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Cycling tour a resounding success!

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Tour of Pembrokeshire: 1,500 cyclists took part in the 2016 event

Tour of Pembrokeshire: 1,500 cyclists took part in the 2016 event

THE 2016 TOUR of Pembrokeshire took place at its new venue of Crug Glas near St Davids on the weekend of April 23-24.

The venue was not the only thing changing about the tour this year – there was the added combination of adjusted and optimised routes as well as new feeding stations en route.

The Tour of Pembrokeshire is an early-season sportive event which really encapsulates what it is like to cycle in Pembrokeshire.

The route includes endless quiet country roads, coastal views, daunting climbs and energysapping ups and downs.

With three different routes to choose from, the tour offers the opportunity for riders of almost any ability to test themselves against what Pembrokeshire has to offer.

In the past, the tour has attracted names such as Chris Boardman MBE, and regularly has many cycling publications attend to ride at the event.

The cycling weekend kicked off on the rather wet and grey Friday afternoon (Apr 22) where a large amount of the 1,500 cyclists made their way up to Crug Glas to register for the event and collect their rider number, timing chip and info pack.

Despite the grim weather, the atmosphere was buoyant as riders got into the mood for the challenge ahead, and sportive riders are well accustomed to imperfect weather conditions.

Saturday saw an early start both for the organisers of the event and the riders themselves, as cars began to arrive at Crug Glas at 5am.

There was a tangible atmosphere of anticipation and excitement as riders unloaded their bikes from their cars, got ready and enjoyed a hearty breakfast, which was prepared by Crug Glas and Will Evans and the team from Gwaun Valley Meats, to see them through the day.

As 7am approached, the 100- mile route cyclists had their timing chips scanned and began the route whilst the sun steadily rose over the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside and music blared out whilst family and friends cheered.

Live bands, such as Fishguard and Goodwick orchestra, Samba Band, Honey Fungus and PUP, played at Feed Stations and the venue throughout the day.

Twinned with the bout of incredible weather, this made the day an unforgettable experience for both the riders and locals alike.

The route brought cyclists through Fishguard, Newport, St Dogmaels, Crymych, the Gwaun Valley, Bedd Morris, Puncheston, St Davids and then back up along the main road to Crug Glas.

Riders doing the 100-mile route had to face over 10,000 foot of uphill climbs.

Joshua Fiddy, Event Organiser, said: “This year we have been incredibly blessed to have some of the best weather the tour has ever experienced.

“This, along with the great new venue in Crug Glas, fantastic Feed Stations, live music from some of Pembrokeshire’s best bands, enthusiastic and dedicated staff and volunteers, great support from sponsors and obviously the riders themselves who turned up in the droves and gave it everything they had, made the 2016 Tour of Pembrokeshire one that will stand out in the minds of all involved for many years to come.

“It was a truly superb day that I am proud to have been a part of.”

The tour supported the Welsh Air Ambulance, Paul Sartori Foundation, RNLI and 2420 (Whitland and District) Squadron. They were grateful for the help of the volunteers from these organisations that worked so hard and enthusiastically on the day.

A host of riders who partook in the tour left their comments. Colin Wyatt said: “I just wanted to say thanks. It was the hardest and best sportive I have ever done.

“The atmosphere was more of a festival and was second to none. Credit too goes to the kind and courteous people of Pembrokeshire who were the most considerate drivers and spectators I have known.”

Richard Davies said: “This is probably the best event I’ve ridden. It was superb in every aspect, even the brutal hills. I had 112 miles in the bag by the time I got back to the B&B!”

The tour would like to give special thanks to their sponsors – Pembrokeshire Bikes, Fred Rees Skoda, Quality Cottages, Gwaun Valley Meats, Castle Hot Tubs and the many other businesses and organisations that helped to make the Tour of Pembrokeshire happen.

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Crime

Woman stabbed partner in Haverfordwest before handing herself in

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A WOMAN who stabbed her partner during a drug-fuelled episode walked straight into Haverfordwest Police Station and told officers what she had done, Swansea Crown Court has heard.

Amy Woolston, 22, of Dartmouth Street in Milford Haven, arrived at the station at around 8:00pm on June 13 and said: “I stabbed my ex-partner earlier… he’s alright and he let me walk off,” prosecutor Tom Scapens told the court.

The pair had taken acid together earlier in the day, and Woolston claimed she believed she could feel “stab marks in her back” before the incident.

Police find victim with four wounds

Officers went to the victim’s home to check on him. He was not there at first, but returned shortly afterwards. He appeared sober and told police: “Just a couple of things,” before pointing to injuries on his back.

He had three stab or puncture wounds to his back and another to his bicep.

The victim said that when he arrived home from the shop, Woolston was acting “a bit shifty”. After asking if she was alright, she grabbed something from the windowsill — described as either a knife or a shard of glass — and stabbed him.

He told officers he had “had worse from her before”, did not support a prosecution, and refused to go to hospital.

Defendant has long history of violence

Woolston pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding. The court heard she had amassed 20 previous convictions from 10 court appearances, including assaults, battery, and offences against emergency workers.

Defending, Dyfed Thomas said Woolston had longstanding mental health problems and had been off medication prescribed for paranoid schizophrenia at the time.
“She’s had a difficult upbringing,” he added, saying she was remorseful and now compliant with treatment.

Woolston was jailed for 12 months, but the court heard she has already served the equivalent time on remand and will be released imminently on a 12-month licence.

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News

BBC apologises to Herald’s editor for inaccurate story

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THE BBC has issued a formal apology and amended a six-year-old article written by BBC Wales Business Correspondent Huw Thomas after its Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the original headline and wording gave an “incorrect impression” that Herald editor Tom Sinclair was personally liable for tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

The 2019 report, originally headlined “Herald newspaper editor Tom Sinclair has £70,000 debts”, has now been changed.

The ECU found: “The wording of the article and its headline could have led readers to form the incorrect impression that the debt was Mr Sinclair’s personal responsibility… In that respect the article failed to meet the BBC’s standards of due accuracy.”

Mr Sinclair said: “I’m grateful to the ECU for the apology and for correcting the personal-liability impression that caused real harm for six years. However, the article still links the debts to ‘the group which publishes The Herald’ when in fact they related to printing companies that were dissolved two years before the Herald was founded in 2013. I have asked the BBC to add that final clarification so the record is completely accurate.”

A formal apology and correction of this kind from the BBC is extremely rare, especially for a story more than six years old. 

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Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

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THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port last week, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock on Wednesday 26th November, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, has arrived in Pembroke Port today  (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.

The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived last week with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

The Weather conditions were favourable for the arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin early next year, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.

Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

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