Pembrokeshire's youngsters have scored major sporting success across the playing fields this summer. The Pembrokeshire Girls U14 Football team has won the prestigious Ian Rush International Football Tournament in Aberystwyth, while the Pembrokeshire Boys U15 Cricket team is through to the final of the Wales Inter Region competition. The final, against North East Wales, will be played at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on August 18. Of particular note is the achievement of 15-year-old Steven Inward, of Llangwm, who has been selected for the England U17 team. Meanwhile, the newly-formed Chevron Pembrokeshire Tennis League is going from strength to strength. With youngsters in six clubs - four of which are newly formed - playing competitive league tennis, the county is now the fastest growing area of tennis development in the country according to Tennis Wales. As a result, this summer has seen the largest ever entry for the County Junior Tournament due to be held at Haverfordwest Tennis Club later this month. Clr. Rob Lewis, cabinet member responsible for sport praised the youngsters and their coaches for their hard-work and effort. "According to recent Sports Council for Wales Sports Participation Surveys, Pembrokeshire's participation rates are, in all junior age groups, amongst the highest in Wales - in particular the county has the highest level of junior participation in club based sport," he said. "These improving participation rates underpin the performances of our teams - the more that play the more standards of play rise too." John Deason, manger of Sport Pembrokeshire - the sports development arm of Pembrokeshire County Council - said the success was underpinned by the partnerships between Sport Pembrokeshire and local sports coaches associations, which had delivered coaching programmes throughout the year.
