Sport
Team of the week: Fishguard Sports AFC
AT THE half way stage of the season Fishguard Sports AFC are making great progress as a club throughout the Pembrokeshire League. Both the junior and minis teams are growing by the minute, which is encouraging news for the future of the club.
Although the minis are not in a league or cup structure, there is fantastic talent been spotted and great performances been noted. Both the junior teams are part of a league and cup structure; they have put in some great performances against bigger, stronger clubs and have improved vastly as the games get more competitive.
All this is down to hard work carried out by players in training, coaches who give up their free time and also the support they get from parents and other family members. As a club they are very grateful to all of you for your effort, support and commitment to which Fishguard is very proud to have you aboard.
The club have also started a number of girls football teams, which is a first for the club and turning out to be very successful. They have managed to form two Under 12s, two Under 14s and one under 16s, to which the standard is very high for the county. Again the support from parents and family members is a credit to the club and encourages the development of the girls who take part.
This year will also be a first for the club for a newly formed junior disability team. The team have been training since September 2013 and will hopefully play their first tournament in March 2014.
Both the senior teams are having mixed fortunes midway through the season, with the first team sitting third from bottom in Division 2, but have progressed through to the Senior Cup quarter finals. The second team is sitting mid-table in Division 5 are hoping for a more consistency in performances to climb higher and have an outside chance of promotion. There is a long way to go yet, but both teams are always committed and who knows some silverware, keep it up lads.
As you will be aware at the moment the club are hosting all their minis and junior games at the Grange and using the facilities provided by the local Leisure Centre for changing for all teams. Although this is convenient it does come at a cost which filters through to the players themselves to fund.
Presently the club has secured £25,000 from Sports Council of Wales’ development grant to develop the site in Tregroes on the outskirts of Fishguard. The development will cost £65,000; this will make way for two pitches to accommodate all teams that play for the club on a weekly basis.
The club will find out early in April 2014 if they are through to the next phase of a grant application to the “Sita Trust” for £40,000. If successful the club will be able to start developing the pitches and hopefully be able to move out there in the not so distant future. There is currently a vacancy on the committee as club secretary, anyone interested can contact 07966 936126.
The club try to keep the weekly charge for football to a minimum, but there are significant costs to run all the teams, fundraising is therefore of paramount importance.
The club would like to wish all their sponsors old and new continued success for 2014.
Sport
A history of horse racing in Wales
Horse racing is deeply rooted in Welsh culture and the history of the sport can be traced back to the 18th century. As early as the 19th century, it had become a popular form of entertainment amongst Welsh residents and attracted people from all over the country.
Nowadays horse racing is a thrilling sport enjoyed by millions across the UK. With over 49,015 race meetings held between 2017 and 2021, it’s clear that the sport is more popular in the UK than ever before.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the history of horse racing in Wales and how it has evolved into what it is today.
The beginnings of horse racing in Wales
Horse racing in Wales began in the 18th century and was mainly enjoyed by royal members or those of a higher social status. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the sport became more widespread.
By 1833, horse race competitions were regularly organised throughout the country, predominantly in Cowbridge, Haverfordwest, Conwy, Aberystwyth, Brecon, and Wrexham. Cowbridge in particular attracted spectators from all over the country.
Over the next few decades, horse racing became increasingly popular. Not only did heavy betting on races become conventional, but the events also created large crowds and disorderly behaviour.
Eventually race days became problematic in some circles. As a result, in the late 19th century, religious leaders felt pressure to take action. This led to races at Wrexham being postponed for almost three decades.
Welsh racecourses
Midway through the 20th century, most of the country’s racecourses closed. This came after a decline in popularity and participation caused by the cost of keeping and breeding horses and the introduction of other leisure activities. Now, only a few racecourses remain in Wales – Chepstow, Bangor-on-Dee and Ffos Las.
Modern day horse racing
Whilst just three racecourses remain in Wales, horse racing attracts around 160,000 customers a year, and the popularity of the sport is increasing. One of the country’s racecourses, Bangor-on-Dee, saw a rise in attendance of almost 3,000 spectators between 2014 and 2023.
The dwindling popularity of betting
Betting has been prevalent in horse racing since its inception. Today, in Wales, off-course betting remains popular – particularly with punters who watch the action at Chepstow from home. After all, the introduction of online betting has made the process of making a bet easy and people are using sites like this GG horse racing betting page to find the right bookies and the best odds.
But, despite being a prominent form of betting, it has seen a decline in popularity in recent years. In 2009, the annual turnover of off-course betting in the UK was just over £5.7 million, but by 2023, this number had reduced to just over £3.3 million.
The future of horse racing in Wales
Wales has a rich history when it comes to horse racing. It’s clear that whilst the desire for betting on horse races has seen a decline, the sport itself is still as thrilling as ever for spectators and will most likely remain a popular form of entertainment for years to come.
Sport
Devonald’s hat-trick secures St Ishmaels’ dominant win over Herbrandston
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
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.
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