Sport

Pembrokeshire jockey competes at Welsh Grand National

Published

9 years ago

January 28, 2016

18- YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire Jockey Sean Bowen was amongst the runners at the re-arranged Welsh Grand National, aboard the Rebecca Curtis trained Bob Ford.

Ford went off a 14-1 shot and led for much of the race, ahead of eventual winner Mountainous, as the leaders went off at a blistering early pace. After being rescheduled from Boxing Day due to horrific weather conditions, it was no surprise that the ground was heavy, and the stamina-sapping ground took its toll on the runners as they began to emerge up the back straight. Favourites Upswing, Cogry and Emperor’s Choice were never in the frame, as Saroque began to emerge as a rival to Bowen’s Bob Ford at the end of the first circuit.

That Bob Ford should be at the head of the field was no surprise to many racing enthusiasts, as he has a strong fondness for front running, but as the final bend began to grow nearer, so too did Mountainous. Unfortunately Bowen capsized on Bob Ford on the run in and it was left to Mountainous to claim victory, and the 11-year-old had no hesitation in doing so. Although Bowen narrowly missed out at the last during this race, he has been tipped as the ‘next AP McCoy’ and has received high praise from the man he currently rides for, legendry trainer Paul Nicholls, who said last year: “I always thought Sean was a great talent, but he’s just improved enormously. He’s got a great knack of making horses run, he’s very strong and for a 17-year-old lad to go and ride round there like that is just awesome.”

Sean is the son of Pembrokeshire trainers Karen and Peter, and with the family so steeped in racing heritage it is no surprise that he is on the path to greatness. He won the coveted title of Leading Conditional Jockey of season 2014-2015 after a battle that went down to the final day of his first season as a professional. He is the youngest ever winner of this title following in the footsteps of the sport’s greatest names.

Sean won two ‘Lesters’ at the prestigious 2015 awards night, was voted Conditional Jockey of the Year by his fellow jockeys, and was winner of the Jump Ride of the Year in a public vote. This recognition followed a successful career in pony racing and pointing. Then, still an amateur, Sean won on his first ever ride under Rules, and followed up with a win on one of his father’s runners in his mother’s colours. Sean had previously won the Wilkinson Sword awarded each year to the leading UK novice rider in point to points.

Sport

Letterston marksman wins junior athlete award

Published

3 days ago

January 21, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A TALENTED young athlete from Letterston has been honoured at the British Shooting Awards 2024.

Seren Thorne was shortlisted for the prestigious awards and attended the gala event held at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester. To the delight of her family and supporters, Seren was named the winner of the Rifle Pathway / Junior Athlete of the Year award.

This accolade highlights Seren’s exceptional skill and dedication to the sport, marking her as one of the rising stars in British shooting.

Her mother, Sian Thorne, expressed immense pride in Seren’s achievement, sharing photos of the memorable evening.

The British Shooting Awards 2024 celebrated excellence in the sport, with a full list of winners available on their official website.

PHOTO CAPTION: Champion marksman: Seren Thorne receiving the Rifle Pathway / Junior Athlete of the Year award (Pic: Supplied).

Sport

Previewing the 2025 Super Bowl

Published

3 days ago

January 20, 2025

Staff Writer

Each year millions of people across the world gather to watch one of the biggest sporting events of the year – the Super Bowl. Last year, 3.4 million people in the UK watched the Super Bowl, up 1.1 million from the previous year. Considering the growth in popularity of American football in the UK, we anticipate the viewership will be even higher for 2025.

The 2025 Super Bowl is scheduled to take place on 9 February 2025 at Caesars Superdrome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

NFL teams

12 teams began competing for a spot in the 2025 Super Bowl when the playoffs began on January 11. At this point, four teams were eliminated. This now leaves eight teams to compete in the Divisional playoffs. Four of these will make it to the Conference Championships before contesting for a spot at this year’s Super Bowl.

The eight teams left with a shot at competing in the 2025 Super Bowl are:

Philadelphia Eagles
Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Bills
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Rams
Washington Commanders

Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs took the title for the second year in a row. However, the latest Super Bowl odds puts the Detroit Lions as the favourites to win this year’s Super Bowl, following a series of impressive performances in the regular season.

The national anthem and halftime show

Before the game commences, a special guest performs the national anthem. Last year, Reba McEntire offered a moving performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, and this year the task falls to jazz singer Jon Batiste.

It’s not just the football match that people look forward to. Super Bowl halftime shows are a spectacle in themselves and many look forward to the performance as much as the game itself. This year, 17-time grammy winner Kendrick Lamar is headlining the halftime show. Lamar previously headlined the Super Bowl in 2022.

How can I watch the Super Bowl in the UK?

The Super Bowl is being broadcast to fans free on ITV, including live online via ITVX on your laptop, mobile, or tablet.

Sky Sports is also broadcasting the event which you can watch online via Sky Go, NOW TV, or using the Sky Sports mobile app. You could also head to your local pub as plenty of pubs in Pembrokeshire will be showing the big game.

Will you be tuning in?

With a surge in popularity for American Football, it’s anticipated that more people from the UK than ever before will be turning their TVs on for the big event this year. Will you be watching this year’s Super Bowl?

Sport

Division Four West rugby: Thrills and tight contests on a chilly Saturday

Published

4 days ago

January 19, 2025

Herald Sport

Exciting matches, hard-fought battles, and standout performances define the weekend’s action.

Dreigiau Emlyn Edge Harlequins in Close Contest
Dreigiau Emlyn 21 – Pembroke Dock Harlequins 15
Dreigiau Emlyn secured a narrow victory over Pembroke Dock Harlequins, strengthening their position in the top half of the table. Gethin Davies scored two crucial tries, while Deiniol Rees added three penalties and a conversion to steer the hosts to victory. The Harlequins kept the game competitive with tries from Craig Barnett and Tom Donovan, with Ben Hathaway converting one and kicking a penalty. However, Emlyn’s composed performance ensured they held on for the win.

Teirw Crymych Outgun Llangwm in High-Scorer
Llangwm 22 – Teirw Crymych 33
Teirw Crymych powered to a 33-22 victory over bottom-placed Llangwm, bolstering their challenge for the league’s top spots. Sion Williams and Morgan Jones led the visitors’ try-scoring efforts, with additional tries from Sion Owen and Nick Bevan. Adam Phillips was reliable from the tee, adding four conversions. Llangwm fought back with tries from Aidan Rees and Ryan Banner, while Harry Makepeace contributed two conversions and a penalty. Despite their spirited display, the hosts couldn’t match Crymych’s attacking prowess.

St Davids Win Key Clash Against Llanybydder
Llanybydder 17 – St Davids 29
St Davids took a significant step away from the relegation zone with a vital 29-17 win over Llanybydder. Harvey Godkin, Nathan Foster, Zac Morgan, and Morgan Griffiths all crossed the whitewash for the visitors, with Bob Froy converting three and adding a penalty to secure a bonus-point victory. Llanybydder’s John Evans delivered an impressive hat-trick of tries, with one conversion by Matthew Rowlands, but St Davids’ all-round performance proved too much for the home side.