Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A campaign that supported local hero Dai Greene has been given a prestigious national award. Good Luck Dai Greene was launched earlier this year as part of a drive to support the Llanelli athlete in his Olympic bid. Although Dai did not get gold, he was praised by hundreds of people for his efforts and for being an excellent ambassador for sport, for Llanelli, Carmarthenshire and Wales. The campaign was supported by many residents in Dai’s home town and an event which took place in the St Elli Centre was hugely popular. A lifesized cardboard cut out of Dai travelled around the town centre for a competition which also rose awareness of the campaign. Good Luck Dai Greene wristbands were worn by hundreds of people, many of whom also signed good luck pledges. The initiative, run by Carmarthenshire County Council’s SirGarPR team, won the gold Chartered Institute of Public Relations award for Best Sporting Campaign, beating off competition from across Wales. The judges said: “Carma...

At the entrance to the Olympic Park, I found @DaiGreene fan Mike Walters (his old Coedcae PE teacher).

The man who made Dai Green “reluctantly” jump a hurdle at the age of 11 at Coedcae School will be at the Olympic 400-metre hurdle final cheering his protégé on in the event dubbed the “man killer”. Former school PE teacher Mike Walters, now retired, said: “I can hardly believe I will be there to see the culmination of all Dai’s hard work after all these years.” Mike said he had always, because of his passion for sport, visited championships the world over and made many friends along the way. “Amazingly, some months ago some American friends I met on my travels called me up at my Scotland home and offered me a ticket for the games. I asked what event and when they told me the 400-metres hurdle final I nearly fell over in shock.” Mike has arranged to meet up with Dai’s parents and brothers at the post-event Red Bull hospitality tent to celebrate what Mike is convinced will be golden celebration for Dai. He said: “I have never met anyone more single minded than Dai. He is so focused and...

Llanelli’s Olympic golden hopeful Dai Greene has won a hat-trick of Carmarthenshire Sports Personality of the Year awards. Because of his exhausting training regime that has reaped European, World and many other 400-metres hurdling titles around the globe, Dai has never managed to get to any of the award ceremonies organised by Carmarthenshire Council. However, the county personality awards organiser Allison Rees, who is county sports development unit manager is not holding that against Dai and will be at the Olympic Stadium on Monday for the 400-metres hurdle final. Allison said: “After all Dai has achieved this year so far it will be difficult supporters across the county not to push for his retaining his county title for a fourth year. Voting for that will start in the next month. “Wouldn’t it be absolutely fantastic to have an Olympic medal of any colour at our awards ceremony? “Dai has been such a brilliant ambassador for the county with all he achieved so far. He is without quest...

Dai Greene fever takes over the Harry Watkins hostelry in Felinfoel on Monday. It becomes centre of the universe on Olympic 400-metre hurdle final night. Radio Five Live are homing in on the pub for a live broadcast that will be filled with Dai Greens fans screaming their support for Dai to win a Gold medal in the final. Mine hosts Rowland and Linda Cross have organised a special Dai Greene buffet and the whole village is expected to pack in to cheer Dai along. For more than a month the pub has posted a banner outside the pub pledging their support for Dai who has been known to pop in on the rare occasion when he is home. Dai may be at the London Olympics but his cardboard cut out which has been all around Llanelli in the last six weeks will be there. Linda said: “We are huge Dai fans and fever is running high for support for Dai. Most of our customers are wearing the much sought after Dai go for gold wrist yellow bands. We have a few more left top give out to those lucky to clai...

Spare a thought for Susan Greene, Dai Greene’s mum. While her son and Olympic Gold medal 400-metre hurdalist hopeful gives the appearance of being the coolest man on the planet, mum hides behinds her hands whenever he races because of the huge tensions. Builder and dad Steve said: “I have every confidence our son will hurdle this last great ambition to seal a glorious career. “Dai was only 14 when he turned and told me when an aspiring Swansea City soccer player that one day I would be known as Dai Greene’s dad and not Steve Green. He was right about that. too. It is an arrogance that has served him well in a tough sport. “As parents we are justly proud of all he has achieved, as are his brothers. The male part of the household is holding up quite well but Susan will be glad to see an end to all the pressures. “We are all going up as a family and will be at Dai’s races on Friday, Saturday and providing he stays free of injury and gets through to the final on Monday. “We have given ...

Have some fun over the summer months and win some prizes by jumping to it to help seek out Carmarthenshire’s Olympic Gold hopeful Dai Greene. That’s the call from Carmarthenshire County Council which is inviting Llanelli shoppers to spot Dai Greene during the six-week countdown to the London 2012 Olympics. Dai may be travelling to different competition venues across the world or locked down with his strict training regime, but there is still a chance to see him because a lifesize 6ft 1ins cardboard cut-out of Dai will be hidden among the town’s shops every Friday starting this week. He could be peering out from one of the shop windows or standing as if to serve you behind a fruit stall, so keep your eyes peeled. Dai will be hiding in a different shop every Friday over the six weeks of competition, starting June 22. If you spot him, simply take a picture and upload it on to the council’s Facebook page , or Tweet us at @CarmsCCPress . Follow the competition on Twitter using #spotDaiGreen...

Let’s jump to it and get right behind Carmarthenshire’s Olympic Gold hopeful Dai Greene. Carmarthenshire council is inviting all-comers to St Elli Shopping Centre on June 2 to lend their support to Dai Greene ahead of his quest for gold in the 400-metre hurdles. It will be a day packed with free activities, especially appealing to youngsters, including a mini decathlon under the centre’s glass pyramid, a chance to try out the first hurdles Dai Greene ever hopped over as a pupil of Llanelli’s Coedcae School, a free children’s art workshop and much more. ‘Good Luck Dai Greene’ wristbands will be given away, as well as a host of other goodies. His strict training regime means Dai will not be there on the day, but there will be a 6ft 1inch cardboard cut-out of Dai for picture opportunities.

It's very simple: BBC sports personality of the year - vote Dai Greene! http://ning.it/sbW2hR