Amy encourages sport
and leisure for all
Amy Leahy is quite rightly best known as a Welsh international in the 80 metres hurdles but she also does a great job in Ysgol Bro Gwaun as a Young Ambassador under the guidance of Dan Bellis – and relishes the challenge of encouraging non-participants in school sport to try a range of lunch-time and post-school activities.
Goodwick girl Amy helps to promote a wide range of clubs and although she admits that badminton and 'ping pong' are not her best sports she helps to run the clubs for both in her lunch times, as well as encouraging younger children to take part in activities from basketball to baseball – anything that they would like to give a try.
She had started out in the role when Dan Bellis, who is 5x60 officer in school, working for Sport Pembrokeshire from County Hal, asked her if she would consider using her sporting expertise in the role and she was so eager to be involved that she filled in the application form immediately and joined Becky Hayes, Ben Phillips and Sam Harries as Young Ambassadors.
The quartet took part in a day's course at Blue Stone where Jo Williams led the youngsters in becoming aware of how they could use the 'Olympic Legacy' to its fullest potential.
This was continued on the day that the Olympic Torch passed through Fishguard and the Young Ambassadors were cheered by a huge crowd as they ran through the High Street and were introduced by the announcer – and then helped young children try their hand at Athletics as one of the events on offer after the Torch had passed through.
“It was a great day,†said Amy, “and one that I will never forget.â€
Her connection with the Olympics was further continued when she was selected to run for Wales in the School Games in London and whilst staying outside the Olympic Village was one of the first to compete in the Olympic Stadium, where she came a creditable fourth and missed out on a bronze medal literally by inches.
“That's another moment I'll always remember,†she said, “and it was nice that the other Young Ambassadors were there to cheer me on.â€
Ask Amy about her other supporters and she is quick to nominate her parents Nicola and Anthony, who is also very much a Goodwick lad.
“They are great and so is my younger brother Ben, who plays football for Goodwick United. I would also like to thank Dan (Bellis), plus Nigel Rowland and Richard Thomas at the Pembrokeshire Harriers.â€
Amy and Nicola went to watch some of the athletics in the Olympic Games and they were thrilled to watch Usain Bolt run in the sprint heats as well as seeing US star Aries Merrett win the high hurdles. What an inspiration for an athlete like Amy, just starting out in her career!
She has been involved with the Harriers for a number of years and has already twice represented Wales in the Home Internationals – and says that she still enjoys the three-times-a-week training sessions. Amy is currently ranked first in Wales for her age group, with a personal best time of 11.9 seconds.
She also played netball in the centre for the county and West Wales at one stage but it clashed with her athletics training and so she had to step down.
But she is determined to spend as much time as she can with the Young Ambassador Scheme because she realises how important it is to encourage reluctant youngsters to find satisfaction and great fun in sport and leisure activities. We are confident that Amy Leahy will be very persuasive and encouraging, and we wish her continued success in the scheme – and in her hurdling!