Helping to prepare her for the fast, Southern Hemisphere greens is coach Kathy Pearce – a four times Commonwealth Games veteran – who also plays out of the outdoor club at Berriew, near Welshpool. Caroline was inspired to play from the age of nine by her Grandfather who was a greenkeeper.
Lawn Bowls
92
Julie Thomas Brackla
09/07/67
Para-bowls
Ten years ago, Julie was a headteacher but her life completely changed when she lost her sight. Suddenly, she was faced with the challenge of rebuilding her life. In 2014, someone suggested bowls. She will be supported and directed by coach John Wilson who has taught her to bowl from day one. He is required to give her detailed instructions on the green. Despite her complete lack of sight, Julie was selected to play for the West Glamorgan Ladies (fully sighed team). She trains at Swansea Indoor Bowls Club and Ynysmaerdy BC. She has already represented Wales at the British Isles Championships on three occasions. She currently holds both the UK titles (indoor and outdoor) for B2 ladies. Julie says, “Bowls changed my life completely after I lost my sight; it transformed me so to be given this amazing opportunity to represent Wales is like a dream come true. Nothing is impossible. The Commonwealth Games is the pinnacle of our sport so to be selected to play in this amazing event is the ultimate goal.”
Lawn Bowls
93
Jonathan Tomlinson Neath Port Talbot, now living in Newport 01/07/82 Triples, Fours
Jonathan – an engineer by trade – is certainly one to watch. He won a bronze medal in the men’s triples in Glasgow four years ago alongside Marc Wyatt and Paul Taylor. The trio held off a strong fight back from Australia after taking an early lead. More recently, in 2016, he won a silver at the World Champion of Champions event – a hugely prestigious event on the international bowls circuit, attracting all the national singles champions from around the globe. The Neath player comes from a long line of bowlers, with both his dad and granddad playing and competing for Wales. Jonathan’s younger brother, Ross, is also a regular on the Welsh bowls circuit. An engineer for Zodiac Aerospace Cwmbran, he now lives in Newport. He is a former British Isles Junior Singles Champion and has won a series of senior international indoor and outdoor honours since 2008. He travelled to Hong Kong in October 2013 to compete in the Classic Tournament.
Lawn Bowls
94
Pauline Wilson Builth Wells
Philip John Wilson Abertawe
05/04/64
23/09/53
Para Lawn Bowls Director
Para-bowls
@WelshVImanager
Pauline moved from Scotland to Builth Wells in 2006 where
John Wilson certainly hasn’t signed up for a quiet retirement.
she discovered a warm, supportive community through
Since stepping down as Senior Fire Officer for Mid and West
bowling. She plays at Builth Wells Bowling Club and Radnor
Wales, he seems to have thrown himself into a full time
Indoor Stadium.
voluntary job as a bowls coach to the visually impaired.
She travelled to the Gold Coast in 2017 to compete in a multi-nations test event at the Commonwealth Games venue. This gave her the opportunity to adjust to the fast and challenging surfaces. Playing in the open triples alongside Jonathan Hubbard and Raymond Lillycrop, she held her nerve to help overcome England 13-2 to take the bronze. She is a below the knee amputee after a series of errors by a
He first began playing bowls in the late 1980s and was hooked on the game from that day on. Several years ago, he stumbled across visually impaired bowls: “I happened to be at the Swansea Indoor Bowls Club at the same time as the blind bowls club. I recognised that the players needed assistance both on and off the green. I soon discovered that I had a lot to offer in terms of safety but also technique. It just started from there.”
surgeon in 2008. Her leg was amputated in 2014. On the Gold Coast, he will guide Julie Thomas, using a clock As well as preparing for the Commonwealth Games, Pauline
face method to help her to victory. John is also on a mission to
volunteers as a disability employment advisor for Disability
increase the number of people playing visually impaired bowls.
Powys. She is also a keen gardener.
When he does have a rare moment away from the greens of Wales, he plays the drums.
Lawn Bowls
95
Emma Woodcock Knighton 09/11/76
Triples and fours
@emziwoody
Emma’s determination as a player revealed itself at the very outset. At the age of 10, she would go to her local bowls club with her father. But while she was not content to simply spectate, she had not yet reached the minimum age to play. After much cajoling, her father applied to the club to reduce the minimum age. Just two years later, she was already playing Home Nation International Bowls. The turning point in her career came in 2014 when she won the Welsh Singles. And in 2016 she won the silver medal in the triples at the 2016 World Championships in Christchurch with Wales stalwarts Kathy Pearce and Anwen Butten. She is a Performance Audit Lead at the Wales Audit Office and plays for Sophia Gardens Bowling Club. Her inspiration is Sir Steve Redgrave because he “was completely dedicated to his sport to stay at the top for over 20 years.”
Lawn Bowls
96
Marc Wyatt Caerphilly
15/09/77
Pairs, Fours @sparkywyatt
This will be Marc’s third Commonwealth Games. He was the youngest member of the men’s squad in Delhi 2010 and he went on to win a bronze medal in the men’s triples in Glasgow four years ago alongside John Tomlinson and Paul Taylor. The formidable trio held off a strong fight back from Australia after taking an early lead. In August 2014, he joined a contingent of Team Wales medallists on a visit to No.10 Downing Street. The Caerphilly bowler was inspired to play by his father who introduced him to the game. He trains at Caerphilly Bowls Club and Islwyn Indoor Bowls Club three or four times a week.
97
Shooting Craig Auden
Gareth Morris
Mike Bamsey
David Phelps
Sian Corish
Chris Watson
Jonathan Davis
Mike Wixey
Coral Kennerley*
Sarah Wixey
Ben Llewellin * = Welsh speaker
Shooting
98
Craig Auden Coventry, originally from Bridgend
01/04/93
10m Air Pistol @craigauden
It may be Craig’s first ever Commonwealth Games but recent results suggest he will be travelling with confidence. In 2017, he equalled the Welsh Air Pistol record, that had stood since 2006, at an international match in Belgium. Qualifying for the final, he went on to win gold. And at the recent Commonwealth Shooting Championships in Brisbane, Craig was the only British athlete to qualify for the final which he did in fourth place. It was his biggest, most significant tournament to date yet he remained relaxed on the firing point and relished the opportunity to compete at that level. He works full time as a customer support manager for a structural design company and is coached by Steve Pengelly. His journey to his first ever Commonwealth Games began at the Scouts which is where he tried his hand at shooting.
Shooting
99
Mike Bamsey Surrey
06/06/93
10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle 3x40 (Small bore) @michaelbarnsey
Michael has stamped his authority on the shooting circuit
“Being able to represent Wales is an absolute honour
and is certainly one to watch on the Gold Coast. He was
unlike anything else,” says Michael. “To have the
the first British shooter to qualify for the final at the World
opportunity to wear Welsh colours and hear the national
University Games.
anthem on the podium is a dream come true.”
And, at 20 years of age, Michael was also the youngest
He is a Royal Engineer in the British Army and is now
member of Team Wales’ shooting squad four years ago.
a training full time as a member of the prestigious Troops4Target army shooting squad. His favourite
His training takes place at the Sport Wales National Centre
sporting memory came during his time at West Virginia
under the guidance of John Dallimore, Jon Hammond and
University. Competing in Alaska, he helped his team win
Christian Pinno.
the prestigious National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title.
His shooting career began at a Scout camp. On picking up a rifle, he discovered he was “pretty good”.
Shooting
100
Sian Corish Penarth
25/06/87
50m Rifle Prone and 50m Rifle 3 x 20 @s1an400
Sian’s journey into shooting began alongside her twin sister Jenny at her secondary school in Shropshire (Ellesmere College) where she first tried her hand at the sport. When she is not training at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff or Tondu Rifle Club, she can be found at the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board where she works as a physiotherapist. This will be Sian’s fourth Commonwealth Games, having competed at Melbourne 2006, Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014. Her best result in Glasgow came in the 50m rifle prone in which she was placed eighth.
Shooting
101
Coral Kennerley* Born in Nairobi, lives in Aberystwyth
15/04/94
10m Air Pistol @CoralKennerley
Coral will celebrate her 24th birthday on the same day as the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast. And she will be aiming to toast another medal in her collection too. The Aberystwyth shooter is a fundamental fixture of the Wales and the GB team. She began shooting at the age of eight at the Pony Club Tetrathlon which also involves swimming, running and horse riding. She credits John Kelman for much of her success to date. It was John that encouraged her to try precision shooting and he then guided her to senior international level. She competed for Team GB at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in 2013 where she won a silver medal. Ahead of the Gold Coast, she will be training in Hannover where she competes in the Bundesliga. She studies Mechanical Engineering at Cardiff University and is currently on a year in industry at JN Bentley.
Shooting
102
Jonathan Davis Neath Port Talbot
07/12/67
Men’s Olympic Trap (Shotgun) @JonDavis1095
The Tata steelworker from Port Talbot was always a keen sportsman, playing club rugby and specialising in the javelin at school. It was when he turned 14 that he tried shooting at a local club. The Gold Coast will be Jon’s second Commonwealth Games appearance after shooting for Wales four years ago in Glasgow. He trains at the Griffin Lloyd Shooting Ground in Llangunllo and also at the South Wales 2000 ground. In 2016, on Griffin Lloyd home turf, he won Overall High Gun at the Olympic TRAP Home International Tournament.
Shooting
103
Ben Llewellin 11/07/94
Spittal, Pembrokeshire Skeet @BenLlewellin
@ben_llewellin
He is a self-employed carpenter and he mostly trains
Beating multiple Olympic and World Champions, he won
on his Skeet ground at home. His older brother inspired
the silver medal, breaking the World finals record 49x60
him to shoot. As his brother’s trophy collection grew, Ben
in the process.
decided he would also like a bedroom full of trophies. He joined his brother in clay shooting before he tried Olympic
Ten days later, in November, the sharp shooter continued
skeet with coach Richard Stepney.
his good form in Brisbane. This time, he won gold in the Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championships,
Hot shot Ben is the son of rally driver David Llewellin:
equalling his own World Record score proving he has what
“My Dad has been my biggest inspiration. We regularly
it takes to add to Wales’ medal haul on the Gold Coast.
talk about experiences he’s had during his career and this inspires me as I want to be as successful as him.” This will be Ben’s debut Commonwealth Games appearance. And he will be competing with confidence. In October, he represented GB at the ISSF World Cup in India.
Shooting
104
Gareth Morris Auckland, New Zealand
04/12/75
Queen’s Prize and Pairs @gareth_e_morris
He was first introduced to shooting in the Cadet Force
Before the Games, he will be testing his current form at
and was fortunate to be guided through his early days by
the New Zealand Championships in January.
Simon Pattinson, a former GB rifle shot. “Competing at the Commonwealth Games is an enormous On finishing school, he was selected to represent GB
privilege and an amazing experience. The event itself is an
at Under 19 level. In 2011, he won the team event at
incredibly intimate one, which has been described as “the
the World Championships with GB. His personal career
most exclusive club shoot in the world”, because so many
highlight is winning the second stage of Her Majesty the
of the competitors know each other well and are good
Queen’s Prize in 2012, having won the first stage two days
friends; yet at the same time it’s played out in front of a
before. He beat approximately 1,000 other shooters to
crowd of onlookers.”
win the first stage, and then a further 300 at the second stage qualifiers.
Shooting
105
David Phelps Cardiff
Chris Watson Tetbury
10/04/77
29/10/78
50m Rifle Prone (Small bore)
Queen’s Prize and Pairs
@davethechamp600
@WatsonSniper
@davethechamp David is one of the most experienced shooters in the Wales
Chris made his debut Commonwealth Games appearance
squad. He has made the cut for Team Wales every four years
four years ago. He will be again pairing with Auckand-based
since his first Commonwealth Games outing in Manchester
partner Gareth Morris.
2002. It was in Melbourne 2006 he really made his name, seizing gold in the men’s prone as well as a bronze in the pairs event. He is a former Whitchurch High School student which also boasts footballer Gareth Bale, rugby players Sam Warburton and Tour de France rider Geraint Thomas among its past students.
But he also excels individually. In July 2017, he shot at a consistently high level to win the Grand Aggregate in the Imperial Meeting at Bisley. Hosted by the National Rifle Association of Great Britain, the Grand Aggregate is arguably one of the most testing and prestigious individual prizes. The IT consultant trains in Bisley for live firing three or four
Both David’s parents coached and competed internationally,
times a month while he heads to Tetbury for dry firing twice a
encouraging him to try the sport at a young age.
week. He was introduced to shooting through his school and has been competing ever since. The shooter has achieved
The Tesco worker mainly trains at the range at the Sport
the ‘big 5’ championships in one year, something only a small
Wales National Centre.
group of people have ever achieved.
Shooting
106
Mike Wixey Abergavenny 04/06/71 Men’s Olympic Trap (shotgun)
It is an impressive feat to compete at five Commonwealth Games but that’s exactly what Mike Wixey will do when he pulls on the red kit of Wales at Gold Coast 2018. In his first Commonwealth Games back in Manchester in 2002, he won bronze in the Clay Pigeon Trap Pairs. He triumphed at the test event in November, seizing silver at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships at the Games venue. The 46-year-old – who is self-coached - has a comprehensive shooting CV, having represented GB at numerous World Cups and European Championships. He was introduced to the sport by his dad – who owned and ran a small shooting ground at the age of nine. He is married to team-mate Sarah Wixey and works full-time as an Engineering Director for Tata Steel. He believes one of the greatest challenges he faces is juggling the demands of training, his job and a young family.
Shooting
107
Sarah Wixey Abergavenny 10/06/70 Women’s Olympic Trap (shotgun)
Sarah Wixey is one of the most accomplished and experienced shooters in the squad. She competed at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 under her maiden name of Gibbins and was placed ninth. Her first Commonwealth Games in Wales colours came in Melbourne 2006 and she will be aiming to make her third Games and her return trip down under a fruitful one. Other career highlights include winning gold at the World Cup in Australia in 2003. She inherited her love of the sport from her father John who won the English Open in 1987. She is married to teammate Mike Wixey and after competing at Melbourne 2006 she took five years out of the sport to focus on her young family. She splits her training between the Griffin Lloyd Shooting Ground in Knighton and the South Wales 2000 Shooting Ground in Blackwood and is coached by British Shooting’s Christian Schofield.
108
Squash Peter Creed Tesni Evans Joel Makin Deon Saffery
Squash
109
Peter Creed Caerphilly 31/03/87 @pvdcreed
Peter was educated at Millfield School where his talents were under the watchful eye of coach and six times British Open Champion Jonah Barrington who has remained a key figure in his career. On leaving university, Peter joined the PSA World Tour and quickly forged a reputation as one of the most energetic and exciting players on court. Hugely accomplished, he has secured seven Welsh National Champion titles (his seventh was in January 2017), seven World Tour titles and a World University gold medal. In August 2017, he stormed to a bronze medal at Manchester’s World Doubles Championships with Tesni Evans. He reached the quarter finals of the Cleveland Open in October and was in top form a month later when he took the top honours of the Saskatoon Open. He trains out of the Sport Wales National Centre with coach and former world number three David Evans – with whom he reached the quarter finals of the men’s doubles in Glasgow 2014. His father, Adrian, first introduced him to the game and was his first-ever coach.
Squash
110
Tesni Evans Cardiff (went to school in Y Rhyl) 15/10/92 @tesnievans Tesni Evans has climbed her way up to the top 20 of the PSA World Tour rankings. Her breakthrough moment came in May 2015 when she was victorious in her first ever Tour title, powering past four Egyptians to seize the Sharm El Sheikh International title. In August 2017, she stormed to a bronze medal at Manchester’s World Doubles Championships with partner Peter Creed while a semi-final finish arrived a month later at the Women’s HKFC International in Hong Kong. She continued her good form into the winter, beating the world number four to reach the quarter final stage at Manchester’s World Championships in December. Coached by Andrew Evans and former World number three David Evans, the 25-year-old has a string of Welsh National titles to her name and in 2014 she flew the Welsh flag at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Her Commonwealth Games debut took her to the last 16 in both the women’s singles and the mixed pairs with partner Peter Creed and the quarter finals of the women’s doubles with Deon Saffery. Tesni was born in Cardiff and went to school in Rhyl. She splits her training between St Asaph Leisure, Rhyl Leisure Centre and the Sport Wales National Centre.
Squash
111
Joel Makin Haverfordwest 27/10/94 @joelmakin
A former St John Church in Wales High School in Aberdare pupil, Joel enjoyed a successful 2017, winning the British Under 23 National Championship in May. He went on to win the Kent Open (a PSA World Tour event) in June before securing the runner up spot at the Men’s NASH Cup – a PSA World Tour event in Ontario. He reached the finals of October’s Chicago Open, the quarter finals of the Chennai Open in November and the last 32 of the World Championships in December. He is based at the Rob Owen Academy at West Warwicks Squash Club and is widely recognised as a young player with outstanding potential. He has already represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games; he competed at Glasgow 2014 when he was 19 where he reached the last 32 stage. Joel started playing squash at a local club in Aberdare at the age of nine. He once lived in Poland for a year.
Squash
112
Deon Saffery Barry, living in Solihull 28/01/88 @deonsaffery
@deon_saffery
Deon has certainly made a name for herself, collecting a mass of silverware and titles during her career, including Under 23 British Champion, Finnish Open Champion and Delaware Open Champion. In 2017, she scored a hat-trick of runner up positions at the Ciutat de Barcelona Open in September, the Makati Open in May and the Welsh Nationals in January. Until she was 23, she trained with Pontefract Squash Club before moving to Birmingham. She now plays and coaches at Edgbaston Priory Club. She competed at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where she reached the last 16 stage in the mixed pairs with former world number three David Evans. She fared better in the women’s doubles where she and partner Tesni Evans went up against Australia in the quarter finals, bowing out 2-0. In the women’s singles event, the Barry born player was victorious in the plate final. She is coached by Malcolm Willstrop, father and coach to former world number one James Willstrop of England who won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Deon also runs her own business, selling a probiotic drink called SafferyLove Kombucha.
113
Table Tennis Charlotte Carey Anna Hursey Josh Stacey Chloe Thomas
Table Tennis
114
Charlotte Carey Ebbw Vale
11/06/96
Singles, women’s doubles @charleycareytt
She is only 21-years-old yet she is preparing for her third
go by, things augur well for Wales and the medal table
Commonwealth Games. Her first Games was in Delhi 2010
as Charlotte reached the last 32 of the Belgian Open in
where she was the youngest Team Wales athlete at the
October 2017. And Charlotte and her team-mates pose a
age of 14.
credible threat in the team event after winning a bronze medal at the 2015 Commonwealth Championships in
She was first introduced to table tennis by her grandfather
India.
who handed his passion for the sport down through the generations. After begging him to take her with him,
It is Charlotte’s third year of playing full time and she
Charlotte finally had her chance to play when she was tall
currently lives and trains in Halmstad, Sweden, travelling
enough to see over the table; and she hasn’t looked back
on weekends to play for a German club. It is not her first
since.
move overseas – she has also played in Germany and Hungary. She lists Serena Williams and Jessica Ennis-Hill
She is the Welsh senior number one and has represented Wales at four European Championships and six World Championships. If recent performances are anything to
as two of her biggest inspirations.
Table Tennis
115
Anna Hursey Swansea, moved to Cardiff 22/06/06 @annalhursey
A tiny table tennis star with a very big future. She may
Of course, it wasn’t long before the Welsh squad
just be 11 but, with dreams of becoming an Olympic
invited her to training. She played her first international
medallist, rest assured Anna Hursey is a name to note.
tournament in Barcelona at the age of seven, won a silver medal at the International Primary Schools Competition
It all began when she was just five years old when she
the following year and, incredibly, she became the no.1
travelled with her mother to Harbin, China where she
player at under 18 level in Wales at the tender age of
received one-to-one coaching. On her return to Swansea,
nine.
she continued to hone her skills at the Penlan Leisure Centre set up and run by Wales’ table tennis legend
She travelled to China once again for a six month stint of
Betty Gray and Roy Towell. It was there that coach Aled
schooling and training in 2016 and now attends Cardiff
Howell spotted her talent. In 2012, Anna and her family
High School. She became Under 11 European Champion
upped sticks and moved to Cardiff so that she could
in August 2017.
be closer to Cardiff City Table Tennis Club. Here her exceptional talents were nurtured by Yongbho Zhang
She continues to train at Cardiff City Table Tennis Club
and Nathan Thomas.
and with the Welsh squad three hours a day, six days a week, under the guidance of Stephen Jenkins.
Table Tennis
116
Joshua Stacey St Mellons, Cardiff
25/02/00
Para-Table Tennis @JoshuaStacey1
@joshua_stacey1
Joshua will be packing plenty of international experience in his kitbag for the Gold Coast. The para table tennis player has twice competed at the European Youth Championships. And more recently he made his senior international debut at the European Championships in Luxembourg. He followed it up with winning gold in the team event of the Belgium Para Open in October 2017. His skills have been nurtured by St Mellons Table Tennis Club in Cardiff and he now currently plays for Ormesby Table Tennis Club in the Junior British League. Josh is living full-time at Grantham College in Lincolnshire where he trains three hours a day, five days a week. He first played table tennis at a school taster session and he was hooked immediately.
Table Tennis
117
Chloe Thomas Tredegar
23/04/94
Singles, women’s doubles @clopingpong
She will leave no stone unturned in her preparations for the Commonwealth Games, even if it means packing her bags to train in China.Chloe Thomas has taken time out of her Nutrition studies at Bournemouth University to train in Harbin, China. It’s here she trains day in, day out with some of the fiercest players on the circuit. She first began playing table tennis because her brother did. The siblings then went on to compete for Wales at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2008. She won gold in the Home Nations Singles Championships and silver in the team event and she also competed for Wales at the Commonwealth Championships in 2013. Just a year later, the former Tredegar Comprehensive School pupil competed at her first Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She describes the opening ceremony as her proudest moment to date. In 2017, she travelled to Dusseldorf for the World Table Tennis Championships and despite suffering 36 hours of flight delays – caused by a worldwide British Airways power failure – she won her opening match in the women’s singles 4-2 against Emme Arias.
118
Triathlon Iestyn Harrett* Olivia Mathias Chris Silver Non Stanford*
* = Welsh speaker
Triathlon
119
Iestyn Harrett* Rhondda Cynon Taff 18/01/93 @Iestyn_Harrett
He started out in triathlon at the age of 12 and was first coached by his father. He is now part of the National Triathlon Performance Centre of Wales and is coached by Luke Watson. His preparations for the Games will include a training camp in Portugal before he travels to Australia where he will race his first World Cup event of the year in Mooloolaba, before heading to Noosa for the month leading into Gold Coast 2018. His proudest moment came when he was just 16 when he won the Inter Regional Championships, representing Wales. He clocked up two fourth-place finishes last summer at the Weert ETU Triathlon European Cup and the Larache ATU Sprint Triathlon African Cup. He is a former pupil of Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera.
Triathlon
120
Olivia Mathias Newark 12/10/98 @olivia_mathias3
@livvymathias
Olivia Mathias describes representing Wales at the Commonwealth Games as the highlight of her sporting career so far: “It would be the greatest feeling in the world. I would be so proud and feel like I’ve done everyone who’s supported me proud.” She is studying Industrial Design at Loughborough University and trains 20 hours a week at the Performance Centre there. She learnt to swim at the age of five at the local pool and started to run for Newark Athletics Club at the age of ten: “I saw an advertisement for a local triathlon so took part and I fell in love with the sport.” Recent results include finishing sixth at the World Junior Triathlon Championships in Rotterdam in September. She also finished fifth at the 2017 Malmö ETU Sprint Triathlon European Cup. At 19, she is the youngest member of the Team Wales triathlon squad.
Triathlon
121
Chris Silver Cardiff 29/10/17 @chrisrsilver
He was first encouraged to give triathlon a go through his uncle who helped establish the Cardiff Triathlon Club. Chris completed his studies in Birmingham, where he trained with the university squad under Louise Barron. He has taken a six month sabbatical from a full-time psychologist role in order to fully focus on his preparation for the Games at the National Triathlon Performance Centre of Wales, where his progress is under the watchful eye of Luke Watson.
Triathlon
122
Non Stanford* Swansea 08/01/89 @NonStanford
But following her superb year, ankle injury in 2014 forced her out of competition and the Commonwealth Games. She was back to her best in 2016 performing brilliantly at the Rio Olympics but she heartbreakingly
Non started out as a distance runner and enjoyed
missed out on the medals, finishing in fourth place, after
considerable success. She was even taken under Kelly
losing out on a sprint finish to teammate and friend
Holmes’ wing at the age of 15. It was only in summer
Vicky Holland.
2008 – when she switched to swim training because of an injury – that she tried out triathlon.
She is now just one of seven triathletes funded at GB Podium level and she trains alongside the Brownlee
Though she admits to hating her first triathlon, her
brothers in Leeds. Now gearing up for her first
talent was obvious and in 2009 she finished second
Commonwealth Games, 2017 results suggest she is in
at the British Triathlon Super Series. 2012 proved to
great form – she won gold at the Chengdu ITU Triathlon
be a golden year with the Swansea talent picking up
World Cup and has also achieved other strong World Cup
top honours at the ITU Triathlon Mixed Relay as well as
finishes.
the Under 23 ITU World Championships in Auckland. A year later, she won the World Triathlon Series title
“I’ve had ambitions of representing Wales at the
and became the second only woman to achieve those
Commonwealths for as long as I can remember,” says
accolades in successive years.
Non. “It was a goal of mine long before the Olympics.
123
Weightlifting & Powerlifting Seth Casidsid
Joshua Parry
Gareth Evans
Nerys Pearce
Sean Gaffney
Faye Pittman
Tayla Howe
Hannah Powell
Laura Hughes*
Jordan Sakkas
Catrin Jones*
Nathan Stephens
Holly Knowles*
Rhodri West
Harry Misangyi
Christie Williams*
* = Welsh speaker
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
Seth Casidsid Bangor
14/09/89
62kg @seth56kg
Competing on the Gold Coast would mean “the world” to Seth Casidsid:“I moved to Wales from the Philippines when I was just 11 years old and consider Wales as my home. It would be an honour to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games.” But it was in London that he started weightlifting. And his journey began in a CrossFit gym. His fiancé started Olympic weightlifting and in 2013 suggested Seth give it a go. The turning point in Seth’s career came in 2016 when he won the British Championships:“I had never won a national title before and to win was an amazing feeling. All the hard work paid off.” He is a Bangor University psychology graduate and he has numerous Welsh titles to his name. Training out of the performance centre at Bangor University as well as the Holyhead and Anglesey Weightlifting and Fitness Centre, his progress is under the watchful eye of national coach Ray Williams.
124
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
Gareth Evans Holyhead
18/04/86
62kg @Gazpin69kg
This will be Gareth’s third Commonwealth Games and he has his mind focussed firmly on a podium position. He wore the red vest for Wales in Delhi 2010 and again in Glasgow 2014 where he finished just out of the medals in fourth place in the 62kg class. The Holyhead lifter – who was born in Dundee – also competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games, this time in the 69kg category, where he achieved personal best lifts. He is the third British man in history to snatch double bodyweight and the first in 29 years. His talent was originally spotted by his PE teacher Simon Roach – the now Sports Manager of Welsh Weightlifting. As well as training and competing, Gareth works full time in Canolfan Brailsford, Bangor University’s sports facility. His lives and trains with girlfriend Hannah Powell. Gareth’s personal coach is Ray Williams, national coach for Wales.
125
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
126
Sean Gaffney Ellesmere Port
Tayla Howe Swansea
22/04/71
13/11/96
Powerlifting - Heavyweight
90kg
@iceds
@tayla_howe
Sean Gaffney is no stranger to elite competition and success. The petty officer – currently serving at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton – has a below the knee left leg amputation from an injury in service in 1999. More than twenty operations later as well as a stint at military rehabilitation centre Headley Court, Sean competed at the 2016 Invictus Games where he won an incredible four medals – including golds in powerlifting and one minute rowing. He was even invited to join Prince Harry for the sitting volleyball finals at the Orlando event.
Tayla arrived on the weightlifting scene after excelling in CrossFit. The personal trainer – who is also a former gymnast and sprinter – soon became part of the Welsh weightlifting squad. Tayla is ranked sixth in the Commonwealth in the 90kg class. With a personal best total of 187kg, she finished 2nd behind fellow up and comer Laura Hughes at the 2017 Welsh Weightlifting Championships – a huge improvement of 21kg on the previous year.
He will now be putting his strength and steely determination
The Swansea woman – who mainly trains out of her home gym
to the test at his first ever Commonwealth Games. He has a
- is just one of several new athletes who have jumped from
slightly different coaching relationship to most lifters – he
CrossFit into the Welsh weightlifting squad since Glasgow
and team-mate coach each other. He will be cheered on by
2014 when Sports Manager Simon Roach put a new strategy
wife Fiona who has supported him in his journey to the Gold
in place to develop lifter and elite success. She is coached by
Coast.
Ania Negele.
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
Laura Hughes* Prestatyn
24/03/93
75kg @laurahughes1
Laura has made a rapid rise from the CrossFit gym to become a Commonwealth Games contender. Incredibly, she only started competing in weightlifting in 2015 but has already stamped her authority on the 75kg class. Two years later, she entered the history books at the Welsh Championships when she set a new Welsh record. Her confidence will also be soaring after triumphing at the Commonwealth Championships in September 2017 - in the same venue that will be used by Gold Coast 2018. She says, “The Commonwealth Games is not just a dream come true. The satisfaction of achieving something you have worked so hard for is difficult to explain. It’s beyond amazing! I am excited, motivated and can’t wait to soak it all up.” She trains out of NW1 Strength and Conditioning in Llandudno with coach Calum Stronach as well as her own home gym. She works as an online nutrition coach working with clients all around the world.
127
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
128
Catrin Jones* Bangor
13/06/99
44kg @catrin_jones
@catrin_jones_
Her progress has been described by British Weightlifting
She is impressing at senior level too, winning the British
as “phenomenal” and she is already eyeing up a Team GB
Championships in 2017.
spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 2018 Commonwealth Games may be a little too early Coached by her father David Jones at Bangor University,
for Catrin to secure a podium position. But rest assured,
the petite powerhouse has amassed a wealth of medals
she will be putting the experience to good use for 2022.
and titles.She impressed Team Wales bosses at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa when she grabbed
The teenager is a former gymnast and trains five
gold.
times a week. She is a full-time psychology student at Bangor University. Catrin says, “Being selected for the
In 2016, she travelled to Poland to compete in the
Commonwealth Games has been my main long-term goal
European Youth Championships where she won silver in
since I started. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to
the snatch and third overall. Weightlifting has also taken
represent Wales on such a large scale.”
her to Malaysia for the World Youth Championships where she finished eighth. It also doubled as the Commonwealth
The eighteen-year-old was named Wales’ Young
Youth Championships in which she was placed second.
Sportswoman of the Year at the 2017 Wales Sports Awards.
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
Holly Knowles* Penrhyn Bay
129
Harry Misangyi Conwy
17/11/96
63kg
85kg
@hollyelizabethknowles
@HMisangyi
10/09/97 @harrymisangyi
Described as a “rapidly developing athlete with great,
Harry discovered weightlifting when he went on a school
future potential” by Welsh Weightlifting, Holly – a former
trip to a local strength and conditioning gym.
100m sprinter - has indeed made quick progress.In her first year since moving up from the under 20 age category, she
Now a second-year sports science student at Bangor
won top honours at the British Under 23 Championships –
University, Harry trains five days a week and splits his time
and by a considerable margin.
between the on campus performance centre, Canolfan
A student at York St John University, Holly unearthed her talents for weightlifting when she took it up recreationally at the age of 17 to improve her sprinting: “The dream was always to compete in the Commonwealth Games although never did I think I’d be doing it in the sport of weightlifting. I’m genuinely shocked but over the moon that I have been selected to represent my country in a sport that I have fallen in love with.” When she is not at University, she trains at NW1 Strength & Conditioning with coach Calum Stronach.
Brailsford, and Holyhead and Anglesey Weightlifting and Fitness Centre. He is coached by Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ray Williams. Harry will be making a return trip to Australia having competed in the Commonwealth Championships in 2017. He competed in the same tournament in 2015 in Malaysia.
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
Joshua Parry Port Talbot
19/11/90
94kg @Rugghead
It was Joshua’s mother, who had just started an allwomen’s conditioning class, who encouraged him into weightlifting. He hones his skills at Port Talbot’s Ironshed Weightlifting and SA1 Weightlifting, coached by Mark Bennett (formerly strength and conditioning coach with the Welsh Rugby Union). He fits his training in and around his full-time position as a Tata Steel electrical inspector. His favourite sporting moment came when he hit a 5kg personal best clean and jerk in training: “A massive flood of energy and emotion came out of nowhere and I just started screaming and running around like a madman. That was the moment I realised, I love weightlifting.”
130
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
Nerys Pearce Aldershot
13/10/81
Powerlifting - Heavyweight @Hotddiver
With a silver medal from the Invictus Games already under her belt, Nerys Pearce will be travelling down under with another podium place on her mind. She has performed well this year in qualifying events in Dubai and Hungary. She would also have competed as part of the GB team at the World Para Powerlifting Championships last October but the event was postponed when the devastating Mexico City earthquake struck. Since then, the heavyweight powerhouse has been focussed on training to deliver her best performance for Wales. Nerys was left paralysed following an accident on her motorbike in London in 2008 when a car unexpectedly pulled off a kerb and hit her: “I love competitive sport,” she explains. “It gives me a goal to strive towards, to be the best possible athlete. Since my injury, sport has given me a purpose and improved my daily life.” She trains at Aldershot Sports Garrison and volunteers at Pets As Therapy. She has a different coaching relationship to most – she and team-mate Sean Gaffney coach each other.
131
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
Faye Pittman Cardiff
10/01/83
63kg
Multi-talented, Faye is a former gymnast and has also twisted the daunting, icy tracks of bobsleigh in her quest for success. She has even competed at the Europa Cup and World Cup as part of the bobsleigh team. In fact, it was as she was training for the British bobsleigh team that her potential was spotted by her coach Rhodri Thomas: “Weightlifting is totally different from the other sports I’ve done because I see the results of my work daily. When I work in the gym I can see what weight I’m lifting and that’s a good thing. When you train for gymnastics or bobsleigh, you don’t really see the results until competition.” This will be her first Commonwealth Games experience. Though selected for Glasgow 2014, she was forced to withdraw at the eleventh hour due to injury. She lives in Cardiff and trains at the Sport Wales National Centre. She is a personal trainer.
132
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
133
Hannah Powell Worcestershire, living in Holyhead
12/12/92
48kg @hannahpowell92
@hannahlouise9248
She stands at a diminutive 4 foot 8 and a half inches and
“I’d trained really hard and it was my first year back on an
can lift almost twice her bodyweight. Named “Mighty
international platform for a few years following injuries.”
Atom” by her team-mates, her favourite trick is to shock strangers with her strength.
She is currently ranked sixth in the Commonwealth rankings. She graduated from Bangor University in 2017
Inspired by her father and uncle (former British Champion
and now works for Weightlifting Wales as a Business
Stephen Powell), she discovered weightlifting at
Support Officer and as a Casual Sports Assistant at Bangor
secondary school after stints of ballet, tap-dancing and
University’s Canolfan Brailsford. She plans to return to
swimming.
University in 2018 to study for a Masters in Physiotherapy.
2016 proved to be fruitful year, collecting her first
She originally lifted for England but switched to compete
international medals for Great Britain and for Wales.
for Wales and now lives and trains in Holyhead with fellow
She lifted bronze for Great Britain at the 2016 World
lifter Gareth Evans.
University Championships and put in a fantastic performance to win silver at the Commonwealth Championships:
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
134
Jordan Sakkas Radyr, Cardiff
25/04/99
105kg @JordanSakkas
Jordan is yet another Commonwealth debutant in this
In 2016, he was unable to lift for eight months due
new-look Team Wales weightlifting squad.
to injury but demonstrated incredible patience and determination. Weeks after returning to lifting, he won
But weightlifting was not his first love. A promising, young
the Commonwealth Youth Championships breaking all the
rugby star, Jordan represented Wales at under 16 level. In
youth records – snatch, clean, jerk and total.
fact, he started weightlifting to become stronger and fitter on the pitch.
His sights are now set on putting in a good performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and he dreams of
The turning point came in September 2015 when the
competing for Team GB at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Cardiff powerhouse claimed silver at the World Youth Weightlifting Championships. In the same year, he
He trains out of the Pontypool-based Willpower
snatched silver at the Commonwealth Youth Games in
Weightlifting Club with coach and uncle Justin Holly.
Samoa. It was at that point he decided to turn his back on the scrum in favour of the barbell.
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
135
Nathan Stephens 11/04/88
Kenfig Hill, Bridgend Powerlifting - Lightweight @javelinstephens
@Nathan_stephens88
Nathan Stephens has become a name synonymous with
He is coached by Weightlifting Wales Para Powerlifting
Paralympic sport in Wales.
Coach James Horner.
He is a former world record holder and World Champion
Nathan suffered horrific injuries when he was struck by
in the F57 javelin. He is also a three-time Paralympian,
a train on his ninth birthday. He has since championed
competing in sledge hockey at the 2006 Winter Games, in
disability sport and helped to raise its profile. Now
discus, shot and javelin in 2008 and in javelin at London
working for Disability Sport Wales as a Talent Officer, he
2012.
has even appeared on a one-off Sport Relief Strictly Come Dancing special.
But while Nathan has been a firm fixture in GB vests, he has never before had the opportunity to compete for
If the powerlifting continues to progress, he may just have
Wales at a Commonwealth Games.
to change his twitter handle (@javelinstephens). He will celebrate his 30th birthday while at the Games.
He has only been powerlifting since January 2017 but Welsh Weightlifting’s Sports Manager Simon Roach already describes him as having “unbelievable potential.”
Weightlifting & Powerlifting
Rhodri West Cardiff
136
Christie Williams* Aberdare
20/10/89
24/11/92
58kg
+105kg
@christiemariex
@rhodriwest
@christiemarie20 By day, he helps cultivate the talents of some of
Christie Williams began weightlifting in her hometown
Wales’ best rugby hopes as the Academy Strength and
of Aberdare. Fast forward nineteen months and she was
Conditioning coach for Dragons Rugby.
lining up to compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Christie finished in 13th place.
But super strong Rhodri West also has sporting dreams of his own. And he’ll soon be swapping Newport’s Rodney
She now trains five or six days a week and is currently
Parade for the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre on
ranked 8th in the Commonwealth rankings and works as a
Australia’s Gold Coast.
Development Officer for Weightlifting Wales.
He competes in the heaviest bodyweight category of
As a youngster, a knee injury halted her dreams of
+105kg and currently trains out of the Sport Wales
excelling as a sprinter and javelin thrower. She credits her
National Centre and Power Athletics in Caerphilly.
mother, Trudi Edwards, for much of her success: “Since being involved in sport from the age of six, she has always been there to drive me to wherever I needed. Mam has always believed in me and always told me that I could achieve whatever I set my mind to. She has inspired me to be the best that I can be.”
137
Wrestling Kane Charig Curtis Dodge
Wrestling
138
Kane Charig Dorset
Curtis Dodge Aberdare, now living in Swansea
20/08/91
02/12/92
-65kg
-74kg
@curtisdodge
@Kcharig1 Kane swapped the judo mat for the wrestling arena in 2012.
Curtis competed for Wales in judo at Glasgow 2014. He
Coach Alan Jones first introduced the 26-year-old, who now
moved across to wrestling in January 2017 and although
lives in Wales, to freestyle wrestling.
new to the sport he has already beaten seasoned wrestlers. He defeated highly ranked wrestlers at the
Jones has even sent Kane to the USA where the wrestler
British Closed in June and is now ranked British no.1.
gained a huge wealth of knowledge. He trained with one of the top freestyle clubs in New York and he has beaten all the
He trains alongside team-mate Kane Charig on a one-to-
top British wrestlers time and time again.
one basis under the supervision of coach Alan Jones at the Sport Wales National Centre. He is inspired to succeed by
Now ranked British no.1, he won golds at the English
his young son, Harry:
Open and British Open in 2017. 2016 was also a year of accomplishments. He finished third in the Commonwealth
“It (competing at the Commonwealth Games) means I can
Championships in Singapore, a solid sign of promise for
set a good example to my son, to show him that hard work
Wales’ medal tally.
and determination pay off.”
He has put his education on hold in order to compete and
His preparation for the Gold Coast will include a training
fulfil his potential. As a judoka, he was selected to compete
stint in the USA.
at the European Championships.
139
TEAM SPORTS HOCKEY: MEN’S & WOMEN’S NETBALL RUGBY 7s: MEN’S & WOMEN’S
140
Men’s Hockey James Carson
Gareth Furlong
Stephen Kelly
Alf Dinnie
Jonathan Gooch
David Kettle
Owain Dolan-Gray*
Rhys Gowman*
Dan Kyriakides
Jacob Draper
Luke Hawker
James Kyriakides
James Fortnam
Dale Hutchinson
Lewis Prosser
Benjamin Francis
Hywel Jones
Rupert Shipperley
* = Welsh speaker
Men’s Hockey
141
James Carson Taunton born, grew up in Wellington
29/04/94
Forward @jamescarson20
You could say James and his brothers were raised on hockey. Growing up, they constantly honed their skills whether it was on astro-turf, in the garden or indeed the kitchen. Of course, it helped they lived next door to Wales international Ben Rogers. But there has certainly been divided national loyalties. Elder brother Tom was, up until recently, a firm fixture in the England squad while James, of course, opted to play for Wales. At 17, James endured a broken knee cap; a result of playing rugby, which he’s not played since. He played for Cardiff & Met Hockey Club during University and helped the team win two league titles, two European gold medals, the indoor cup three times and the outdoor cup twice; providing James a solid stepping stone towards a successful playing career. His career highlight to date was scoring over Scotland on his Wales debut in 2015. He also cherishes the moment he played alongside his two brothers, Tom and George, for Reading and reaching the indoor finals at Wembley He teaches Humanities at Cranley Prep School.
Men’s Hockey
142
Owain Dolan-Gray*
Alf Dinnie Devon
Cardiff
01/12/94
Midfielder @ADinzo99
17/12/90
Midfielder/Forward @alfdinnie
@owaindolangray
He volunteered at Glasgow 2014 but Alf Dinnie is now set
He made his debut for Wales at the 2009 World Cup
to compete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games as part of
qualifiers and competed for Wales at Glasgow 2014.
Team Wales’ hockey contingent. Both his parents are PE teachers so it came as no surprise that Alf Dinnie also developed a love of sport. He was introduced to hockey at the age of seven by his father, Steve.
He is also a member of the GB Elite Development Programme which aims to develop medal-winning Olympians of the future. He is a coach at Cardiff University where he has taken
He was part of the promotion-winning Wales team that
the reins of managing the Men’s 1st and 2 XIs. He has
gained entry to the European A Division in 2017 after
previously coached Cardiff Met all the way to the BUCS
winning silver at Scotland’s Euro Hockey tournament.
final. By day, however, is a schoolteacher in Reading and
He is currently studying an MSc in Performance Analytics and he is also head coach of the Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Ladies 1st and 2nd teams. He was a Games maker at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
so is sure to have a large band of supporters back home during the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He plays his own club hockey at Reading.
Men’s Hockey
143
Jacob Draper Torfaen
24/07/98
Midfielder @JDrape63
@jacob_draper
Wales’ Jacob Draper has already been spotted and snapped up by GB Hockey. He was picked for GB’s Elite Development Programme in 2017 and later selected for the GB Under 21s who won silver in the Sultan of Johor Cup. Yet he only made his senior debut for Wales in 2016 against Austria at the age of 18. He is a Swansea University economic student and plays for the University first team. In fact, he won Sport Swansea Sportsman of the Year in 2017. His first sporting love was football but the school hockey team were short on numbers and so Jacob was drafted in. It took just one game for him to fall in love with hockey and he went on to join Gwent Hockey Club. Sporting achievements certainly run in the family. His Mother competed at Olympic qualifiers in taekwondo while his father takes part in Mixed Martial Arts. His long-term goal is to compete at an Olympic Games.
Men’s Hockey
144
James Fortnam Herefordshire
18/05/90
Goalkeeper @james_Fortz
@Jamesfortz
He started playing his club hockey at Leominster after he discovered his love of the game at James Masefield High School in Ledbury. And while he excelled within hockey’s county squads and beyond, he suffered a career blow in 2011 when he broke his leg. With nine breaks as well as damaged ligaments and tendons, he showed huge determination to return to winning standards. He made his senior debut for Wales in 2016 during a test match series against the Czech Republic. His proudest moment to date arrived in 2017. Winning silver at the Euro Hockey tournament, Wales gained promotion to division A of the Euro Hockey League. James works as a financial recruitment consultant at Robert Half and he plays his club hockey for Cardiff & Met. He is also known for cycling from Ledbury to Monte Carlo in ten days for charity.
Men’s Hockey
145
Benjamin Francis Swansea
Gareth Furlong Cambridge
20/03/96
Forward @ben_Francis20
10/05/92
Defender @garethfurlong18
@benfrancis20
Ben Francis is a fast up-and-coming player whose talents have
It seems that hockey is in the Furlong DNA. Gareth’s father
been spotted at GB level. In 2016, he opened the scoring for
was a coach and still regularly plays the sport at the ripe
GB U23s over the Netherlands in a 6-1 victory. Later that year,
age of 60 plus. Gareth has a good idea of what awaits
he scored four goals against Slovakia in World League Round
down under. He competed at Glasgow 2014: “Being part of
1. Twelve months later, he played for GB Under 21s who won
Team Wales at a multi-sport event was amazing.”
silver in the Sultan of Johor Cup. He made his senior debut in 2015 in a two match test series against Scotland. Ben has formed part of the Welsh set up that has climbed the Championship ladder; going from division three to one between 2015 and 2017. His proudest moment to date was the day Wales won silver, securing their place in the top division. He is aiming to compete in this division when they play in 2019.
But his proudest moment came when he was part of the Wales team that won promotion to the top tier of European hockey in 2017. In the same year, he also scored twice, helping Surbiton Hockey Club secure their first ever top league domestic title. He plays for Surbiton and works as a sports professional and hockey coach at Royal Grammar School, Guildford.
In preparation for the Gold Coast, Ben has moved to Reading Hockey Club so that he can play Premier League hockey.
In his pursuit of being the very player he can be, he spent
Living and breathing the sport, he also works at St George’s
a year abroad in the Netherlands, training and playing
College in Weybridge as a Hockey Professional.
hockey full-time.
Men’s Hockey
146
Jonathan Gooch Teddington
Rhys Gowman* Cardiff
03/01/94
Defender @jonnygooch
10/12/91
Forward @rhysgowman
@jonnygooch4
@rgowman
He claimed his first Welsh cap in 2016 against France
Rhys has recently returned from an anterior cruciate ligament
and plays his club hockey at Hampstead and Westminster
injury which has kept him out of the sport for 12 months. It
Hockey Club.
was the result of an unfortunate 50-50 challenge by friend
By day, he is a graduate surveyor. He undertook degree studies at the University of Birmingham where he is also a hockey coach.
and fellow Wales team mate and goalkeeper James Fortnam; luckily, they’re both still friends. Currently studying Physiotherapy in UWE Bristol, he has
His father, who still plays hockey, took Jonny along to
undertaken strength and conditioning placements with Cardiff
the local club at Teddington “as a young kid” and he has
Blues.His first club was Whitchurch Hockey Club but he today
always played ever since.
plays for Cardiff & Met. He grew up playing the game. Father Andy has been involved in the sport for a number of years and
Competing at the Commonwealth Games is, Jonny says,
is still able to help cultivate Rhys’ skills.
the result of a complex juggling act: “As a squad and as individuals, we have sacrificed a lot and worked extremely
He made his first ever appearance for Wales in 2010, facing
hard in order to get to where we are now. We are a squad
the USA in Cardiff. His career highlight to date is playing at the
that continue to improve, and I firmly believe we are now
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He is nicknamed ‘Flying
ready to prove that on the world stage.”
Pudding’ by his team-mates.
Men’s Hockey
147
Luke Hawker Yeovil
29/12/89
Forward @lukehawker89
@lukehawker89
Captain of Wales, Luke Hawker first picked up a stick at 8 years old, playing at the local hockey club with friends. Luke progressed through junior representative hockey and joined Cardiff Metropolitan University, participating in the BUCS Premier League and National League for Cardiff & Met HC. Luke first gained selection for Wales in 2012 against Poland. Known to team-mates as “Hawks”, Luke won ‘Player of the Tournament’ at the EuroHockey Club Champions Challenge in Zagreb in the same year as his international debut. He was also instrumental in Cardiff & Met HC’s three appearances in the European Hockey League (EHL), the only club team in Welsh history to compete in this tournament. Luke can boast 50 caps for Wales; with his 50th claimed in Vienna, 2017 as part of a testseries v Austria. As captain, he subsequently guided Wales to the top flight of European Hockey after a semi-final win over France in the 2017 EuroHockey Championships II in Glasgow. Luke is a full-time lecturer in Sports Coaching and Director of Performance Hockey at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He is also head ladies performance coach at Cardiff & Met HC.
Men’s Hockey
148
Dale Hutchinson Cardiff
23/10/93
Midfielder @Dale_Hutch12
@dalehutch
With Wales having bagged promotion to division A of European hockey in 2017, Dale Hutchinson believes the Commonwealth Games will swing around just as the men’s team hits peak condition. The Reading Hockey Club player says: “It may be the biggest event I’ll ever take part in so it means a huge amount to me.” Putting in an enormous amount of work and commitment to make the grade for the Gold Coast, Dale also works at St Neot’s Preparatory School in Hampshire and Pangbourne College in Reading as a hockey professional. He followed his brother into hockey while he was still at primary school and they were both encouraged by their first coach Andrew Griffiths. He has been nicknamed ‘Dazzle’ by his team-mates. Originally joining Cardiff Hockey Club, Dale made his debut for Wales in the 2014 Four Nations in Barcelona. He graduated in Sports Coaching in 2015 and won ‘Best Junior Player’ at the 2016 FIH World League Round 1.
Men’s Hockey
149
Hywel Jones Bath
Steve Kelly Swansea
09/07/97
12/05/92
Defender
Defender
@stevekelly120
@hyweljones7
@steve.kelly92
This Business Management student from the University
His parents first introduced him to the sport of hockey and
of Birmingham is juggling books and essays with life as a
have nurtured and encouraged his talents ever since. In fact,
Team Wales athlete.
he believes they have been the most instrumental people in
He debuted for Wales in 2013 during a three match test series against international heavyweights Spain and his sporting role model is Wales rugby legend Shane Williams. He captained Wales’ under 18s between 2014 and
his career. Born in Swansea, he went to The King’s School in Gloucester before heading to Oxford Brookes University. He plays for Hampstead and Westminster.
2015. During this time, he led the U18s at the European Championships in 2015 and the U21 indoor side at the
He made his debut for Wales in 2014 in a test series against
2017 European Championships.
Scotland; one of Steve’s fondest memories includes scoring his first international goal against Austria. Winning World League
Hywel is known as Jonesy to team-mates. He got involved
Round 1 was a career highlight, alongside winning promotion
in the sport when his parents, who “used to play back in
in the Europeans last August in Glasgow. Gold Coast 2018 will
the day”, encouraged him to join the local club.
be his first Commonwealth Games experience. He teaches PE at Dulwich College.
Men’s Hockey
150
David Kettle Ascot
Daniel Kyriakides Swansea
29/04/88
Goalkeeper @ dragonkettle
21/03/95
Defender @DanKyriakides
@dkettle
A key returning figure amongst this squad is Welsh goalie
He first picked up a hockey stick at the age of five. No doubt it
and newly turned entrepreneur David Kettle. Nicknamed
was his father’s who was a keen player and continues to play
‘Dragon’ by his team mates, David has recently started his
for Wales Masters. He made his debut for Wales in 2014 in
own business. Dragon Hockey UK.
a Test series against Scotland. And in the same year, despite
From Staffordshire, his first club was Cannock. From there, he enjoyed a professional stint in the Malaysian Hockey League. He made his Welsh debut in 2009 in the World Cup qualifying tournament in New Zealand.
being the new kid on the block, he made the cut for Team Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games where he managed to score against Australia. Last year, he received a Great Britain call up to feature in
He held position of Wales captain for four years and
the 18-man squad for the Sultan Azlan Shah Tournament in
played at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. More recently,
Malaysia – to date, his most memorable achievement. The
he featured in the EuroHockey Championship II in Glasgow
event featured four of the world’s top eight teams.
that secured promotion to the top tier for Wales men. GB selection equipped Dan with a huge confidence boost and He currently plays for Teddington and is a full-time
he has now set his sights on selection for the Tokyo Olympics
employee at Barclays International.
in 2020. He plays for Reading Hockey Club and is the younger brother of fellow Wales international James Kyriakides. He coaches part-time at St George’s College in Weybridge.
Men’s Hockey
151
James Kyriakides Swansea
20/01/91
Midfielder @jameskyriakides
Lewis Prosser Swindon, brought up in Llantrisant 13/06/89 Midfielder
@LewisProsser
He competed alongside his younger brother Dan at the
Inspired by his father, David, who captained Wales and Great
2014 Commonwealth Games and the pair are now set to
Britain for several years, Lewis Prosser has always dreamt of
compete again down under.
playing at the very top levels of his sport.
James – or JK as he is known - started playing at the age of six after watching his father play. His first appeared for Wales in 2012. JK - as he’s more commonly known was such an avid fan of hockey during his younger years, he formed a team of his own during sixth form at Olchfa school; a team that went on to win the Welsh Cup two years in a row, through a school tournament.
Lewis suffered a fracture to the spine during a school game. Six months later, he was back and he was later selected for the Wales under 16 squad. He made his senior debut at the age of 18. He helped Great Britain win bronze at the Youth Olympics in 2010. He spent two years playing in Spain and Belgium, gaining huge experience, before returning to the UK.
He made his Welsh debut in 2012 during the Four Nations
The midfielder plays for Surbiton Hockey Club and he always
in Northern Ireland. He’s since gone on to make over 60
repeats the same pre-match ritual: he always puts his socks,
appearances for his country. He now plays his club hockey
shin pads and shoes on from right to left. This will be his
for Southgate Hockey Club where he trains three times
second Commonwealth Games.
a week. But like most hockey players, he must juggle his international and club commitments with full-time work.
He is a hockey coach at Kingston Grammar School. He co-
James is a Senior Surveyor in London.
captains the team alongside Luke Hawker.
Men’s Hockey
152
Rupert Shipperley Oxford
21/11/92
Midfielder @rupertscott123
Rupert Shipperley – or Shippo as he is known – made his debut for Wales in 2014 against Spain. He can also boast GB honours. He played for the GB Under 21s at the Youth Olympics in Australia. He is of course now making a return trip down under but in Welsh colours this time. His sister Zoe is also a highly accomplished player. She was part of England’s silver medal winning team at the 2014 Commonwealh Games and also plays for GB. If she is also selected, it will see the Shipperley families dividing their loyalties. Rupert first played for Whitchurch Hockey Club but today play his club hockey for Hampstead and Westminster.
153
Women’s Hockey Elizabeth Bingham
Xenna Hughes
Phoebe Richards
Sophie Clayton
Ella Jackson
Delyth Thomas*
Lisa Daley
Sarah Jones
Roseanne Thomas
Tina Evans
Danielle Jordan
Joanne Westwood
Sian French
Eloise Laity
Julie Whiting
Isabelle Howell
Natasha Marke-Jones
Leah Wilkinson
* = Welsh speaker
Women’s Hockey
154
Elizabeth Bingham Swansea
21/01/95
Defender/Screen @beth_bing
Beth – or Bing as she is known to friends and family - had her first taste of hockey when she attended a training session at a local club with a friend. She has recently been named in the newly formed 36-strong GB Women’s Elite Development Programme, which aims to develop medal winning Olympians of the future. Her programme selection followed her instrumental role in Women’s EuroHockey Championships II tournament held in Cardiff last August. The former pupil of Bishopston Comprehensive School sits on 57 caps. Her career highlight to date is competing at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Beth, who is currently studying Sport & Exercise Science, made up an integral part of the squad that won Wales a silver medal at the Under 18 European Championships. One of Beth’s many aims is to earn more than 100 caps for Wales. She has a pre-match ritual of always putting her right shin pad on first and she has played table tennis for Wales.
Women’s Hockey
155
Sophie Clayton Newport
20/09/91
Forward @SophClayton
@clayton_sophie
Sophie has worked full time as a dentist for the last three years. Her hockey journey began in school, where she openly admits she was better at tennis, but she really enjoyed the team aspect of hockey and, of course, scoring goals. Currently a member of Clifton Robinson Hockey Club; Sophie started playing hockey with Newport but spent the majority of her playing years as a Swansea Spartan. She debuted for Wales during a test series against Canada in 2013. Since then she has made more than 50 appearances for her country; being capped for her 50th during the European Championships held in Cardiff last August. Although Sophie played during the 2014 Commonwealth Games campaign, it felt like it was due to team mate Ellie Laity being struck by injury; so being selected this time around on merit of all her hard work and commitment is something Sophie feels very proud of: “Playing in the Commonwealth Games this time around will mean so much to me; mainly because this time I really earned my place amongst the squad. I’ve worked so hard to be selected, which at times has been difficult but nothing really worth doing is ever easy. It’s wonderful to know all the commitment I’ve put into juggling work with my early morning and late evening training has been worth it. I can’t wait to get out there with the girls and hopefully create an upset.”
Women’s Hockey
156
Lisa Daley Gloucester
22/04/92
Forward @Lisa_Daley
@Lisa_Daley
For many years, Lisa balanced hockey, football and athletics until she decided to commit to one sport, which was of course hockey. Her love affair with the sport began in an after-school club aged 12. Her teachers encouraged her to join local hockey club, Gloucester City. Hockey has taken Lisa as far as Malaysia, where she represented Wales at the World League Round 2: “It was a fantastic experience playing hockey on the other side of the world with a great group of girls. The first training session we had; I had to pinch myself and remind myself where I was. It was so humid; the sun was setting with pink skies and the tannoy for the mosque next door was echoing around the stadium. It was magnificent.” Working as a Sport Development Officer for the University of Bristol, Lisa’s role is to get more students involved in volunteer experiences and develop their leadership skills. Having played for the well-known performance club Swansea City, whilst studying Sports Coaching at Cardiff & Met University, Lisa now plays for Clifton Robinson. Gearing up for the Games this April, Lisa said: “Over the past two years with new management, Wales has become a winning team, going from strength to strength on our journey. It means the world to be selected for this tournament, to play for Wales, represent the dragon on the main stage at one of the biggest tournaments.”
Women’s Hockey
157
Tina Evans Kidderminster
09/05/86
Defender @Tinaevans_6
Like any little sister, Tina wanted to do whatever her big brother did; so naturally as soon as she was big enough to pick up a stick she followed him into hockey. As kids they played so much hockey, Tina’s parents decided to join them and give it a go themselves. Together they played for Stourport Hockey Club; and on occasions mother and daughter would play on the same team. Tina remarkably bagged her 1st and 100th cap against Scotland. She debuted for Wales against them in 2005 and gained the big 100 in May 2017. Her 100th cap match saw her play against her fiancé who plays for Scotland and will also feature at the Commonwealth Games. Having previously spent six months sharpening her hockey skills in South Africa, Tina now works full time as an IT Consultant. Tina, who once captained Wales, took retirement in 2012: “It feels like I’ve never been away. It’s been lovely to come back and be made to feel so welcome.”
Women’s Hockey
158
Sian French Knowsley
19/06/91
Midfielder/Screen @sian_french
@sianfrench91
Recently appointed Vice Captain; Sian always enjoyed a variety of sports throughout school, but hockey powered through. Between her parents and a very enthusiastic hockey teacher Sian felt encouraged to join her first club, Chester. On graduating in 2012, Sian returned home to Cheshire and joined Bowdon Hightown. Just twelve months prior, she took on Scotland in the Celtic Cup, tallying up her first of now 89 caps for Wales. Swapping her day job as a Physiotherapist for the gruelling heat on the Gold Coast, Sian explains: “It is hard as I train pretty much every day and have to fit everything around my work due to the amateur status of hockey in Wales. I was playing competitive, high-level hockey while I was doing my A-Levels and while I was studying for a degree, and now I do it around my work, which can be tough.” The midfielder, who has played in numerous Europeans including the Championship held in Cardiff last August, says her career highlights to date include playing in her first Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and being selected to play out in Malaysia for World League Round 2.
Women’s Hockey
159
Isabelle Howell Wrexham
22/02/00
Midfielder/Screen @izz_howell
@izzxxie
As the youngest member of the squad, Izzie will claim her very first cap for Wales during the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Not a bad stage to open your senior playing career on: “Although slightly terrified I’m also really excited about this opportunity and to be able to gain this type of experience.” Currently studying A-Levels in Philosophy, Religious Studies and Classical Civilization, Izzie plays for Neston Hockey Club but began playing hockey with North Wales giants Wrexham. Izzie was promoted to the first team and embarked on the Hockey Wales 360 programme, which helps support and develop talented athletes to achieve their potential. She credits the programme as being key to much of her learning as it allows mixed gender training groups: “Being able to challenge myself against the boys as well as the girls really did help improve my skills.” Since around the age of 14, Izzie has also been receiving coaching from some of the best hockey players out there, attending Sportways Hockey Camps overseas in Barcelona. She won Player of the Tournament during her Under 18 debut match in Switzerland.
Women’s Hockey
160
Xenna Hughes Wrexham
19/09/92
Defender @XennaHughes
A firm fixture of the Welsh squad, Xenna Hughes is seen as a powerhouse amongst the team. Competing in her first Commonwealth Games back in 2014, she fondly remembers playing in front of the Queen and trying not to feel nervous about it. Xenna went on to play in the 2017 Women’s European Championships in Cardiff. It was the first time she had played in a home tournament since her teens. It was here that she overtook her father’s tally of Welsh caps. She is the daughter of successful footballer and manager Mark Hughes. Xenna debuted for Wales aged 18 has just surpassed his 72 caps with 74: “He and my Mum have been incredibly supportive. It’s great that he has been in the same situation as me and knows just how much dedication it takes to get to this standard. Every other day he tells me how proud he is of me. It’s got to the point where I have to tell him to stop.” Having studied Sports Coaching & Exercise Science at Birmingham University, Xenna always aspired to help people in sport; be it helping them perform or recover it didn’t matter. She now works full time as a Personal Trainer in London, playing hockey in the top division for her current club East Grinstead.
Women’s Hockey
161
Ella Jackson Cardiff
30/05/95
Goalkeeper @ellajackson_28
@ella_jackson
Goalkeeper Ella Jackson is a name to note. Selected to join the newly formed 36-strong GB Women’s Elite Development Programme, which aims to develop medal winning Olympians of the future, Ella now plays for Buckingham Hockey Club in the top division. Embarking on her hockey career as an outfielder during her high school years, Ella always wanted to try her luck in goal. Thanks to teacher Rachel Thomas at Whitchurch High School in Cardiff she got that chance and never looked back. At age 12 Ella was playing for Penarth Ladies third team in goal and loving every moment. Former Physiotherapy Assistant turned full-time hockey coach, Ella now works at St Edwards School and for Buckingham Under 12s. She also coaches with Fortitude, a goalkeeper coaching organisation. Ella, who debuted for Wales in 2014 in the London Cup against South Africa, grew up playing tennis with her family but soon made the shift to hockey. Ella also played in World League Round 2 in Malaysia where she described the atmosphere and environment as one of the most memorable to date. On finding out she’d been selected Ella said: “Being selected to represent Wales is always an honour but having the chance to showcase Wales and what we are about, against some of the best teams in the world, at such a large event will be incredible.”
Women’s Hockey
162
Sarah Jones Cardiff
25/06/90
Midfielder @sarahjones888
@sarah.jones8
A midfielder with immense potential, Sarah Jones was snapped up by GB in 2017. Although not yet capped, Sarah trains two days a week at Bisham Abbey with the GB squad; a dream considering GB’s gold medal winning status. Alongside her goal of playing in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, she is working hard towards helping Wales reach the top 18 of world hockey nations. As a member of a very active family, some of Sarah’s early memories Keep Fit classes and Christmas morning jogs before presents could be opened. Having previously played football for Wales, Sarah started her hockey journey with Cardiff Athletic HC (now Cardiff & Met) at the age of 13 but now plays in the national premier league for Rochester-based Holcombe Hockey Club. During her years at Loughborough University, she continued to regularly play hockey; sometimes alongside fellow team mate Phoebe Richards. Gold Coast 2018 will be Sarah’s second Commonwealth Games after competing in Glasgow - a standout moment for Sarah alongside the opening game against Austria in the European Championships held in Cardiff last August, where she played in front of more than 20 friends and family members. In 2011 after graduating in Geography and Sport Management, Sarah made her debut for Wales in the Celtic Cup against Scotland. She works for British Tennis.
Women’s Hockey
163
Danielle Jordan Cwmbran
13/01/96
Midfield @DanielleJ0rdan It’s rumoured that Danni Jordan could have been the youngest player to have received a Welsh cap but further to that the youngest player to have received 50 caps for Wales. Danni’s journey to playing for Wales started in high school. She admits being heavily inspired by teacher Rachel Pryce who was the third person she called on discovering she made the Commonwealth squad. Her first club was Gwent, where she made lifelong friends and continued to grow as a player. This full-time hockey coach from Cwmbran, who once made the U17’s Welsh netball team, has certainly had some serious challenges to contend with in her career. At age 18 she was selected to compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, an achievement that required a delicate balancing act of A-level studies and playing commitments. In the same year, she developed pneumonia and appendicitis. After a brutal recovery period, Danni - who debuted for Wales in 2012 - went on to make her most memorable moment during the women’s European Championships in Cardiff last August; scoring a belter of a goal in the opening match against Austria. A moment she describes as her favourite so far After another recent battle to fitness after injury, which meant five months out of action this season, Danni expressed how unbelievably proud she feels to be selected to play: “It means everything to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games. I am so proud to be from Wales.”
Women’s Hockey
164
Eloise Laity Cardiff
09/05/94
Midfield @EllieLaity
@ellielaity
After making her debut for Wales in 2014 during a test series against Canada, Eloise suffered heartbreak just before the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Selected to compete, the team were in their final preparations, playing a warm up game against India when disaster struck. Eloise slipped, tearing the cartilage in her knee. She was rushed back to the Athlete Village only to discover that she would be ruled out of all matches and would need to fly home for surgery: “My greatest challenge has definitely been in overcoming the disappointment of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and having to go through two years of hard work and rehab to gain my place back with the squad.” In 2017, she was back, and earned selection for the World League Round 2 in Malaysia. But the greatest reward for her grit and determination will come on the Gold Coast. Introduced to the sport by her mother, Eloise started at Penarth Ladies and now plays for Buckingham. She has recently graduated from the University of Bath in Chemistry and now works as a Publishing Editor with a scientific company.
Women’s Hockey
165
Natasha Marke-Jones Bridgend
06/11/90
Midfield @tash_mj Like many, it was during secondary school that Tash was first exposed to hockey, yet she didn’t join a club and play until around age 14. With an impressive background in athletics, boasting a Welsh vest for cross country, Tash is a former member of Bridgend Athletics Club. This former Swansea Spartan now plays for Clifton Robinson. After seven seasons with the Spartans, Tash made her move to play in the premier league, alongside fellow Wales team mates and close friends Sophie Clayton and Lisa Daley. This may be her first Commonwealth Games appeance but she is no stranger to top flight competition. In 2017, she helped Wales reach the semi-finals of the World League round two in Kuala Lumpur; describing it an as incredible experience. She has also played in three Europeans, starting with Athens in 2013, Prague in 2015 and most recently Cardiff in 2017. Her career highlight amongst all of this and alongside selection to the Commonwealth Games, was playing in front of thousands of people in Malaysia. Tash now works for a non-profit organisation called Vi-Ability who tackle youth unemployment through sports programmes. One of her proudest achievements in the role was seeing through to fruition the International Volunteering Programme where Tash and 18 individuals were sent to rural India on a five-week placement, supporting children with sports, English studies and nutrition.
Women’s Hockey
166
Phoebe Richards Knighton
26/03/93
Forward @phoeberich A Human Factors Ergonomist for Aston Martin, Phoebe Richards spends her days researching the relationship between humans and machines and of course playing hockey. With a senior career that began with a first cap in 2012 during the Celtic Cup; Phoebe played hockey and football throughout her younger years, but it was hockey that spun it for her despite a deep passion for football and two older brothers that played it. Having arrived late to the sport, Phoebe played in and won a Welsh school’s tournament, resulting in her playing for Wales U18’s with her first hockey club, Whitchurch Saints. After joining Loughborough University to study ergonomics and human factors; a hockey scholarship backed Phoebe in her decision to solely commit to hockey. The Buckingham Hockey Club player, who credits Loughborough hockey coach Jerome Goudie as a key player in her success on the pitch, sealed Wales’ place in the semi-finals of the women’s European Championships in Cardiff last August with a game changing goal just three minutes from time. It was a goal that stretched Wales’ unbeaten record to 15 games. Another memorable goal for Phoebe was one she brought home against Trinidad & Tobago during the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The match ended 4-0 to Wales.
Women’s Hockey
167
Delyth Thomas* Brecon
12/08/98
Defender @delyththomas12
Delyth is definitely one to watch. After making her debut for Wales only a few short years ago in 2015, Delyth recently welcomed the news, that she had been selected to join the GB Elite Development Programme. It is a programme designed to cultivate the talents of players. Since being selected she has already started to benefit from the high quality and diverse hockey training the programme offers; spending time training recently in Alicante. Growing up on a sheep and cattle farm in Brecon, Delyth followed her mother into hockey. Throughout her younger years she recalls her family always being very supportive of her involvement in the sport. The former Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera student first picked up a stick around eight years old, joining Brecon hockey club not long after. On news of Commonwealth selection, Delyth made the decision to split this year of her Biology studies at the University of Birmingham to have more time to focus on preparation. She will pick up half of this year’s work, exams and assessments next year, moving towards graduation in 2020.
Women’s Hockey
168
Rose Thomas Caerleon
05/05/92
Goalkeeper @rose_thomas29
In an interesting tactic by a teacher at Caerleon Comprehensive, Rose was given the ultimatum of detention if she didn’t attend her after-school club. It was here at the age of 12 that Rose first picked up a hockey stick. Well done to her teacher because these days, Rose is competing for Great Britain. Recognised as a high potential player, Rose has recently been snapped up by GB; training two days a week at Bisham Abbey with the squad. Rose who currently plays for Holcombe, continued to enjoy hockey outside of school; joining Gwent Hockey Club. She has since gone on to make her debut for Wales in 2011 at the Celtic Cup in Scotland. Her career highlights to date include gaining her 50th cap on home soil, during the Women’s EuroHockey Championships II held in Cardiff last August and more recently gaining her very first cap for GB, during the test series played against Argentina in February 2018.
Women’s Hockey
169
Joanne Westwood Cardiff
04/08/93
Defender @JoWestwood1
Former mortgage advisor turned full time athlete and hockey coach, Cardiff born defender Jo Westwood made her debut for Wales in 2012 during a test series against Ireland. Since then she has racked up 85 caps for her country having competed in World League and European outings as well as the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Jo unfortunately suffered a stress fracture prior to Glasgow 2014, leaving her unable to play or train for six weeks. After weeks of intense rehab, Jo re-joined the squad just in time for the Games. Reflecting on that time Jo said: “I’ve never really suffered pain like that before. I was out for six weeks but had to continue training in different ways, which was difficult as I have always been active.” An adventure that found its feet during her years studying at Llanishen High School, Jo now coaches hockey at two schools - Kings Rochester and St Dunstan’s. She also coaches Burnt Ash HC ladies first and second teams. Jo used to play cricket for Wales. Now playing for Holcombe HC, her first club was Whitchurch Saints. Her career highlight to date is winning a Silver medal in the 2010 U18’s Europeans in Prague.
Women’s Hockey
170
Julie Whiting Solihull
29/10/94
Defender @Me_Julie_29
@julie_whiting29
Solihull defender Julie Whiting has already been spotted by Great Britain. She was selected to represent GB Under 23s at the Futures 2020 Invitational Tournament in 2016, putting her in the top 18 players aged under 23 in Great Britain. During her studies, Julie worked abroad in Lyon where she played for the Premier League side, FC Lyon, while also flying back for Wales and GB training camps. Julie started her hockey journey around the age of eight with Olton &West Warwicks but now plays for Bowdon Hightown. She made her debut for Wales during the Ireland test matches and Champions Challenge tournament in 2012 and has since played at several test series and Europeans, and most recently at the World League tournaments in 2016//17. Another achievement for Julie is that she also won the Sporting Wales Rising Star Award in 2017.
Women’s Hockey
171
Leah Wilkinson Burton-on-Trent
03/12/86
Defender/Screen @leahwilkinson17 Gold Coast 2018 will see Leah Wilkinson step into her third Commonwealth Games; having previously competed in Delhi 2010 and as Vice-Captain in Glasgow 2014. Now the newly appointed captain will use her experience to lead Wales into the 2018 Games. A solid defender for Wales, Leah has been playing since 2004, making her debut during the Celtic Cup in Ireland. Alongside former Captain, Abi Welsford, Leah jointly broke the record for the most caps held by any Welsh female player during the women’s European Championships held in Cardiff last August. With 141 caps apiece, both Leah and Abi overtook Wales legend Anne Ellis’ tally of 138. It’s no surprise Leah struck up a passion for hockey. She first picked up a stick at just five years old, having watched her parents and sister play. Attracted to the fast-paced nature of the game, Leah followed in her the family footsteps and joined first club Belper. As a teenager, Leah balanced hockey alongside football and judo, two sports she gave up to pursue her hockey career. She was fortunate enough to play for Sutton Coldfield HC before moving on to join Loughborough University’s team. It was during her time at Sutton Coldfield that she became inspired by four-time Olympian Jane Sixsmith - one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Leah was privileged to play alongside Jane, witnessing first hand her speed, skill and experience. Leah works full time as a history teacher and Head of Year at Ewell Castle School in Surrey. Through the University of Birmingham, she is also completing an MA in history.
172
Netball Fern Davies
Nia Jones*
Cara Lea Moseley
Suzy Drane
Chelsea Lewis
Georgia Rowe
Bethan Dyke
Sarah Llewelyn*
Leila Thomas
Kyra Jones
Kelly Morgan
Amanda Varey
* = Welsh speaker
Netball
173
Fern Davies Holywell, now lives in Chippenham 29/08/96 @FernDavies
Lance Corporal Fern Davies is certainly rising through the ranks. She has represented Wales at Under 21 Netball Europe, a tour of South Africa in 2016, the Swansea University International T201est Series in 2017 and the Netball World Youth Cup in Botswana in the same year. But the Holywell goal defence isn’t just impressing the Wales coaching staff. Competing for the Army, she has earned herself numerous ‘player of the tournament’ plaudits for her likeability and skill. She started playing in her hometown at the age of eight at a summer camp and has since gained 20 senior Welsh caps. She credits her parents as having the biggest influence on her career. She also plays for the Celtic Dragons franchise which competes in the Vitality Netball Superleague.
Netball
174
Suzy Drane Llandudno and Chester, now lives in Cardiff 27/11/86 @SuzyDrane Suzy Drane is not one to wait around. In fact, she went to University Wales Institute Cardiff a year early and, at 23, she entered the netball history books by becoming Wales’ youngest ever team captain. She first stepped on court at her primary school in North Wales and played her first club netball over the border in Chester. She went on to play for Wales at all age groups. Her senior international debut came in June 2005 when Wales were pitted against Jamaica in Cardiff. And just a month later, she was selected to represent Wales at the World Youth Netball Championships in Miami. Gold Coast 2018 will be Suzy’s third Commonwealth Games, having already competed at Melbourne 2006 and at Glasgow 2014. She has also represented Wales at several Netball European Championships and two World Cups (2011 & 2015). By day, you will find her at Cardiff Metropolitan University where she is a full-time lecturer in Sport Development and Performance Sport. She also captains the Celtic Dragons franchise which competes in the national Vitality Netball Superleague which is made up of the top ten teams in Wales, Scotland and England.
Netball
175
Bethan Dyke Bridgend 25/12/94 @bethanndyke
Beth is a fast and fierce centre-court player and is set to head into her sixth season for the Celtic Dragons franchise team. She works full time as the Performance Netball Coach at Millfield School in Somerset. But she’ll soon be swapping school for the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre where the high-paced and skilful netball action will be found. Beth is a Gilbert netball ambassador. She is a former Brynteg Comprehensive School pupil – a school that can boast an unparalleled sporting alumni including Rob Howley, Gavin Henson and Nicole Cooke.
Netball
176
Kyra Jones Perth, now lives in Cardiff 09/09/85 @kyrajones09 For Kyra, the 2018 Commonwealth Games will be rather like a trip home. Raised in Perth, Australia, Kyra was named as the best player in the West Australian Netball League in 2006. Just three years later, she was in Cardiff playing in the Superleague. It was only a matter of time before she was playing for Wales, stamping her authority and physical presence on the centre bib. She earned her first Welsh cap in 2012 at Netball Europe when Wales faced Northern Ireland. Wales named her ‘Player of the Year’ in the same year. And since then, she has notched up an incredible total of 50 caps. This will be the Aussie born player’s second Commonwealth Games outing. She represented Wales at Glasgow 2014. In 2015, she enjoyed a season with five-time Superleague champions Team Bath before returning to the Dragons. Kyra says, “It would be a great honour to be selected to represent Team Wales. To have the chance to put on the red dress is an amazing opportunity, and to be able to play in a massive competition, with so much support is amazing. An added bonus would be having the chance to go back to Australia and play in front of a home crowd.” She works full-time at Cardiff and Vale College as Head of Netball.
Netball
177
Nia Jones* Mold, Flintshire / now lives in Cardiff 06/04/92 @niajones92
@niajones6
A Wales international in both netball and football, it will be Nia’s second Commonwealth Games appearance. But excelling in more than one sport can sometimes cause heartbreak: “I had a tough decision to make in 2015. Netball or football? I decided to chase my dream of becoming a professional footballer with Reading Women’s FC, but it meant I missed the Netball World Cup in Sydney and that really hurt. I have parked the football for this season to achieve my goal of another Commonwealth Games. “Of all my caps, matches, competitions, trips and experiences in netball or football, Glasgow 2014 was by far the most magical moment. It is the pinnacle of our sport and an opportunity to showcase our amazing sport on the world stage against the best athletes in prime shape and form.” Nia began her career at Mold Netball Club. She was selected in the Welsh squad to play in the two match series against New Zealand in 2017. She trains at the Sport Wales National Centre which she says feels like a second home. She works just around the corner at Cathedral School in Llandaff as a Girls’ Games and Sports Coach.
Netball
178
Chelsea Lewis Aberdare, now living in Skewen, Neath 24/11/93 @chel_c
@chelsealewis24
Chelsea Lewis will not be short of supporters when she steps on court in front of the electric crowds at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. As a netball coach for the Haberdashers Monmouth School for Girls, her performance is sure to inspire her protogées back home. But while the Aberdare shooter will be lining up alongside her Welsh team-mates down under, she is often required to battle against many of them who play for the Celtic Dragons in the Superleague. She is in her third season with Team Bath and finished the 2017 season as the Superleague’s sixth highest scorer with 534 goals, despite playing at goal attack in a number of quarters. She stands at 6ft 2 inches and scored 231 goals at the 2015 World Cup as Wales finished seventh – their best performance since 1991. This will be her second Commonwealth Games appearance, having competed at Glasgow 2014. She boasts 50 caps for Wales.
Netball
179
Sarah Llewelyn* Swansea, studies in Cardiff 01/04/96 @sarahllewelyn_
Not only is she a Wales international netball player, Sarah is studying medicine at Cardiff University with aspirations to become a Trauma Surgeon. Before netball took over, she used to be talented harpist, often asked to perform at weddings. The multi-talented former Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr pupil also enjoys surfing, skiing and tennis. She plays for the Celtic Dragons in the Vitality Netball Superleague and it was in November 2014 she achieved her first senior international cap when she faced England in Liverpool. In 2015, she captained the Wales under 21 team at Netball Europe in Aberdeen where Wales agonisingly missed out on the gold medal by just six goals. At the 2015 and the 2017 Netball Europe tournament, her efforts on court earned her the prestigious title of ‘Player of the Championship.’
Netball
180
Kelly Morgan Bridgend 14/03/87 @_KellyMorgan_
The Welsh defender can still remember the feeling of playing Australia in the opening match of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. And she can’t wait to play them again – this time on Aussie turf. She plays for the Celtic Dragons in the Vitality Netball Superleague. but has enjoyed a stint with Team Bath. She helped them battle to a fifth triumph in 2013. A research fellow at Cardiff University, the Maesteg player has represented Wales at Netball Europe in 2009, 2014 and 2016. As Vice Captain for Wales, she also formed part of the squad at the 2015 and 2017 European Championships. She used to be a competitive swimmer and didn’t take up netball competitively until she attended the University of Wales in Cardiff and was soon invited to join the Welsh Netball Academy under the former England coach Anna Stenbridge.
Netball
181
Cara Lea Moseley Born in Abergavenny, grew up in Blackwood and Cornwall, lives in Cardiff 21/07/87 @caralea21
@cara.l.moseley
After competing for Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Welsh netball star Cara Lea Moseley decided to step away from the sport. But, as 2018 Gold Coast loomed on the horizon, the Abergavenny born player could not resist the lure of the call up: “The Commonwealth Games is the biggest competition in our four year calendar. Being able to compete at the Games is the most incredible feeling and one I desperately want to experience again!” She received her first senior cap against South Africa in 2007. She has attended two World Championships in 2007 and 2011. Cara – who plays in goal attack and as goal shooter -grew up around elite sport. Her father, rugby player Kevin Moseley, made 11 appearances for Wales and she believes she has inherited his competitive spirit and drive. Now doing a PhD in Psychology, Cara also runs her own company called Mind in Sport Limited and has worked with many professional sport outfits such as Brighton FC and Swansea FC as well as corporate companies like ACT Trading and British Gas.
Netball
182
Georgia Rowe Newport 09/05/95 @georgiarowey
It’s down to Georgia Rowe’s father that she will be boarding the plane to Australia. When Gary Rowe spotted the then Wales National Coach’s car driving down the street, he swiftly jotted down the number. And Welsh Netball were only to happy to give the 6ft 5 inches teenager a trial. A product of Caerleon Comprehensive, Georgia was a reserve for the Glasgow 2014 Games and plays for the Celtic Dragons franchise that battles it out against the best teams across the UK in the Vitality Netball Superleague. She has also enjoyed a season with Team Northumbria in the Superleague.
Netball
183
Leila Thomas Blaenavon 24/04/98 @leilaathomas
She may not have discovered netball quite as early as the rest of her team-mates. In fact, Leila was too busy excelling in an altogether different sport – dressage and showjumping. It was a chance visit to a netball training session in Pontypool – having been dragged along by her cousin – that started her journey. She quickly progressed under the watchful eye of then coach Louise Wright. She also enjoyed a spell at Cowbridge under Shaun Williams and went on to complete in the South East league, and then the South East county teams before representing Wales at under 17 and under 21 level. She now plays for the Celtic Dragons outfit that competes within the Vitality Netball Superleague. Her greatest achievement so far is being part of the Under 21 squad selected for the 2017 World Youth Cup in Botswana. Leila studies Biological Sciences at Cardiff University.
Netball
184
Amanda Varey Torfaen 05/11/87 @Amanda_Varey
Amanda Varey is certainly used to pressurised environments. By day, she is a Specialist Intensive Care Pharmacist at Bristol’s Southmead Hospital. And after a day’s work, she races across to train at the University of Bath or the University of South Wales. She is currently enjoying a season with the Celtic Dragons in the Vitality Netball Superleague. Amanda – who plays at either centre or wing attack – has also played for Team Bath, including the 2009 and 2013 seasons in which they became Superleague champions. Her international outings for Wales date back to 2003. She represented Wales at the 2005 World Youth Championships in Fort Lauderdale and the 2007 World Cup in Auckland. From as soon as she could walk, Amanda was a dedicated netball fan; toddling around the netball court at half time as her Mum and sisters took a break. She couldn’t wait to get started officially and she did so at the age of six.
185
Men’s Rugby 7s Hallam Amos
Luke Morgan
Justin Tipuric
James Benjamin
Angus O’Brien
Luke Treharne
Ethan Davies
Ben Roach
Morgan Williams*
Owen Jenkins
Adam Thomas*
Thomas Williams
* = Welsh speaker
Men’s Rugby 7s
186
Hallam Amos Stockport
25/05/94
Back @Hallam_Amos
He plays for the Dragons, having previously played for Newport RFC and Bedwas RFC, at full back or wing. He made his Dragons debut in 2011 against Wasps n the Anglo-Welsh Cup. He was just 17. And not to do things by halves, he also scored a try. He has represented Wales at Under 16, Under 18 and Under 20 level. His senior break came in 2013 for the Autumn International series, making his debut versus Tonga. He was again selected for Wales in 2015 for the Rugby World Cup where he was part of Wales’ victorious side over England. He missed most of the 2016-17 season with a shoulder injury but was called up for the 2017 Autumn series, coming off the bench in the opening game against Australia and then starting against Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa. He is now coming back from an ankle injury. He was born in Stockport and attended Monmouth School. He is currently studying medicine at Cardiff University, following in the footsteps of both his doctor parents and other Welsh international rugby players such as JPR Williams and Jamie Roberts.
Men’s Rugby 7s
187
James Benjamin Newport
21/02/94
Newport
28/02/94
Back
Forward @jbenjamin99
Ethan Davies
@JamesBenjamin7
@ethandavies10
It was in Bassaleg School in Newport that James discovered
The Cross Keys full-back/outside-half made his debut for
his love of rugby. He can remember watching the
Wales on the World Series in Dubai in 2015.
Commonwealth Games on TV as a child and dreamt of competing for Team Wales. The Dragons back-rower has featured for Cross Keys RFC and Bedwas RFC. He is a Wales under-20 international. He made his debut for the Dragons in 2013 against Wasps at Rodney Parade. In December, he signed a new three-year contract with the
He went on to play 42 matches in his first campaign with Wales - only captain Luke Treharne, vice captain Sam Cross and Ben Roach played more in what was a tough season for Wales. He scored 11 tries throughout the season and also landed 26 conversions - the same as teammate Angus O’Brien - to finish inside the top 20 for goal-kickers.
Welsh region. He has already revealed that he has got his eye on selection for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Men’s Rugby 7s
188
Owen Jenkins Ynysybwl
Luke Morgan Bridgend
20/07/94
16/05/92
Wing
Wing
@lukeymogz
@orjenkins11 Cardiff Blues winger Owen Jenkins rejoined the sevens
The Bridgend winger is a firm fixture on the World Series circuit
programme for the 2015-16 World Series programme
and is closely marked by all teams as the Wales dangerman.
opener in Dubai as a forward.
He equalled the Wales record of 60 tries in the World Series in
He made his debut for the Blues in the 2013/14 season in a PRO12 draw with Benetton Treviso. His father Garin was a rugged hooker who represented Wales.
round eight of the 2015/16 season when scoring a brace against England in Singapore. He eventually snatched the record off Tal Selley in the penultimate round of the series in Paris when he scored against England on day three of the tournament.
He can remember being inspired to play for Wales after watching the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.
He returned to the 2016/17 World Series in round five in Las Vegas, where he raced over for five tries. The Olympics also came
His career has not been injury free. He has required ankle
calling in 2017. He was named in the GB squad alongside Luke
surgery which saw him lose confidence in his rugby: “It was
Treharne and Sam Cross. However, injury struck forcing Luke to
a struggle for me and I really didn’t look forward to training
cancel any Rio travel plans.
It took a couple of months to regain it, but after that low point I know how truly blessed I am to do this as a job and
He was seen as one to watch back in 2011/12 when he secured
always keep a positive outlook.”
more than 17 tries with his club, Bridgend. He also scored four tries in the Under 20 Six Nations championship in the same season.
Men’s Rugby 7s
189
Angus O’Brien Newport
Ben Roach Cardiff
17/09/94
30/01/94
Flanker
Fly half
@benroach25
@angusob
@ben_roach8
He was part of the Newport Gwent Dragons Under 18s set-
He is a former pupil of Llanishen High School which is
up and went on to earn seven caps for Wales Under 20s,
where he first plied his trade. He played for Cardiff Schools,
having previously played for Cross Keys RFC.
Llanishen RFC and Rhiwbina RFC before progressing through
He made his Dragons senior debut at the age of 19 in 2014, kicking four penalties in a 15-17 defeat. He was also part of the Dragons Sevens team that were crowned champions of the Premiership Sevens in 2015.
the Blues age grade system at Under 16 and Under 18 level. Today, he plays for Cardiff RFC as well as proving himself internationally with Wales Under 18s and Wales Sevens.
He first appeared for Wales on the international circuit in
He made his debut for Wales in Hong Kong in 2015 but had
Hong Kong in 2015.
to wait until the following season before playing in his second tournament due to injury.
Before committing to rugby, he was a former member of the Southampton FC academy.
Prior to the 2016/17 season, Roach become one of nine players to secure a core contract with Wales Sevens.
Men’s Rugby 7s
190
Adam Thomas* Ynysybwl
22/08/86
Forward
Justin Tipuric Neath
06/08/89
Back
@timmytant1
A relative latecomer to rugby, Adam played football until
The Ospreys openside flanker has represented Wales at every
Under 17 level. A product of Ynysybwl, Adam took over
age-grade level. He made 18 appearances for Wales Under 20s
the captaincy of the Wales Sevens midway through the
over two seasons, scoring eight tries, six of which were at the
2012/13 season.
2009 Junior World Championship in Japan.
He led Wales to the quarter-finals of the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Moscow in 2013 where they lost to eventual winners New Zealand. He suffered a broken jaw in the first leg of the 2013 series
His senior debut came against Argentina in August 2011 and he played in all five games of the Championship winning campaign of 2013. He is also a two-time British & Irish Lion after Tours to Australia in 2013 and New Zealand in 2017.
in Australia to rule him out of the next two legs in Dubai and South Africa.
He previously played for Aberavon RFC and has already enjoyed international duty with Wales Sevens.
He switched his attention to regional rugby in the 2014/15 season with Cardiff Blues but returned to Sevens in 2015 for the second leg of the World Series in Cape Town.
Men’s Rugby 7s
191
Luke Treharne Swansea
18/01/93
Fly half @LukeTreharne
Luke was part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games squad in Glasgow. In fact, he says his proudest moment is scoring his first try for Wales at the Games. The Swansea born fly-half graduated in Medicine last summer. He was eight when his father took him along to a minis touch rugby side at Llanelli Wanderers. He has been playing ever since. Luke has already won one world title in Sevens, having been a member of the Great Britain Students side which claimed glory in Brive at the World Students Games in 2012. He attended Coleg Sir Gar, a breeding ground for the Scarlets and played in the same age group side as George North. He was a travelling reserve for Team GB at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.
Men’s Rugby 7s
192
Morgan Williams* Caernarfon
Thomas Williams Swansea
28/12/95
Back
Originally from Gwynedd, the ex-Aberavon and Carmarthen
30/07/96
Wing
Tom is from Montgomery and he started off at Newtown RFC.
Quins full back made his debut on the World Series in round eight of the 2015/16 season, in Singapore. In the fourth round of the 2016/17 series in Sydney, he became the first Welsh player to score a hat-trick against Fiji since Rhys Jones achieved the accolade four years earlier. He says this is his proudest moment. He now plays for the Scarlets and he has also achieved Wales under 20s honours.
He impressed as part of the national age-grade set-up and was signed on a development contract by the Ospreys in 2014. He had joined the RGC Academy two years earlier. He is described as a versatile player who can play across the back line. He was schooled at Colwyn Bay independent school, Rydal Penrhos.
193
Women’s Rugby 7s Sinead Breeze
Hannah Jones
Gemma Rowland
Alisha Butchers
Jasmine Joyce
Elinor Snowsill*
Laurie Harries
Kayleigh Powell
Philippa Tuttiett
Sioned Harries*
Shona Powell-Hughes
Sian Williams*
* = Welsh speaker
Women’s Rugby 7s
194
Sinead Breeze Swansea 26/10/89 @sineadbreeze
While competing at the Commonwealth Games will fulfil a childhood dream, it will also be an emotional journey for rugby player Sinead Breeze. She was close to up and coming star Elli Norkett who tragically died in a car crash in February 2017: “When we were training together before her accident, she used to say she wanted to be my ‘roomie’ at the Commonwealths. I know El wanted to be on this journey to the Games with me and I want to make her proud by doing the best I can. I want to carry on the journey that we were once on together.” She is also inspired by first coach and Commonwealth Games veteran Richie Pugh as well as wife Michaela Breeze, who is of course well known to Team Wales. The weightlifter won gold at Melbourne 2006, silver at Delhi 2010 and bronze at Glasgow 2014. Sinead played junior international netball but was forced to step away from the court due to injury. Together with Michaela, Sinead owns and runs a business called Breeze’s Operation Transformation. They advise clients on training and nutrition. She also delivers Strength and Conditioning to Swansea University Women’s Rugby Team.
Women’s Rugby 7s
195
Alisha Butchers
Laurie Harries
Swansea
Church Village, Rhondda Cynon Taff
14/06/97
24/10/89
@Alishabutchers1
@lauz168
@alishabutchers
Flanker Alisha made her debut for Wales against Ireland at
Rugby may have started “as a bit of fun” for Laurie Harries but
the 2016 Six Nations as a second half replacement before
it is now taking her all the way to the Commonwealth Games
making the starting line-up the following week against
on the Gold Coast.
Scotland, scoring a try in the 23-10 victory. Her performance cemented her spot in the Wales Women Squad for the 2017 Six Nations tournament. Her rugby career began when her father Jason took her
The centre player is a firm fixture of the Wales sevens and she was nominated by the WRU in 2015 to join Team GB’s threemonth training programme in the preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
along to her first ever rugby session. Her favourite moment on the pitch to date came at the Women’s World Cup in
But her hopes of competing in Brazil were dashed when she
2017.
was ruled out of contention through injury. She is now firmly aiming to put the disappointment behind her as she heads down under with Wales.
Women’s Rugby 7s
196
Sioned Harries* Aberaeron 22/11/89 @SionedHarries
@sioniharries
Sioned believes that a major turning point in her career came when she was playing for the Llanelli District Under 14s. She was the only girl in the team yet she won Forward of the Year. She believes that this early recognition made her realise that she could climb to the top of her sport. But it all began back home in Aberaeron where her father, Ceri, set up and coached a local rugby team. Her brother was playing and it wasn’t long before young Sioned wanted to get in on the action too: “We played against Newcastle Emlyn one Sunday and their coaches invited me and my brother to train and play with them. I then played with them until I was no longer allowed to play among boys.” She won her first international cap against Australia as flanker at the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup. But in a later game, against Sweden, she was moved to the back row. She has played in two World Cups (2014 and 2017) and was in the running for Team GB’s women’s rugby sevens contingent at the 2016 Summer Olympics but missed out on a spot in the final squad. She plays for Whitland RFC and the Scarlets and she also works full time as a teacher. She is Head of Physical Education at Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera.
Women’s Rugby 7s
197
Hannah Jones
Jasmine Jones
Swansea
Pembrokeshire
14/11/96
09/10/95
@HannahJones_12
@joyce_jaz
@hannahj_12
He may be one of her biggest supporters but father Alan
The leading figure of the Wales women’s sevens will travel
was not always that keen on the idea of his daughter
to the Gold Coast with the experience of an Olympic Games
playing rugby:
under her belt. Jaz Joyce entered the history books in 2016
“When I was seven years old I would watch my friends play rugby on the weekend for Crynant RFC. I wanted to join in but my father was never keen on the idea of my playing rugby with boys. I nagged for weeks and he finally gave in. I then started playing with the boys at club, school, and district level.”
when she became the first Welsh rugby star to score an Olympics try. The winger was the only woman from Wales selected for the Rio Olympic Games, which she says is her proudest moment to date. She first stepped on the pitch at the age of seven when she went along with her brother to a local mixed club in St David’s.
She’s now headed for the Commonwealth Games. And
Jaz attributes much of her success to her parents: “There
preparations have been juggled with her degree studies in
have been a variety of people who have been helpful to me
sports therapy at Hartpury University.
throughout my rugby career, but the most helpful people have to be my parents, as there is no way I could have achieved what I have if it wasn’t for them. Before I could drive they used to take me everywhere including training and games. Whether it be one hour away or five hours, they would take me.”
Women’s Rugby 7s
198
Kayleigh Powell Cardiff 18/02/99 @KaayleighP
@kaayleighpowell
Kayleigh will be 19 when she arrives on the Gold Coast as a member of the Wales women’s sevens team. In fact, she was part of the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017 in the Bahamas where the sevens team claimed bronze. Last November, she was named in the team to compete at the Dubai International Invitation. She works as a WRU Rugby Development Apprentice and she plays her club rugby for the Ospreys and Pencoed Phoenix.
Women’s Rugby 7s
199
Shona Powell-Hughes Bridgend 08/07/91 @shonapowell08 Shona was just five when she started learning the tricks of the trade. Her father, Gary, was her first ever coach as he managed local side Tondu RFC. She plays number eight for Swansea RFC and the Ospreys. She won her first international cap against South Africa in the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup where she was the youngest member of the team. She is showing huge promise and was voted by Welsh players as the Young Player of the 2011 Six Nations tournament. In the same year, she was highlighted by captain Rachel Taylor in an interview for Rugby World magazine. Shona is a former Neath Athletic player where she played alongside Elli Norkett who tragically died in a car crash in February 2017. She says trying to overcome Elli’s death has been the greatest challenge of her career: “She was a unique and irreplaceable character that could light up any room she walked into with just her smile.” Shona is a teaching assistant and is passionate about encouraging young girls to play rugby.
Women’s Rugby 7s
200
Gemma Rowland Bristol 07/02/89 @rowgem Gemma is a British Army Officer serving in the Royal Artillery. She is also completing an MSc in Strength and Conditioning at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Amazingly, she also manages to squeeze in a flourishing rugby career, the highlight to date being her first ever World Cup in August 2017. Defeating Ireland in the final game of their campaign, Wales secured qualification to the 2021 World Cup. She started playing at school: “I attended a school where rugby was a big sport for the boys, and the girls decided they wanted to play too. So we persuaded a teacher to set up an after school club.” The centre player is inspired by those who have overcome adversity: “In the Army I meet a lot of people who have suffered loss of limbs, and a number of other severe injuries as a result of being on Operations, and it never fails to amaze me just how mentally strong they are, and how they still maintain a positive outlook on their life. I seem to learn a new lesson and find a new way of pushing myself after every encounter I have with those amazing human beings, most of whom have gone on to represent GB in the Invictus Games.” She plays for Wasps Ladies and the Dragons.
Women’s Rugby 7s
201
Elinor Snowsill* Ascot 27/06/89 @elsnowsill
@el.snowsill
The flyhalf made her international debut against Sweden in 2009. She took up the game in her late teens. She captained the Welsh Under 20s in 2009 and is also of course a regular on the Sevens circuit. She scored the only drop goal in the Women’s World Cup 2014, helping to secure victory over South Africa. She works as a coach for the charity, School of Hard Knocks, and she also runs a small business called Onest Food which involves delivering nutrition workshops as well as developing tailored food plans. Her love of rugby began when she started playing tough rugby at school before joining Cardiff Quins and Wales Under 19s. She currently plays for Bristol as well as invitational Sevens teams such as Ecosse, which gives her the opportunity to play alongside and learn from other international players.
Women’s Rugby 7s
202
Philippa Tuttiett
Sian Williams*
Cardiff
Flintshire
08/12/83
26/10/90
@philipatuttiett
@sianwilliams90
@philippatuttiett
@Sian.williams.376
She runs her own business, Female Builders and Interiors,
Sian made history in 2016 when she became Wales’ first full
which offers an all-female work force in South Wales. She
time professional female rugby player. The flanker – who was
also has a TV show with UKTV called DIY with Philippa
born in Wrexham – was awarded elite athlete status by the
and has starred in Channel 4’s The Renovation Game and
Royal Air Force to play rugby professionally.
Channel 5’s My New Home for 5K. She also coaches young entrepreneurs for the Welsh Government. She received her first international cap in 2006 and has played in seven Six Nations tournaments, European Championship and the 2014 World Cup. Her Sevens career with Wales started in 2007 and her aim is to be the highest capped Welsh woman Sevens player.
Her first trip to the rugby club was at the age of seven when she went along to Mold RFC with her twin brother. Her older brother is Welsh International Rugby League player Rhys Williams. She won her first international cap against Scotland at the 2011 Six Nations.
She also delivers motivational speeches and workshops. Her favourite sporting moment to date was captaining Wales in the 2016 European Championship.
Athletes listed alphabetically by sport Aquatics
Athletics
Jazz Carlin Xavier Castelli Georgia Davies* Kathryn Greenslade Aidan Heslop Calum Jarvis Daniel Jervis Ellena Jones Harriet Jones Alex Rosser Beth Sloan Alys Thomas Jack Thomas Chloe Tutton* Harriet West
Hollie Arnold Rowan Axe Olivia Breen Rebecca Chapman Melissa Courtney Andrew Davies* Bethan Davies Caryl Granville Dai Greene Ben Gregory Josh Griffiths* Jonathan Hopkins Caryl Jones* Morgan Jones Osian Jones* Rhys Jones Elinor Kirk* James Ledger Heather Lewis
Tom Marshall Curtis Mathews Jenny Nesbitt David Omoregie Carys Parry-Evans* Sally Peake Ieuan Thomas
Boxing Rosie Eccles Billy Edwards Lynsey Holdaway Kyran Jones Sammy Lee Mickey McDonagh Lauren Price
Cycling
Gymnastics
James Ball Elinor Barker Megan Barker Rhys Britton* Eleanor Coster Sam Harrison Joe Holt* Ciara Horne Rachel James Hayley Jones Dylan Kerfoot-Robson Pete Kibble Manon Lloyd* Peter Mitchell Jon Mould Lewis Oliva Jessica Roberts Dani Rowe Luke Rowe Ethan Vernon
Latalia Bevan Josh Cook Jac Davies* Benjamin Eyre Gemma Frizelle Laura Halford Abigail Hanford Holly Jones Iwan Mepham* Maisie Methuen Clinton Purnell Jolie Ruckley Emily Thomas*
203
* = Welsh speaker
Athletes listed by sport (contd.) Lawn Bowls
Shooting
Table Tennis
Anwen Butten* Laura Daniels Stephen Harris Jonathan Hubbard Byron John Raymond Lillycrop Gilbert Miles* Ross Owen Daniel Salmon Jess Sims Caroline Taylor Julie Thomas Jonathan Tomlinson Pauline Wilson Philip John Wilson Emma Woodcock Marc Wyatt
Craig Auden Mike Bamsey Sian Corish Jonathan Davis Coral Kennerley* Ben Llewellin Gareth Morris David Phelps Chris Watson Mike Wixey Sarah Wixey
Charlotte Carey Anna Hursey Joshua Stacey Chloe Thomas
Squash Peter Creed Tesni Evans Joel Makin
Triathlon Iestyn Harrett* Olivia Mathias Chris Silver Non Stanford*
Weighlifting & Powerlifting Seth Casidsid Gareth Evans Sean Gaffney Tayla Howe Laura Hughes* Catrin Jones* Holly Knowles* Harry Misangyi Joshua Parry Nerys Pearce Faye Pittman Hannah Powell Jordan Sakkas Nathan Stephens Rhodri West Christie Williams*
204
Wrestling Kane Charig Curtis Dodge
Deon Saffery
* = Welsh speaker
Team Sports: squad members Men’s Hockey
Women’s Hockey
Netball
James Carson Alf Dinnie Owain Dolan-Gray* Jacob Draper James Fortnam Benjamin Francis Gareth Furlong Jonathan Gooch Rhys Gowman* Luke Hawker Dale Hutchinson Hywel Jones Stephen Kelly David Kettle Daniel Kyriakides James Kyriakides Lewis Prosser Rupert Shipperley
Elizabeth Bingham Sophie Clayton Lisa Daley Tina Evans Sian French Isabelle Howell Xenna Hughes Ella Jackson Sarah Jones Danielle Jordan Eloise Laity Natasha Marke-Jones Phoebe Richards Delyth Thomas* Roseanne Thomas Joanne Westwood Julie Whiting Leah Wilkinson
Suzanne Drane Fern Davies Bethan Dyke Kyra Jones Nia Jones* Chelsea Lewis Sarah Llewelyn* Kelly Morgan Cara Lea Moseley Georgia Rowe Leila Thomas Amanda Varey
205
Men’s Rugby 7s
Women’s Rugby 7s
Hallam Amos James Benjamin Ethan Davies Owen Jenkins Luke Morgan Angus O’Brien Ben Roach Adam Thomas* Justin Tipuric Luke Treharne Morgan Williams* Thomas Williams
Sinead Breeze Alisha Butchers Laurie Harries Sioned Harries* Hannah Jones Jasmine Joyce Kayleigh Powell Shona Powell-Hughes Gemma Rowland Elinor Snowsill* Philippa Tuttiett Sian Williams
* = Welsh speaker
206
Contact For further information or to arrange interviews with Team Wales athletes and officials, please contact the communications team by email:
[email protected].
