John and Michelle celebrate top sporting awards from Dame Laura Kenny

*Pictured above - Laura Kenny with John Hatton at the sports awards.

John Hatton and Michelle Farrell celebrate top sporting awards from Dame Laura Kenny 

Report by Don Hale. 

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 

Popular charity fundraiser, event organiser, sports promoter, and athletics coach John Hatton deservedly won another prestigious trophy last Friday night at the Conwy Sports Awards, along with an exceptional local international triathlete in Michelle Farrell. 
They are both well-known talented local individuals in the athletics world and they received their awards along with other identified sporting heroes from the former Olympic cycling star Laura Kenny. 
John Hatton later confirmed: "I was honoured and so thrilled to be the winner of the 'Volunteer of the Year' at the Conwy Sports Awards last Friday. I have now won four awards at the event, including Services to Sport, Best Event of the Year for the Nick Beer 10k, and the Deganwy Dash.  
"It's nice to know people do appreciate what I do, which is very rewarding, Dame Laura Kenny was absolutely lovely, and so easy to talk to."  

*Laura Kenny (*centre), with John and Michelle Farrell at the awards event.

Michelle Farrell also celebrated an incredible year on the international stage where she won a bronze medal in the World Trail marathon, a European Cross bronze, and two silver medals amongst many others. 
The GOG Triathlon member has also represented Wales, and Great Britain at the highest levels and achieved some outstanding successes this year, and quite amazingly Michelle has already qualified for several of next year's top events. 

*Michelle Farrell above with her award from Friday night and (*above left) Michelle was the first female finisher at the Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun trial.

After the event Michelle said: "I am incredibly honoured and humbled to be named Conwy 'Senior Sportswoman of the Year,' it was a lovely surprise to be nominated, and an even bigger surprise to win!  
I am very grateful to my husband John for his unwavering support and his encouragement. It has been a fantastic year, and I hope my journey can help inspire others.  

“I would like to thank Ffit Conwy for the support they have given me with access to leisure facilities with the Talented Athlete Scheme and to everyone involved in making the Conwy Sports Awards such a wonderful celebration of local sporting excellence.” 

Michelle’s husband John Farrell, who is also an impressive international veteran athlete with the GOGs, Wales, and Team GB, said: “Can I also add how incredibly proud I am of her, only I see first-hand just how much work she puts into all her multi-sports events, which take so much time running, cycling and strength work.  

“But she does this as well as working in a very stressful job and not forgetting she’s a mum and wife as well. She inspires me and many around her and fully deserves this accolade.”