Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

World cup cyclist Manon Lloyd was among 12 sporting talents crowned winners at the Carmarthenshire Sports Personality Awards on Friday. At a glittering ceremony, hosted by Radio Carmarthenshire presenter, Jay Curtis, winners from across the county were honoured for their achievements at Y Ffrwnes Theatre. The event rewards and honours people of all ages and abilities who contribute to sport in Carmarthenshire. The awards are organised by Carmarthenshire Council's sport and leisure team and recognise the sporting achievements of athletes, coaches and volunteers across Carmarthenshire. Executive board member for regeneration and leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “Once again the quality of entries received this year was outstanding and it really does get more difficult for the judging panel year on year. What a great night it was celebrating the huge wealth of sporting talent we have here in Carmarthenshire.” Manon Lloyd was named Sports Personality of the Year for her outstanding s...

Llanelli is to host its first Parkrun at the Millennium Coastal Park. Runners are being urged to pull on their trainers and take part in this free timed 5K sporting activity every Saturday from November 19. Parkrun is a hugely popular running movement which has been set up by the council’s sport and leisure team after securing £3k match funding from Sport Wales. The course takes in some breath taking views and is run entirely on tarmac paths, starting on the cycle path at Pwll Park. Runners will head west towards Burry Port and at the halfway point, a marshal will direct runners back to the finish, just outside the Pavilion Café. Adults need to register on the Parkrun website where they will be issued with a bar code to scan at the start and end of each event. They’ll also be able to check their progress and timings on the website’s results page.  Carmarthenshire County Council leader, Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “Parkrun is now an international family of over half a mill...

Do you have a keen interest in sport? Do you watch programmes such as Sgorio, Clwb Rygbi and Club on S4C? If so, S4C would like to hear your opinion. The channel is holding a special Sports Survey featuring a variety of questions on its most popular sports programmes. There are also questions on how you watch these programmes, for example, on the television, the web or your mobile device, as well as asking you about your favourite sports. The survey should take no more than a few minutes, and you can answer in Welsh or in English. Sue Butler, S4C Sports Content Commissioner, said, “Our sports programmes form an important part of S4C’s schedule. Hearing the opinions of our viewers will be very useful to us as we look to plan the future of our service.” To take part in the Survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/arolwgchwaraeon ------------------- Rhowch eich barn yn Arolwg Chwaraeon S4C A oes gennych ddiddordeb mawr mewn chwaraeon? A ydych chi’n gwylio rhaglenni fel Sgori...

Girls at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman have gone to extra time to prove they’re ahead of the game when it comes to football. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Active Young People Team has been working closely with the school’s PE department to provide after-school football sessions every Thursday. More than 30 girls started playing during the autumn term, and with regular coaching, team work and determination they’ve gone from strength to strength with a string of achievements already in the back of the net. First, they competed in the Welsh Schools FA Cup competition and a local schools indoor competition where they progressed onto the next round. Several of the girls then joined their community Club, Ammanford Juniors AFC, and through engaging with the club coaches and training with the club, the school team stepped up a level. To date, they have won the Swansea City Premier Cup and will be representing Swansea City in Goodison Park, Everton FC, in May; and got through to the final of the Wels...

Schoolchildren across Carmarthenshire are to benefit from new sports equipment. It comes after the council successfully secured grant funding for 18 bags of equipment to help deliver sporting games during break and lunch times. Some 104 schools will share the items which include hoops, a ribbon set, skipping ropes, pom poms, tennis balls and bat and ball packs. The equipment, funded by the Welsh Government , will be used in sessions which will be delivered by each school’s Bronze Ambassadors under the Young Ambassador programme throughout the term. Ambassadors are trained by the council’s sport and leisure team and part of their role is to encourage and inspire other children in their school to take part in sport and physical activity by running lunchtime clubs. The aim of the programme is to get more people, more active, more often. Research shows that that when presented with a range of sporting equipment, children are likely to become more active. There are three stages at county ...

Schoolchildren in Carmarthenshire are being asked for their views on sporting activities. Through a national school sports survey, commissioned by Sport Wales , children can request what sports they would like to do more of in their school or college. The survey is open to primary and secondary schools as well as first year college students. Its aim is to encourage more people to become more active and adopt healthy lifestyles. Each school is given a link to access the survey which is available until the end of the summer term. To qualify for a feedback report a minimum number of completed surveys – set by Sport Wales - from each school is required. The survey, recognised by Estyn and supported by the council’s sport and leisure team, also asks what type of sport the person plays, how many times a week they play and whether they take part in community or club activities. The council’s senior sport and leisure manager, Carl Daniels said: “I would urge all schools to complete this sur...

The Gwendraeth Valley Raiders Rugby League side is appealing for sponsors. They are the first semi-professional rugby league side in West Wales. The team started up last year as Gwendraeth Valley Raiders. Spokesman Peter Tiffin said: "Our first year saw us play games in the Welsh Conference (South). "Our final stats were Played 10, Won 5 and Lost 5. "We also played our final game in the Cardiff Arms Park beating the Valley Cougars 50-32. "We finished third in the league and impressed most with how quick we took to Rugby League. "Over the past couple of months we have decided to move up a step and create a semi-professional side to take part in the National Conference League South. This will see us play against sides like - Bristol Sonics, Coventry Bears, Gloucestershire Warriors, Leicester Storm, Nottingham Outlaws, Oxford Cavaliers, Sheffield Hallam Eagles, Torfaen Tigers and Valley Cougars. "We have made sure that we are keeping everyone loca...

Commonwealth Games silver medallist Nikara Jenkins was among the winners at the Carmarthenshire Sports Personality Awards last night. At a glittering ceremony at Ffwrnes Theatre 12 sporting heroes from across the county were honoured at the 17th annual event in January. Rugby legends the late Ray Gravell and Stuart Gallacher were also invited into the Hall of Fame. Rhythmic gymnast Nikara was named Sports Personality of the Year for her outstanding achievements during 2014 which included a silver team medal at the games in Glasgow and securing two first and second places at the British Apparatus Championships. Eleven other sporting talents were recognised including - Young Sportswoman of the Year, Manon Lloyd, cycling Young Sportsman of the Year, Joe Holt for cycling Sports Volunteer of the Year, Kate Williams, hockey Young Volunteer of the Year, Zoe Swift, hockey Community Sport Coach of the Year, Dai Davies, archery High Performance Coach of the Year, Nia Evans, rhyt...

A club that helped produce Commonwealth Games silver medallist Nikara Jenkins is putting on more sessions thanks to funding. Llanelli Rhythmic Gymnastics can now offer more classes after receiving £1497 from Community Chest. Part of the cash boost, which was distributed by Carmarthenshire County Council’s sports and leisure team last year, has also been to train judges - a requirement if a club enters competitions. Linda Thomas, head coach said: “Without the funding, we would not have grown to one of the most successful clubs in Britain. We are able to offer more sessions and now have a choice of judges to send to competitions.” The Lakefield Road club was established in 1995, and caters for members aged four upwards. Through the years, the club has produced a number of Welsh champion gymnasts, as well as Nikara, who took silver as part of a team at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Community Chest is funded by Sport Wales and distributed via the council’s sport and leisure ...

The race is on in Carmarthenshire for young sporting ambassadors. Carmarthenshire council’s sport and leisure team are looking for inspirational and dedicated young people to become Gold Young Ambassadors. You need to be aged 16-21 and in sixth form, college or university. At gold level, ambassadors will assist the county co-ordinator in providing overall leadership of the Young Ambassador  programme in Carmarthenshire. The programme develops young leaders and volunteers further by providing them with responsibility of being an ambassador for PE, school sport and sport within the community. There are three stages – bronze, silver and gold – that start at primary school age right through to university level. The idea is for each school, college or university to have good sporting role models that encourage pupils to take part in sporting activities. Carmarthenshire student Nia Jones has just landed a role on the national steering group. The Platinum Young Ambassadors have their v...

Burry Port’s Legion Whites earned a much-needed 5-2 win at Llandybie RFC in the Llanelli and District Snooker League First Division, courtesy of Adrian Hopkins, Richard Evans (37 break), J Ellis and Nigel Summerfield. Rhodri Treharne and Sion Isaac replied. Electric C were also 5-2 winners - against Upper Tumble Blues. C Rees and Carwyn Cue were on top for the latter. Click on the link in the headline for more on this South Wales Guardian story.

Llanelli's White Knights A remain top of the first division of the West Wales Chess League thanks to a 5-0 win over their depleted C team. There were wins for Alan Young, Bill Hewitt, Keith Downey, Nicholas Evans and David Buttell. White Knights B beat Port Talbot 3-2. For the full story, click on the headline link to the Llanelli Star.

Garnant prizefighter Chris Jenkins has been congratulated by Carmarthenshire’s Executive Board on his recent win. Council Leader Cllr Kevin Madge has written to Chris on behalf of the board after his achievement was praised at the last Executive Board meeting. Cllr Madge said he was delighted to see Chris win the Prizefighter Light-Welterweights III title. “I was surprised to note it was his first fight outside of Wales and the biggest in his career so far,” he said. “It truly is a remarkable achievement which shows the hard work he has put in, and the commitment shown to the sport.” Amman Valley hitman Chris announced himself to the boxing world with a stunning second round stoppage to claim the Prizefighter Light-Welterweights III live on Sky TV. Chrisfloored Danny Connor in the opening round at York Hall in Bethnal Green with a superb right hand that sent shockwaves through the fight world. Cllr Madge said in the letter to the fighter: “Please rest assured that Garnant residents ar...

Triathletes are targeting Carmarthenshire for their training sessions and regular events. There is rarely a weekend passing without a major triathlon taking place somewhere in the county with athletes from all over the country taking part. Llandovery’s recent Triathlon provided a stern challenge for 100 athletes deep in rural Carmarthenshire and was a great spectacle for many hundreds of spectators. Healthy Life Activities, working with the council leisure Department and Fusion gyms, is helping to build a new structure of triathlons across county making use of the county’s cycle tracks, swimming pools, footpaths and running routes. Carmarthenshire council executive board member for leisure services Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “It is planned to develop a three-tier approach with mini, junior, novice and competitive triathlons at various county locations using the expertise and facilities within Llanelli’s Millennium Coastal Park. “Fusion will offer membership and specific classes geared a...

The countdown is on to Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games looms and Carmarthenshire’s Sports Development teams are getting into gear, building up to a year of sport to get even more people sports active. Plans include a Queen’s baton relay replicating the Olympic torch relay of 2012 and all county secondary school teacher head teachers are being approached to help for this event from March 10 - April 10 2014. Sports development unit manager Allison Rees said: “We are keen to use the Commonwealth Games to attract even more people into physical activity and promote opportunities in Carmarthenshire." She said: “We are keen to promote the 17 sports that will feature in the games and will focus on a couple of sports each month in the countdown to the games starting in September.” They have allocated the sports and months as follows this year September: Gymnastics. October: Shooting and weightlifting. November: Hockey and December judo, boxing and wrestling. Then next year - January: T...

A community netball club started on the school yard has received a glowing endorsement from the sport’s governing body. The Llanelli Blues Netball Club has come runner-up in the Community Club of the Year category at the recent Welsh Netball awards night in Cardiff. It has been an amazing rise for the club, which only started when a group of pupils formed a netball section in their 5x60 sport sessions at St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive School. Linking with Carmarthenshire Sports Development’s 5x60 scheme, the club began taster sessions on the outdoor court at Parc Y Scarlets to give the community element a try. In September 2012, with Sport Wales national lottery community chest funding, the club started up under 13 and under 15 sections. But with mentoring from Carmarthenshire's Welsh Netball community coach, demand quickly grew to such an extent that they added a under 11 age group section. Gracielle Fontarum, Year 9 pupil at St John Lloyd’s said: “We decided to take o...

The Jenkins Bakery has lent its support to Llanelli Squash Club. The club fielded five teams in the South Wales and West Glamorgan leagues during last season. Overall, the season was very successful, with the club benefiting from developing younger players and bringing them into the team. A club spokesman said: “We are very grateful to the Jenkins Bakery, who sponsored kit for all five teams.” The first team played in South Wales premier ‘B’ division and benefitted from the return of Andrew Neale to the club. Andrew played at No1 string and was unbeaten during the season. The emergence of Sam Weeds helped keep the team towards the top of the league however the team missed out on promotion to Premier ‘A’ by one point. The team will be looking to get promotion to the top division in the first half of next season. The ‘B’ team had a solid season with Mark Davies and Jeremy Rowlands performing admirably at the top of the order and Sam Weeds again gaining some vital wins. Mark Richards wa...

Carmarthenshire’s Community Bureau is flying on the success of a collaboration event at Parc y Scarlets. The event was coordinated by the Bureau and consisted of partnership presentations by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Leisure Department, Collaborative Communities, Sports Wales and Welsh Rugby Union. Invitations were distributed to sports organisations, associations and development officers across Carmarthenshire. The objective of the event was to disseminate new procedures, legalities issued by the authority, the governing bodies and funders. The focus was on “Diversifying to create sustainability”, giving an outlook for the future among funders and governing bodies alike, captured in the event's empowering title “21st Century Sustainable Clubs”. Information was given on how to improve club cultures, how to improve facilities and provision and how to adapt to create “Community Enterprises” focusing on financial and operational sustainability. A new partnership between t...

'Scrum along girls' is the call from the touch rugby Try Touch brigade. There are still more men than women joining up for the thrd year in successive blowing away the cobwebs for a summer of weekly touch rugby. The sessions, run by Carmarthenshire sports development officer, Matthew Adams gives players a chance to practice and improve some of the skills needed for Touch. Groups are split into teams and played a few shortened games against one another other. Carmarthenshire sports development officer, Matthew Adams Mr Adams said: “It’s great to see Touch starting up again in Llanelli. We are seeing more and more people take up the game. It’s currently mainly men’s teams, but we’re trying to encourage more women to either join mixed teams or form women-only teams.” Althought the league was initial set up and run by thye county sports development unit, it has just been passed on to new WRU participation officer, Daryl Richards. The WRU has appointed 14 regional officers w...

On Saturday 11th February, Aberystwyth and Bangor Universities will go head to head and compete against each other in a range of sporting competitions. The Aberystwyth-Bangor Varsity sees 30 teams competing in 32 fixtures covering a number of sports from octopush and ultimate frisbee through to more traditional sports of rugby, football, table tennis and fencing. In its fifth year, the title has always been retained by the home side with Aberystwyth University currently holding the trophy for 2011 as they travel to Bangor to compete for the title of 2012 Varsity champions. Alun Minifey, Activities Officer at Aberystwyth University Guild of Students commented: “Close to 400 students will travel from Aberystwyth to Bangor on Saturday and will compete in a range of sports matches. Aber teams will be aiming to keep hold of the Varsity trophy and, for the first time, take the trophy away from the home side! “There are a variety of inter-collegiate competitions and events which are...