Sport
Athletes book their places for Oakwood
IT’s been a busy few days for school children across the Dyfed & Afan Nedd Tawe Districts last week.
Places at the Dyfed Championships were up for grabs in midweek whilst pupils in Afan Nedd Tawe headed to Margam Park for the Apollo Teaching Services cross country trial.
A few hundred School pupils from the four areas in Dyfed went head to head as runners looked to book their spots at this week’s Dyfed Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships at Oakwood Theme Park.
Pembrokeshire, Brianne, Ceredigion and Llanelli hosted area events on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday featuring nearly 30 schools. There were races for almost all year groups at secondary school level with all pupils invited to represent their school.
Fixtures began with the Year 7 athletes taking part in this competition for the very first time following their step up from primary over the summer. They were followed by the combined Year 8 and 9 race and Year 10 and 11. Distances varied by race with all competitors running around the perimeter of the fields.
Pembrokeshire Secondary Schools including Haverfordwest High School, Ysgol Harri Tudur, Ysgol Y Preseli, Ysgol Greenhill, Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, Ysgol Bro Gwaun and Milford Haven School were the first to set off at Haverfordwest Racecourse.
Just a few hours later some 50 miles away at Ammanford Recreation Ground, Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ysgol Maes Y Gwendraeth, Ysgol Bro Myrddin, Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Ysgol Dyffryn Taf, QE High School, and Llandovery College gathered outside the Rugby Club field for the Brianne Secondary Schools races.
This follows two league matches that have already been held in Brianne back in September and October. Other fixtures are scheduled for February and March 2019.
The Ceredigion Secondary Schools Championships certainly had the better of the conditions at the Urdd Campus in Llangrannog as the sun made an appearance despite the cold elements. Ysgol Aberaeron, Ysgol Bro Pedr, Ysgol Penweddig, Ysgol Penglais, Ysgol Emlyn, Ysgol Aberteifi, Ysgol Henry Richard and Ysgol Bro Teifi were all in attendance.
The fourth and final event of an action-packed week went to the 2019 Welsh Athletics Cross Country Championships hosts, Pembrey Country Park for the Llanelli Secondary Schools.
Runners from six schools had to contend with strong winds and driving rain, but luckily for pupils from Ysgol Y Strade, Ysgol Bryngwyn, Ysgol Coedcae, Ysgol Glan-Y-Mor, St Michaels School and St John Lloyd School, the underfoot conditions were ideal as is always the case at Pembrey.
Medals were awarded to the first three in each race and the event again incorporated an inter schools shield.
Sport
Letterston marksman wins junior athlete award
A TALENTED young athlete from Letterston has been honoured at the British Shooting Awards 2024.
Seren Thorne was shortlisted for the prestigious awards and attended the gala event held at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester. To the delight of her family and supporters, Seren was named the winner of the Rifle Pathway / Junior Athlete of the Year award.
This accolade highlights Seren’s exceptional skill and dedication to the sport, marking her as one of the rising stars in British shooting.
Her mother, Sian Thorne, expressed immense pride in Seren’s achievement, sharing photos of the memorable evening.
The British Shooting Awards 2024 celebrated excellence in the sport, with a full list of winners available on their official website.
PHOTO CAPTION: Champion marksman: Seren Thorne receiving the Rifle Pathway / Junior Athlete of the Year award (Pic: Supplied).
Sport
Previewing the 2025 Super Bowl
Each year millions of people across the world gather to watch one of the biggest sporting events of the year – the Super Bowl. Last year, 3.4 million people in the UK watched the Super Bowl, up 1.1 million from the previous year. Considering the growth in popularity of American football in the UK, we anticipate the viewership will be even higher for 2025.
The 2025 Super Bowl is scheduled to take place on 9 February 2025 at Caesars Superdrome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NFL teams
12 teams began competing for a spot in the 2025 Super Bowl when the playoffs began on January 11. At this point, four teams were eliminated. This now leaves eight teams to compete in the Divisional playoffs. Four of these will make it to the Conference Championships before contesting for a spot at this year’s Super Bowl.
The eight teams left with a shot at competing in the 2025 Super Bowl are:
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Detroit Lions
- Houston Texans
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Rams
- Washington Commanders
Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs took the title for the second year in a row. However, the latest Super Bowl odds puts the Detroit Lions as the favourites to win this year’s Super Bowl, following a series of impressive performances in the regular season.
The national anthem and halftime show
Before the game commences, a special guest performs the national anthem. Last year, Reba McEntire offered a moving performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, and this year the task falls to jazz singer Jon Batiste.
It’s not just the football match that people look forward to. Super Bowl halftime shows are a spectacle in themselves and many look forward to the performance as much as the game itself. This year, 17-time grammy winner Kendrick Lamar is headlining the halftime show. Lamar previously headlined the Super Bowl in 2022.
How can I watch the Super Bowl in the UK?
The Super Bowl is being broadcast to fans free on ITV, including live online via ITVX on your laptop, mobile, or tablet.
Sky Sports is also broadcasting the event which you can watch online via Sky Go, NOW TV, or using the Sky Sports mobile app. You could also head to your local pub as plenty of pubs in Pembrokeshire will be showing the big game.
Will you be tuning in?
With a surge in popularity for American Football, it’s anticipated that more people from the UK than ever before will be turning their TVs on for the big event this year. Will you be watching this year’s Super Bowl?
Sport
Division Four West rugby: Thrills and tight contests on a chilly Saturday
Exciting matches, hard-fought battles, and standout performances define the weekend’s action.
Dreigiau Emlyn Edge Harlequins in Close Contest
Dreigiau Emlyn 21 – Pembroke Dock Harlequins 15
Dreigiau Emlyn secured a narrow victory over Pembroke Dock Harlequins, strengthening their position in the top half of the table. Gethin Davies scored two crucial tries, while Deiniol Rees added three penalties and a conversion to steer the hosts to victory. The Harlequins kept the game competitive with tries from Craig Barnett and Tom Donovan, with Ben Hathaway converting one and kicking a penalty. However, Emlyn’s composed performance ensured they held on for the win.
Teirw Crymych Outgun Llangwm in High-Scorer
Llangwm 22 – Teirw Crymych 33
Teirw Crymych powered to a 33-22 victory over bottom-placed Llangwm, bolstering their challenge for the league’s top spots. Sion Williams and Morgan Jones led the visitors’ try-scoring efforts, with additional tries from Sion Owen and Nick Bevan. Adam Phillips was reliable from the tee, adding four conversions. Llangwm fought back with tries from Aidan Rees and Ryan Banner, while Harry Makepeace contributed two conversions and a penalty. Despite their spirited display, the hosts couldn’t match Crymych’s attacking prowess.
St Davids Win Key Clash Against Llanybydder
Llanybydder 17 – St Davids 29
St Davids took a significant step away from the relegation zone with a vital 29-17 win over Llanybydder. Harvey Godkin, Nathan Foster, Zac Morgan, and Morgan Griffiths all crossed the whitewash for the visitors, with Bob Froy converting three and adding a penalty to secure a bonus-point victory. Llanybydder’s John Evans delivered an impressive hat-trick of tries, with one conversion by Matthew Rowlands, but St Davids’ all-round performance proved too much for the home side.
Division Four West continues to deliver thrilling rugby as teams battle for position in a tightly contested league.
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