Two local teams of disabled athletes once again competed in the Welsh Disabled Sports Team Championships held at the Cwmbran Stadium last Sunday and emulating their achievements of last year came away with the first place team award.
It was a mixture of emotions on the day as the team had lost one of their stalwart members, Martin Goodhall, of Haverfordwest, who had passed away suddenly two weeks previous and the teams dedicated their win to Martin who will be sorely missed by all concerned.
Team captain for the main Tenderfoot Team, Jonathan Hubbard (Kilgetty), set the standard for the day, attaining second place in the basketball with fellow competitors Dames Dash (Spittal) and Brian Quinlan (Narberth).
The team came first in three events: the table tennis, thanks to Tim Heaps (Llanddewi Velfrey) and James Dash; the boccia, thanks to John Richards and Angie Richards (both of Broad Haven) and Brian Quinlan - the team has won this five out of six years; and the curling, thanks to Simon and Kimberley Woolley (both of Kilgetty) and Marion Haymer (Broadmoor).
Second places also went to the second team in table tennis, with Lynsey McCarthy (Milford Haven) and Matthew Boyd (Haverfordwest); football shoot-out with Richard Young (Penally), Francis Corbett (Narberth) and Precilla Williams (Narberth); and shot putt with Darren Briggs (Milford Haven).
The second team, under the captaincy of Wayne Llewellyn (Llandissilio), came a creditable fourth, missing out on third place by only a few points, so close was the competition, with a good performance from newcomer Donna Emery (Narberth) in the boccia.
The Tenderfoot Team was formed in conjunction with the Rotary Clubs of Saundersfoot and Tenby, who undertook the training for this year's competition, ably assisted in the transport arrangements by the Rotary Clubs of Haverfordwest and Narberth and Whitland, with a strong contingent from the Saundersfoot, Tenby and Narberth and Whitland clubs travelling to Cwmbran to support the teams.
The Rotary Clubs can be justifiably proud of the fact that they are the only clubs in Wales to undertake training for the disabled.
Team managers, Rotarians Charles Hopkinson and Brian Waters, of the Rotary Club of Saundersfoot, could hardly contain their emotions, being extremely pleased with the dedication and strength shown by all team members, particularly following the loss of Martin Goodall, and congratulated them on their deserved placing, as the event attracted team entries from all over Wales.
Tenderfoot will recommence training at the Tenby Leisure Centre in September next year where new entrants would be encouraged to participate. Further information about Tenderfoot is available from Rotarian Charles Hopkinson on (01834) 813433.