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Heartbreak for Solva’s Micky Beckett as Olympic medal slips away

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PEMBROKESHIRE star Micky Beckett has seen his Olympic medal hopes dashed, despite being on the brink of securing a bronze.

To claim third place behind the dominant Australian Matt Wearn, Beckett needed to finish four places ahead of Peru’s Stefano Peschiera in the double points medal race. This seemed certain as he was in second place at the third of four “mark” buoys, with his rival trailing far behind.

However, with just minutes remaining and Beckett on course for the podium, the judges abandoned the race due to shifting winds. When they resumed an hour later on a different course off Marseille harbour, Beckett’s fortunes took a turn for the worse as he was forced to perform three penalty 360-degree turns.

The first penalty came right at the start, with Beckett penalised for “rocking” – moving the boat too much from side to side to gain speed.

By the first mark, Beckett had climbed to sixth place, two spots ahead of the Peruvian in the race but one point behind in the overall standings. Yet another penalty on the downwind run to the second mark temporarily evened things out as Peschiera was also penalised.

A final penalty on the approach to the last mark caused Beckett to drop to the back of the fleet, ending up in sixth place overall, with no chance to recover as Peschiera secured the bronze.

Micky said: “We did about 90 percent of the race and then the breeze died right at the last bit.  In that race I was coming second and I’d have got the bronze medal and it was all looking pretty good. Then obviously to have that taken away was pretty tough. But I was like, this is sport, this is sailing in particular. This does happen. Reset.”

He added: “I think in the last three years I’ve been penalized [for it] once and in that last race I got penalized twice for it, so that’s something to think about in the future. 

“That just kind of spat me out the back of the fleet and then I was in a position where I couldn’t really get back into it.”

The BBC’s commentary team described it as “heartbreaking to watch” as Beckett’s medal chances slipped away, leaving fans equally distraught.

One fan commented, “Micky Beckett (Dinghy) virtually had the silver in his hands … & they stopped the race. Restart – they gave him an immediate penalty. It’s f***ing outrageous.”

Another expressed frustration, saying, “I feel sorry for Micky Beckett, man… he had a great lead in the early race before the abandonment, and then he got stuffed. I don’t see the difference in wind from before until this race… So annoying.”

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

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Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

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