Sport

Pembrokeshire’s Sean Bowen bet on the right sport with horse racing

Published

1 year ago

September 26, 2024

Sean Bowen once said he never liked horses or racing. He had much more of an interest in football. With that being said, as time went by, his decision to place his bets on horse racing over football paid off. His younger brother James Bowen, a champion jockey, once said that his brother didn’t want to be led around on a horse. He wanted to roam free, so going into horse racing was the logical choice.

Sean followed his brother into horse racing

Sean followed his brother into horse racing when he found that he was stuck in the house on his own. While his brother was out riding in the mornings, he found that he had nobody to play football with, so he had no choice but to get into horses as well, even though he was allergic. The brothers soon found that, although they weren’t interested in horses initially, their decision to go all-in paid off.

They spent the summers racing each other and although this wasn’t approved of by their parents, it did help to give them a huge career, as they are now known around the world as being championship jockeys. If you happen to be a gambler, you’ll probably know about his win at Southwell. His mount, Letterston Lady, won the mares-only contest. Events like this tend to draw a lot of attention as bookmakers release free bets and promotions to draw people into the fold. There are also full websites dedicated to listing all the current promotions from different websites too, allowing people to bet on something that they might not have done otherwise.

Although Letterston Lady ended up emerging victorious, Bowen did wait until the final furlong before he asked his horse to race through the gap. By doing this, she was able to gain a total of four lengths, putting her rivals far behind. The victory was impressive, with Micky and Peter Bowen training her for the Peter Bowen Racing Cup.

Bowen’s ability to know when to push the horse and when to hold back is unlike anything else. He knows his horse and although he may be known for making risky decisions, most of the time, they work to his advantage. His knowledge of the horses he works with is also incomparable, as he invests a lot of time learning who he is riding, what their strengths are, and how he can get the best performance on different types of ground. For a man who is allergic to horses, he’s certainly passionate.

One of the best jockeys to come out of Pembrokeshire

You’ll notice his horse running in maroon and yellow, which are associated with the family. Sean’s winner, Roll With It only won the Cartmel finale by a few strides and hit the front in the nick of time. Beating Saint Bibiana, who was trained by Georgina Nicholls, was huge for him and the horse. It also helped to cement his legacy as being one of the best jockeys to come out of Pembrokeshire. His parents, Karen and Peter Bowen are still known as being some of the best horse trainers to this day, with Sean going on to win some of the biggest races in the UK in recent years. Some examples of his achievements include him placing fourth at the National last year with Noble Yeats. He also rode 51 winners in his very first year of racing, in 2015.

His brother, James Bowen rode a total of 57 winners in his very first season, not to mention that he was also the youngest winner of the Welsh Grand National. This year, at the National, Sean rode The Goffer who is an outsider. He was trained by Gordon Elliot, who is based in Ireland. James rode his father’s horse, Mac Tottie another outsider but with a strong spirit. Although neither emerged victorious, their performance was as good as ever.

With the jockey making waves in the sporting sector and a passion for horses, it’s safe to say that Sean Bowen is one of the most notable jockeys of this era. His local ties to Pembrokeshire help to bring a lot of pride to the area as well, as he continues to blaze a path for himself within the sporting world. His passion for what he does is evident, but it was a close call. He nearly didn’t go into horse racing at all, because if he wasn’t stuck at home as the result of his brother, he might never have picked up the reins.

Sport

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls – Friendly League results week 21

Published

5 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Herald Sport

LAST week’s fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association Friendly League produced a number of decisive results as teams continue to battle for position heading into the closing stages of the season.

Llanteg secured a narrow 6–4 victory over East Williamston, while St Johns delivered the standout performance of the week with a commanding 10–0 win against Hundleton.

Lamphey claimed an 8–2 result over St Twynnells, with Badgers matching that scoreline in their win against Cosheston. Reynalton also impressed, recording a dominant 10–0 victory over Kilgetty.

Carew had the bye.

League table after week 21:

East Williamston continue to lead the table, having played 19 matches, winning 13 and sitting on 126 points with a shot difference of +169.

St Johns remain close behind after 20 games, with 12 wins, one draw and seven losses, on 116 points and a shot difference of +132.

Reynalton sit third with eight wins and two draws from 19 matches, holding 99 points.

Carew are fourth on 98 points from 19 games, followed closely by Hundleton on 97 points after 19 matches, with ten wins and one draw.

Llanteg have played 18 matches and sit on 95 points, while St Twynnells, also on 18 games, have nine wins and two draws to reach 93 points.

Lamphey are on 80 points from 19 matches, with Badgers just behind on 79 points.

Cosheston have 74 points from 17 games, while Kilgetty currently sit bottom with 73 points from 19 matches.

Sport

Deadline extended for Cardiff Rugby takeover talks

Published

5 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Herald Sport

THE DEADLINE for a proposed takeover of Cardiff Rugby has been pushed back, giving potential buyers more time to finalise a deal.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has granted Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media a further 30 days to continue negotiations, with the new deadline now set for Wednesday (Apr 22).

The original exclusivity period for talks has now expired, but discussions between both parties remain ongoing after the WRU board previously selected Y11 as its preferred bidder in January.

The extension comes at a tense time for Welsh rugby governance. WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood is due to face a vote of no confidence at an extraordinary general meeting later this month, following pressure from leading figures within Central Glamorgan Rugby Union.

Clubs are also expected to vote on proposed changes to how WRU board members are appointed, despite the current representatives having only recently been re-elected.

The unrest follows controversial plans by the WRU to reduce the number of professional teams in Wales from four to three by 2027 — a move that has sparked concern across the game.

In a statement, the WRU confirmed that negotiations with Y11 have been ongoing since the group was chosen as the preferred bidder, with both sides continuing to work towards agreeing terms for the takeover.

Sport

Haverfordwest secure bonus-point win over title-chasing Tumble

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2026

Herald Sport

HAVERFORDWEST produced one of their standout performances of the season to claim a 34–22 bonus-point victory away to title-chasing Tumble on Saturday (Mar 21).

The Blues showed composure and attacking intent throughout, running in five tries against one of the division’s strongest sides to underline their credentials in the closing stages of the campaign.

Tumble, who began the day among the league leaders, were expected to provide a stern test on home soil, but Haverfordwest rose to the challenge with a clinical display in both attack and defence.

Iori Curtis was named man of the match following an influential performance, crossing for a try and playing a key role in the visitors’ attacking phases.

The try scorers for Haverfordwest were Karl Busch and Jack Evans, while Curtis added his name to the scoresheet. Scott Candler led the way with a brace, helping to secure the all-important bonus point.

Adam Phillips was reliable from the tee, converting three of the tries and adding a penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

The result marks a significant win for the Blues, not only for the points gained but for the manner in which it was achieved against high-quality opposition.

Club officials also praised the travelling supporters and player sponsors for their continued backing, which they say remains vital to the team’s success.