Author Manon Steffan Ros helped present certificates and prizes to Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn pupils at the school’s prize giving ceremony.

Homework Club certificates and tokens were presented to Sion Evans, Charlie Rowlands, Elle Smith and Beth Pugh.

Awards were presented to the Young Musicians of the Year, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tywyn, in three categories. The winner of the Novice Category was Max Andrews (Ysgol Dyffryn Dulas, Corris), the winner of the Foundation Category was Heledd Owen and Archie Davies won the Higher category.

There were special awards for pupils who had demonstrated outstanding achievement or special contribution in extra-curricular activities which included Enlli Pugh, horse jumping for Wales under-13s; and Jamie Cartwright, assisting with the primary school’s Dragon Sports club after school, for the third year running.

Sporting achievements were also recognised and rewarded, including the Wales under-15s national hockey champions team – Ethan O’Meara, Aaron Roberts, Sam Kelsey, Daniel Rowe, Jacob Furneaux and Bedwyr Davies – and Wil Pugh, Patrick Dunn, Dafydd Jones and John Bennett, who have also been capped for playing for the Wales under-16s team. Other hockey successes included Erin Freeman and Jasmine Gressler playing for Wales under-13s, and Holly Edwards playing for Wales under-16s.

Pupils also excelled in other sports: Morgan Yorke at golf and cricket; Isaac Aldred at football (Aberystwyth’s under-13s coaches’ player of the year; Sam Kelsey (Newtown Men’s hockey junior player of the year); Oliver Draisey (RGC under-16s Welsh Rugby Union); Tash Mathews (Bangor City Ladies players’ player of the Year). Both the boys team (Sam Kelsey, Iestyn Williams and Jacob Payne) and the girls team (Holly Edwards, Sara Jones, Rachel Wagstaff and Ruby Carney) are the 5x60 North Wales Badminton Champions. The boys, together with Daniel Rowe, are also the 5x60 North Wales Mountain Bike Champions.

The Toby James Edwards Award was presented to Jonjames Pooler by Nick Edwards, who was Toby’s uncle. In the year and half that Jonjames has been at the school his dry sense of humour, his determination, eagerness to work in most subjects, has become even more apparent.

Jonjames has an extremely caring nature and a loveable personality – he is well liked by his peers.

To celebrate qualities of leadership, team spirit, awareness and respect for others and decision-making, the school presented the Liz Moore ‘Rise to the Challenge’ award to Siân Hesleton. Liz, a former teacher at the school, who sadly passed away in 2012, was heavily involved with and a strong supporter of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

The final award, introduced two years ago by then PC Dave Arch, was to celebrate ‘Special Contribution in the Community’, and Mr Arch said he was delighted to present this to Natasha Mathews. He described to the audience Tash’s exemplary behaviour in ‘managing’ a group of young people behaving in a reckless and irresponsible manner, whilst drinking alcohol around the railway station.

Officers who arrived at the scene were extremely impressed by her refusal to succumb to peer pressure and were further impressed by her dedication to her love of football, her drive and ambition. They suggested she forget the football and join the police force instead!

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