Sport

Ingram claims British Rally Championship crown after Wales showdown

Published

5 hours ago

October 27, 2024

CHRIS INGRAM and co-driver Alex Kihurani have captured the 2024 Probite British Rally Championship (BRC) title after an intense season finale at the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally on Saturday (Oct 26). In a gripping showdown, Ingram and the Castrol MEM Rally Team not only clinched the driver’s title but also secured the BRC Teams crown. Robert Proudlock and Steven Brown took the Junior BRC title, rounding off a thrilling season for the championship.

Final showdown in North Wales

Ingram, a former FIA European Rally Champion, skillfully maneuvered his Michelin-shod Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 through North Wales’ demanding stages. As the competition intensified, Ingram managed to gain a crucial lead in the afternoon, securing both the rally victory and the BRC crown. “What a relief,” an emotional Ingram said at the finish. “It’s been a challenging season, but that makes this win all the more rewarding.”

Creighton pushes to the limit

William Creighton and co-driver Liam Regan kept Ingram on edge throughout the rally, driving their Pirelli-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2 just seconds behind Ingram. Despite strategic moves and deploying his points-boosting Joker, Creighton ultimately had to settle for second in both the rally and the BRC standings. “I gave it everything,” said Creighton, reflecting on his season stepping up to the Rally2 category.

Heading into the Cambrian Rally, four drivers had a shot at the title. Alongside Ingram and Creighton, Osian Pryce and Keith Cronin were in the mix. Cronin’s rally was cut short by steering issues on his Fiesta Rally2, and Pryce struggled to match the pace of the front-runners, ultimately finishing on the podium with co-driver Rhodri Evans. Max McRae and Cammy Fair delivered an impressive fourth-place finish, with Garry Pearson and Daniel Barritt rounding out the top five.

Junior BRC and rising talent

The Junior BRC title went to Robert Proudlock, co-driven by Steven Brown in a Peugeot 208 Rally4. Proudlock expressed his pride in the win, saying, “This season is for my family and team. It’s been incredible.” Meanwhile, Craig Rahill and Conor Smith, newcomers to the BRC, claimed victory on the day with a significant 48-second lead over Ryan MacHugh and Arthur Kierans, underscoring the next generation of rally talent.

John Rintoul and Ross Hynd clinched the Open Title in their Fiesta R5, and in the National category, Welshmen William Mains and Tomos Whittle drove their Opel Corsa to a solid finish, securing the title after a season of consistent performances. Rally legend Stig Blomqvist made a special appearance, driving a Mini Cooper S in celebration of the 40th anniversary of his 1984 World Rally Championship title, delighting fans and bringing a nostalgic flair to the event.

As the dust settles, the BRC celebrates a year of tight competition and standout performances. Chris Ingram’s triumph joins the ranks of British rally legends, while Junior champion Robert Proudlock’s win signals a promising future for the sport.

Catch the Cambrian Rally highlights on ITV4, Wednesday, 6th November, at 8:00pm.

Sport

Ospreys 22-13 Edinburgh: Crucial win lifts ospreys from URC bottom

Published

5 hours ago

October 27, 2024

Herald Sport

OSPREYS clinched a hard-fought victory against Edinburgh at Bridgend’s Brewery Field, lifting them off the bottom of the United Rugby Championship standings.

Despite a shaky start to the season, Ospreys have now claimed four consecutive wins at the Brewery Field, showing resilience after a series of disappointing results. Inaccuracy and penalties hindered their early momentum, but they regrouped in the second half to secure the win and deny Edinburgh a losing bonus point.

The return of international players, including Wales trio Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan, and Adam Beard, added depth to both teams in this final match before the URC break. Edinburgh’s Matt Scott, marking his 100th appearance, led the visitors but saw Ospreys strike first.

Strong start at Brewery Field

Early in the game, Ospreys earned a penalty deep in Edinburgh’s half. Opting to kick for touch instead of points, they set up a maul, with Lake – newly appointed as Wales’ autumn captain – driving over after a pinpoint throw to Justin Tipuric.

However, Edinburgh responded swiftly. A break from Duhan van der Merwe highlighted Ospreys’ defensive lapses, and a penalty soon followed, which Ross Thompson converted. A quick-tap penalty by Edinburgh’s captain Ben Vellacott further tested the Ospreys’ defense, putting the visitors ahead at the 20-minute mark.

Fly-half Owen Williams struggled with accuracy, missing several kicks, which left Ospreys trailing 10-7 at halftime.

Second-half turnaround

Ospreys faced early second-half challenges, losing Reuben Morgan-Williams to a yellow card for a no-arms tackle. Despite this setback, Ospreys regrouped. Thomas powered through the defense to retake the lead, though Williams missed the conversion. His subsequent penalty, however, extended their advantage.

The closing minutes saw both teams exchange penalties before replacement hooker Sam Parry sealed the win with a blindside try. Head coach Toby Booth praised the team’s effort, saying, “We wanted to get momentum going into block two after a tough first block. We started better, built into it, and it turned into an arm wrestle – one we won at Bridgend.”

Teams

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Dan Kasende, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Ben Warren; Will Greatbanks, Adam Beard; Jac Morgan (capt), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Tom Botha, Lewis Jones, Lewis Lloyd, Kieran Hardy, Tom Florence, Iestyn Hopkins.
Sin Bin: Morgan-Williams (42)

Edinburgh: Harry Paterson; Wes Goosen, Matt Currie, Matt Scott, Duhan van der Merwe; Ross Thompson, Ben Vellacott (capt); Boan Venter, Ewan Ashman, D’arcy Rae; Marshall Sykes, Jamie Hodgson; Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Ben Muncaster.
Replacements: Dave Cherry, Angus Williams, Paul Hill, Glen Young, Luke Crosbie, Charlie Shiel, Ben Healy, Mosese Tuipulotu.
Sin Bin: Ritchie (47)

Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU)
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones & Ben Breakspear (WRU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Sport

Pennock praises Trethomas: ‘We knew it would be tough’

Published

24 hours ago

October 26, 2024

Herald Sport

HAVERFORDWEST County manager Tony Pennock voiced his relief after his side progressed to the third round of the JD Welsh Cup, edging out Trethomas Bluebirds in a tense penalty shoot-out at the LHP Stadium on Saturday (Oct 19). The victory came on a challenging weekend that saw five JD Cymru Premier teams knocked out of the competition.

Despite a red card for captain Dylan Rees in the second half, Haverfordwest held firm, with goalkeeper Ifan Knott playing a pivotal role by making several crucial saves. In the shoot-out, Knott denied Kallum Thomas, while all five Haverfordwest takers converted their penalties to secure the win.

With their unbeaten streak now at seven matches, Haverfordwest will turn their attention to next Saturday’s fixture against Caernarfon Town, set to be broadcast live from LHP Stadium.

A tough test

Reflecting on the match, Pennock acknowledged the resilience of Trethomas Bluebirds: “We knew it would be tough, and although our standards dropped a bit today, the lads have been performing consistently well. They’re allowed an off day now and then. Credit to Trethomas—they worked extremely hard, especially when we went down to 10 men.”

Pennock also noted the pressure of other JD Cymru Premier teams exiting the competition: “With a few other teams out of the cup, we count ourselves lucky today.”

Pennock highlighted the determination of Trethomas Bluebirds, who had beaten Haverfordwest two years prior: “They came here with belief and have been winning games consistently. They’ve achieved several promotions recently. Today, we weren’t at our best, but the boys pushed on, even with 10 men, to grind out the win.”

Fighting with 10 men

Determined not to settle for a draw, Pennock wanted his team to keep pressing: “There’s no point just hanging on for penalties. I believed we could win, but we needed to show more quality. Football has a way of bringing you back down to earth, but fortunately, we came through on the other side today.”

Pennock praised Ifan Knott, whose vital saves under pressure helped seal the victory: “It’s not easy stepping in after a long time on the bench, but Ifan handled it brilliantly. His distribution was solid, he made an important late save, and we know he’s got a penalty save in him. He proved it today.”

Next challenge awaits

With Caernarfon Town up next, Pennock acknowledged the challenges ahead: “Caernarfon are a strong side, and we know we have to improve. We’ll work hard this week and aim to get a few players back to full fitness. It’s going to be a tough test, but we’re ready.”

Community

2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards nominations revealed

Published

2 days ago

October 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

The waiting is over and the nominations for the 2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards have been revealed!

A total of 252 nominations have been received in 13 categories for individuals and teams involved in a variety of different sports across the County.

The three finalists in each category will be announced on the Sport Pembrokeshire Facebook page on November 15th.

The overall winners will be unveiled at a gala ceremony at Folly Farm on November 29th, organised by Sport Pembrokeshire.

The awards are sponsored by Valero, Folly Farm, and Pure West Radio.

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “We’re so 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 and achievements of our local sportspeople, coaches and volunteers, as well as celebrating the wide variety of sports being enjoyed across Pembrokeshire.”

The nominations are as follows: