Jonathan and Rhodri nominated for Conwy Sports Awards

Coleg Llandrillo student Jonathan Burgess and lecturer Rhodri Davies are among the nominees for this year’s Conwy Sports Awards.

The awards, which will be held in Llandudno this Friday (November 22), recognise talented sportspeople, clubs, coaches and volunteers throughout the county.

Jonathan, who is studying the BSc (Honours) Degree in Sport Science at the Rhos-on-Sea campus, has been nominated in the Coach of the Year category.

The 35-year-old is Community Development Officer for the North Wales Crusaders Foundation, and coaches rugby league sessions across North Wales.

Rhodri, programme leader for Level 3 Sport (Performance and Excellence) at Coleg Llandrillo, is shortlisted for the Special Achievement Award.

He has been nominated for his tireless work helping young people take advantage of training opportunities outside of college which help them gain employment in the sports industry.

Both Jonathan and Rhodri will be attending the awards ceremony at Venue Cymru this Friday.

Jonathan was nominated by the parent of a child he coaches at one of Crusaders’ community rugby league hubs.

He said: “I’m really pleased. I’ve never been one for personal honours - it’s not why I do it. I love seeing kids enjoying sport and I love rugby league. But it’s nice to be recognised for all the hard work.

“It’s nice that the parents are seeing the benefit, because it means I must be doing something right!”

Jonathan coaches children between the ages of seven and 15 across North Wales, as well as the women’s team and the Wales Students rugby league team.

He has received excellent feedback from parents and also rugby union clubs, adding: “It’s nice because a lot of those kids play union as well, and when they go back to their union teams the feedback is they’re seeing how much the players have developed.

“At the moment I deliver all the sessions across all counties in North Wales. My job this year is to make the hubs a bit more self-sufficient, mentoring coaches and recruiting volunteer coaches.”

Jonathan has coached rugby league for 13 years, having started when he set up Prestatyn Panthers in 2011. He has also coached union for RGC, Bangor University and Rhyl RFC, and has played for Llandudno Rugby Club.

“I’ve done 13 years of volunteering as a coach, more than 10,000 hours - managing two, three, four teams at a time because I’m so passionate about the game,” he said.

“Now I’m in a position where I’m getting paid for doing what I love, but it’s a tough project, because participation in rugby in either code is dropping, just because of how popular football is.”

Meanwhile, Rhodri was nominated for the Special Achievement Award by Tim Ballam, rural leisure officer for Ffit Conwy.

Tim said: “I have known Rhodri for more than 20 years, having been a student of his back in 2003, and have always stayed in touch with him over the years due to working within sports development for Conwy.

“Over the past five years we have been working together on coach education pathways. However, the reason I felt he should be nominated for the Special Achievement award was due to his additional commitment outside of his working role.

“He has helped develop external pathways to employment for his students, going above and beyond his day-to-day working role.

“You can see that Rhodri cares for the young people he works with. I myself am one of the people he has helped over the years.

“In the time we have worked together, Rhodri has set up countless courses outside of college to support his students, including pool lifeguard, football leaders, safeguarding and many entry-level coaching courses. These are the tools needed for a role within sport and leisure beyond college qualifications.

“As a result, many of his students past and present have been opened up to a world beyond Wales and the UK.

“A significant number of his students are now living in the States (some for over the past 15 years, with lifelong careers). As recently as last month I saw a response from three of his former students now pursuing careers in sport within America and Europe using the skills they acquired thanks to Rhodri, which include lifeguarding, skiing and football coaching to name just a few.”

Amy Thomson, Programme Area Manager for Sports and Public Services at Coleg Llandrillo, said: “I am incredibly proud of both Jonathan and Rhodri for their outstanding contributions to the sports community.

“Their nominations for the Conwy Sports Awards are a testament to their dedication and passion for developing not just talented athletes, but also future leaders in the sports industry.

“Jonathan’s tireless commitment to coaching across North Wales, and Rhodri’s unwavering support in creating real-world opportunities for his students, truly embody the values we strive to instil in all our learners.

“Both are exceptional role models, and their recognition is well-deserved. We are fortunate to have them as part of our college community, making a lasting impact on both local communities and the wider sports sector.”

The Conwy Sports Awards will be held at Venue Cymru in Llandudno this Friday, November 22. For more information click here.