LOCAL lad Daniel Lucker ended 2008 on a high after winning the top prize at the Nationwide DSE Sports Awards in Manchester.
The 15-year-old who is already an established name in the world of wheelchair racing, was presented with the Rising Star award and a prize of £6,000 last December.
Lucker, who has always been a keen fan of sports, only had his first taste of wheelchair racing in 2005.
In 2006, Lucker won the Adidas Mini London Wheelchair Marathon for his age group- his first ever competitive race, in a time of just under 19 minutes.
Since then, Lucker has continued to race and last year was his most successful yet.
The season started in April with his win in the Mini Marathon and a month later he competed against a field of senior racers in the Bupa Great Manchester Run, coming in third position with a new personal best time.
In July, Lucker took part in DSE's National Junior Athletics Championships, winning gold in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 3000m, and setting national records in the longer distances.
Two weeks later, Daniel travelled to Piscataway, New Jersey for the Junior World Championships. He competed alongside the best juniors from around the world in all track distances from 100m through to 5000m.
He returned to Wales as the under 16's Junior World Champion in the 1500m and 5000m, and as silver medallist in the shorter distances, missing out on gold by only fractions of a second.
To end the season on the track, he competed at the UK School Games in Bath and won gold, beating his closest opposition by over two seconds.
"I'm shocked but delighted to have won this and it will mean a lot to me and my development," said Lucker.
"This year as well as competing again at the Mini Marathon, I want to go to Switzerland and compete at the Under-18 World Championships so the prize will help me do that.
"The standard of wheelchair racing in my age group in Britain is not very strong so it is a great chance to race against the rest of the world and see what I can do and what I need to work on.
"It would mean everything to me to compete in London 2012 and that is a realistic aim for me so I have to continue to work hard and train well."
At the ceremony Lucker was presented with his award by Manchester City footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Lucker, who is studying for his GCSE's at Crickhowell High School is also lucky enough to be coached by two-time London Marathon winner Chris Hallam.
"Chris has been a huge inspiration to me. He has got so much experience and it has made a big difference to me," added the Abergavenny youngster.
"Seeing what he has done as well as the achievements of Tanni Grey-Thompson and Dave Weir has really helped me. Watching the coverage of the Beijing Paralympics has also been a great inspiration."