TWO young athletes from Denbighshire have been recognised nationally for their exceptional sporting achievements.

Ten-year-old triathlete Elan Williams, from Cynwyd, near Corwen, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, has not let her disability stop her achieving her goals. Last year she competed at the Disabled Riding Association National Championships after riding since she was 2-year-old and took part Celebrity Superhero Triathlon charity race, when she competed alongside Paralympic gold medal skier Menna Fitzpatrick in a specially adapted wheelchair.

Elan was awarded last year’s Denbighshire County Council Disability Sport Award for her efforts, however she has gone one better this year after she was nominated for the Disability Sport Wales Awards for the Inspiring my Journey Award.

And she will not be the only inspirational athlete travelling to Cardiff, as 14-year-old William Bishop, from Llanrhaeadr, also had a successful year after being recognised in the Denbighshire Sports Awards with the Young Inspiration Award in 2018. He recently represented Disability Sport Wales in running at the Dutch National Para Athletics Championships in the Netherlands, topping his personal best time by 0.5 seconds. He also achieved a silver in the 100m followed by a gold in the 100m relay in the Junior Athletics.

Cllr Bobby Feeley, county council cabinet member for well-being and independence, said: “I am always delighted to hear of the inspirational and talented young people we have in our county, but no one is successful without a lot of determination and hard work.

“This is an amazing achievement from Elan and William, and I am sure lots of other young people will be inspired to get involved in sport when they see everything they have both accomplished.”