Two sporting hopefuls from Coleg Gwent’s Usk Campus have secured their chance to represent Wales at the British Colleges Sport (BCS) Championships which will take place in April 2012.
The successful duo recently took part in the Welsh Championships which saw teams and individuals from 17 other Further Education colleges across Wales compete in sports including swimming, cross-country, football, rugby and netball.
Naaman Morris and Rory Pardoe, students on fitness instructor courses at Coleg Gwent’s Usk Campus, both enjoyed success at the Welsh Championships.
Naaman Morris, 18, gained third place in his cross country running event which secured him a place in the BCS Championships and a chance to represent his country.
Speaking about competing in the Welsh Championships, he said: “I got to know lots of the people involved during my training, so it was very competitive and fun atmosphere.”
Naaman’s determination and intensive training in cross country running paid off for the competition: “I usually run from 60 to 70 miles a week, and then train with my personal coach in Cardiff twice a week, so I end up running from 7 to 10 miles every day,” he said.
This commitment will certainly be useful in future, as Naaman hopes to go on to also represent Great Britain in the Welsh Indoor Championships during January in Cardiff.
Another great success in the Welsh Championships was Rory Pardoe, 19, who beat the competition to finish top in his swimming event. He said: “I’m really happy to have qualified for the British Championships, especially with a strong performance which won me first place.”
Juggling a busy schedule of training, Rory attends Usk Campus twice a week to study, speaking about his course he said: “Studying gives me a trainer’s perspective on all aspects of fitness, so I get a great overview as both a competitor and instructor.”
Like Naaman, Rory’s not afraid to put in the hard work and has high hopes for the future: “I swim 10 times a week, so I have to get up really early to train,” he said.
“It’s hard work but ultimately I am aiming to reach a professional level in swimming, so I’m working hard towards my goal.”
In February 2012, Coleg Gwent’s Crosskeys Campus will host The Welsh Colleges Championship trampolining competition where students will battle it out for a place before the British Championships in April 2012.
