Geraint Williams doubles up as the very active chairman of the Haverfordwest Skate Park Association and Hon Treasurer of Fort Archers in Fishguard – and to both roles he gives a great deal of time and effort .
Geraint has been shooting a recurve bow with the Fort Archers for a decade and says that he was made so welcome when he went along to find out about taking part that he wouldn’t have missed his involvement for the world. It is a formula that he has also helped establish at the splendid new skate park near the Picton Centre in Haverfordwest because some of the youngsters have taken on the role of ‘skate mate’ or ‘bike mate’ with the idea of making welcome any newcomers and using their experience to help others who are just starting out.
From clay pigeons to static targets
He took up archery after previously being involved in clay pigeon shooting with Young Farmers and also being involved in pistol shooting but then came the restrictions with firearms after Dunblane and Geraint decided to look for another outlet for his shooting skills. He discovered that there was an open day with Fort Archers in Fishguard Leisure Centre and just turned up – and was immediately taken up with the new sport.
“Fort Archers supply the equipment to start out and at first I used a bare bow, which most archers set out with, but after six months I tried the recurve bow used in the Olympic Games and still have the same Hoyt bow as I bought then.”
Success with his arrows
At present the club meets in the sports hall at Fishguard Leisure Centre from October to March and then enjoy the next six months out in their field at Scleddau, where they shoot distances of up to 100 yards.
Geraint has been Hon Treasurer for the past six years and also enjoys taking part in competitions, without worrying too much about the importance of winning.
But he did come runner up in one Dyfed Competition and won a Welsh HEREFORD shoot at Llantarnam with a big score of 888 points.
“We had to shoot six dozen (72) arrows at 80 metres,” Geraint told us, “plus four dozen (48) at 60 metres and another two dozen (24) at 50 metres. It was a long, physical day but it was nice to do well.”
Accidental start to skate park interest
His involvement with the Skate Park came about almost by accident after he was one of a number of parents who received a letter from the police to a community meeting because his son Ashley (then 15) had been riding his jump bike around Haverfordwest. At the meeting it was made clear that Williams junior and his pals had done nothing wrong but the suggestion of a skate park was forthcoming as a means of giving them an appropriate venue.
“Alison Turner and Andy Rees were two of the other parents, with Alison taking on the role of Hon Secretary and doing a splendid job with the Big Lottery grant.
“I became vice-chairman and then chairman as we set out to raise £50,000 alongside promised match funding by the County Council, which sadly came to nought in the final analysis.
“We also had the boost of £22,000 donated by a group of skateboard enthusiasts in Narberth who had been unable to get a park up and running in their town. We had to form a registered company and become a registered charity as well as overcoming other hurdles,” Geraint told us.
“Although we were hit by the withdrawal of the promised cash from the council we were on the way as the Haverfordwest Skate Park Association after persuading the Big Lottery Fund to make up the extra cash.
Brilliant unofficial opening and a great start
“The building work started on the 1st July 2013 and when we had our small, unofficial opening on the 14th December we were amazed, and delighted by the huge turn-out. It has been used superbly ever since, especially in the dark evenings when the floodlights kick in, and the CCTV cameras are fantastic for making sure nothing untoward goes on there.”
Geraint turns up at the skate park three or four times a week to keep a weather eye on things and is looking forward to the official opening on the 17th May, when there will be pro skateboarders and bikers to show their skills, with bands playing in the evening and lots of other attractions that will fit in nicely at the skate park. Geraint is hoping that Ashley might take a look before then because he is 23 now and drives a car round Haverfordwest instead of his bike!
Fishing interest too
Outside of his involvement in the skate park and archery, Geraint has been a keen angler in his time but finds it hard to fit in with them and his work.
“I did catch a 5lb sewin on the Cleddau but I’m still waiting for my first salmon. I’ve also had a few mishaps, like the time I was fishing with friends on a boat underneath the Cleddau Bridge and my hands were so slippery that when I cast the rod out it flew into the water and was soon swept away.
“I have never been allowed to forget that loss by my fishing pals,” admits Geraint with a chuckle!
And finally . . .
Going back to archery for a moment it is good to report that Geraint not only shoots and looks after the club’s cash but is, alongside Sian and Alan Richardson, a qualified coach. All three attended four weekend sessions with a top coach and now enjoy helping pass on their knowledge to others.
Stop Press: Geraint recently received an award from Pavs during National Volunteer Week. His certificate was a ‘Highly Commended Trustee Award to recognise the outstanding contribution made to the community through volunteering’.
It typifies the commitment that Geraint Williams shows to his sporting interests and we at ‘Pembrokeshire Sport’ can safely say that skate boarding and archery are lucky to have his involvement as they go from strength to strength in Haverfordwest and Fishguard!
