SPORTS REVIEW OF 2010
MOTOR RACING
IN May Corwen’s Hywel Lloyd gained his first points of the season in the Cooper Tires British F3 Series.
He finished fifth in a race at Magny Cours in France.
Lloyd followed this up a month later with a ninth place finish in the Masters event at the legendary Vandvoort circuit.
Later in the summer, Lloyd claimed the driver of the weekend award when the F3 series reached Spa-Francorchamps, as he finished ninth in the first race and then eighth in another race.
In September, Hywel enjoyed an astonishing achievement as he piloted a V-12 750-horsepower car to 12th place in both races at Adria, near Venice in the Superleague Formula series.
Meanwhile, Ruthin rally ace Hugh Hunter just failed in his quest to win the Cambrian Rally for a third time, as he finished 85 seconds adrift of winner Steve Perez.
It proved to be a successful season for Pentrecelyn’s Tim Dilworth, who romped away with the prestigious 2010 Britpart MSA British Cross Country Championship.
Former F1 world champion Jenson Button will present Tim with his award in London in February.
Elsewhere, Ruthin karting ace John Pike was celebrating success in the NKF Senior Rotax Championship.
Racing as far away as Glasgow and the Lake District, the 2009 NKF Junior Rotax champion sealed the championship in Lincolnshire in September.
SWIMMING
RUTHIN’S Cernyw Evans struck freestyle gold in the pool at an open meet in Swansea against the best young swimmers from Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland.
The Cooper sisters of Denbigh won six medals between them at the Urdd swimming finals in Cardiff.
Leah (15) won gold in the 100m freestyle, 13-year-old Anna claimed two relay goals and silver in the 100m freestyle, and Madlen (8) was the winner of two silver medals.
A mistress of the pool in the spring was Jane Giles.
At the Welsh Open Masters event she won gold in the 50m and 100m breastroke in the 45-49 age category.
Both of her winning times were new Welsh records.
Denbigh’s Emily Noden made a splash when she was picked to compete for Great Britain in the European Deaf Swimming Championships.
Later in the year, a trio from Denbigh picked up awards at the Swim Wales recognition awards in Swansea.
Andrew Roberts was named as the volunteer coach of the year, Bethan Roberts was female disability swimmer of the year and Emily Noden was the junior female disability swimmer of the year.
ATHLETICS
Griff Owens was declared the M60 winner in the 10-mile section in the UK rankings after clocking 60.47 in Sale.
The Rhug Organics North Wales Cross Country Championships were held in Corwen.
Prestatyn RC’s senior men’s team won gold and the Denbigh Harriers’ ladies’ team also became North Wales champions.
In March, Cynwyd’s William Pooler became the Welsh U-17 indoor combined champion.
The Wrexham AC member achieved: 60 metres, 7.89s; long jump, 5.41m; shot, 9.70m; high jump, 1.59m; 60m hurdles, 9.85s; pole vault, 2.31m; 1000m, 3.10:81.
In March, Gwyddelwern’s Glenda Davies was named as Prestatyn RC’s member of the year
There was more success further afield when Gareth Hughes was chosen as the Welsh Athletics off-track official of the year in the autumn.
HORSE RACING
VALE of Clwyd racing syndicate Rasio Cymru enjoyed more success over the summer.
The syndicate’s latest horse - Tro Nesa - won on her debut at odds of 40/1 at Carlisle.
KICKBOXING
RUTHIN’s Marc Evans won the North West welterweight Thai boxing championship with a win over Rob Houghton.
TAEKWONDO
DENBIGHSHIRE born Jade Jones, who trains with Ruthin-based Matrix Taekwondo, claimed a gold medal at the Youth Olympics in Singapore.
ROWING
LLANELIDAN’S Fiennes Davey was a member of the coxed fours Welsh team that won gold at the home international regatta.
FISHING
Ilan Jones was the first member of Bala Fishing Club to gain a place in the Welsh U-18 youth team.
SAILING
BALA Sailing Club’s Phil Smith was presented with the RYA community award for lifetime commitment by the Princess Royal at the Royal Yachting Association’s annual awards.