Welsh Sports Personality of the Year 2012: Arthur Wood wins Unsung Hero

Arthur Wood, a long-term volunteer at Swansea Rifle Club, has won the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2012 Unsung Hero award.

He has been a stalwart at the club for more than 20 years, devoting many thousands of hours to helping all who attend.

Arthur will go forward to represent Wales at the network BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2012 awards held at the ExCel in London on Sunday, 16 December.

Since 2003, the BBC has recognised the achievements of people working behind the scenes to make sport accessible to all, with nominations coming entirely from members of the public.

Arthur is a wheelchair user after an industrial accident at Briton Ferry steelworks in 1969 left him a full leg amputee and also with fingers of his right hand missing.

The 63-year-old energetically takes on almost every role needed to ensure the smooth running of Swansea Rifle Club.

"I get a lot of pleasure from this place, it's my second home - it should be my first I think!" Arthur told BBC Wales.

Arthur opens the club three days a week, coaches individuals or groups, acts as range conducting officer or range duty officer and also as a shooting coach to newcomers.

There is also a large archery contingent at the club who receive the full Arthur treatment.

In between those duties it is not unusual to find the Swansea man indulging in a bit of DIY to spruce the place up, all done with his characteristic "humour, integrity, honesty, knowledge and dedication", according to one of the people to nominate Arthur.

British women's 3x20 full bore champion Sian Corish is just one of those who benefit from Arthur's dedication.

"He's just been incredible in terms of his support, opening up the range so I can train straight after work, staying so I can return equipment late at night and at the weekend. He's just amazing," Corish said.

Arthur succeeds 2011 Wales Unsung Hero winner Gareth Wyn Hughes from Tylerstown, Rhondda Cynon Taf, whose work as a golf coach earned him the award last year.

Meanwhile in an amazing year for Welsh sport, the list of contenders for the overall BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2012 award will be announced on Wednesday morning, with full details of how you can vote published on Monday, 3 December.