Crews from across the UK battle tides, headwinds and the Haven to finish marathon race at Haverfordwest River Festival

ROWERS from across the United Kingdom descended on Pembrokeshire at the weekend to take part in one of Wales’ toughest coastal rowing challenges — the 22-mile Cleddau River Marathon Row from Dale to Haverfordwest.

Held as part of the annual Haverfordwest River Festival on Saturday (Jun 13), the spectacular endurance race saw around 25 crews line up on the shoreline at Dale for a dramatic beach start before battling the tides, currents and changing weather conditions along the Milford Haven Waterway.

With calm waters and blue skies greeting competitors at the start, crews launched from Dale Bay at around 2:30pm and powered into the Haven, navigating a route that took them past Milford Haven, Neyland and Pembroke Dock before passing beneath the Cleddau Bridge and tackling the winding upper reaches of the river toward Haverfordwest.

However, conditions became more testing as the race progressed, with the tide turning against competitors and a headwind adding to the challenge during the final push upstream.

The marathon row was organised by Helen Heaton and Llangwm Rowing Club, with staggered starts helping ensure crews arrived in Haverfordwest in time for the celebrations at the River Festival.

At the finish line in Haverfordwest, exhausted rowers were greeted by cheering crowds, family members and councillors, who helped crews bring their boats ashore before an evening of celebrations and prize-giving at HaverHub.

The event drew teams from across Wales and further afield, highlighting Pembrokeshire’s growing reputation as a destination for competitive coastal rowing. The marathon route, stretching approximately 22 miles from Dale to the county town, is regarded as one of the more demanding fixtures in the Welsh sea rowing calendar.

Video crews and drone operators captured the action throughout the day, with local media teams filming both from shore and on the water.

The race was sponsored by Dale Sailing, with video sponsorship support from Pembrokeshire Powerboating and Sailing Academy.

The Herald understands the Wasps of Llangwm crew took top honours in the demanding race after a hard-fought contest on the water.

Photo caption:

Marathon effort: Crews from across the UK battled tides and headwinds during the 22-mile Cleddau River Marathon Row from Dale to Haverfordwest

A CHARITY football event held at Carmarthen Town AFC has raised £10,025 for two key services at Glangwili Hospital.

The event, organised by LHP Accountants, took place on Saturday and raised money for the Chemotherapy Unit and the Special Care Baby Unit through Hywel Dda Health Charities.

Organisers said they had been “absolutely overwhelmed” by the support shown on the day, thanking everyone who played, donated, sponsored, volunteered, bought raffle tickets, bid in the auction or attended the event.

They said: “This achievement belongs to every single person who supported us. Thank you for helping us make a real difference.”

The event was also filmed by S4C’s Heno, with coverage due to air tonight between 7:00pm and 7:30pm.

Caption:

Players and supporters at Carmarthen Town AFC helped raise £10,025 for Hywel Dda Health Charities.

SAUNDERSFOOT maintained their place at the top of Division One as the Pembroke County Cricket League entered Week Eight, but there were dramatic finishes, dominant performances and standout individual displays across all six divisions on Saturday.

From a nail-biting one-wicket win for Burton to a huge unbeaten century from Hook’s Aled Phelps and a remarkable 168 not out for Pembroke Dock II’s Callum Power, it was another action-packed weekend of local cricket.

Division One

Saundersfoot stay top as Burton edge thriller

Saundersfoot remain the team to catch after a tense two-wicket victory away at Lawrenny. Chasing 146, they got over the line at 146-8 thanks largely to Tom Mansbridge, who starred with both bat and ball, taking 5-35 before finishing unbeaten on 66.

Neyland kept up the pressure in second after defending 167-9 against Carew, winning by 22 runs. Gareth Lewis struck 69 for Carew, but Neyland’s bowlers held firm.

Burton secured one of the matches of the day, edging Narberth by a single wicket after chasing 175. Martin James top-scored with 71 in a nervy finish.

Cresselly eased to a seven-wicket win over St Ishmaels, while Herbrandston claimed an emphatic 66-run victory over Whitland, helped by Charlie Malloy’s all-round performance of 61 runs and 4-30.

• Neyland 167-9 beat Carew 145 all out by 22 runs
• St Ishmaels 122-9 lost to Cresselly 126-3 by seven wickets
• Burton 177-9 beat Narberth 174 all out by one wicket
• Lawrenny 145 all out lost to Saundersfoot 146-8 by two wickets
• Herbrandston 195 all out beat Whitland 129 all out by 66 runs

1. Saundersfoot – 128 pts
2. Neyland – 111 pts
3. Carew – 110 pts
4. Cresselly – 97 pts
5. Burton – 95 pts
6. Herbrandston – 93 pts
7. Narberth – 59 pts
8. St Ishmaels – 47 pts
9. Whitland – 45 pts
10. Lawrenny – 42 pts

Division Two

Phelps smashes unbeaten century for Hook

Hook produced one of the standout performances of the weekend, piling up 245-3 against Cresselly II before sealing an 83-run victory. Aled Phelps stole the show with a superb unbeaten 123.

Pembroke remain top after cruising to a seven-wicket win over Llangwm, with Andrew Hay hitting 54 and Jack Harries adding 47.

Johnston continued their strong campaign with a seven-wicket success over Llanrhian, while Fishguard defeated Llechryd by six wickets.

Haverfordwest made light work of Pembroke Dock, skittling them for just 67 before reaching the target without losing a wicket.

• Hook 245-3 beat Cresselly II 162 all out by 83 runs
• Pembroke 118-3 beat Llangwm 115 all out by seven wickets
• Johnston 134-3 beat Llanrhian 130 all out by seven wickets
• Fishguard 156-4 beat Llechryd 151 all out by six wickets
• Haverfordwest 68-0 beat Pembroke Dock 67 all out by ten wickets

1. Pembroke – 125 pts
2. Johnston – 123 pts
3. Hook – 119 pts
4. Haverfordwest – 115 pts
5. Cresselly II – 109 pts
6. Fishguard – 76 pts
7. Pembroke Dock – 67 pts
8. Llanrhian – 66 pts
9. Llangwm – 60 pts
10. Llechryd – 45 pts

Division Three

Laugharne run riot with 303

Laugharne produced the most dominant display of the weekend, hammering 303-5 before dismissing Stackpole for just 79 in a crushing 224-run victory.

Matt Tait smashed 119, while Brendan McCay remained unbeaten on 88 in a devastating batting display.

Carew II edged Haverfordwest II by seven runs in a close contest, while Lamphey eased to a nine-wicket victory over Hundleton.

Pembroke II comfortably defeated Kilgetty by six wickets, and Burton II beat Saundersfoot II by eight wickets.

• Burton II 101-2 beat Saundersfoot II 100 all out by eight wickets
• Carew II 187-5 beat Haverfordwest II 180-9 by seven runs
• Lamphey 106-1 beat Hundleton 103 all out by nine wickets
• Pembroke II 86-4 beat Kilgetty 84 all out by six wickets
• Laugharne 303-5 beat Stackpole 79 all out by 224 runs

1. Laugharne – 124 pts
2. Carew II – 107 pts
3. Kilgetty – 104 pts
4. Lamphey – 93 pts
5. Pembroke II – 92 pts
6. Saundersfoot II – 83 pts
7. Burton II – 82 pts
8. Hundleton – 61 pts
9. Haverfordwest II – 57 pts
10. Stackpole – 31 pts

Division Four

St Ishmaels II hit 204 in dominant display

St Ishmaels II were among the weekend’s biggest winners, racking up 204-7 before dismissing Llechryd II for 68 to seal a 136-run victory.

Crymych swept aside Neyland II by 100 runs, while Lawrenny II brushed off Narberth II by nine wickets after bowling them out for just 44.

Hook II edged past Haverfordwest III by five wickets, and Herbrandston II comfortably defeated Carew III.

• Hook II 135-5 beat Haverfordwest III 134-8 by five wickets
• Herbrandston II 176-8 beat Carew III 97 all out by 79 runs
• Lawrenny II 45-1 beat Narberth II 44 all out by nine wickets
• Crymych 152-4 beat Neyland II 52 all out by 100 runs
• St Ishmaels II 204-7 beat Llechryd II 68 all out by 136 runs

1. St Ishmaels II – 112 pts
2. Hook II – 103 pts
3. Lawrenny II – 100 pts
4. Narberth II – 94 pts
5. Crymych – 87 pts
6. Neyland II – 85 pts
7. Herbrandston II – 84 pts
8. Llechryd II – 77 pts
9. Haverfordwest III – 64 pts
10. Carew III – 45 pts

Division Five

Power smashes unbeaten 168

Callum Power delivered the innings of the week, blasting an unbeaten 168 as Pembroke Dock II piled up 312-2 before beating Llechryd III by 179 runs.

Whitland II also impressed, with Andrew Fletcher smashing an unbeaten 134 in a commanding win over Hundleton II.

Cresselly III strengthened their grip on top spot with a ten-wicket victory over Llanrhian II, while Pembroke III beat Llangwm II by eight wickets.

• Pembroke III 139-2 beat Llangwm II 138 all out by eight wickets
• Cresselly III 64-0 beat Llanrhian II 62 all out by ten wickets
• Pembroke Dock II 312-2 beat Llechryd III 133 all out by 179 runs
• Whitland II 249-3 beat Hundleton II 91-8 by 158 runs

1. Cresselly III – 126 pts
2. Llangwm II – 105 pts
3. Whitland II – 100 pts
4. Llanrhian II – 89 pts
5. Pembroke III – 59 pts
6. Pembroke Dock II – 56 pts
7. Llechryd III – 38 pts
8. Hundleton II – 28 pts

Division Six

Lamphey II continue charge

Lamphey II kept up their promotion push with a dramatic two-wicket victory over Neyland III, chasing down 136 thanks to Jon Edwards’ unbeaten 65.

Haverfordwest IV remain top after beating Laugharne II by 76 runs, with Richard Scriven carrying his bat for 83 not out.

Whitland III defeated Kilgetty II by six wickets in a low-scoring affair, while Haverfordwest/Cresselly had a bye week.

• Lamphey II 136-8 beat Neyland III 135 all out by two wickets
• Whitland III 59-4 beat Kilgetty II 54 all out by six wickets
• Haverfordwest IV 173-6 beat Laugharne II 97 all out by 76 runs
• Haverfordwest/Cresselly – Bye

1. Haverfordwest IV – 101 pts
2. Lamphey II – 96 pts
3. Whitland III – 93 pts
4. Neyland III – 84 pts
5. Laugharne II – 65 pts
6. Haverfordwest/Cresselly – 52 pts
7. Kilgetty II – 23 pts

Players of the week

• Callum Power (Pembroke Dock II) – 168 not out
• Aled Phelps (Hook) – 123 not out
• Matt Tait (Laugharne) – 119
• Andrew Fletcher (Whitland II) – 134 not out
• Charlie Malloy (Herbrandston) – 61 and 4-30
• Tom Mansbridge (Saundersfoot) – 66 not out and 5-35