Sport

4 ways horse racing remains part of West Wales sporting life

Published

46 seconds ago

January 21, 2026

Pembrokeshire has no permanent racecourse, yet horse racing still finds a place in everyday sporting life across west Wales. From rural fields hosting traditional meetings to packed minibuses heading east on race days, the sport travels well beyond the rails.

That persistence is not accidental. Racing has long fitted the rhythms of farming communities, weekend socialising, and regional travel, adapting to local circumstances rather than disappearing when facilities are absent. In 2026, it remains a shared reference point, even for those who only engage from a distance.

What matters is not just the spectacle of big events, but how racing threads itself through habits and decisions made closer to home. These quieter connections help explain why the sport continues to matter locally.

Local point-to-point traditions

Grassroots point-to-point racing has long bridged the gap between elite courses and rural life in west Wales. These meetings, often staged on farmland, turn sport into a community event, blending competition with socialising and fundraising. Families attend as much for the atmosphere as the racing itself.

These events underline how racing culture survives without grandstands. The focus is on continuity, keeping familiar customs alive while quietly absorbing new ways of engaging with the sport.

Travel to regional race meetings

When Pembrokeshire residents want the full racecourse experience, travel fills the gap. Trips to Ffos Las or Chepstow are regular fixtures in many diaries, turning race days into planned outings rather than spontaneous visits. Transport, food stops, and overnight stays all become part of the occasion.

Preparation for these days now mixes tradition with modern routines. Conversations about form and fixtures increasingly happen online during the week, and it is common for followers to glance at early indicators when planning a visit. For many, that includes checking midweek previews and scanning resources like tomorrow’s horse racing tips as part of deciding which races to follow and when to gather. The information rarely dominates the day, but it adds to the sense of shared anticipation and helps racegoers plan ahead.

Nationally, racing’s scale helps explain why these visits and bets matter. A parliamentary debate confirmed that the sport contributes over £4 billion annually to the UK economy. That economic footprint filters down to regions like West Wales through travel spending and hospitality.

The real point is less about headline numbers and more about habit. Regular travel keeps racing visible, reinforcing it as a normal leisure choice rather than a distant niche interest.

High street and hospitality links

Race days rarely exist in isolation. Pubs open early for televised coverage, cafés time busy periods around afternoon cards, and accommodation providers benefit from visitors passing through the county en route to meetings. These links may be informal, but they are consistent.

That makes policy changes a local concern. A regional forecast reported by the Monmouthshire Beacon warns that proposed betting tax harmonisation could remove £18 million from the Welsh economy over five years and cost 168 jobs in the first year alone. Even areas without a course would feel the knock-on effects.

For Pembrokeshire, the issue is about resilience. When racing activity contracts elsewhere, the secondary spend that reaches local high streets and hospitality venues shrinks with it.

Race days in the weekly diary

Beyond travel and spending, racing maintains a quieter presence in weekly routines. Fixtures are pencilled in alongside football matches and community events, often forming the backdrop to social gatherings rather than the sole focus.

Employment figures help explain this reach: horse racing supports around 85,000 jobs across the UK. That workforce extends into media, transport, and leisure, shaping how and when people encounter the sport.

For West Wales, the takeaway is simple. Horse racing endures not because of proximity to a track, but because it adapts to local patterns of life. As long as those routines persist, the sport will continue to find its place in Pembrokeshire’s sporting landscape.

Sport

Carmarthen’s Rhys grabs podium place after gruelling Dubai 24-hour race

Published

2 days ago

January 19, 2026

Herald Sport

CARMARTHEN racing driver Rhys Lloyd achieved his goal at the Dubai 24 Hour at the weekend, earning a place on the podium after completing the demanding endurance event.

The forty-year-old finished third in his class at the all-day-and-all-night race at Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates, after falling short on his previous two attempts.

Lloyd, a Carmarthen-based property businessman and founder of the Dragon Sport racing team, was part of a four-man French outfit, Circuit Toys with Toyota Gazoo Racing France. He competed in a Toyota Supra GT4 Evo2 and was the only Welshman in the field, which included almost 286 drivers across 68 cars.

Speaking on the flight home, he said: “The aim of the weekend was to get to the end of the event and see what the outcome was. To come third in class and also being so close to getting second place on the last lap after twenty-four hours of racing, was just brilliant.

“The event was fantastic to be part of and we gave it everything we could as a team and personally. The car was incredible and didn’t let us down through the twenty-four hours which is such a great test for the vehicle.”

Lloyd said warmer-than-usual conditions added to the challenge, alongside what he described as one of the strongest entries for years.

“The level of competition was the highest for many years with the biggest entry,” he said. “The general race pace over the twenty-four hours was high.

“I felt quite relaxed going into the event with me having some experience from the previous two years of competing. I had a reasonable level of expectations and knowing what to expect over the race period.”

He added that the most difficult period came overnight and at first light, when incidents across the field tested teams’ concentration.

“The night and dawn were particularly challenging times of the race with many incidents at these times of the race to navigate through,” he said.

The Dubai 24 Hour, first held in 2006, is regarded as a major winter endurance fixture for international GT teams, with crews typically sharing driving duties across four or five drivers. The event’s long hours of darkness are seen as one of its defining tests, with more than half the race run at night.

Lloyd previously competed in 2020 and 2021 but failed to reach the finish on either occasion — once due to a mechanical issue and once after an accident.

With this year’s podium secured, he said attention is already turning to the rest of 2026.

“We are now finalising plans for the start of the 2026 season in April,” he said. “We are hopeful to be able to continue with a programme with Toyota for the season. Our next aim will be to compete in the 12 Hour of Mugello in Italy.”

Lloyd’s motorsport career began in karting, where he won Welsh titles in 1999 and 2000. He later moved into rallying and circuit racing, with notable success including the 2008 Welsh Sports and Saloon Car Championship. After a period away from regular competition to focus on business, he returned to endurance racing, recording major results in European long-distance events and in Britcar — winning the 2023 Britcar Endurance Championship overall.

Picture caption: Delighted: Carmarthen’s Rhys Lloyd on the rostrum after completing the Dubai 24 Hour race.

Rhys Lloyd – notable success

1999 Welsh Karting Champion
2000 Welsh Karting Champion
2006 Cambrian Rally class winner; Tour of Epynt class winner
2007 Tom Price Trophy winner
2008 LMA Euro National Saloon Car Champion
2008 Welsh Sports and Saloon Car Champion
2020 Hockenheim 18hr (Germany) class winner – VW Golf TCR (Autorama)
2021 Hockenheim 18hr runner-up – VW Golf TCR (Autorama)
2021 Paul Ricard 12hr (France) runner-up – VW Golf TCR (Autorama)
2023 Britcar Endurance Championship (UK) overall and class champion

Sport

Amman United 12 Milford Haven 10 (abandoned after 79 minutes)

Published

3 days ago

January 18, 2026

Herald Sport

A SPIKY encounter at Cwmamman Park ended in abandonment with literally seconds remaining after an altercation between the referee and members of the Milford Haven coaching team on the touchline.

Amman appeared to have rescued victory from the jaws of defeat with a last-gasp try from skipper Rhydian Jones and Lee Evans’ cool conversion. But the match ultimately finished in confusion after the referee decided to abandon the contest in the dying moments.

The first half was a scrappy affair, played largely in midfield, with both sides cancelling each other out and little attacking play inside either 22. Amman’s defence stood firm, the scrum was rock solid and the lineout functioned well.

Keelan Griffiths and Dylan Lloyd enjoyed some bright moments in the backs, while Alun Lewis, Cian Lewis, Matthew Madge and, in particular, “captain fantastic” Rhydian Jones made good yards for the home side.

Amman lost flanker Owain Brayley early on after a leg injury and he was taken to hospital, with Caian Francis coming on in his place.

From a lineout and driving maul, Alun Lewis was hauled down short of the line, but the next phase saw him surge over from close range after 25 minutes. It proved to be the only score of a tight first half, with Amman deserving their lead.

The second half grew increasingly tetchy and, following a dust-up in midfield, Milford’s prop and Amman’s Shaun Watkins were both shown yellow cards.

Amman made a front-row change with Daniel James entering the fray, but the home side spent long periods under pressure as the visitors turned the screw. Milford enjoyed a sustained spell hammering at the tryline and, after Amman’s defence had held out for ten minutes, the dam finally broke when the visitors drove over from close range with around eight minutes remaining.

Amman then conceded a penalty and Milford, with confidence growing, ate up more of the clock before slotting the kick to move ahead at 10-5, seemingly sealing the win.

But with virtually the last play, Iestyn Griffiths kicked to touch, Amman won the lineout and the forwards took it on before Jones crept over for a scrappy try to level the scores. Evans still had the conversion to make — and he calmly landed it.

With the referee consulting his watch and play disrupted by an injury to a Milford player, the Milford staff then entered the pitch in the dying seconds, sparking an altercation and a prolonged discussion with the referee. Moments later, the match was abandoned, leaving players and supporters scratching their heads.

It was unclear afterwards whether the result would stand, or whether the fixture would have to be replayed.

Sport

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association results: Week 13

Published

3 days ago

January 18, 2026

Herald Sport

EAST Williamston maintained their strong form with a 6-4 win over Reynalton, while St Twynnells and St Johns both recorded emphatic 10-0 victories against Badgers and Lamphey respectively.

Carew edged past Llanteg 6-4, and Hundleton beat Kilgetty 7-3.

There was also one catch-up match played, with East Williamston taking an 8-2 win away at Carew. Cosheston had a bye.

Results
Carew 6 Llanteg 4
Hundleton 7 Kilgetty 3
East Williamston 6 Reynalton 4
St Twynnells 10 Badgers 0
St Johns 10 Lamphey 0

Catch-up match
Carew 2 East Williamston 8

Bye: Cosheston

League table (after Week 13)
Team – Played / Won / Drawn / Lost / Shot diff / Points

East Williamston – 12 / 10 / 0 / 2 / +137 / 86
St Johns – 12 / 7 / 1 / 4 / +80 / 72
Hundleton – 12 / 7 / 1 / 4 / +26 / 69
Reynalton – 12 / 5 / 2 / 5 / +29 / 62
Carew – 12 / 6 / 0 / 6 / -49 / 59
St Twynnells – 11 / 5 / 2 / 4 / -13 / 58
Kilgetty – 12 / 5 / 0 / 7 / -57 / 49
Llanteg – 10 / 4 / 0 / 6 / -27 / 47
Badgers – 12 / 3 / 1 / 8 / -80 / 45
Lamphey – 12 / 5 / 0 / 7 / -33 / 44
Cosheston – 9 / 3 / 1 / 5 / -13 / 40

Results submitted by Steve Cox, league fixtures secretary.