A TEENAGER who started her own club aged 12 after being introduced to karate as a way of distraction from her own responsibilities at home was celebrated at the Pride of Sport Awards.

Bethan Owen, of Bodelwyddan, who runs five classes a week for young carers and teaches in Rhyl and now Abergele, achieved the Young Achiever Award last Thursday during a star-studded ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The soap fan had a exciting encounter with Jake Wood and Jamie Borthwick, who play Max Branning and Jay Brown in Eastenders, and also met retired boxer Barry McGuigan.

Since she was five, Bethan, 16, has helped her dad Garry care for her mum, Julie, who suffers with severe epilepsy.

At the age of 12, the pupil at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan in Abergele came up with the idea of running karate classes for fellow carers looking after relatives.

The Journal has followed Bethan through her impressive achievements and seen her not-for-profit club grow.

Bethan has achieved her black belt, gained her instructor’s badge and in 2017 she received a Point of Light Award from Prime Minister Theresa May and was honoured with a British Citizen Youth Award.

Speaking to the Journal, Bethan, who is now a member of the police cadets, said: “It has been crazy. The ceremony was incredible.

“Before the event, I was so excited – I couldn’t sleep.

“We arrived in London and walked around for a bit before we had to get ready. I was a bag of nerves, I was shaking.”

She continued: “When we arrived there was a red carpet and there was celebrities there – it was just ‘wow’. There are no words.

“Max and Jay were so sweet on stage and they invited me to the set.

“Afterwards I spoke to them for about 20 minutes.”

Bethan found out she had won a Pride of Sport award through Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh, who paid a surprise visit when Bethan was teaching at Ysgol Llywelyn Primary School in Rhyl.

Bethan added: “I was speechless. We were having a group picture and she walked through the door.

“She said ‘you are doing so great that you deserve to go out’ and then she said about the Pride of Sport.”

Bethan’s club has become a focal point for the young carers community.

Any money made goes back into the organisation and is used by Bethan to fund activities including award nights.

Her father Garry said: “When we arrived in London, we were all picked up by a black Mercedes.

“Bethan was nominated about a month ago. We had a letter but we couldn’t tell her – we had to keep it quiet.

“It was an incredible night. Barry McGuigan is such a gentleman.

“We couldn’t be more proud of Bethan.

“She has gone through so much.

“But, through her karate training, she has been able to help so many people.”