Sport
Which of our sporting heroes from South East Wales are most deserving of a tribute? Select your favourite or use this form to nominate another.
The face of sport on BBC Wales for twenty years |
European Masters winning golfer |
Record breaking 110m hurdler |
Our most successful wheelchair athlete |
Former undefeated British heavyweight boxing champion |
Olympic and Commonwealth swimming medallist |
Gold winning paralympic swimmer |
Most capped Welsh rugby star |
Spiky haired, silver booted rugby hero |
Boxing legend dubbed the Mighty Atom |
Wales's greatest ever boxer? |
Footballing legend and manager of Wales |
Boxing champion who met a tragic end |
One of the world's top badminton players |
Long jumper who won Olympic gold |
World championship winning snooker star |
Grand Slam winning rugby coach |
Record-breaking Welsh rugby superstar |
Young world-beating cyclist |
Record-breaking super striker |
Our most successful modern footballer |
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Bradford and Wales rugby league legend |
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Who are your sporting heroes from South East Wales? What do you think of those already chosen? Have Your Say and we'll publish your contributions.
John Dawes - rugby international and coach from Abercarn
"Wales's greatest unsung rugby hero. He HAS to be included, as captain of London Welsh, of Wales and of the British Lions. His subsequent record of results as the coach of Wales is one of the best, but his proposals for the development of rugby in Wales weren't implemented because he was ahead of everyone else."
Geoff Riggs, Chepstow
Christian Malcolm - athlete from Newport
"A brilliant runner, comes from Newport, we should all be proud of him!"
Sally, Newport
Joe Erskine - boxer from Butetown, Cardiff
"A master boxer who, as Muhammed Ali once remarked, would have been a world champion had he had a punch."
Chris Miller, Deptford, London
Ian Barker - Olympic sailer from Penarth
"Ian won a Silver Medal sailing a 49er dinghy in Sydney 2000, only Welsh medal winner and now coach to the present 49er who hopefully will get a Gold medal in 2008."
Roy and Marjorie Barker (proud parents)
Dai Dower, boxer from Abercynon
"Born in 1933, he had 37 fights - won 34, lost 3, no draws. He was British, Empire & European flyweight champion. My grandfather grew up with Dai and our family owned a shop in Abercynon. I search the net to find as much as I can, but am surprised how there is very little known of Dai Dower. In my eyes he was a champion."
Peter Harding, Birmingham
David Evans - squash player from Pontypool
"The only Welsh player to win the British Open. Reached number 3 in the world, higher than any other Welsh squash player/ Won the Welsh Open and closed championships more than any other player. Represented Wales more times than any other player including three Commonwealth Games and, although no longer on the international circuit, is still playing squash as an international for Wales."
A Powell, Pontypool
Ray Price - rugby league player from Pontypool
"A true legend in rugby league - British Lion, Wigan, St Helens etc, feared by the Aussies but also respected by them. Not many can have that accolade, and a nice man."
David Williams, Newport
John Roberts - Arsenal and Wales centre-half from Abercynon
"A true gentleman and a great footballer."
Chris Davies, Ynysboeth
Susan Cashman - gymnast and athlete from Newport
"She was one of the fastest sprinters and hurdlers in Welsh schools and represented her county in the 1980s. She was also a Welsh international gymnast who represented her country several times. She inspired us that you can go far if you try - she helped us in school. One of the best gymnasts and athletes Newport has ever had."
Pupils at Bettws High School, Newport
Howard Winstone - boxer from Merthyr
"The greatest boxer ever to come out of Wales."
Vince, Llanfair PG
"Howard won gold at the 1958 Commonwealth Games, held the world featherweight title and was in the world's top ten featherweights for about 6 years. True class - and that is high praise coming from an Irish boxing fan."
Terry McIlroy, Co Antrim
Mo Nazir - boxer from Newport
"He's only 17 or 18 but he's gonna be really successful in a few years time. He'll be competing at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and Olympics in the future I'm sure."
Mark, Newport
Glenn George - rugby player from Newport
"Wales rugby number seven legend. Sill coaching at the Fleur. He may look grizzly, but that's becuase he is. Played for Wales in Jason Leonard's first capped match. Still bruising!!!"
Paul Muller, Fleur-de-lys
Ted Peterson - baseball star from Cardiff - "My Grampy deserves a tribute. He passed away of a long illness - Parkinsons - in December 2005. He was a kind a considerate man who I'm proud to have had as grampy. His dedication to baseball was amazing - he helped a lot of young boys. He will be sadly missed by everyone especially his big family. Good night, god bless Gramps." - Kate, Cardiff"Well done Kate - your tribute to your grampy was well deserved. Both Ted and Paddy Hennessey were giants of the game both as a players and administrators of a much underated sport by idiots who dismiss it as 'rounders'. Anybody who had to face the bowling of Ted Peterson or the Paddy Hennessey will immediately acknowledge how fast and skilful they were bowling at speeds inexcess of 90mph." - Paul Evans, Cardiff
Jimmy Wilde (The Mighty Atom) - boxer from Quakers Yard - "Probably the best boxer turned out by the UK. He was World Flyweight Champion but also fought at several weights higher than his own. He unfortunately died after being assaulted by a gang of youths on Cardiff railway station." - Keith Homden, Alicante, Spain More about Jimmy Wilde on the Welsh Warriors website
Dai Dower - boxer from Abercynon - "Probably one of the best boxers from Wales- lost to Pascual Perez in a world flyweight championship fight in 1957." - Keith Homden, Alicante, Spain
Ewart Tamplin - rugby international from Risca - "Played for Wales and Cardiff in the 1950s, kicked a goal against the All Blacks from his own 25 line. I met him when I was a Police Cadet in Pontypool and he was one of my sergeants. He showed me a gold cigarette
case presented by the All Blacks engraved to the greatest footballer of all time." - Keith Homden, Alicante, Spain
Barry Jones - boxer from Cardiff - "Barry was WBO world champion, who never lost his title in the ring. If it wasn't for a brian scan scare, he surely would have the respect he deserves. Remember he only ever lost 1 fight to Acelino Frietas" - Mark James, Cardiff
Philip Price - golfer from Newport - "Ryder Cup winner. Need I say any more!" - Chris Boulton, Blackwood
Bradley Dredge - Tredegar-born golfer, now resident of Blackwood - "Bradley started golf playing at Bargoed Golf Club then went on to Brynmeadows. Over the last few years he has been getting more successful. This year he has got an invite to the Seve trophy." - Chris Boulton, Blackwood
Garin Jenkins - rugby star from Ynysybwl - "Most capped Welsh hooker of all time. Always wore his heart on his sleeve and would die for Wales." - Don Garland, Cardiff
Billy Boston - rugby league star from Cardiff - "The first person from Tiger Bay to play at Wembley, in a Wigan team that was one of the best rugby league teams ever." - Terry Dipple, Cincinnati, USA
John Dawes - rugby union international and coach from Pengam - "A very under-rated intelligent captain." - Terry Dipple, Cincinnati, USA
David Broome - showjumper from Crick, Monmouthshire - "Always a great competitor. It did not matter if he was riding in the Olympics, or at the Bargoed Horse Show." - Terry Dipple, Cincinnati, USA
Neale Doughty, jockey from Kenfig Hill - "He rode Hello Dandy to win the Grand National in 1984." - Stephen Townsend, Newcastle
Alun Pask, Welsh rugby international and captain from Blackwood - "One of Wales' greatest number 8's who played for the Lions. He sadly passed away in 1995 due to a house fire." - Chris Boulton, Blackwood
Leighton Rees and Ritchie Burnett - darts champions from Ynysybwl and Cwmparc - "They've both won the World Championships at Lakeside and deserve a mention in the Hall of Fame. Well done lads." - Thomas James, Barry
Bradley Pryce, Welsh Welterweight Boxing champion from Cwmcarn - "Bradley has a lot going for him in the boxing world especially after his win over the Russian Sergey Stepkin on Saturday 12th December 2004 in London. He is back on the boxing radar. He is stronger and fitter than he's ever been and with his performance at its peak in my opinion. We definitely have a future world champion in the not too distant future. He's a great person and a good friend to have ...all the best Bradley." - Martyn Chappell, Swffryd, Newport
Joe Erskine - British Heavyweight & Empire boxing champion from Cardiff - "He fought Henry Cooper five times, winning twice. Also fought and beat one of the most skillful heavyweights of his era - Willie Pastrano, who later went on to win the World Light heavyweight title. He also fought and beat Newport's own Dick Richardson in defence of the British and Empire titles. He was a lovely man - a gentleman and a friend." - Bob Bassett, Newport
David Watkins - rugby star from Newport - "This man played rugby for Newport, Wales, Lions and Barbarians. He also captained the same teams before he went 'north'. He played for Salford and Great Britain he also captained both teams. This man did everything in both codes." - Garth Lewis, Plantation
Ray Prosser - Pontypool rugby coach in the 1970s - "I and many of the supporters from Pontypool and beyond walked with our heads held high thanks to the achievements of Ray's boys. I often see Ray, now showing signs of his old age, as he walks across town and every time I see him, I see the ghostly figures of the famous front row, ambling along beside him supporting him in his retirement." - Morgan, Varteg
Robert Sercombe - Athlete for Newport Harriers AC - "In the 1970s he represented Wales and Great Britain in the marathon. Robert's times for the marathon still have him ranked in the Welsh A.T. top 20 today. Unfortunately a serious injury now prevents him from taking part in his favourite sport." - Steve Leach, Newport
Stevie Lyle - Ice hockey player from Cardiff - "Stevie first stormed in to the Cardiff Devils team in a European competition at the age of 14. He even had spells with NHL 'farm' clubs, before returning to his home club to help them win the first ice hockey Superleague title and a play off championship. Lyle has also represented the UK in many competitions. Stevie is now entering his ninth professional season with the Guildford Flames" - Megan, Cardiff
Col Sir Harry Llewellyn - Olympic gold-winning showjumper from Aberdare - "My personal boyhood hero who led the British equestrian team with his famous horse Foxhunter - he was an Olympian back when it was truly an event for amateurs" - Dave Robinson, Ridgeville, South Carolina, USA Foxhunter - Sir Harry's champion horse - "Winner of 78 international competitions, including Olympic gold at the 1952 Helsinki Games, the King George V Gold Cup in 1948, 1950 & 1953, The Prince of Wales Cup five times between 1949-53. And the Aga Khan Cup outright in Dublin, 1950, 1951 & 1953, to name but a few of his accolades. Foxhunter died in 1959 at the age of 19 and was burried atop Mount Blorenge." - Glynn Jones, Burnley
Robbie Regan - boxer from Blackwood - "He was Welsh, British and European flyweight Champion winning a Lonsdale belt outright. He was also two times world champion at two different weights. He was called the Golden Boy of Wales, has held more titles than Joe Calzaghe and was technically the best boxer Wales has seen since Howard Winstone." - Colin Turley from Blackwood
Matthew Pritchard - skateboarder/TV star from Cardiff - "He is a top quality 'boarder and he deserves recognition. PS He's also REALLY cute!" - Sam from Manchester |
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