Last Thursday (12th February), saw the celebration of all things sport across the region of Carmarthenshire as it was the time for Actif Carmarthenshire Sports Awards 2025 to commence at the Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli. The awards evening was hosted by former International Rugby union referee, Nigel Owens MBE, where two of our licensed clubs and one of our regional coaches were nominated in the categories of Community Sports Club and Coach of the Year. 

Out of three clubs that were nominated as Community Sports Club of Year, two came from our licensed clubs, which is a huge achievement. Both Evolve Weightlifting Club and Llanelli Weightlifting Academy were shortlisted alongside Llandybie Tennis Club, but unfortunately were both denied as being as announced as winners and instead shared the runners up spot.

Moving on to the Community Sports Coach of the Year award, and Matthew De Filippo was deservedly nominated for this award. As the time came for the winner from this category to be announced, it was of tremendous delight to hear that Matthew came out as the winner. Which I'm sure was great news for himself, as well as all the members at Llanelli Weightlifting Academy who are extremely grateful for the hard work he puts in for the club.

We are incredibly proud of all the work of our licensed clubs do, so it is great that Llanelli and Evolve have been able to be recognised for the significant contributions they make to their local communities. Sport can have many benefits for everyone, so are licensed clubs play a vital role as key community assets, helping improve both the social and physical health of individuals.

Matthew De Filippo - Community Sports Coach of the Year WINNER

Matthew plays an extraordinary role at Llanelli Weightlifting Academy, where he volunteers over 30 hours each week to deliver structured, high-quality coaching for children, adults, beginners, competitive lifters and para-athletes.

He leads almost every session, writes tailored training programmes, supervises open-gym hours and prepares and accompanies athletes for national competitions, with many of his athletes representing Wales at international events too. Matthew also mentors young lifters, develops future coaches and continues to run our Raise the Bar programme, offering hundreds of young people in the area a free introductory opportunity to participate in weightlifting and para-powerlifting.

His commitment to technical excellence, athlete wellbeing and community inclusion has transformed the gym into a thriving environment where people grow in skill, ambition and confidence. 

Matthew is a true inspiration to everyone in Llanelli and across the whole of Wales. We have been privileged to invite Matthew in recent years as a regional coach to our development/senior squad training camps and international competitions such as the Celtics Nations Championships. He is truly deserving of this recognition upon receiving of this award.

Evolve Weightlifting Academy - Community Sports Club of the Year RUNNER-UP

Known for its supportive atmosphere, Evolve Weightlifting Club champions female participation, running dedicated women-and-girls’ sessions that break down barriers and build confidence. Its structured youth pathways guide young lifters from their first session to long-term development, while adaptable coaching ensures accessibility for those with disabilities or additional needs.

With upgraded facilities through last year's successful application of Sport Wales Be Active Funding, Evolve has been able to expand its range of programmes it delivers. This has contributed to a greater depth of athletes coming through and competing at national events, with some going on to be selected for our development squad. 

Above all, it prides itself on a diverse, welcoming community united by empowerment, progress, and belonging, as shown by a strong core support of volunteers.

Llanelli Weightlifting Academy - Community Sports Club of the Year RUNNER-UP

This club is built on a supportive, welcoming atmosphere where everyone—children and adults alike—can discover a passion for weightlifting.

With dedicated volunteer coaches, tailored programmes, and regular training opportunities, members of all ages and backgrounds receive expert guidance in an inclusive environment. The club promotes weightlifting from age seven upwards, offering free introductory sessions for children, minis weightlifting campaigns, and a range of adult classes.

Continually investing in new equipment and athlete development, the club supports members from first lift to competition level, championing accessibility, encouragement, and community across every aspect of the sport.

In other club news, we have been delighted to be able to recently have two new clubs to add to our licensed club list; Codi Pwysau Caerdydd and Cardiff Met Weightlifting. Both clubs are based within Cardiff and are managed by newly elected board member Taylor Probets, who has done great work in going through the processes to earn licenses for both clubs. Hear from Taylor below in what the two clubs are hoping to achieve post the club license being attained:

Codi Pwysau Caerdydd

Codi Pwysau Caerdydd was created to make weightlifting and para-powerlifting more accessible, giving athletes a club to represent without financial or social barriers. The focus is on long term athlete development, free introductory coaching and building a supportive community for lifters who cannot always attend in person club sessions. We are also committed to working with other local clubs to help strengthen the weightlifting scene across Cardiff and South Wales.

Cardiff Met Weightlifting

Cardiff Met Weightlifting aims to rebuild a strong high performance university team while supporting and developing the next generation of competitive athletes. The goal is to create an environment where lifters can progress to a high standard and represent the club consistently at national competitions again. Following the success of some recent in-house events, we plan to grow into a respected training hub in Cardiff for events, training days and coaching development.

Both of these clubs can be found in the Club Finder