Sport
Welsh athletes shine at Paris 2024
Welsh athletes have made a remarkable impression at the Paris 2024 Olympics, achieving their best performance to date. A record 33 Welsh competitors, including 19 Olympic debutants, represented Team GB, bringing home a total of 13 medals—three gold, three silver, and seven bronze.
Record-Breaking Achievements
The 2024 Games saw several historic milestones for Welsh sport:
- Anna Hursey became the first Welsh athlete to compete in table tennis at the Olympics.
- Ella Maclean-Howell made history as Wales’ first Olympic mountain biker.
- Jasmine Joyce stood out as the first British rugby player to appear in three separate Olympic Games.
- Ruby Evans was the first Welsh gymnast to compete at the Olympics since 1996.
- Matt Richards was part of the first swimming team to successfully defend an Olympic relay gold with the same quartet of swimmers.
- Elinor Barker became the most decorated Welsh woman in Olympic history, winning her fourth medal.
- Emma Finucane achieved the unprecedented feat of winning three medals at a single Olympic Games.
Medal Highlights
Gold Medals:
- Matt Richards and Kieran Bird – Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay
- Emma Finucane – Women’s Team Sprint
- Harry Brightmore – Men’s Eight
Silver Medals:
- Matt Richards – Men’s 200m Freestyle
- Ollie Wynne-Griffith – Men’s Pair
- Elinor Barker – Women’s Madison
Bronze Medals:
- Eve Stewart – Women’s Eight
- Matt Aldridge – Men’s Four
- Becky Wilde – Women’s Double Sculls
- Elinor Barker, Jess Roberts, Anna Morris – Women’s Team Pursuit
- Emma Finucane – Women’s Keirin
- Jeremiah Azu – Men’s 4x100m Relay
National Lottery’s Impact
The success of Welsh athletes at Paris 2024 is a testament to the invaluable support provided by the National Lottery. For nearly 30 years, National Lottery funding has been instrumental in Welsh sport, enabling top athletes to train full-time, access world-class coaching, and benefit from cutting-edge medical support. This funding also supports grassroots clubs and contributes to the development of premier sporting facilities, such as the Geraint Thomas Velodrome in Newport and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
The achievements of Welsh Olympians at Paris 2024 not only highlight their individual talents but also underscore the crucial role of National Lottery support in fostering sporting excellence.
Sport
Fishguard Sports cruise to victory against Carew II
LAST Saturday (Sept 15), promotion-chasing Fishguard Sports hosted a struggling Carew Reserves side at the picturesque Tregroes Ground, hoping to reignite their season. Full credit to the Fishguard ground staff, as the pitch and facilities were in exceptional condition—the best they’ve been since the team moved from St Mary’s.
A lively home crowd gathered as referee Martin Jones kicked off the match promptly at 14:30. By 14:31, Fishguard had already taken the lead. A perfectly timed long ball from captain Patrick Hughes split the Carew defence, allowing Haydn Hughes to finish smartly and put the home side ahead. According to the referee, the goal came just 47 seconds into the game, making it one of the fastest goals this season—and possibly in many others!
From there, the tone was set for a dominant first half from Fishguard, with Carew struggling to keep pace. While Tyler Worrall and Ethan Shapcott offered some energy for the visitors, Fishguard’s quality shone through. Just before the break, Ieuan Llewellyn doubled the lead, sending the home team into the dressing room 2-0 up and in complete control.
Carew’s legendary player-turned-manager, Haydn Shapcott, had plenty to address at half-time and to their credit, Carew started the second half brightly, pressing forward and showing intent to make a contest of it. However, against the run of play, Gregg Hughes struck Fishguard’s third, effectively ending any hope of a comeback.
With the result no longer in doubt, the only question was how many more Fishguard could score. The answer: two. Luke Thomas and “Chunky” Couzens added their names to the scoresheet, capping off a commanding 5-0 win for the home side. But for brothers Steve & Matt Lewis effectively going for the same ball with the goal empty and yet somehow missing, the score could have been even better for the Sports!
On this form, Fishguard Sports look like serious contenders for promotion, but with Division Two shaping up to be fiercely competitive this season, manager Phil Jones will know they can’t afford any slip-ups. As for Carew, though the result was disappointing, there were enough positive signs to suggest they have the ability to avoid relegation.
A professional and disciplined performance from Fishguard left little work for the match official, making it a great day for the home team.
Final score: Fishguard Sports 5-0 Carew Reserves.
Sport
Sporting future enhanced with Cymru Football Foundation funding
CYMRU Football Foundation’s Fit-For-Future Facilities Programme is supporting the development of a new 3G pitch at Greenhill School, Tenby.
Pembrokeshire Leisure has successfully secured a £407,000 grant to replace the old astro turf pitch with a new 3G facility that will enhance the provision for both the school and community clubs.
Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services said: “This project will play a significant role in ensuring that Pembrokeshire can continue to provide first class facilities across the county.
“The collaboration led by Pembrokeshire County Council’s leisure section and incorporating the Cymru Football Foundation, Sport Wales, Greenhill School and the community clubs will provide us with a fantastic facility for everyone.”
The Cymru Football Foundation, supported by UK Government, is delivering the Football Association of Wales’ commitment to deliver inspirational, Fit-For-Future Facilities to enrich communities across the country.
Find out more by visiting the Foundation’s website (opens in new window).
Pictured: Gary Nicholas (Leisure Services Manager, Pembrokeshire Leisure), Angie Nicholls (Pembrokeshire Schools Football), Cllr Sam Skyrme Blackhall, Steph Amos (Tenby Leisure Centre), David Haynes (Head Teacher – Greenhill Secondary School) and Mark Hughes (Cymru Football Foundation).
Sport
Nomads navigate the Viking’s challenge
NEYLAND avenged their recent 3-0 midweek home defeat to Hakin United Reserves by winning 2-0 at the Observatory ground in a game which was an excellent advert for Pembrokeshire League Division 2 football, on Saturday (Sep 14).
With little wind and a warming sun both teams endeavoured to play football, with chances created throughout in the attacking areas, visiting captain Mike Chandler orchestrating his musicians from central midfield alongside an impressive performance from teenager Dylan James, who took every opportunity to drive forward with ambition combining seamlessly with wideman Mason Morgans-Hurley. It was a hard fought but fair encounter in the centre of the park, Hakins Leon Letherby the fulcrum for the poise and penetration from his side, where the Nomads back four of Jack John, Lewis Page, Sean Hannon and Theo Davies defended as a unit.
Teenagers Corey Riley, Bobby Jenkins, Ethan Dawes, Henry Mayhew and Evan Rutherford probed relentlessly from Letherby’s vision, visiting goalkeeper Oliver Vaughan-Harries a commanding presence between the sticks despite his ‘boy band’ youthful looks.
After a goalless first half Neyland central midfielder Aidan Rees drew a foul twenty five yards from the Hakin goal ten minutes into the second period, the man of the match then delivering a perfect free kick for veteran Hannon to bravely meet the ball with his head to put it firmly beyond the advancing home goalkeeper, Josh Lewis, to break the deadlock.
The Vikings manager Mathew Howell responded immediately as Geroge Wheeler replaced an impressive Jenkins and Tom Edmonds, who arrived from Merlins Bridge this season replaced the skilful Riley on the left wing, epitomising the home sides mantra of trying to win the game, which saw them play a higher line up field. The final ball in transition and the Nomads back five kept the score at 1-0, the young visiting goalkeeper superbly turning a goal bound drive from Letherby around his post on 75 minutes.
The third home substitute with fifteen minutes to play, saw another youngster enter the field of play, Tommy Powells adding ingenuity as his side as he tried to find the elusive equaliser, Howells changing his formation as he withdrew Sam Houston, to having three defenders holding the line.
It evoked a response from Nomads manager Gavin Rowland who used all his experience to move players around positions as they tired, substitute Jo Campondonic had replaced frontman Ben Gale after the youngster led the line with aplomb against a well marshalled defence led by skipper Tom Evans, his fellow full back Lewis Llewellin and commanding centre halves, Garin Gardiner and Houston, before his withdrawal. Campondonic’s introduction to the fray gave the visitors the midfield energy they required, as the game thundered into the final quarter,
As the game anything but ebbed into added time, Referee Jonathan Twigg played an advantage for Neyland down the left wing and the ball was played through by Campondonic for the man of the match Rees to find Lazarus type energy to stay ahead of Gardiner. Rees composed himself to bury the ball with his right foot beyond and advancing Lewis, at the Gelliswick Bay end in the eight minute of added time, before the final whistle was greeted with euphoric cheers from the Nomads black and white army of supporters, a minute later..
Both sides have ten points from their opening five games, three points adrift of leaders Camrose who visit the Observatory Ground next Saturday (Sep 21). Rowlands will hope to have a full complement to players after twenty were unavailable across the Club for the weekend fixtures, as he looks ahead to a home game at the Athletic Ground. to Carew Reserves.
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