South Wales Cricket Coaches Gain Awards

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Mark Todd, junior coordinator at Clydach Cricket Club has been named Wales coach of the year, while Rick Walton, the Cricket Wales community cricket coach for Pembrokeshire, received the Outstanding Contribution to Coaching award, both from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The awards were presented at the SSE Swalec (formerly Swalec Stadium, Sophia Gardens), Cardiff by former England international, Hugh Morris, chief executive of Glamorgan County Cricket Club.

Mark started coaching in 2011 with the U12s in Clydach CC and progressed to junior coordinator in 2013.

“Each season I have looked to make improvements to the junior section of the club,” he said. “I think the structure needs to be correct to progress, and have I been working on it for about 12 months and hope to complete it at the beginning of next season.

“By putting in place documents such as coaching plans and conditioning guides,  we are hoping to compete to be one of the best Junior sections in Wales in two years’ time.

“I am a level 2 qualified coach and would like to progress to level 3 at some point, but I spend little time coaching technique and prefer giving players opportunities through games, drills and scenario practice.

“In 2013 my U14s team won the John Davies cup(SWJCA) for the first time in 36 years; in 2014 they won the Welsh Cup and DC Thomas cup (SWJCA) at U15s, both for the first time in the club’s long history.

“This would not have been possible if I did not have help from Jon Price who assists me with the coaching, and also the club members and especially secretary Nigel Garland who gives us lots of support.

“Clydach Cricket Club is a truly community-based club, which cares about all its members and especially players. I think we are creating something special and I am pleased to play a part in it.”



                                      Mark Todd with Hugh Morris

       

                                             Rick Walton with Hugh Morris

Rick commented: “I've never sought or expected any reward but I am very happy to be recognised. I guess it’s for my 'good energy' and enthusiasm, which I imagine people must feel has made some small difference.

“When I started volunteering at Haverfordwest CC eight or nine years ago  never thought I'd end up working part-time for Cricket Wales never mind being an 'honoured guest' at a Test Match. 

“I know and I feel powerfully that a few kind words and 'some of my daft cricket games' can light up a young life or two.  I've worked hard at getting better at choosing the right word - or the right question - to bring the brilliance of the game that bit closer.”

Rick also writes on cricket with insight and no little humour on cricketmanwales.com having being nicknamed “Cricket Man” by hundreds of Pembrokeshire schoolchildren.

Cricket Wales Chief Executive Peter Hybart said: “Our sport depends on the drive, enthusiasm and talent of people such as Mark and Rick, inspiring and developing young players in clubs and the wider community. I’m delighted that they have been recognised with these prestigious awards.”

                                 Gwobrwyo hyfforddwyr criced De Cymru

Mae dau hyfforddwr criced o Dde Orllewin Cymru wedi cael cydnabyddiaeth am eu cyfraniad i’r gêm.

Cafodd Mark Todd, cydgysylltydd adran iau Clwb Criced Clydach ei enwi fel hyfforddwr Cymreig y flwyddyn, a derbyniodd hyfforddwr criced cymunedol Criced Cymru yn Sir Benfro, Rick Walton, y wobr am Gyfraniad Aruthrol i Hyfforddiant, ill dau gan Fwrdd Criced Cymru a Lloegr (ECB).

Cyflwynwyd y gwobrau yn SSE Swalec (Stadiwm Swalec gynt, Gerddi Sophia) yng Nghaerdydd gan gyn-chwaraewr rhyngwladol Lloegr, Hugh Morris, prif weithredwr Glwb Criced Sir Forgannwg.

Dechreuodd Mark hyfforddi yn 2011 gyda thimau D12 Clwb Criced Clydach, gan fynd ymlaen i ddod yn gydgysylltydd yr adran iau yn 2013.

“Bob tymor rwyf wedi ceisio gwneud gwelliannau i adran iau’r clwb,” meddai.

“Rwy’n teimlo bod angen i’r strwythur fod yn gywir er mwyn gwneud cynnydd, ac rwyf wedi bod yn gweithio arno ers tua 12 mis, gan obeithio ei gwblhau erbyn dechrau’r tymor nesaf.

“Trwy greu dogfennau megis cynlluniau hyfforddi a chanllawiau cyflyru, rydym yn gobeithio cystadlu i fod yn un o’r adrannau iau gorau yng Nghymru mewn dwy flynedd.

“Rwy’n hyfforddwr lefel 2 cymwysedig ac mi hoffwn i symud ymlaen i lefel 3 rhywbryd, ond ychydig iawn o amser dwi’n ei dreulio’n hyfforddi techneg ac mae’n well gen i roi cyfleoedd i chwaraewyr drwy gemau, driliau a senarios ymarfer.

“Yn 2013 enillodd fy nhîm D14 gwpan John Davies (SWJCA) am y tro cyntaf mewn 36 mlynedd.  Yn 2014 enillon nhw Gwpan Cymru a chwpan DC Thomas (SWJCA) i dimau D15, ill dau am y tro cyntaf yn hanes hir y clwb.

“Ni fyddai hyn wedi bod yn bosib heb gymorth Jon Price, sy’n fy helpu gyda’r hyfforddi, yn ogystal ag aelodau’r clwb, ac yn enwedig yr ysgrifennydd Nigel Garland, sy’n rhoi llawer o gefnogaeth inni.

“Mae Clwb Criced Clydach yn glwb cymunedol go iawn, sy’n gofalu am ei holl aelodau, ac yn enwedig y chwaraewyr.  Rwy’n teimlo ein bod wrthi’n creu rhywbeth arbennig ac rwy’n falch iawn o allu chwarae fy rhan.”


                                                                               * * * * * *

Meddai Rick: “Dydw i erioed wedi gobeithio am, na disgwyl unrhyw wobr, ond dwi’n hapus iawn i gael cydnabyddiaeth. 

Rwy’n tybio ei fod am fy ‘egni cadarnhaol’ a’m brwdfrydedd, sydd wedi gwneud rhyw wahaniaeth bach ym marn rhai pobl, faswn i’n dychmygu.

“Pan ddechreuais i wirfoddoli yng Nghlwb Criced Hwlffordd wyth neu naw mlynedd yn ôl, feddyliais i erioed y bydden i’n gweithio’n rhan amser i Criced Cymru yn y pen draw, heb sôn am fod yn ‘westai anrhydeddus’ mewn Gêm Brawf.

“Rwy’n gwybod ac yn teimlo’n gryf y gall ychydig o eiriau caredig a ‘rhai o fy ngemau criced gwirion’ oleuo un neu ddau o fywydau ifanc.  Rwyf wedi gweithio’n galed er mwyn gwella fy ngallu i ddewis y gair iawn - neu’r cwestiwn iawn - i ddod â gwychder y gêm ychydig yn agosach.”

Mae Rick hefyd yn ysgrifennu am griced mewn ffordd graff a llawn hiwmor ar cricketmanwales.com, ar ôl cael y llysenw “Cricket Man” gan gannoedd o blant ysgol Sir Benfro.

Meddai prif weithredwr Criced Cymru, Peter Hybart:  “Mae ein gêm yn dibynnu ar egni, brwdfrydedd a thalent pobl fel Mark a Rick, sy’n ysbrydoli ac yn datblygu chwaraewyr ifanc o fewn y clybiau a’r gymuned ehangach.  Rwy’n hynod falch eu bod wedi’u cydnabod gyda’r gwobrau clodfawr hyn.”
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