Welcome to Team Wales' page in preparation for the Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving 2019.

Latest News

• Welsh Team Management Appointed for the upcoming Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving

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Meet the Welsh Team

Team Manager

Jon Gwynn - Mumbles

Jon has been involved in lifesaving since 1976 gaining his first Bronze Medallion that year. As a coach/manager and an individual he has won many medals and titles ranging from the Welsh Championships to the World Championships. Jon has been involved in coaching and team management for the last 25 years; previously he was a member of the Welsh management team that attended the Commonwealth Championships in Canberra and has had additional International Team Management experience with SLSA Wales and Welsh Athletics. Jon says: “I’m privileged to be working with such a strong cohort of athletes, a real mixture of youth and experience that I believe has the ability to deliver Wales’ best ever results in this competition.”

Assistant Team Manager

Simon Parker - Vale Surf Lifesaving Club

Simon has been coaching and managing successful club teams at both pool and beach competitions for 12 years. He is also a multiple British masters pool champion and is looking forward to helping to make the Wales Team a success and a positive experience for a great group of athletes.

National Team

Zara Williams - Mumbles / Crawley Town

I am currently the World champion for both the 50m carry and 100m rescue medley, winning them for both the national teams and interclub World championships in Australia last year. In addition, I was also part of the relay team that won 2 gold’s and 2 silvers at the interclub competition, helping my club to finish third overall. I also hold 1 world record (4x25m manikin carry), 2 European records (50m manikin carry and 100m rescue medley) and 8 British records. I have represented Great Britain in every European and World championships since 2011 winning many medals along the way of all three colours. I am proud to have represented SLSA Wales on a couple of previous occasions and I'm extremely proud to be representing Wales at the forthcoming Commonwealth Championships.


Hannah Davidson - Sker & Pink Bay

I started my lifesaving journey at the age of 7 competing in both Surf and Stillwater National Championships, winning national titles for Sker and Pink Bay Lifesaving Club. In 2018, I competed in Adelaide, Australia, at the World Championships. I can’t wait to compete for Team Wales!


Millie Rees - Mumbles

I am a member of Mumbles Lifesaving Club and have competed with them for the last 10yrs. I also swim competitively in the pool and open water – swimming is a huge part of my life. 2018-19 has been a very busy period competing as part of the Welsh Surf Lifesaving Team, participating in the World Championships in Adelaide and going to the European Championships in Riccione. I am now really excited and honoured to be representing Team Wales at the Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving in November.


Sarah Falconer - Mumbles/Sheffield University

I have been competing in lifesaving since I was eleven years old, participating in both the speeds and the championship competitions. I competed for Wales in the National Lifesaving Championships for many years, but this is my first opportunity to represent Wales in the speeds section of lifesaving. I am incredibly excited to be representing Wales on the international stage, and I hope it will be a successful competition for everyone.


Emily Parker - Vale Surf Lifesaving Club

I’ve been competing in surf lifesaving since the age of 6 and I thoroughly enjoy the sport. I love training both on the beach and in the pool with Vale surf life saving club. I have been Welsh and British champion several times and am honoured to be representing Wales at an international level 


Rhys Wydenbach - Pen-y-bont

I am honoured to have been selected to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving. I have been competing in Lifesaving since I was eight and have competed in both European and World Championships as part of the GB team. I have had four international caps for Wales but this will be my first Commonwealth Festival and I am really looking forward to competing as part of the Wales team.


Jason Grice - Rhoose Lifeguards

"I have grown up in lifesaving competing since I was seven years old. I feel proud and privileged to be chosen to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Festival. I look forward to some tough competition and the opportunity to do my best for Wales."


Daniel Waterfall - Ripley SLSC

I have been competing in lifesaving since I was 8 years old, and have been competing nationally since the age of 12. I have won national gold medals in both the 12-14 age group and the 15-17, and also hold three 12-14 national records. I am proud to be representing Wales in my first international competition and hope this is the first of many. I am looking forward to stepping up and competing at the next level.


Adam Reed - Torbay

I have been swimming competitively for 8 years and lifesaving since 2015 when I joined Torbay and District Lifesaving Club. I am very proud to have been selected to represent Wales in the Commonwealth Championships. I'm looking forward to competing in my first international lifesaving competition.


Alex Jackson - Crawley Town

I have been competing in lifesaving for the past 5 years including the Interclub Youth World Championships in Adelaide and I am presently the RLSS National 15-17 champion for 100m Manikin Carry and 12m rope throw.  I train at South Worcestershire Lifesaving Club and I have been competing for Crawley Town Lifesaving Club for the last 3 years. This is my first Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships and I am excited to be representing Team Wales and look forward to making everyone proud.

Development Team

Abi Carson - Pen-y-bont

I compete for Pen-y-bont surf lifesaving club and have done from the age of 7.  I currently train with Bridgend swim club and have been part of the Welsh surf lifesaving team for the past 4 years.  I have also represented GB at the Sanyo life saving cup and International Surf Rescue in NZ.  I have won numerous medals at Welsh and British championships competing in the pool and on the beach. This will be my first Commonwealth competition and I am proud to be part of team Wales.


Meriel Clode - Pen-y-bont

I’m 18 and I’m a member of Pen-y-bont SLSC. I do both pool and beach surf lifesaving and I have competed at the Youth European Championships in Ireland and Youth World Championships in Adelaide in 2018. I enjoy the tow and carry events and am excited to see what the competition has in store. 


Emily Ezard - Pen-y-bont

I am a competitive swimmer and this is my 5th year competing in lifesaving, both surf and pool. I have previously meddled in the British Surf and Pool Lifesaving Championships and have been part of a team who broke the British record for medley relay two years running. It will be my first time competing in the Commonwealth Championships, which is an experience I am looking forward to. The opportunity to compete for Wales is very exciting and I hope to make the team proud.


Leonora Breheny - Sker & Pink Bay

I have been a member of Sker & Pink Bay Surf Lifesaving Club from the age of 7 and since that time I have been proud to represent the club in many competitions throughout my nipper and now junior years. I have competed at Welsh and GB championships winning medals at each. I love being part of my club but also the wider lifeguard ‘family’.  I was really pleased to be selected and I’m looking forward to taking part in the Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving as part of Team Wales. It’ll be fantastic to meet all the other athletes from the other nations and compete in the UK.


Rhiannon Jones - Centurion

I have been a member of Centurion Lifesaving Club, Swansea for 6 years and have competed at many local and national competitions for my club and Wales. This is my first Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving and I am ecstatic to be picked for the Development Team and excited to be part of Team Wales. I am so proud to be given this opportunity.


Reuben Hopkin - Vale Surf Lifesaving Club

"I started lifeguards 5 years ago and currently train and compete with Vale SLSC. I have been part of the Welsh Surf Lifesaving Team for 2 years and I'm proud that I have now been chosen to represent Wales in the pool as well. I love competing in the surf, but relish the challenge that competing in the pool will bring."


Gareth Abbott-Haigh - Mumbles

Having been part of lifesaving for over 20 years, I began my participation with Port Eynon Lifesaving club both in beach and pool competition as a nipper. Throughout University, I had the opportunity to be part of the Swansea University Lifesaving team, where my affinity and love for the still water events grew further. Now working as a qualified Paramedic with the Welsh Ambulance service, I attribute lifesaving as a major influencing factor for that.  2019 sees me gain the opportunity to compete for Wales once more in the commonwealth competition, whereby my last participation was back in 2013 at the Canberra festival, winning silver in the SERC. With my current squad Mumbles Lifesaving club and the before mentioned Welsh team, I look forward to placing in some hard graft prior to November’s competition.


Declan Ewington - Vale Surf Lifesaving Club

I am a member of Vale Surf Lifesaving Club and have been competing in lifesaving for 5 years. I have competed for Wales in surf lifesaving and I am very proud and excited to compete for Team Wales in the Commonwealth Championships.


Ryder Taylor - Mumbles

I joined Mumbles Lifeguard Club nippers as a 7 year old new to the area and I have never looked back. I enjoy competing at the National Stillwater and Ocean Championships – my highlight to date has to be competing at the 2016 World Lifesaving Championships in The Netherlands.

I’m hyped to be representing Wales in my first Commonwealth Championships, come on Team Wales!


Tom Horn - Rest Bay

My name is Tom Horn and I was five years old when I started surfing and seven years old when I joined Rest Bay Lifeguard Club as a nipper. I have been lucky enough to represent Wales on four separate occasions, both in Surfing and Surf Lifesaving. I have always loved the waves and have enjoyed surfing in many different countries, my favourite being Southern California. More recently, I have started to enjoy the still water too and this will be my first time representing Wales in the pool and I intend to give it my all!