
Wrexham and Mold cyclists have become Welsh title winners
July saw a number of championship successes across various cycling disciplines and across the ages.
It was Mold-based Layla Bradbrook and Nick Whitley, who comes from Wrexham, who both won Welsh national championship titles at the Welsh cross-country mountain bike championships.
On a baking hot day at the Dare Valley Country Park, Aberdare, it was Bradbrook, one of the team's youngest riders, that won the women's elite race.
Whitley, not to be outdone, went on to win the Veteran 50+ title.
Whitley's national championship victory came after his wife Lynsey recently won the Welsh 40+ age category national circuit racing championships in Aberystwyth.
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Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Welsh players who could be on the 2029 Lions tour including rising star who has real X-factor
Welsh players who could be on the 2029 Lions tour including rising star who has real X-factor There were only two Welsh players on the 2025 Lions tour Louis Rees-Zammit won't be short of suitors after his return to rugby (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency) In the aftermath of the British & Irish Lions' defeat in the third Test against Australia last weekend, chairman Ieuan Evans was asked about the lack of Welsh representation on tour. "That needs to drive players to say 'OK, I want a piece of the action. I want to be playing in four years' time in New Zealand," said the former Wales and Lions wing. That Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams were the only two Welshmen on this summer's tour should be a cause of embarrassment for the Welsh Rugby Union. The next Lions tour to New Zealand is four years away and a significant amount can change in such a period of time. But, as it stands, who would be the leading contenders from Wales and are there any players who have not yet broken through that are capable of reaching the heights? Jac Morgan Let's get the obvious one out of the way to begin with. The Wales star was superb in Australia, with his controversial clearout on Wallabies openside Carlo Tizzano at the death in Melbourne playing a pivotal role in the Lions snatching victory in the second Test. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Article continues below Morgan will be 29 by the time the Lions get set to face the All Blacks so, injury permitting, he should be on that plane in four years' time. Louis Rees-Zammit The 24-year-old is heading back to rugby union after an 18-month spell in the NFL and you can bet your bottom dollar on the Welsh speedster making an instant impact in the game in which he made his name. Rees-Zammit should be applauded for trying his hand at American football but one significant consequence was the fact he missed out on this summer's Lions tour having been involved in 2021. Tommy Freeman, James Lowe and Blair Kinghorn are all fine players but none of them possess the electric speed and finishing ability of Rees-Zammit. As of yet, the Welshman has not announced what club he will be signing for but according to reports he is keen to sign up to rugby's new rebel competition R360. But Rees-Zammit will undoubtedly break back into the Wales side and should be a strong contender to tour in 2029. Dewi Lake The 26-year-old hooker was perhaps a bit unlucky not to get called up to the recent tour after England's Luke Cowan-Dickie suffered an injury. Lake was spoken of as a serious contender in the two years leading up to the tour, but an injury during the Six Nations, along with Matt Sherratt opting to select Elliot Dee to start, probably put paid to his hopes. But the Ospreys star is more than capable of making an impact at that level with his powerful carrying game, set-piece prowess along with his dynamism standing out. Lake will be 30 in 2029 and the Lions will no doubt be a goal of his over the next four years. Morgan Morse Morse is still only 20 and hasn't even established himself as first choice for the Ospreys yet - but this guy is a serious talent. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Ask anyone working in Welsh rugby's pathways or within the professional game who the biggest prospect in Wales is and it would be a big surprise if they did not go for Morse. The rising Ospreys star can play across the entire backrow and is pure X-factor. Morse has a lovely blend of athleticism and raw physicality while he is also an explosive carrier who is equally as comfortable in the tight as the wide channels. It is a matter of when not if he makes his mark with Wales and Morse certainly has the potential to become a future Lion. Dafydd Jenkins The 22-year-old has had a rough time of it for Wales over the past couple of years but despite the losing run he has been one of the better players. Jenkins is highly regarded within rugby circles and certainly has the potential to become a Lion in the future. The Exeter Chiefs lock is a physical specimen who gets through a huge amount of the unseen dirty work which provides the platform for others to claim the glory. Article continues below He is also a natural leader of men having captained Wales throughout a Six Nations campaign at the age of 20. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. In four years time the likes of Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan could still be around while the likes of Irish second-row Cormac Izuchukwu and England U20s lock Junior Kpoku, among others, could also be contenders by then. But Jenkins certainly has the ability to be in the mix depending on the state of Welsh rugby at the time.


Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Serie A rising star ‘wanted by Celtic' but Premiership champions ‘unwilling to meet asking price'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CELTIC are reportedly tracking one of Serie A's rising stars. The Scottish Premiership champions have just completed the signing of Manchester City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan but Brendan Rodgers will still be keen to add to his squad. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 1 Adam Obert (left) in action for Slovakia Credit: Getty Rodgers has so far welcomed Shin Yamada, Hayato Inamura, Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand, Ross Doohan and Kieran Tierney to Parkhead this summer. But reports in Italy are claiming the Hoops are interested in another defender, one with international experience too. Adam Obert played 23 times for Cagliari last season across all competitions and has picked up 23 caps for the Slovakia national team since making his debut in 2022. The 22-year-old has a contract with the Islanders until 2029, having only signed an extension back in January. According to L'Unione Sarda, Celtic are keen on the player but the two clubs have been unable to agree on a fee. They report that the Hoops would need to increase their offer in order for them to consider a sale. The exact figure being debated is unknown but Obert is valued at £2.6million (3million euros). Obert is a left-sided centre-back who can also operate at left-back. Celtic may see him as an upgrade on Liam Scales, who has been similarly used in both positions. New signing Simpson-Pusey is right-sided and has primarily been used in the centre of defence whilst coming through at City. I'm a Celtic-daft bride – I called off the big day but I still celebrated in my wedding dress at Parkhead Obert came through the ranks at Zbrojovka Brno in the Czech Republic before moving to Sampdoria's academy in 2018. After three years with the Genoa-based side, he moved to Sardinia with Cagliari. He has since made 77 league appearances, playing a key role in their latest promotion-winning campaign in Serie B (2022-23). Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page


Time Out Dubai
2 hours ago
- Time Out Dubai
10 major parking changes in Dubai you need to know about
Parking in Dubai can be challenging with so many other drivers to compete with for a space. You may have a specific spot in mind, but it's often the case that someone else has got there first, and that means you'll need to find a new place to park. Parking has already changed a lot in 2025, with new rates, systems and zones introduced all across the city throughout the year. To allow you to keep on top of things and not get caught out when you're driving around, we've rounded up the big parking changes you need to know about this year in Dubai. 1) Salik payments available on 36,000 Dubai parking spaces (Credit: Dubai Media Office) Parkonic, a UAE-based smart parking solutions provider, and Salik, the city's toll gate operator, have partnered on 36,000 spaces across the emirate. The two companies will provide the region's first fully autonomous, AI-powered on-street and off-street parking solution at sites operated by Dubai Holding. It means that next time you park your car in Dubai, you may not even need a ticket or pay with cash. Payments will now be automatic and linked with your Salik account, so make sure you're topped up. The project aims to reduce congestion, cut carbon emissions, and directly support Dubai's Net Zero goals, while enhancing the overall customer experience. 2) Parkin to operate 29.6k new paid parking spaces (Credit: Dubai Media Office) Parkin, the leading provider of paid public parking facilities and services in Dubai, will start operating paid public parking facilities and services across several of Dubai Holding's master-planned communities. It means that 29.6k paid parking spaces will now be operated by Parkin in the city, following increading pressure on the availability of parking spaces across key destinations. The introduction of paid parking at these spaces aims to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and improve the experience for residents and visitors. 3) Paid parking to be introduced at mosques The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department and Parkin sign first-of-its-kind partnership to organize smart parking around mosques in Dubai. In phase one, Parkin will operate and manage approximately 2,100 parking spaces across 59 sites, providing free parking for… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 31, 2025 The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department has entered a strategic partnership with Parkin. As part of the agreement, Parkin will operate and manage 2,100 parking spaces across 59 places of worship in Dubai. Paid parking will be rolled out by August at these sites and will be chargeable 24 hours a day, seven days a week outside of prayer hours. During prayer time, mosque visitors will be able to park free of charge for up to one hour. The agreement aims to make it easier for worshippers to find a parking space during prayer and improve access to mosques at all times. Parking spaces will be designated as Zone M for standard spaces and Zone MP for premium spaces, 41 sites will be located in Zone M and 18 in Zone MP. This means that tariffs will be Dhs2 for 30 minutes in Zone M sites and in MP at off-peak times, but will be Dhs3 in MP at peak times. For a full hour, tariffs will be Dhs4 in Zone M and in Zone MP at off-peak times. During peak times, Zone MP parking will be Dhs6 for an hour. 4) New public parking zones introduced in 2025 Credit: Parkin Several new parking zones have been launched throughout 2025 so be wary next time you're driving around. Public parking operator Parkin has launched new zones in major Dubai neighbourhoods. In July, a new 24/7 zone was launched at Al Khail Gate which introduced a flat Dhs30 for daily parking and an hourly tarrif of Dhs4 during both off-peak and peak hours. In May, two new zones were introduced in Mirdif which covers on-street and off-street parking. Off-peak parking was priced at Dhs2 per hour and during peak hours it was Dhs4 per hour. You may like: How mall parking *actually* works in Dubai 5) Salik launched ticketless parking in 18 locations Salik (Credit: CanvaPro) Tollgate operator Salik recently teamed up with Parkonic, the UAE's largest private parking operator, to bring parking solutions to numerous parking sites across Dubai. The initiative was first rolled out to 107 core locations across the UAE and now residents and visitors will soon be able to use its eWallet system across 18 new locations in Dubai. The new ticket-free and automatic parking payments using your Salik account will be available at these new locations. Locations include the Union Coops in Al Twar, Silicon Oasis, Al Quoz, Al Barsha, Mankhool and Nad Al Hamar. The Beach JBR, Park Islands, Heera Beach, Park Islands, Marina Walk, West Palm Beach, Opus Tower, Lulu Al Qusais and Azure Residence are also included in the new Salik/Parkonic locations. 6) Barrierless parking introduced at major Dubai malls Mall of the Emirates (Credit: Mall of the Emirates) In recent times, some of the city's biggest malls have removed parking barriers to make it quicker to get in and out of car parks. As long as your timing is right, you can make some major savings on parking at some of the city's biggest malls and focus, instead, on grabbing bargains. BurJuman has introduced Automatic Number Plate Recognition to calculate fees. It means that there's no longer a need for a ticket but you'll still need to pay at a machine and rates have not changed. City Centre Deira, Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Mirdif all removed barriers in their respective parking zones. Rates have not changed as a result of the changes. 7) Parking to change at Dubai public parks (Credit: Supplied) The city's official parking operator, Parkin, is set to take over public parking facilities at some of the emirate's biggest and most popular public parks. An agreement between Parkin and Dubai Municipality means that the parking operator will now manage several select free public parking facilities that are owned by Dubai Municipality. The two parties will develop planning and regulatory standards, streamline permit procedures and enable data exchange to support services. It has not yet been revealed which sites Parkin will begin operating the parking facilities at. But Dubai Municipality do operate the likes of Al Safa Park, Dubai Frame and Quranic Park. 8) New parking rates across Dubai In 2025, new parking tariffs have been introduced across the city at Parkin-controlled on-street and off-street zones. Premium spaces across the city have been hiked up to Dhs6 per hour at several zones across the city. It also clarified the peak and off-peak parking hours in Dubai. The increase in tariffs was announced alongside a change to dynamic Salik toll gate pricing in November 2024, but came into effect on Friday April 5 in 2025. Peak pricing will apply to six out of the 14 chargeable hours per day – 8am to 10am plus 4pm to 8pm – but these prices will not be in place on Sundays or on public holidays. Tariffs during off-peak hours will be unchanged. This means that what you pay will not change between 10am and 4pm as well as between 8pm and 10pm. The updated tariffs applied to zones A, B, C and D and can be seen in full here. 9) Parking fee increases in Dubai (Credit: Canva) Since the introduction of new Parkin rates in Zones A, B, C and D, price hikes have been introduced in specific neighbourhoods. Parking during major events at Dubai World Trade Centre has seen a significant spike to Dhs25 per hour. The area surrounding DWTC is now known as a Grand Event Zone, with parking now priced at Dhs25 per hour during big conferences. In April, Parkin doubled fees in four of the emirate's biggest neighbourhoods. Rates increased in Al Karama, Al Qusais, Madinat Dubai Al Melaheyah and Al Kiraf. Previously, Zone W parking spots cost Dhs2, but this latest announcement means that the price is now double. In February, fees increased in the Al Sufouh 2 area, which meant a hike in hourly prices in Barsha Heights, Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City. 10) Teachers and students to get cheaper parking (Credit: Canva) The city's official parking operator, Parkin, just announced it is changing the rules around parking fees, offering certain individuals a budget subscription fee. Offering new public parking subscriptions, the fees will be available to students, as well as the staff of private education centres. There will also be a new subscription fee for anyone seeking multi-storey parking access across the city. For students, the fee will start at Dhs100 per month, allowing access to both roadside and plots parking with zone codes A, B, C and D within a 500m radius of their campus. Teachers and staff at private education centres will also be able to redeem the Dhs100 fee along with parking near their campus. Looking for things to do in Dubai? All the sports events in Dubai in 2025 to sign up for Make 2025 the year of your PBs 50 brilliant outdoor activities to try at least once in Dubai Let's take this outside The incredible Dubai hotels offering more than just a room Did someone say freebies?