THE second West Wales Disability Sport Festival took place at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre on Sunday and throughout an exciting day large crowds flocked to discover what is on offer in our area for disabled participants of all ages.

And the ethos was set from the official opening when inspirational speaker Mark Colbourne MBE told a packed central hall that it was ability that counted, not disability – and could clearly speak from the heart because Mark suffered a broken back from a paragliding accident, went through periods of doubt but fought back to win a coveted gold medal at the London Paralympics 2012 in the 3,000 metres individual cycling race, as well as two silver medals.

Mark spent the entire day chatting to delighted visitors and encouraging them to try all the sports on offer, signing autographs and posing for photographs, to the evident delight of those involved.

“Sport proved to be a saving grace in my life at a very difficult time,” Mark told us, “and there could be another possible Paralympian here today – or perhaps others who can simply start out in a new sport and have great fun, friendship and the chance to develop self-confidence.”

The first event last year was the idea of Peter O’Shea, director of Haverfordwest-based Snowdrop Independent Living, and this second festival again owed much to Peter and his staff, who were there encouraging people.

“I had the idea for the festival when I visited the Wheelchair Sports Spectacular which has been running in Cardiff for 14 years and thought this was a must for our county," said Peter.

"We have worked closely with Disability Sport Wales, Sport Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire Leisure and a host of local sporting organisations, and the number of people who have turned up today is hugely gratifying.”

As well as sports like target shooting, swimming, boccia, bowls, basketball, rugby, weightlifting and bowls there were new sports available to try, including new-age kurling (organised by the Tenderfoot Disability Group), football and rowing – and even the chance to try the magnificent new climbing wall at the leisure centre.

Also in attendance to support this exciting venture were Jon Morgan, the executive director of Disability Sport Wales, alongside Michelle Daltry (DSW partnership manager), who has worked closely with Sport Pembrokeshire in their becoming only the third authority in Wales to receive the ‘insport’ award.

Angela Miles, Disability Sport Development Officer for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “We are delighted to be working with Snowdrop Independent Living and having the opportunity to showcase the sports that are available in our county to children and adults with a disability.

"But we are also eager to encourage non-disabled people here in the hope that they can find a way to participate in these sports.”