Congratulations to Jill Williams and Arron Davies who have both been honoured recently. Jill has been named the IWWF Europe & Africa Female Disabled Waterskier of the Year. Arron has been voted the National Collegiate Waterski Association's Male Athlete of the Year.

Jill is a visually-impaired 3-event skier who won 2 gold medals and a silver at the 2023 IWWF World Disabled Waterski Championships in California in September. She also set a new world tricks record for her category at the Championship, having broken it earlier this year at the British Nationals.

Jill is an inspirational athlete, who trains at The Waterski Academy near Rochdale.  She has only been skiing competitively for a few years and the 2023 Worlds was her first international competition. Look out for a profile of Jill in the winter edition of the BWSW magazine which will be published shortly.

Jill jumping at the 2023 World Disabled Waterski Championships. Photo - John Lipscomb

Arron has made a great comeback from a career-threatening arm injury suffered in summer 2022. This year he made a return to the waterski pro circuit, won the Open Men's Slalom at the 2023 British Nationals and the Men's Slalom at the NCWSA Nationals in the USA. This is Arron's last year of studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he is a member of the Ragin' Cajuns waterski team.

Arron at the 2023 British Nationals. Photo - James Elliott

Arron was named Male Athlete of the Year in a public vote. His nomination citation on the NCWSA praised him not just for his impressive slalom skiing but for his leadership skills as lake captain and support of the team.

"Arron’s commitment to his team and the sport is truly commendable.....His talent as a skier is matched only by his vocal encouragement that echoes down the lake for every participant."

Congratulations to Jill and Arron.