News

Climb for gold with The Hangout

Published

9 years ago

August 19, 2016

SPORT climbing is the latest addition to the Olympic Games and The Hangout in Haverfordwest offers an excellent facility for climbers of all ages.

Located at the Leisure Centre, the 10m high wall is the biggest of its kind west of Swansea.

The Hangout welcomes climbers of all abilities and if climbing is your thing, you could find yourself going to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Even if you don’t want to train for the Olympics, you can still come along and push yourself to the limit to see how high you can go.

Liz Collyer is Climbing Wall Coordinator at ‘The Hangout’ and she said the news was a great boost for the climbing community.

“I am thrilled that climbing is getting the attention it deserves; it’s a fantastic sport filled with friendly people having a brilliant time,” said Liz.

“It’s a full body workout with some mental challenges thrown in. You definitely know you’ve worked hard when you’ve been climbing as I’m sure many people can attest to!

“Climbing certainly lives up to the Olympic motto of Faster-Higher- Stronger.”

Pembrokeshire is a world-class climbing area and its dramatic cliffs attract thousands of climbers every year.

The county boasts some 3,000 routes, with the limestone cliffs on the south coast near St Govan’s Head proving particularly impressive.

Liz said The Hangout aims to complement the interest in climbing, and has proved popular among climbers of all abilities.

“It’s suitable not only for those who want to learn to climb but also for more experienced climbers, as it has a variety of routes and a two-metre overhang, as well as lead walls,” she said.

“The wall can accommodate up to 40 climbers at any one time with routes graded from an easy 3 to a difficult 7c. The routes are also changed regularly to keep climbers on their toes!”

This September sees the launch of a brand new nationally-backed programme at The Hangout, thanks to recent accreditation with NICAS, the National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme.

The scheme provides a clear structure for climbers to develop their skills and have their achievements recognised – from complete novices to experienced indoor climbers.

Cllr Elwyn Morse, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, congratulated The Hangout team on the accreditation. “It’s less than a year since the wall opened to the public, so this is a great achievement and will no doubt encourage more people to have a go at climbing or improve their skills,” he said. “Who knows, it might also be the springboard to Pembrokeshire having its own Olympic climber in years to come!”

The Hangout offers a number of different courses, including taster sessions, instructed sessions and competency tests.

They also cater for young children aged 8-12 with the Cheeky Chimps club, which takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and you can also book for birthday parties.

There is also The Hangout Club for children aged 13-16, which takes place on Friday and Saturday.

For times of all sessions, you can go to www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/leisure or find Haverfordwest Leisure Centre on Facebook.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

11 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

11 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

11 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.