Sport

Finals day serves up a treat

Published

3 years ago

July 29, 2021

THE annual Pembrokeshire County Tennis Tournament was back with a bang this month with spectators blessed with glorious weather and some incredible matches.

Now in its 72nd year, 95 competitors entered the junior and senior tournaments which culminated in finals day at Haverfordwest Tennis Club on Saturday, July 17.

In all those years, Club President Brian Hearne said he could not remember a higher quality men’s final, which was contested between ex-Great Britain and Jersey’s most decorated tennis player Jeremy Cross and the club’s very own professional coach Tom Hole.

The Parade could well have been mistaken for Wimbledon with the standard on show, with Cross clinching the title Hole had won in the previous year.

Cross went on to add the mixed doubles trophy to his collection with the women’s singles champion Ceri Coleman-Phillips, who produced an unlikely comeback to beat Sarah Newman. Together they beat the holders Hole and Sarah Keogh in the final match of the day.

Hole picked up silverware in the men’s doubles with Nathan Jones as did Newman in the women’s doubles with partner Laura Davies.

Hole and Jones beat Laurie Haworth and Jack Britton, while Newman and Davies edged the experienced duo of Keogh and Jane Allen.

The junior tournament was just as hotly contested, with Robbie Stirling and Josie Hawke crowned the under 12s singles champions, while Levi Jones and Honey Johnston won the under 14s titles.

William Phillips won the boys under 16s crown, while Ned Rees-Wigmore and Jay Thomas won the under 12s boys doubles.

Club chairman Dean Richards declared the tournament a huge success, with “players having to contend with the heat as well as their opponents”.

“The tournament was well supported throughout the fortnight with crowds gathering every night to watch the matches in good spirit,” he said.

“A special mention to the Haworth family who came out in force to support their five entries.”

Mr Richards also thanked the tournament sponsors and umpires.

“Putting on a tournament does not happen on its own, there is a team of dedicated people to ensure it runs smoothly and is enjoyed by all.

“I’d like to thank tournament referee Tom Hole for all his hard work, ably assisted by Sarah Keogh who puts her heart and soul into the club.”

If you would like to give tennis a go, there are discounted memberships available for new players. Visit the club website or Facebook page. Alternatively contact membership secretary Sue Jones on 01437 711088.

Results in full:

Men’s singles

Jeremy Cross beat Tom Hole 6-1 6-3

Ladies singles

Ceri Coleman-Phillips beat Sarah Newman 1-6 6-4 1-0

Men’s doubles

Tom Hole and Nathan Jones beat Laurie Haworth and Jack Britton 6-0 6-1

Ladies doubles

Sarah Newman and Laura Davies beat Sarah Keogh and Jane Allen 6-2 6-3

Mixed doubles

Jeremy Cross and Ceri Coleman-Phillips beat Tom Hole and Sarah Keogh 5-7 6-2 1-0

Under 12s boys singles

Robbie Stirling beat Fynn Price 6-2 6-2

Under 12s girls singles

Josie Hawke beat Amelia Williams 7-6

Under 14s boys singles

Levi Jones beat Danny Thomas 6-2 6-2

Under 14s girls singles

Honey Johnston beat Charlotte Owen 6-2 6-3

Under 16s boys singles

William Phillips beat Tim Chadwick 6-3 6-2

Under 12s boys doubles

Ned Rees-Wigmore and Jay Thomas beat Sean Bolger and Fynn Price 6-2 3-6 1-0

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Letterston marksman wins junior athlete award

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1 day ago

January 21, 2025

Tom Sinclair

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).

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Previewing the 2025 Super Bowl

Published

2 days ago

January 20, 2025

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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

Published

3 days ago

January 19, 2025

Herald Sport

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.