Sport

Pembroke County Cricket Club AGM notice

Published

6 years ago

January 24, 2018

By Jonathan Twigg

NOTIFICATION has been distributed by the Pembroke County Cricket Club giving notification of their Annual General Meeting at Haverfordwest Cricket Club on Wednesday (Feb 28).

In the notification it asks for notices of motions to be received by the Hon Secretary Steve Blowes by the end of January.

There is also a vacancy on the County Executive and Finance Committee for one new member as Andrew Miller [Neyland] has stood down, like Richard Harries [Cresselly] who has relinquished his position from the Senior Selection Committee.

The County Executive and Finance Committee is represented by 12 different Clubs, half of the number playing in the Pembrokeshie League next season.

President for the third year will be Nick Evans [Narberth], who joined the County Executive committee in 1991, two years after the oldest serving member of the committee and his predecessor as President, Dai Morris [unattached].

After Richard Scriven [Haverfordwest] was co-opted onto the committee mid season, Haverfordwest have three members Llechryd two, with representation from Cresselly, Pembroke Dock, Whitland, Kilgetty, Stackpole and Neyland.

The committee has on it three members with an association to the Pembrokeshire Junior Regional Council, whilst no fewer than ten have a link to the Pembrokeshire Association Cricket Umpires.

The Senior Selection committee is made up of the current President Nick Evans, former President Dai Morris, former Chairman Tony Scourfield [Carew] and current Vice Chairman Richard Merriman [Kilgetty].

Pembrokeshire cricket last season came into the limelight when a Disciplinary committee found Carew and their Captain Brian Hall guilty of ‘bringing the game into disrepute’ following their controversial declaration on the last game of the season that allowed them to win the Pembroke league title.

Hall has been banned for 12 months, with a reprieve from the end of June and his Club relegated to Division 2 and fined £300.

Carew did not technically break any rules, but complaints were received and a four-man County Club disciplinary committee invoked the penalty. This opened a wide debate in the cricket fraternity and there is an expectation that rule changes will be proposed as a result of last seasons shenanigans.

There is also rumour that the rule on restricting players eligibility to participate in the Pembrokeshire League will be removed. It came into being in 2001 after Lamphey cricketer Dave served a writ against the County Cricket club as he deemed the judgement by a disciplinary committee, which banned him from playing as unfair. It turned out to be an unhallowed mess ending with Barristers in the High Court, that kept Pembrokeshire cricket in the news for all the wrong reasons.

The resultant change in rules not only put paid to professional cricketers gracing the fields of Pembrokeshire, it also undoubtedly lessened the standard within the local game. Lamphey, where Lovell played, were trail blazers in enticing ‘paid’ cricketers to their club with Drakes causing more than a storm in a tea cup as the village side from outside Pembrokeshire played him in Division 4 of the local league, against many second XI’s.

‘It’s just not cricket’ was the cry, but the games were played and with them the controversy ensued although Drakes was a gentleman, both on and off the pitch. He was paid to bowl quick, which he did for four seasons with the ‘Stags’ before playing first class cricket for Sussex, Warwickshire and Leicestershire as well as many International appearances.

After Drakes’ departure the Club was also fortunate to acquire the services of ‘imports’, West Indian [Tyrone Greenway], South African [Neil Warren] and Australians [Bret Johnson, Dave Lovell & Geoff Cullen] to represent the Club. One such player, Brendan Nash, who despite being born in Australia played for the international cricket for the West Indies, as it was his father’s birthplace.

Pembrokeshire’s finest again cried loudly that Lamphey ‘were spoiling local cricket’ or even ‘ruining the game for others’ and some women were even spotted waving wads of money in the direction of Lamphey players when hollering abuse. Pembroke County Cricket Club responded to the dislike of Lamphey and their foreign policy by changing their rules on ‘eligibility’ to play in the league’ preventing a Club or an individual paying them to play.

It was changed to stop Lamphey, a small village on the outskirts of Pembroke through their ‘Godfather’ John Green from ruffling the feathers. League winners of Division 4 in 1992, moving through Division 3 as champions the following year and taking three years to reach the top echelon.

Have times changed or is it just the club name which has now invoked the possibility of a rule change?

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Sport

Spotlight – Milford United

Published

3 days ago

December 3, 2023

Herald Sport

We recently sat down with Milford United manager Steve Parks, we timed it well on the back of an outstanding 7-1 win at Marble Hall. The season has started extremely well for Parks’ men, many may have predicted a relegation dog fight this season. However as the weeks and games tick by this seems to be very unlikely as the boys from Marble Hall prove they belong in the top division.

Herald Thanks for your time Steve, a fantastic win for you yesterday beating Tenby 7-1, how do you reflect on that?

Steve Yesterday was a great win against a good Tenby side who have been strong this season. To win this tie and score 7 was a true reflection of our ability as a team and our willingness to play the ball through the right channels.

Herald Assuming stabilising division one status is your priority this season? You seem to have had a very positive start, is that how you see it?

Steve To progress into the last 16 of the West Wales Cup is a true reflection of our cup performances this season beating three first division teams, one from Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire with 21 goals scored and only 2 conceded.
This seasons objective was to remain in the 1st Division and gain valuable experience along the way . We have a mixture of youth and experience in our squad and potential to improve as a team as the season progresses.

Herald Who have been your stand out players so far this season?

Steve As a Manager I am conscientious about
naming stand out players, all squad members have had a part to play this season. We have a young talented goalkeeper who is growing with confidence with every game he plays. We are very strong in defence and have creative midfield players that offer our forwards plenty of opportunities in front of goal.

Herald With the two cup competitions still alive for you and mid table in the league so far. What would be deemed a successful season for you this season?

Steve A successful season for Milford united would be to finish mid table in the League, have a good Senior Cup and West Wales Cup run. The season started well winning the Joe Lennon Cup which we haven’t won for a very long time. We as a club are looking forward to the challenges ahead of us for the rest of the 23/24 season and hope to be as competitive as we can.

Sport

West Wales Cup Round Up 02/12/23

Published

3 days ago

December 3, 2023

Herald Sport

Unfortunately the weather got the better of the majority of fixtures this weekend in Pembrokeshire and indeed West Wales. However the games that did go ahead provided us with plenty of action and plenty to talk about.

In the West Wales Cup, Milford United hit 7 in a huge victory over Tenby. We expected this to be a close affair with both clubs having similar records so far in the league and having drawn earlier in the season. However yesterday was a complete dominance for the hosts, Scott Reid with a hat-rick, two penalties for Liam Parr and a goal a piece for Grimwood and Parks. It sees Milford into the next round of the competition and it’ll be a shock to the system for Tenby. Milford host Monkton Swifts in the league next week and it’ll be another opportunity to make a statement in their first season back in the top division.

A brace for Anthony Couzens ensured Fishguard Sports’ progressed to the next round of the competition, as they defeated AFC Glais 4-3. The cup proved a nice break from what has been a tricky season in the league so far for Phil Jones and his men.

Carew came out on top of the all Pembrokeshire tie in the West Wales Cup at the Gerald Hicks Recreation Ground. They defeated Pennar Robins 6-2, as they welcomed Sam Christopher back to the club after a spell elsewhere. Christopher was on the score sheet along with Hinchcliffe (2) who also got an assist and is in top form. Curtis Hurlow also popped up with a rare goal for the defender, youngster Archie Smith also getting on the score sheet in a win sure to please manager Scott Richards.

The West Wales Cup fixtures that didn’t take place yesterday will be re scheduled for next Saturday, taking precedence over any scheduled fixture.

News

Sporting achievements celebrated at the Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2023

Published

4 days ago

December 2, 2023

Tom Sinclair

The remarkable achievements of Pembrokeshire’s sporting community were celebrated at a glittering awards ceremony on Friday evening, November 24^th.

The Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2023 were held at Folly Farm and paid tribute to efforts both on and off the pitch by sports people, coaches and volunteers alike.

Record nominations had been received as the awards continue to go from strength to strength.

The judges had an extremely difficult task to whittle the numbers firstly down to finalists and then deserving winners.

The winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award was race walking star Heather Warner who has represented both Wales and Team GB at the highest levels.

A Pembrokeshire Harrier, Heather soon discovered a natural talent for race walking and it was no surprise that a collection of local and national titles followed.

Welsh and Team GB vests at both junior and senior level were the natural progression in her career.

Heather collected a fantastic seventh place in the Commonwealth Games in 2018 on Australia’s Gold Coast and a British record followed in Birmingham four years later to go with a brilliant sixth place.

While competing around the world Heather has always continued to coach at Pembrokeshire Harriers and passing on the breadth of her knowledge and experience and is a worthy winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023.

“Heather’s outstanding success, coupled with an obvious desire to one day guide others, can only help raise the profile of the sport in a positive way,” said Geoff Williams from BBC Wales, who presented Heather with her award.

The winner of the Chairman’s Special Achievement Award, presented by Cllr Thomas Tudor, was Makala Jones.

Makala has taught cold water confidence and a proper swimming technique to countless people of all ages in Pembrokeshire, enabling them to enjoy the coastline all year round. She also successfully swum the English channel solo in July this year.

She has been described as a legend, an inspiration, a real-life super hero, great fun to be around, a role model proving you can achieve your dreams and an incredibly strong and helpful human being.

In presenting her award, Cllr Tudor said what makes her so special is her passion for sharing the benefits of outdoor swimming for improved mental health.

This year the School Award was won by Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi.

The judges were impressed by the wide range of sports and activities provided by and hosted by Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi and how the school is a focal point for sports health and wellbeing in the St Davids community and surrounding areas.

Under Headteacher Rachel Thomas and Head of Wellbing Bruce Evans, young people are given the opportunity to try a wide variety of sports and activities to embed a love of staying active and protecting the natural environment from an early age.

It was also a significant evening with the announcement that host Bill Carne would be retiring after 17 years presenting the awards.

Matthew Freeman, manager of Sport Pembrokeshire, paid tribute to his dedication and professionalism over the years.

“Bill Carne has become synonymous with the Sport Pembrokeshire Awards and is rightly regarded as the voice of sport in Pembrokeshire,” he said.

“Sport Pembrokeshire are truly honoured to have had his support at the awards for all these years along with his wider support in advocating and raising the profile of the work that Sport Pembrokeshire team do across the county.

“Bill can now retreat from the stage and enjoy the evening from the audience’s vantage point and enjoy the spectacle that is the Sport Pembrokeshire awards.”

The other winners are as follows: