Paralympic hopeful claims top award for second year running
by Hamish Stuart, RYA Cymru-Wales 19 Dec 2014 07:03 GMT
19 December 2014
Paralympic hopeful Morgan Bugler in action © Adrain Owens
Paralympics hopeful Morgan Bugler has claimed the Pembrokeshire Sports 2014 Junior Disability Award for the second time, as he combines his own sailing career with helping to coach others.
The remarkable Haverfordwest sailor is an active competitor at Neyland yacht club as well as competing nationally against able-bodied competitors with an incredible level of success.
He was a member of the South West Wales regional Topper squad, as well as moving into the GB Youth squad. This Pembrokeshire award comes in the Under 16's category.
His results may not seem that special, for example coming 58th out of 67 competitors in the nationals, 176th out of 236 in the national series, but they are highly commendable given that he is taking part in these events without any dispensation for his disability and up against the best able bodied sailors in the country.
"With Morgan's commitment to the sport, I have little doubt at all he will reach his ambition of being in the Paralympics," said Hester Walker, South West Wales sailing development officer for RYA Cymru Wales.
"He continues to be an active member of his yacht club where he volunteers by teaching sailing for beginners. He is very well respected among his peers.
"Morgan has now been classified so he can compete against other sailors with disabilities. He has received support by Sport Wales, RYA Cymru Wales and the RYA by having access to a 2.4m boat.
"He is now entering ranking events in his 2.4 and attends training as part of the high performance group at Queen Mary Sailing Club, England, to follow the Paralympic pathway.
"Despite attending all this new training Morgan has still continued to be a member of the South West Wales Topper Regional squad again this season and has now moved onto the GBR Youth squad.
"Morgan's results may not on the face of it appear fantastic, however these are very credible results competing against able bodied individuals without any allowance for his disability."