Sport

Antwhistle praises Pembrokeshire’s best

Published

7 years ago

February 20, 2018

GRAEME ANTWHISTLE, Head Coach of Swim Wales visited Pembrokeshire County Swimming for a two day review of their development pathway on Thursday (Feb 7) and Friday (Feb 9).

Swim Wales work closely with their Regional Development Centres where Antwhistle has a critical friend role towards supporting Pembrokeshire Head Coach Craig Nelson and his Assistant Sam Jones who are working with the best swimmers in Pembrokeshire.

The overall aim is one of driving forward a pathway for producing success on the international stage, with the Governing Body offering opportunities to all swimmers in the Principality to reach that goal.

Pembrokeshire County is an integral cog in this wheel where swimmers in the National Performance squad and National Development squad are on his radar and from his recent visit he commented, “I’m impressed with the progress with swimmers from Pembrokeshire, where it was a noted success their performances at the Swim Wales Welsh Winter Open.”

Prior to taking up his position with Swim Wales Antwhistle was High Performance Coach for British Swimming based at Bath National Centre, an impressive credential for a man who has been coaching for over two decades.

Antwhistle has guided athletes such as Michael Jamieson, Jazz Carlin, Siobhan O’Connor and Andrew Willis to a combined 5 Olympic silver medals, attending high profile events on behalf of Great Britain at the European Youth Olympic Games, European Junior Championships, World Junior Championships, World Championships and Olympic Games.

Antwhistle has an abundance of skills, knowledge and a positive personality where his enthusiasm rubs off on swimmers, coaches and parents as Swim Wales strive to develop their performance pathway for clubs and coaches.

Antwhistle went on to say: “The progress of Pembrokeshire swimmers is clearly visible from when I last visited in November; credit to the squad for taking on board the messages of both support and challenges that I have set them as they are responding.

“If they can see the progress within their training and recognise what they are doing well whilst also having an objective view of the areas they need to improve, then they can believe in themselves to deliver the performance they deserve at next month’s Easter National championships.”

The Pembrokeshire squads have the support of a volunteer committee, headed by Chairman Paul Hayley (Tenby Dolphins), who works closely with the coaching team, Swim Wales and Pembrokeshire Leisure who are funding partners in the initiative.

Recent developments have seen the swimmers working under the guidance of Strength and Academy Wales and Claire Davies [Physiologist] to provide the best opportunity for achieving success.

Antiwhistle concluded: “The biggest challenge is to maintain focus as all of the ten performance clubs in Wales are now receiving this level of support and we are aiming for the sport to become ever more competitive.”

With Swimming on such a high in the County, the performance programme is attracting swimmers who weren’t previously based in the County which shows there is no better time to join the umbrella pathway for swimming.

Young people, after completing Wave 6 of the Learn to Swim programme can join one of six development clubs (Pembroke & District; Tenby Dolphin; Haverfordwest Seals; Milford Tigers; Fishguard Flyers and Preseli Panthers) and could then progress to the Performance Squads and possibly International success.

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Education

Pupils’ multi-sports event hits the target

Published

2 hours ago

July 8, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MORE than 60 pupils have enjoyed trying out a range of different sports in a special
Sport Pembrokeshire event held last month

The event was held at Ysgol Glannau Gwaun with 65 pupils
from Years, 4,5 and 6 and the ALN unit taking part.

The sessions were run by local community clubs and Young Ambassadors from
Ysgol Bro Gwaun with pupils getting to enjoy rugby, cricket, hockey, archery and golf.
Sharon Osborne from Ysgol Glannau Gwaun, said: “Thanks to Sport Pembrokeshire
for organising a fantastic morning of activities for our pupils. They all thoroughly
enjoyed themselves.”

Dan Bellis of Sport Pembrokeshire, added: “A big thanks to Fishguard & Goodwick
Hockey Club, Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club and the Young Ambassadors
from Ysgol Bro Gwaun for putting on a fabulous morning of activities in glorious
sunshine!

“A big well done to all the pupils from Ysgol Glannau Gwaun for their effort and
enthusiasm throughout the morning.”

Sport

Cresselly stay top as Lawrenny skittle Llangwm for just 39

Published

4 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Herald Sport

Dominant wins across the divisions as league tables begin to take shape

CRESSELLY retained their place at the top of Division 1 of the Thomas Carroll Pembroke County Cricket League with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Burton on Saturday (July 5).

Charlie Arthur led the chase with an unbeaten 65, while Simon Cole ripped through Burton’s batting with 4-8. The reply was brisk, with Cresselly reaching the target in under 18 overs.

Lawrenny produced a bowling masterclass to dismiss Llangwm for just 39. Rob Williams (6-12) and Jamie Lewis (4-23) shared the wickets before Lawrenny cruised to a 10-wicket win.

Herbrandston beat Neyland by 90 runs thanks to a strong showing with bat and ball. Charlie Malloy scored 68 and Jack Nicholas added 51 before Nathan Banner claimed 3-12.

Saundersfoot beat Haverfordwest by 81 runs with Tom Mansbridge taking 4-14 and Nick Cope chipping in with 4-28.

Carew chased down 134 to beat Whitland by three wickets. Brian Hall scored 33, while James Hinchcliffe finished on 28 not out and took 2-36 with the ball.

Division 1 Table

Pos	Team	P	W	L	Bat	Bowl	Pts
1	Cresselly	11	10	1	37	47	192
2	Carew	11	9	2	42	52	186
3	Saundersfoot	11	7	4	40	47	164
4	Herbrandston	11	7	4	36	45	155
5	Neyland	11	6	5	35	44	141
6	Lawrenny	11	6	5	31	45	138
7	Whitland	11	4	7	37	32	113
8	Burton	11	3	8	35	38	103
9	Haverfordwest	11	3	8	32	34	98
10	Llangwm	11	0	11	21	20	41

Division 2 Table

Pos	Team	P	W	L	Bat	Bowl	Pts
1	St Ishmaels	11	9	2	46	51	187
2	Pembroke	11	8	3	53	47	180
3	Narberth	11	8	3	50	50	180
4	Hook	11	8	3	48	41	172
5	Llechryd	11	6	5	42	41	146
6	Cresselly II	11	6	5	43	29	136
7	Johnston	11	5	6	39	42	131
8	Carew II	11	3	8	39	38	110
9	Llanrhian	11	1	10	45	18	73
10	Burton II	11	1	10	29	22	61

Division 3 Table

Pos	Team	P	W	L	Bat	Bowl	Pts
1	Fishguard	11	10	1	37	41	186
2	Pembroke Dock	11	9	2	37	50	184
3	Lamphey	11	6	5	38	38	138
4	Hundleton	11	6	5	36	38	138
5	Stackpole	11	5	6	42	35	130
6	Haverfordwest II	11	4	6	44	37	126
7	Laugharne	11	4	6	39	30	114
8	Kilgetty	11	4	6	42	26	108
9	Hook II	11	3	7	34	19	83
10	Neyland II	11	2	9	31	23	74

Division 4 Table

Pos	Team	P	W	L	Bat	Bowl	Pts
1	Pembroke II	11	10	1	47	47	198
2	Saundersfoot II	11	9	1	44	45	179
3	St Ishmaels II	11	7	4	48	42	160
4	Crymych	11	6	4	44	34	138
5	Haverfordwest III	10	4	5	40	33	133
6	Lawrenny II	11	5	5	37	38	125
7	Carew III	9	4	4	38	26	104
8	Llangwm II	11	2	9	47	25	92
9	Llanrhian II	10	1	8	36	22	88
10	Narberth II	11	2	9	36	22	79

Division 5 Table

Pos	Team	P	W	L	Bat	Bowl	Pts
1	Llechryd II	11	9	1	43	46	192
2	Herbrandston II	11	9	2	43	50	190
3	Pembroke Dock II	11	7	3	44	39	157
4	Whitland II	9	4	4	32	19	113
5	Haverfordwest IV	10	3	6	38	26	104
6	Hundleton II	10	4	5	33	23	100
7	Cresselly III	10	2	7	41	28	89
8	Neyland III	10	0	10	33	8	40

Division 6 Table

Pos	Team	P	W	L	Bat	Bowl	Pts
1	Pembroke III	10	7	1	27	36	141
2	Llechryd III	8	6	1	27	30	137
3	Lamphey II	10	4	3	27	22	92
4	Haverfordwest/Cresselly	10	3	6	21	31	88
5	Whitland III*	10	3	4	17	24	65
6	Kilgetty II	10	0	8	14	14	28

*Whitland III: 8-point deduction for use of permit players

Sport

Ceredigion praised for hosting memorable Welsh and British Cycling Championships

Published

5 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Herald Sport

CEREDIGION has been praised for hosting a memorable National Cycling Championships in the county in collaboration with British Cycling, Welsh Government and Beicio Cymru.

Competitors were warmly welcomed by supporters from Ceredigion and further afield whilst they competed in the various races in Aberaeron and Aberystwyth.

Ceredigion County Council thanked the organisers, sponsors, volunteers and emergency services for their hard work in pulling off this major event successfully and safely.

Council leader, Councillor Bryan Davies said: “It was a pleasure to host the British Cycling Championships in Ceredigion. It places our county on the big stage as a special location to host prestigious first class events like this.

***Millie Couzens, gold medallist in the Under-23 Women’s Time Trial in Aberaeron and gold medallist in the Elite and Under-23 women’s Lloyds National Road Race in Aberystwyth*** ***(Image: SWpix)***

“Professional cyclists came from near and far to brave the roads of Ceredigion which offered the perfect balance between being challenging but also extremely enjoyable. It was great to see so many people visiting our county enjoying all the things our local businesses have to offer. Congratulations to everyone who was part of the event.”

The Beicio Cymru Championship, held on Saturday, included races for Ceredigion school pupils of various ages, organised by Beicio Cymru, Ystwyth Cycling and Ceredigion Actif.

Jonathan Day, British Cycling Events managing director, said: “It has been a phenomenal Lloyds National Road Championships with three days of incredible racing in Ceredigion.

“Aberaeron and Aberystwyth have been great hosts of this prestigious event, laying on fantastic courses for our riders which has led to some entertaining races.

“More than anything, events like this really show the legacy and impact of hosting championships in these areas. We have seen lots of young people out on the courses cheering on the riders, seeing the country’s best riders up close.

***The Road Race Open looking down on Aberystwyth (Image: SWpix)***

“The support has been brilliant, so we would like to extend out thanks to the Welsh Government, Ceredigion Council and all our stakeholders who assisted in successfully delivering the Championships.”

Welsh Government Minister with responsibility for sport, Jack Sargeant, said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome the Lloyds National Road Championships to Wales. Congratulations to Ceredigion on hosting such a prestigious event so well.

“The Welsh success in the elite women’s time trial with Zoe Backstedt’s magnificent victory, combined with the participation of over 200 youngsters in associated community events, will have helped inspire a new audience to enjoy cycling.

“This championship has delivered an exciting opportunity to see the next generation of British and Welsh talent in action, as we continue in our preparations to host a stage of the Tour de France in 2027.

“Events like this showcase Wales as a world-class destination for cycling and demonstrate the positive impact that sport can have on our communities.”

Cover image: Circuit Race Open on Aberystwyth Promenade (Image credit: SWpix)