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Dyffryn Aman retain title

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Relay: It was an excellent day for Dyffryn Aman

THE SCHOOLS summer athletics season got underway at the track in Johnstown with an excellent relays competition for years 7 to 13 last Wednesday (May 3).

It attracted a large attendance of competitors from 8 Dyfed secondary schools in Ceredigion, Brianne, Llanelli and Pembrokeshire.

Teams from Bro Dinefwr, Bro Myrddin, Dyffryn Aman, Emlyn, Llandovery College, Preseli, QE High and Strade took part all hoping to find early season form in preparation for the upcoming area and Dyfed athletics competitions in the next few months.

The events were the sprint relays 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m and the individual 800m races for all age groups. There were some exciting races and close finishes for the competitors watching on to enjoy. Another strong turnout of teams from Ammanford’s youngsters in Dyffryn Aman resulted them in retaining their title for the fourth year in succession as they won the trophy with 116 points, 14 from second place Bro Dinefwr, with QE High coming through in third.

1 Dyffryn Aman 116; 2 Bro Dinefwr 102; 3 QE High 94; 4 Bro Myrddin 86; 5 Llandovery College 40; 6 Strade 28; 7 Emlyn 18; 8 Preseli 3

The Dyfed schools athletics events, organised by the Carmarthen Harriers Chairman Hedydd Davies continues to grow each season and this was evident at the Carmarthenshire Primary Schools Athletics Championships where there was a large entry and superb numbers present on Monday evening (8th)

Elsewhere, four Carmarthen Harriers made the long trip for the annual British Milers club open event on Bank Holiday Monday at Millfield School in Somerset and all four achieved personal bests in seeded races that included some of the best junior runners in the UK, soaring up the rankings in the process.

Ben Thomas ran the 3000 metres, knocking 8 seconds from his previous best and recording 9.05 to finish the evening ranked second in Wales and 16th in the UK in this tough endurance event. Under 13 Frank Morgan tackled the 1500 metres and in a tough race secured his best ever result of 4.42 and a time that saw him ranked top in Wales at this early stage of the season.

Tomos Rees running for the first time as an under 17 set an excellent time for the 3k; running 3.10km pace he finished well in a personal best for the 3km distance to finish in 9.30 and be ranked as 5th in Wales for the distance. Callum Lovatt ran hard to record a end time of 4.42 crossing the line at the same time as Morgan and a good reward for the long trip to England.

Closer to home, there were plenty out on show amongst the 800 participants running through the streets of Carmarthen Town Centre at the annual Mayor’s Races. 16-year-old Thomas Jones, having won the Welsh Junior Trail Championships at Devils Bridge a few days earlier, ran an impressive race to win the 5K in 16 minutes 56.

Archi Morgan, a teammate with Jones also secured a top 10 place in 7th and in the process collected the award for 2nd Junior Male. There was a clean sweep on the podium for the Harriers in the Junior Female category thanks to Eva Edwards (21:28) Maddie Morgan (22:21) and Cerys Davies (24:40) while in the Female 45 age group, Gill Edwards won an award for coming 3rd across the line. Other finishing times included: Huw Davies (19:54) Dafydd Bowen (20:39) Jake Morgan (22:22) Lisa Forrest (25:25) and Eric Evans (27:40)

The juniors also had success with several winning performances from Liam Upton-Boorman (Year 3 & 4 Boys) Keira Carmody (Year 5 & 6 Girls) Ifan Bowen (Year 5 & 6 Boys) and Liam Edwards (Year 7 & 8 Boys). Aron Hedd Jones (Year 3 & 4 Boys) Amy Greatrick (Year 5 & 6 Girls) Jack Thomas (Year 5 & 6 Boys) and Dafydd Thomas (Year 7 & 8) all finished in runners up positions.

Bowen was also in action at the Urdd Primary Schools Cross Country Race in Aberystwyth and raced clear to win his second event in 5 days. Hedd Jones in third place helped his school, Ysgol Y Dderwen, take the team title in the year 5 boys. In the Nite Trail 10K at Pontrhydyfen near Port Talbot, Sharon Leech followed up her Welsh 5km win a week earlier by crossing the line as second female overall in a time of 45:58.

This Weekend, Sunday, May 14, Carmarthen will take its turn to host the West Wales Outdoor Athletics Championships for under 13 to senior age groups.

Over 350 athletes from clubs across the region have entered and are expected to be competing. It’s set to be an action-packed day of track and field athletics, with the racing starting at 11am and continuing until 7pm with medals to the top three in each category.

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Fox’s Fantastic Clarby shock the county to win Senior Cup

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Strong favourites Goodwick United were expected by many to be lifting the senior cup again come Saturday afternoon. However Clarbeston Road had other ideas, we warned they were a dangerous opponent with pressure off, this proved to be the case.

A healthy crowd at the Bridge Meadow were treated to an excellent final, often cagey perhaps boring affairs this final was far from boring. It took just seven minutes for the deadlock to be broken when Clarby captain Rheinallt George put the underdogs ahead. However just before the twenty minute mark his opposite number in Scott Delaney squared things up with a trademark header.

Goodwick then took the lead when another set piece caused problems for Clarby who failed to deal with a free kick before Rhys Dalling latched onto the loose ball to volley his team into the lead. However the lead was short lived as the impressive Jake Booth found the net at the second time of asking to make it all square at the break.

Halfway through the second half another set piece led to the equaliser when Matthew Davies headed home a Laurie Haworth corner. Goodwick manager O’Sullivan rung the changes in search of a way to find an equaliser. Newly introduced striker Nathan Greene was fouled in the box and Rhys Jones had the chance to level the cup final, however Rhys Mansell had other ideas and he saved the penalty. The save gave his team a huge boast and belief that this could be their day, and indeed it was.

Most of the season we have hyped up the quality and character of this Clarby team and praised Matthew Fox and his players. Fox has done a excellent job and this is just rewards, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Clarby began this cup run by beating Hakin who have dominated this cup for so many years. An excellent achievement for all involved and an interesting plot going into next season, will Clarby be able to challange Goodwick in the league also.

For Goodwick it’ll be a bitterly disappointing defeat in a season of such dominance just the one trophy will be the least most expected from this quality side. Many thought Goodwick would win the treble and they were certainly capable, which will be the frustrating factor for the Goodwick management.

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South-West Wales Athletes Aiming to Shine at the Summer Olympics

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Two of the finest athletes in south-west Wales are dreaming about bringing home medals from the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

Track cyclist Emma Finucane and sailing star Micky Beckett will head to France in a buoyant mood after enjoying a successful build-up to their respective events.

Welsh athletes collected a record-equalling 11 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games and hopes are high that the tally could be beaten this year.

The Carmarthen-born rider cemented her rapid rise up the sprint ranks by winning a gold medal at the 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.

She became Great Britain’s first women’s sprint world champion since Becky James in 2013 and is now on track to chase more medals at the Olympics across three events.

The 21-year-old has yearned to compete at the Summer Games since watching Team GB sparkle at London 2012 and she is eager to make her mark this summer.

“It’s a massive dream of mine and it’s pretty cool that I’m kind of living my dream,” Finucane said. “I’m just trying to enjoy the journey and hopefully I’ll get selected and compete for my country.

“And it’s exciting because as the Team GB women’s sprint. I feel like we’re in a really good place to do well at the Olympics, not just compete as Olympians.”

Pembrokeshire-born sailor Beckett will also head to Paris with his sights firmly set on winning gold in the hugely competitive ILCA 7 class.

He will renew rivalries with Australian Matt Wearn, who controversially claimed the World Championship title ahead of Hermann Tomasgaard and Beckett earlier this year.

Online bookmakers rate Wearn as the favourite to emerge victorious this summer, but Beckett’s recent form gives him every chance of turning the tables.

Several new sports betting sites in Australia cut the Welsh sailor’s Olympic odds after he completed a trio of World Cup successes at a recent event in Palma.

Beckett believes the hard work he has done over the past few months gives him every chance of toppling Wearn when the action gets underway this summer. 

“There is still plenty of work to do and managing form is probably the most important thing of any athlete’s job,” Beckett said. “There is no point being the best in the world unless you are the best in the world when it counts.

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Kilgetty and Carew Share Spoils in End-of-Season Showdown

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In the picturesque setting of Kilgetty, under the soft glow of the evening sun, local football fans were treated to an enticing clash between Kilgetty and Carew in the Pembrokeshire League Division 1. With the season winding down, both sides took to the pitch amidst numerous squad rotations, following a hectic week of multiple fixtures.

The match kicked off in a leisurely pace, resembling more of an end-of-season friendly than a fierce competition. Kilgetty seized the early initiative, with the trio of Josh Bevan, Richard Tebbut, and Richard Cope causing headaches for the Carew defense, skillfully led by Gareth Lewis. It was Jac Waters who broke the deadlock for the home side, putting Kilgetty ahead 1-0 as the first half came to a close.

However, Carew emerged revitalised after the break, with Jonty Bennett, James Hinchcliffe, and Zac Rowell putting in the hard yards to level the score. The introduction of Harvey Drummond for the ineffective Sam Christopher added further depth to Carew’s attacking prowess, culminating in an equaliser courtesy of the excellent Hinchcliffe.

As tensions rose, the game took on a newfound intensity, marked by needless bookings, after a clearly offside goal and a few heated moments on the field. Despite the fatigue evident from their recent fixture congestion, both teams showcased their competitive spirit, treating the fans to an entertaining second half.

In the end, neither side could break the deadlock, with Kilgetty and Carew having to settle for a well-fought 1-1 draw. While neither team was at their absolute best, the match provided a fitting conclusion to their respective seasons.

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