Wales swim coach Billy Pye is up against the best of Britain later this month at the sports coach UK Coach of the Year Awards 2008 (17 December 2008).

The former miner from Blaengwynfi recently took the top honours at the Sports Council for Wales Coach of the Year Awards and has now been named in the High Performance Coach of the Year line-up at UK level.

It has been an incredible year for Pye – as well as winning coaching gongs aplenty, his team of eight swimmers, based at the Wales National Pool, Swansea – stormed to 13 medals at the Paralympic Games – nine of them gold.

As well as British Rowing’s main man, Jurgen Grobler, he faces cycling guru Shane Sutton. Originally from Australia, Sutton was Wales National Coach for a number of years and helped to cultivate the talents of Nicole Cooke and Geraint Thomas. Indeed, ten years ago, he picked up the Sports Council for Wales Coach of the Year Award.

The coach – who helped scoop 14 medals at the Olympic Games – now bases himself between Manchester and Cardiff.

A North Wales coach is also shortlisted. Sailing’s Chris Gowers – who lives in Port Dinorwic – has also been recognised for his sporting contributions. Welsh sailors are fortunate in that they often learn the ropes from his vast experience and expertise.

While the High Performance category has a strong Welsh flavour, Maesteg’s Kerry Pulvirenti is in the running for the Participation Coach of the Year. He too will attend the glittering ceremony at the Dorchester in London’s prestigious Mayfair.

The larger than life judo coach from Maesteg last month picked up the Volunteer Coach of the Year Award, sponsored by sportscoach UK, at the Sports Council for Wales ceremony in Cardiff.

And Sarah Thomas, who just missed out on the Female Coach of the Year Award at the Wales ceremony, is a contender for Children’s Coach of the Year.

Thomas has been the driving force behind junior rowing in Cardiff, despite family and business commitments.