GWENT athletes, who were part of Wales' Special Olympic team, are celebrating after returning home with a bag-full of medals.

Local athletes bagged nine golds, two silvers and four bronze medals at the week-long special games, for athletes with disabilities and special needs, held in Cardiff.

The star of the show was 28-year-old Michael Sherwin, from Bettws in Newport, who won gold in both the shot-put and 100 metres.

Coach Margaret Williams said: "The Wales team performed exceptionally well. "They all worked very hard indeed but that hard work paid off."

There were 40 athletes from Gwent in the Welsh Special Olympics squad, including swimmers from Pontypool Mencap and ten-pin bowlers from Newport.

The games included events such as walking, tennis, golf and ten-pin bowling. The events were held in various venues across Cardiff including the athletics stadium at Leckwith, Peterstone Golf Club near St Mellons and the city's University Institute.

RESULTS

Brynglas ATC: 9 gold; 2 silver; 4 bronze. Andrew Lloyd, gold in shot; 4th 100m Clive Hutchins in bronze shot 7th 100m; Richard Halford, silver longjump; Gavin Evans, bronze football; Michael Sherwin gold 100m, gold in shot; Michael Howard, bronze 100m 4th shot; David Godwin, bronze shot; Julie Bowkett, gold 100m; Gareth Jenkins, bronze relay; Paul Griffiths, bronze 100m.

Swimming: Adrian Allen (Berk) 5th 200m, bronze 100m; Gareth Jenkins (Bryn) 8th 200m; 4th 100m; Adrian Heath (Bryn) 6th 200m, 8th 100m; Richard Halford (Bryn) 6th 200m, silver long jump; John Martin (Berk) 7th 200m, 8th 100m; John Banfield (Bry) silver 200, silver 100m; Anthony Randall (Brook) bronze 200m, silver 100m; Eira Powell (Berk) gold 100m, silver 200m; Kevin Bleaken (Berk) gold SBT, bronze 50m; Lee Bower (Berk) bronze SBT, gold 50m; David Godwin (Bry) bronze SBT; Andrew Sweeney (Berk) silver SBT, silver 50m; Paul Griffiths (Bryn) bronze SBT, 4th 50m; Anthony Simmonds (Berk) silver 400m walk, gold 100m walk; Clive Hutcherson (Bryn) 5th 100m; 4th shot; Michael Cherwin (Bryn) gold 100m, gold shot; Nigel Hobbs (Berk) silver 100m w/chair, silver 50m w/chair; Raymond Griffiths (Brook) 6th shot, 4th long jump; Julie Bowkett RRT gold 50m; Tracy Jones (Berk) bronze 50m; Paul Jones (Berk) 4th 100m. Malcolm Jones (Ber) football, bronze; Gavin Evans (Brynglas) football. Louise Price (Brook) gold 25m freestyle, gold 50m freestyle, Helen Pritchard (Brook) gold 50m freestyle, gold 4x50m relay, silver 100m freestyle; Zoe Wise (Brook) gold 25m freestyle, gold 50m freestyle, bronze 100m freestyle, silver 4x25m relay.

Tenpin bowling - doubles event: Cardiff Striers: Gold - Dawn Stephenson, Joanne Hurst (class C). Cardiff Strikers - Silver: Paul Cleverly, Martin Heffron (Class B); Brooklands - Silver: Joanne Talbot, Anthony Weeks (Class E); Brooklands - Bronze: Wendy Parry, Nicola Jones (Class C); Cardiff Strikers - Bronze: Keith Bick, Chris Parimore (Class D); Cardiff Strikers - Bronze: Bryan O'Connor, Ian Kelleher (Class A); Carmarthen - 4th place ribbon: Chris Jones, Hywel Thomas (Class C). Cardiff Strikers - 4th place ribbon: Oliver Johnson, Alan Richards (Class B); Brookland - 5th place ribbon: Chris Bond, Colin Williams (Class A); Brooklands - 6th place ribbon: Beverley Smith, Ceri Spanswick (Class E).

Bowling singles event: Gold: Allan Richards, Bryan O'Connor, Ceri Spanswick, Dawn Stephenson, Ian Kelleher (all Cardiff Strikers); silver: Chris Jones (Carmarthen); Joanne Talbot (Brooklands); Anthony Weeks (Brooklands). Bronze: Wendy Parry, Chris Bond (both Brooklands); Paul Cleverly, Oliver Johnson (both Cardiff Strikers). Place Ribbons: 4th Martin Heffron, Joanne Hurst (Cardiff Strikers); 5th Hywel Thomas (Carmarthen), Keith Bick (Cardiff Strikers); 6th Colin Williams (Brooklands); 7th Nicola Jones, Bev Smith (Brooklands); Chris Parimore (Cardiff Strikers).

Team event: Gold: Beverley Smith, Wendy Parry, Ceri Spanswick, Chris Parimore; Silver: Joanne Talbot, Nicola Jones, Anthony Weeks, Keith Bick; 5th place: Colin Williams, Chris Bond, Bryan O'Connor, Ian Kelleher; 6th place: Joanne Hurst, Dawn Stephenson, Paul Cleverly, Martin Heffron. 7th place: Hywel Thomas, Chris Jones, Oliver Johnson, Alan Richards.