Sport

Tributes pour in for ‘First Lady of Point-to-pointing’ following death of Cynthia Higgon

Published

2 months ago

October 15, 2024

Tributes are pouring in for Cynthia Higgon, a woman described by many as the First Lady of Point-to-pointing following her death after battling cancer for many years. She was 86.

She will be remembered for giving a lifetime of service to point-to-pointing but also to many other organisations which brought so much pleasure to riders of all abilities, including Riding for the Disabled and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.

Born and raised in Gloucestershire, she was introduced to the sport as a young child, and then followed her father into the mastership of the Pembrokeshire Hunt when she moved to the county in 1964. She subsequently held a mastership with the Pembrokeshire, and had 14 seasons as field master to the South Pembrokeshire.

“My first recollection of point-to-pointing was as a child,” she once said in a newspaper interview.

“On Easter Sundays it would be church in the morning, family lunch, then to Ryalls Court to clean the numbers on the number board for the Croome point-to-point on Easter Tuesday.”

She also took great pride in seeing pony races being held at some of the county’s point-to-points.

“The young are the future,” she said. “Already in Wales we have produced some super horses and quality jockeys, and when I see trainers such as Peter Bowen, Evan Williams and Tim Vaughan doing so well, I feel honoured to have known them.”

Cynthia Higgon continued following hounds on the back of a thoroughbred until she was well into her 80s.

Paying tribute to her commitment to the sport and her outstanding horsemanship this week was Beverley Thomas, who succeeded her as the West Wales point-to-point secretary.

“One of her finest legacies is The Planner, which she was instrumental in instigating and which she stewarded all her life,” she said.

“She was a key organiser at the Royal Welsh Show at Builth Wells and was incredibly resilient, as we saw in her recent battles with cancer. She initiated inter-hunt relays at shows all over Wales and if you asked Cynthia to do something, she gave it her all. Nothing was too much trouble for her and if there was a fundraising event, she was there.”

Cynthia Higgon was a familiar face at meetings as a steward and owned and trained point-to-pointers including Sir Noddy who, in 1989 won three on the bounce, and was a candidate for the country’s leading novice, while Terrierman was named after her husband, Peter.

But perhaps Cynthia is best known for her administrative skills which saw her become chairman of the PPSA (Point-to-Point Secretaries’ Association) which organises meetings and has a key role in creating the fixtures’ list. She was also the West Wales area secretary for over 40 years.

“For me she was the First Lady of point-to-pointing, and when I became chairman, she was often the first port of call, and was always there with ready advice,” said Robert Killen, who is the current PPSA chairman. “I always respected her views, and we had a lot of laughs too. She was enormous fun.”

The Cynthia Higgon Award for services to administration within the sport has become a treasured piece of recognition for officials around Britain and is presented at the National Dinner and Awards ceremony each year. For many years she presented it in person.

Following her retirement, Cynthia Higgon continued to be a great supporter of point-to-pointing in Pembrokeshire.

“She always took a great interest in everything we were doing and gave a lifetime of service, not only to point-to-pointing but so many other organisations connected with riding,” added Beverley Thomas. “Our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.”

Sport

Devonald’s hat-trick secures St Ishmaels’ dominant win over Herbrandston

Published

2 days ago

December 18, 2024

Herald Sport

Herbrandston 0 – St Ishmaels 6

BRENNAN DEVONALD delivered a masterclass as St Ishmaels thrashed Herbrandston 6-0, with the skipper leading from the front and scoring a stunning hat-trick. The comprehensive victory propels St Ishmaels to eighth in the league table, while Herbrandston remain rooted to the bottom without a single point.

The visitors asserted their dominance from the outset. Devonald opened the scoring in the 9th minute, latching onto a pinpoint assist from Owen Lawrence. He doubled their lead just before halftime in the 40th minute, again set up by Lawrence, giving St Ishmaels a comfortable cushion at the break.

St Ishmaels maintained their momentum in the second half, adding four more goals to cap off a stellar team performance. Adam Kingsbeer’s clever play set up Ieuan Hawkins for the third, before Tom Williams capitalised on another opportunity to make it 4-0. Devonald sealed his hat-trick in the 85th minute with an expertly taken goal, and Joel Mills added the finishing touch in the dying moments, courtesy of an assist from Sol Goodall.

Team line-ups

Herbrandston: Adrian Rees, Oliver Robinson, Ethan Chalker, Scott Findlay, Dean John (Captain), Harley Barrett, Gedion Hockin, Leon Whatling, Scott Gillespie, Cian Davenport. Subs: Leo Duncan, Jacob James, Nico Cockrell.

St Ishmaels: Owen Thomas, Sol Goodall, Owen Lawrence, Finley Armstrong, Brennan Devonald (Captain), Adam Kingsbeer, Ieuan Hawkins, Joel Mills, Tom Williams, Daniel Coe, Nathan Thomas. Subs: Max Howells, Tyler Sheil.

Sport

Dominant wins for Pembrokeshire sides in West Wales Intermediate Cup round 3

Published

2 days ago

December 18, 2024

Herald Sport

Goodwick United 7-0 Carew

Goodwick United put on a commanding performance with a 7-0 triumph over Carew. The home side proved too powerful for their opponents, with Rhys Dalling and Rhys Jones each bagging two goals. Matty Delaney, Will Haworth, and Daniel Bryce also got their names on the scoresheet. As one of Pembrokeshire’s top teams, Goodwick will aim to build on this dominant win as they progress to the next round.

Hakin United 13-0 Clydach Sports

Hakin United were in ruthless form as they dispatched Clydach Sports 13-0. Jack Britton led the charge with an impressive five-goal haul, while Liam Parks netted a hat-trick. Jack Griffiths, Jay Kilby, Kieran King, Justin Harding, and Mason Dolling all contributed to the comprehensive scoreline. Hakin, one of the premier teams in Pembrokeshire, will be keen to continue their pursuit of the cup after this emphatic victory.

Merlins Bridge 7-3 Treboeth United

Merlins Bridge secured a thrilling 7-3 victory over Treboeth United in an exciting encounter. Nathan Evans was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick, while Tom Jago, Jason Griffiths, Hayden Dimond, and Ashton Plunkett all found the back of the net. Treboeth’s Liam Manning, Cori Jones, and Matthew Colley fought valiantly but could not prevent the home side from taking the win. Merlins Bridge will be pleased with their attacking display and will look to build on this result.

Monkton Swifts 5-4 Clarbeston Road

In a dramatic local derby, Monkton Swifts edged out Clarbeston Road 5-4 in a high-scoring affair. Dylan Davies was the standout performer with four goals, and Liam Butland added another. Clarbeston Road fought hard with goals from Laurie Haworth, Matthew Davies, Greg Brown, and Ben John, but it was the Swifts who held on to secure the victory. Monkton will be happy to progress after such a closely contested match.

Neyland 1-2 Cwm Wanderers

Neyland were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Cwm Wanderers in a closely contested match. Ben Gale scored for Neyland, but goals from Joseff Shaw and Corey Raven-Sayce gave the visitors the edge. Despite a valiant effort from Neyland, Cwm Wanderers held firm to secure the win and advance to the next round.

Plough Colts 0-2 Pennar Robins

Pennar Robins comfortably saw off Plough Colts 2-0, with Kieran Smith and Jamie Wilkes scoring the goals. Pennar demonstrated their class and will look to carry this momentum forward into the next round.

Tenby 2-0 Blaen-y-Maes

Tenby continued their fine form with a 2-0 victory over Blaen-y-Maes. Sam Butler and Scott Ferney were on target for Tenby, who have been one of the most impressive sides this season. This win further cements Tenby’s status as one of the top contenders in the competition.

Analysis:

Pembrokeshire’s leading teams, Goodwick United and Hakin United, demonstrated their superiority with commanding wins, while Tenby showed their credentials with a solid 2-0 victory. With such dominant performances, Goodwick and Hakin are likely to be among the favourites to claim the title, with Tenby also emerging as a serious contender in this year’s West Wales Intermediate Cup.

Sport

Thrills and dominance: Narberth shine in 6-1 victory

Published

2 days ago

December 18, 2024

Herald Sport

Broad Haven 4-4 Solva

In an exhilarating, high-scoring encounter, Broad Haven played out a 4-4 draw with Solva. Marco Valentine netted twice for Broad Haven, with Owen Sheppard and Shane Howells also getting on the scoresheet. Solva responded through Josh Bland, who scored a hat-trick, and Lucas Price, ensuring the points were shared in this thrilling clash.

Camrose 1-3 Fishguard Sports

Fishguard Sports claimed a 3-1 victory over Camrose, with a clinical display of attacking play. Andrew John scored the only goal for Camrose, but Fishguard’s offensive strength proved overwhelming. Anthony Couzens, Luke Thomas, and Ieuan Llewellyn all found the net to guide their side to victory.

Carew II 0-2 Hakin United II

Hakin United II earned a solid 2-0 win over Carew II. Rowan Dixon and Tom Edmonds were the scorers for the visitors, with Carew struggling to break down Hakin’s defense. It was a well-executed performance that saw Hakin advance with all three points.

Johnston P-P Merlins Bridge II

The match between Johnston and Merlins Bridge II was postponed, with no further details available at the time of writing.

Lawrenny 1-6 Narberth

Narberth cruised to a commanding 6-1 victory over Lawrenny. Owen James scored the lone goal for Lawrenny, but Narberth’s attacking prowess was on full display as Steffan Williams scored twice, and Ashley Williams, Chris Brown, Conor Bowen, and Ryan Williams each found the back of the net in a comprehensive win.

Analysis:

The 14th December 2024 fixtures saw a blend of thrilling draws and dominant victories. Broad Haven and Solva shared the spoils in an action-packed 4-4 draw, while Fishguard Sports, Hakin United II, and Narberth all secured convincing wins. Narberth’s 6-1 triumph over Lawrenny was the standout result of the day, highlighting their attacking firepower.