A GIRL from Rhuddlan was part of the team which emerged victorious at the 2023 National Junior Championships for wheelchair basketball last weekend.

Bethany Blease, who turns 15 this month, led “Team Dreigiau Cymru” to victory at the University of Worcester Arena during the two-day tournament on August 5 and 6.

Team Dreigiau Cymru stormed the competition and finished top of their pool at the end of day one after beating Scotland 32-7, Yorkshire 32-6 and Wales A 19-6.

This took them to the quarter-finals on day two where they beat Wales B 31-10, before winning their semi-final against England North East 25-11.

And in the final, against Scotland, Dreigiau Cymru triumphed 31-18 to take the gold medal.

It comes amid exciting news for Bethany’s sister Anastasia, 18, who was born with spina bifida and has been selected to play for Team GB in her first senior wheelchair basketball tournament.

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After joining in with training with Anastasia at Rhyl Raptors Wheelchair Sports Club, Bethany quickly fell in love with the sport, too.

She soon earned a place in the North Wales Knights junior squad, which got all the way to the national elite “eights” final in May.

In 2021, she trialled for a place on the Wales national under-14s squad.

Bethany was selected for the squad a year later, where they attained silver at the National Junior Championships, the highest any Welsh team has finished in the tournament.

This year, after two rounds of selection trials, Bethany was offered the captaincy of one of two national squads that Wales were entering into the National Junior Championships this year.

Though, Bethany decided not to accept the position on the team.

She said: "It was such an honour to receive the email saying they wanted me to captain one of the national Welsh teams - it's what any Welsh sportsperson dreams of.

"Having two official Welsh squads meant that I could end up competing against some of my best friends.

“One of the things I love so much about basketball is the teamwork and the bonds you form with your team-mates.

“I know from last year's final what it's like to give it your all and lose - it can be crushing. I wouldn't want to put any of my friends through that and they thought the same way."

Fortunately, a rule change to this year's tournament meant that any team could register to enter and entry wasn't restricted to the previously recognised regional teams.

With the help of coaches James Coyle-King and Chloe Morgan, Bethany was able to enter the tournament and co-captain the independent team “Dreigiau Cymru”.

She added: "We wanted a name that reflected that we were all Welsh players and one that represented the passion that the Welsh bring to sport.

“What could be better than the Welsh Dragons?!”

Matt Blease, Bethany’s dad, added: "I'm so proud of her. I know it was a difficult decision for her to turn down the captaincy of Wales after working so hard to be selected this year.

“But it shows real integrity and spirit to choose her team-mates over the glory of the title."