Jodie Grinham, originally from Haverfordwest and currently residing in Crawley, has made history by winning a gold medal in the mixed team compound archery event at the Paralympics, despite being 32 weeks pregnant. The 31-year-old archer, alongside her teammate Nathan Macqueen, secured a 155-151 victory over Iran, with a perfect score of 40 in the final end clinching the title.

This gold medal adds to Grinham’s already impressive achievements at the Paris Paralympics, where she also earned a bronze medal in the individual compound event on Saturday. Remarkably, Grinham is believed to be the first openly pregnant woman to win a Paralympic medal.

Reflecting on her journey to the podium, Grinham revealed that she had spent several days in a Paris hospital, fearing she might go into labour early. However, she persevered and went on to secure her place in history. “My coach and I spent a long time doing little pregnancy preps – of him moving me and moving the bump so I could get used to that feeling,” she explained. “I would be at full draw and would feel that sensation. You acknowledge it and go, ‘I know you’re there, mummy loves you,’ and you carry on with your process, so it wasn’t a distraction.”

Grinham, who has a condition called Brachysyndactyly—resulting in a shortened left arm, underdeveloped left shoulder, no fingers, and half a thumb on her left hand—had previously won a silver medal in the same event at the 2016 Rio Games.

Team GB’s success at the Paralympics did not stop there, with five more gold medals being claimed on Monday. These victories came from triathletes David Ellis and Megan Richter, swimmers Ellie Challis and Louise Fiddes, and Stephen McGuire in boccia. Great Britain currently stands second in the medal table, behind China, with a total of 29 golds, 15 silvers, and 10 bronzes.

Grinham’s achievements, particularly under such extraordinary circumstances, will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the standout moments of the Paris Paralympics.

TWO local organisations are set to receive substantial funding as part of the Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme.

St. Clears RFC will receive £25,077, while The Megan’s Starr Foundation in Milford Haven is awarded £20,000. The announcement was made today (Monday, 2nd September) by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Jane Hutt.

St. Clears RFC plans to use the funding to enhance its facilities, including the installation of new pitch-side fencing. Meanwhile, The Megan’s Starr Foundation aims to create a warm, welcoming coffee house in Pembrokeshire, which will also serve as a vital hub for mental health support within the community.

This funding is part of a capital grant scheme designed to assist voluntary sector organisations in improving community facilities, such as sports clubs and community halls, for the benefit of the people they serve.

“The Community Facilities Programme is vital in helping organisations enhance their facilities so that local people can benefit from them in their daily lives,” said Jane Hutt. “Each recipient of support from the programme provides an essential service to the community, and it’s wonderful that the Welsh Government can help them achieve even more.”

Additionally, two other projects will receive funding under the same scheme: Goleudy Housing and Support in Swansea and Capel Seion Congregational Church in Llanelli, both of which will be awarded £300,000.

A rugby match was held in Pembrokeshire on Sunday 25 August in memory of Marc Beasley, a beloved player who tragically passed away earlier this year.

Marc Beasley of Crymych died at the age of 37 on 15 March. A dedicated rugby player, Marc had been a member of Crymych Rugby Club since his school days.

The memorial rugby match took place on Sunday at Parc Lloyd Thomas in Crymych, drawing an incredible turnout in honour of Mr Beasley. Fifty players took to the field for the Bois Beasley team, representing both current and former members of the club. Each player wore a special blue shirt symbolising Marc’s time with the youth team, as they faced off against the Bulls team.

Carwyn Rees, one of the event’s organisers, spoke about Marc’s lasting impact on the club and the community. “Marc was a true pillar of our club—he was dedicated, passionate, and always had a smile on his face,”  Carwyn said. “He wasn’t just a rugby player; he was a friend to everyone, and his loss hit us all very hard.”

Carwyn explained how the idea for the match came about in the wake of Marc’s sudden passing. “We were all in shock when we heard the news, especially given how fit and active Marc was. The club immediately knew we had to do something to honour him, and that’s how this match came together.”

The turnout for the event was extraordinary, with over 750 people in attendance. Following the match, a raffle and auction were held, which further contributed to the fundraising efforts.

Crymych Rugby Club is proud to announce that the event raised a spectacular £36,500, which will go towards the Marc Beasley Fund. Initially established to finance heart screenings for the rugby club players, the fund has now grown so significantly that we will be extending the offer of heart screening to the wider community too.

In a heartfelt video message shared on the club’s Facebook account, former Wales captain Ken Owens paid tribute to Marc, calling him a “special person.” Owens shared, “I had the pleasure and honour of playing with Marc many years ago when I was 11 years old in the Carmarthen school district. He was a top guy, so I hope you all had a great day remembering a very special person.”

The outpouring of support and generosity from the community has been overwhelming, and Crymych Rugby Club extends its deepest gratitude to everyone who participated and contributed to this incredible cause in memory of Marc Beasley. Thanks to this remarkable achievement, we are now able to make a lasting impact by offering heart screenings not just to our players, but to our entire community.

Heulwen Beasley-Park, Marc’s sister expressed her deep gratitude for the outpouring of support, “A heartfelt thank you to everyone for your support on Sunday. It was a day to remember. Marc would have loved seeing all his friends and the community come together for such a great cause. It was wonderful to see so many of Marc’s friends taking part in the game and the cycling and running events were also fantastic.

She added “Thank you to everyone for your generous contributions. It was encouraging to see the community so willing to give to such a worthy cause. We are grateful to everyone who helped organise the day. Marc would have been delighted with all the activities and sports. It meant so much to us as a family, and we’ll treasure the day forever.”