Sport
Sport Awards Nominations Announced
THE waiting is over and the nominations for the 2018 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards have been revealed.
A total of 192 nominations have been received – nearly 50 more than last year – in 14 categories for individuals and teams involved in different sports across the County.
The three finalists in each category will be announced in the Western Telegraph on November 21. The overall winners will be unveiled at a gala ceremony at Folly Farm on November 30, organised by Sport Pembrokeshire.
The awards are sponsored by Valero, the Western Telegraph, Folly Farm, and Radio Pembrokeshire.
Cllr Paul Miller, Cabinet Member for Economy, Tourism, Leisure and Culture, said: “We’re pleased that so many people have yet again taken the time to nominate individuals and teams from our sporting community to be recognised in the Sport Pembrokeshire awards.
“The awards are a great opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of our coaches and volunteers and to celebrate the achievements of our local sportspeople.”
The nominations are as follows:
(some individuals/teams received more than one nomination)
Contribution to School Sport
- Duncan Hart
- Jonny Williams
- Nicola Hayton
- Staff at Ysgol Gelli Aur
- Matthew Vaughan
- Adam Lewis (Ysgol Harri Tudur)
- Victoria Planner (Milford Haven Comprehensive)
- Ysgol Bro Gwaun students
- Mary Immaculate School
- Adele Bevan
- Ell Lewis
- Gemma Tawn
- Jonny Evans and Justin Richards
- Bruce Evans
Student Contribution to School Sport
- Millie Arnold
- Paddy Gallagher
- Jazz Miller (Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi)
- Efa Wilson (Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi)
- Lucy Harding & Sophie Williams (Haverfordwest High VC)
- Izzy Huddlestone, Kya Gillane-Heywood and Rhian Powell (Haverfordwest High VC)
- Alfie Wheeler (Squash)
- Morgan Williams (Ysgol Harri Tudur)
- Ellee Dunning (Ysgol Greenhill)
Club Organiser
- Wayne & Kelly Griffiths (Pembrokeshire Harriers)
- Alison Dixon (Haverfordwest Tennis Club)
- Kathy Hicks (Narberth Netball Club)
- Steve Whitmore (Pembrokeshire Disabled Bowlers)
- Jeff Arnold (Milford Tritons Cycling Club)
- Carol & Wesley Cole (Carew Running Club)
- Tracey Keane (Zumba)
- Rob John (Canoeing)
- Stefan Jenkins (Cricket)
- Phil Jackson (Target Shooting)
Senior Team
- Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club
- Neyland Cricket Club
- Cleddau Crusaders Cricket Team
- Steph and Gemma Amos (Bowls)
- Hook Ladies Cricket Team
- Pembrokeshire Puffins Disability Swimming Squad
- Ysgol Greenhill Senior Rugby Team 2017/18
- Neyland Ladies Bowls Team
- Pembroke RFC 1st XV
- Goodwick United AFC
Junior Team
- Ysgol Dewi Sant under 16’s Rugby Squad
- Penrhyn School
- Neyland AFC under 12’s
- STP Inclusive Zone Basketball Team
- Just Tri Junior Triathlon Club
- Mia Walsh and Tom Richardson (Gymnastics)
- Pembroke School u15 Football Team x2
- Pembroke Octopush Club under 16’s
Unsung Hero
- Jon Mills (Tenby Cycles)
- William McGarvie (Neyland Judo Club)
- Laurence Worth (Pembrokeshire Harriers)
- Richard Cox (Porthmawr Surf Lifesaving Club)
- Paul Howard (Milford Athletic Football Club)
- Kristian Speake
- Andrew Williams (Herbrandston Football & Cricket)
- Rhodri Lewis (Crymych Cricket Club)
- Ben Mathias-Milsom (Neyland Cricket Club)
- Trefor Evans (Cricket)
- Paul Webb (Cricket)
- Richard Brazell (Merlins Bridge Junior Football Club)
- Jane Sposito (Pembs Hurricanes Wheelchair Basketball)
- Ted Sanders (Neyland Bowls Club)
- Simon Morgan (Neyland FC)
- Gareth Thomas (Fishguard FC)
- Richard Arthur (Cresselly CC)
- Darren Rogers (Weightlifting)
- Alex John (Weightlifting)
- Stephen Donovan (Weightlifting)
- Brian and Colin Thomas (Football)
- Becky Thomas (Haverfordwest Ladies Hockey Club)
Disability Sport Award
- Ryan Foot (Rugby)
- Alex Gulliksen (Sailing)
- Simon Eaton (Bowls) x2
- Pembrokeshire Special Needs Gymnastics Club
- Matthew Evans (Target Shooting)
- Robbie Jamison (Target Shooting)
- Raymond Lillicrop (Bowls)
- Jonathan Hubbard (Bowls)
- Rhys Davies (Swimming)
- Jack Wood (Swimming)
Junior Disability Award
- Lily Rice (WCMX) x2
- Emma Wilkinson (Sailing and Swimming)
- Kirsty Jones (Swimming)
- Millie Randall (Boccia, Swimming and Gymnastics)
- Libi Phillips (Wheelchair Basketball, Rugby and Racing) x2
- Leon Davies (Target Shooting)
Girls U16’s
- Chloe Hale (Athletics)
- Seren Thorne (Shooting and Tetrathlon)
- Kasumi Tran (Golf) x2
- Flavia Jenkins (Athletics) x2
- Katie Dickinson (Bowls)
- Kasia Cook (Athletics)
- Carys Worby (Golf)
- Seren Mitchell (Weightlifting)
- Emily Roberts (Football)
- Tirion Eynon (Cricket)
- Seren Rowlands-Higgins (Gymnastics)
- Lowri Hart (Badminton)
- Lucy Wintle (Athletics)
- Ella Wintle (Athletics)
Boys U16’s
- Dylan Phillips (Athletics and Rugby)
- Kieran Fox (Scooter)
- Rhys Daley (Football & Cricket)
- Gruff Green (Sailing)
- John Probert (Boxing)
- Loui Davies (Cricket)
- Evan Watts (Cricket)
- Dan Davies (Weightlifting)
- Alfie Luger (Gymnastics)
- Joshua Maynard (Athletics and Boxing)
- Sam Hodgson (Surf Kayaking)
- Iori Humphreys (Athletics)
- Kyle Kenniford (Football)
- Tomos Griffiths (Triathlon)
- Alex O’Sullivan (Boxing)
Male Achievement
- Simon Holliday (Cricket)
- Sean Hannon (Cricket)
- Seth Morris (Surfing) x2
- Dylan Scott (Boxing)
- Wil Lloyd (Athletics)
- Rhys Davies (Swimming)
Female Achievement
- Heather Lewis (Athletics / Race Walking)
- Caryl Jones (Athletics / Marathon)
- Steph Amos (Bowls)
- Marie Tilley
- Chloe Hood (Weightlifting)
- Swyn Williams (Rowing)
- Gabrielle Ridge (Canoe Slalom)
- Alice Bevans (Autograss Racing)
Club of the Year
- Tenby Aces Cycle and Tri Club
- Pembrokeshire Special Needs Gymnastics Club
- FF Dancers (x 14 nominations)
- Carew Cricket Club
- Saundersfoot Bowling Club
- Just Tri Junior Triathlon Club (x2)
- Clarbeston Road AFC
- Milford Haven Gymnastics Club
- Cleddau Gymnastics Club
- Cresselly Cricket Club
- Hermon Tug of War Club
- Pembrokeshire Puffins
- Strength Academy Wales
- St. Florence Girls AFC
- Pembroke RFC
- Hakin United AFC
- Park Run Haverfordwest
Coach of the Year
- Amy Yelland (Pembs Special Needs Gymnastics Club)
- Rob Lewis (Kilgetty Football Club and Lawrenny Cricket Club)
- Rob Williams (Lawrenny Cricket Club)
- Simon Roach (Weightlifting)
- Finola Findlay (FF Dancers)
- Rosie Myers (Sailing)
- Sarah McGillivray (Gymnastics)
- Gemma Tawn (Gymnastics)
- Martin Dyde (Athletics)
- Richard Owens (Sailing) x8
- Jim Horner (Weightlifting)
- Bill Davies & Gary Phillips (Tug of War)
- Tamara O’Leary (Pembs Puffins)
- Wayne Griffiths (Athletics)
Bowen family pride as Sean and James compete at Aintree
TWO Pembrokeshire brothers – Sean and James Bowen – lined up in Saturday’s (Apr 5) Grand National, continuing their family’s deep-rooted legacy in British horse racing.
Sean, 27, and James, 22, are the sons of veteran Letterston trainer Peter Bowen, a well-known figure in Welsh racing circles. Both jockeys have made names for themselves on the national stage, and their participation in the world’s most famous steeplechase marked a proud moment for the local community.
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 5, 2025
Nick Rockett wins the Randox Grand National!
Sean Bowen rode Three Card Brag for Gordon Elliott and finished a respectable 11th. Remarkably, Sean has achieved racing success despite being allergic to horses – a condition that causes sneezing and watery eyes whenever he’s in the saddle for too long. In an interview with The Telegraph, he explained: “It’s just something I’ve had to get on with… If I have a long day in the saddle I’ll feel it.”
Sean’s grit and determination have paid off. He notched his 1,000th career win earlier this year and was crowned 2023-24 Champion Jockey, despite an injury scare in January. He’s no stranger to big days either, having won the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in 2019.
His younger brother James Bowen rode Chantry House and came in 16th. James, a rising star in his own right, recently rode two winners at Warwick in a single day and is known for his calm tactical riding style. The brothers have often credited their father Peter for instilling in them a strong work ethic and passion for the sport from a young age.
Saturday’s race was a historic one, as trainer Willie Mullins secured a 1-2-3 finish. The 2025 Grand National winner was Nick Rockett, ridden by Patrick Mullins at odds of 33/1. Defending champion I Am Maximus came second, and Grangeclare West finished third.
The top five finishers were:
- Nick Rockett (33/1)
- I Am Maximus (7/1)
- Grangeclare West (33/1)
- Iroko (13/2)
- Meetingofthewaters (20/1)
While victory eluded the Bowen brothers this time, their presence at Aintree reinforces Pembrokeshire’s strong connection to the racing world – and the enduring legacy of the Bowen name in the sport.
Cover image: Sean with his brother, James, who came in 16th on board Chantry House in the National (Credit: PA/David Davies)
AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD boy from Pembroke Dock had the experience of a lifetime on Thursday night (Apr 4), when he was selected as the official mascot for Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Joey Williams, a pupil at Pembroke Dock Community School, walked out onto the pitch hand-in-hand with Spurs’ team captain, Son Heung-min, in front of a packed stadium and millions of viewers watching around the world.
The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was part of Tottenham Hotspur’s official mascot programme. Joey, who recently turned eight, travelled to London with his family to take part in the unforgettable event.
His proud mum, KatieJane Solomon, told The Herald: “My son lives in Pembroke Dock and was chosen to be mascot for the Chelsea vs Tottenham game tonight. He walked out with Son Heung-min!”
“He’s a very big Spurs fan so we signed him up to be a member on there website about a year ago and he was very lucky selected at random last month.”
The Premier League clash ended in high drama, but for Joey, the biggest highlight was walking out alongside his football heroes.
Heavy losses dealt to both Pembrokeshire sides
PEMBROKESHIRE rugby teams Narberth and Crymych endured punishing defeats on Saturday (Mar 29) as both clubs came up against dominant opposition in their respective leagues.
Welsh Premiership: Merthyr 78–17 Narberth
In the top tier of Welsh club rugby, The Otters were overwhelmed by a clinical Merthyr side who ran in 12 tries. Despite the heavy defeat, Narberth showed flashes of resilience, with second-row Will Blackburn scoring twice and fly-half Jonathan Rogers adding a conversion.
There was a sliver of consolation for Narberth as fellow relegation rivals Bonymaen also lost, though the Swansea-based club managed to secure a valuable bonus point.
Championship West: Llanelli Wanderers 68–12 Crymych
Crymych’s afternoon was equally difficult as they were soundly beaten by Llanelli Wanderers. The home side dominated from the outset, racking up a 32–0 lead by half-time. Despite tries from flanker Tom Taylor and hooker Lee Griffiths in the second half, Crymych were unable to mount a serious comeback.
Adding to their woes, relegation rivals Gowerton produced a big win over Maesteg Quins, piling further pressure on Crymych as the battle for survival intensifies.
Both Pembrokeshire clubs now face uphill tasks in the final weeks of the season as they fight to maintain their league status.
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