A PENARTH woman who combines life as an RAF Reservist and a sporting career was in the spotlight for International Women’s Day.

Cogan woman Senior Aircraftswoman (SAC) Cathy Sharples (formerly Bousie) 43, featured on the RAF website which was highlighting the variety of skills women in the RAF have.

Cathy is a reservist with Number 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron, where she serves as a photographer. She also plays for Newport County's women's football team where she is a regular goalscorer.

She has played football for over twenty years and credits the RAF with helping to keep her fit enough to play alongside colleagues less than half her age. She said: "One of the reasons I became a reservist is the military's emphasis on fitness. I was already fit when I joined, scoring light blue on the fitness test, but over two years of service now see me regularly achieve dark blue scores, which has only helped my speed and endurance on the pitch."

Cathy joined two other RAF sporting personnel from Cardiff; triathlete Olivia Blok and basketball player Kate Gale.