Latest news with #Pembrokeshire-born
Wales Online
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Sportsman makes history as first Welshman to win prestigious event
Sportsman makes history as first Welshman to win prestigious event Pembrokeshire-born Joel Makin, who is ranked number four in the world, beat Mostafa Asal, who is currently the world's number one Joel Makin has become the first ever Welshman to win the PSA Squash Tour Finals (Image: Getty Images AsiaPac ) Sportsman Joel Makin has become the first Welsh player in history to win the PSA Squash Tour Finals. The UK number one, who is ranked number four in the world, beat Mostafa Asal, who is currently the world's number one. The final of the season-ending event was held at Toronto's Revival Film Studios in Canada on Saturday, June 28. The 30-year old from Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire had won the first two lung-busting games against his storied opponent and had taken the first point of the third game when Asal withdrew. It was the first major PSA final of his career. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here . Makin had won the first two games 11-10 and 11-7 when Egyptian Asal said he could no longer play on. Despite Asal receiving treatment off the court, both he and Makin shook hands after a solitary point in the third game to bring a premature end to the match. The PSA's write up of the event reported that Makin was outplaying Asal before the Egyptian first showed signs of injury towards the end of the second game. As a result, Makin has ended a nine-match winless run against Asal. His win in Canada marks the 10th title of his career. Article continues below Following his win, the Welshman told PSA Squash Tour: "I've just been chipping away, and it's not been a short process, that's for sure". Content cannot be displayed without consent He continued: "It was a really high quality one, the same as last night [against Diego Elias]. "We had two really good games, it was frustrating in the third that we didn't get to keep going. At sudden death again in the first game, it was really high quality. It's upsetting that he wasn't right. "I'm happy to win, but I want that challenge, I want to win. I want to see how I am against him when he's playing well. "It's been another good week, it wasn't my best stuff in the group stages, but you've just got to keep trying, keep on getting better and come out and bring my best performance on the night." Article continues below
Pembrokeshire Herald
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Harbour set to come alive with song and opera in SPAN's Big Sing
Massed choir and street art opera to take centre stage at Saundersfoot SAUNDERSFOOT Harbour will be transformed into a vibrant stage of sound and colour on Friday, May 24, as SPAN Arts hosts its much-anticipated Big Sing event—bringing together choirs, composers, filmmakers and street artists in a spectacular free celebration of music and creativity. The evening begins at 7:30pm with the grand premiere of Songs of the Land, a new choral work by Pembrokeshire-born composer James Williams, performed live by a massed choir made up of singing groups from across the county. The piece is the final outcome of SPAN's Love Stories to Nature commission—a year-long project exploring people's personal and collective connections to the Welsh landscape. The choirs involved in the commission have helped shape the composition by contributing their own stories and reflections about their relationship with the land. The result is a moving musical work that not only celebrates community, but also documents a shared experience of place, memory and identity. As darkness falls, audiences will be treated to a dramatic shift in tone as Music Theatre Wales presents two newly commissioned Street Art Opera films—Rahmat–Mercy–Trugaredd and Out of Time—projected onto the side of the Saundersfoot Coastal Schooner. Both pieces fuse music, animation, street art and storytelling to deliver operatic experiences rooted in contemporary themes. Rahmat–Mercy–Trugaredd, inspired by Sufi spirituality and hip-hop culture, follows a young woman's journey to empowerment through creativity. The work blends henna art and graffiti with a soaring operatic score to powerful effect. In contrast, Out of Time offers a darkly comic vision of a post-human world where nature has reasserted its dominance. As the Earth reclaims its beauty, the opera asks whether it's too late for redemption. Organisers say the event is designed to be accessible and inclusive, with no tickets or booking required. The performances are part of a broader effort by SPAN Arts and Music Theatre Wales to take high-quality cultural experiences beyond traditional venues and into the heart of local communities. A spokesperson for SPAN Arts said: 'This is a truly special evening—one that brings together voices from across Pembrokeshire, world-class artists, and cutting-edge storytelling in a setting that's hard to beat. We hope people of all ages will join us to celebrate the power of creativity, nature and community.'
BreakingNews.ie
02-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
The timing is right: Wales and Swansea midfielder Joe Allen announces retirement
Wales midfielder Joe Allen has announced his retirement from football after his instinct told him he was not going to reach next year's World Cup. Allen, who won 77 caps for Wales and was also a member of the 2012 Great Britain Olympic team, will play his final game for Swansea on Saturday. Advertisement The 35-year-old – who played a pivotal role as Wales reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and was named in the official team of that tournament – has made over 580 appearances in an 18-year senior career. Joe Allen (right) was named in the official Euro 2016 team of the tournament after helping Wales to the semi-final (Joe Giddens/PA) Allen started and ended his career at Swansea and also played for Wrexham, Liverpool and Stoke. He reversed his February 2023 decision to retire from international football in October citing 'unfinished business' with Wales, but said ahead of his final game against Oxford: 'The timing's right. A lot of factors go into the decision, but when you get to 35 you're only getting worse. 'I still think I have some value and something to offer, but there's probably a line I didn't want to cross in terms of the level of performance I can give. Advertisement 'I'm probably right up to that line at the moment. When you couple that with the injuries you accumulate over the years, I'm at that stage where I can't push things any further. 'It (the 2026 World Cup) was a big part of the decision. My instinct told me I wasn't going to get there. Or, if I did get there, it wasn't going to be at the level I wanted to be representing my country at a World Cup. 'So, it certainly made thinking about retirement a lot harder, with that on the horizon next summer. 'But, realistically, I didn't quite feel I was going to get there.' Advertisement Pembrokeshire-born Allen broke won promotion into the Premier League at Swansea in 2011 and helped establish them as a top-flight club, before Brendan Rodgers signed him for Liverpool in a £15million deal in 2012. Joe Allen (centre) made over 130 appearances for Liverpool and came agonisingly close to winning a Premier League winner's medal at Anfield (Nick Potts/PA) Allen made over 130 appearances for Liverpool and was a Premier League, League Cup and Europa League runner-up ahead of spending six years at Stoke and three more at Swansea. 'A few stand-outs would be the play-off final with Swansea, getting promoted to the Premier League, and the first season there,' said Allen. 'Also joining a huge and historic club in Liverpool and competing at the top of the Premier League with some unbelievable players. Advertisement 'The Euros in 2016 is the stand-out, an amazing summer, but there's been many more.' Wales manager Craig Bellamy persuaded Joe Allen to come out of international exile last year (Bradley Collyer/PA) As well as Euro 2016, Allen featured at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to become one of the few Welshmen in three major tournaments. Craig Bellamy, a former teammate, persuaded him to return to the international fold after succeeding Rob Page as Wales manager and Allen would add three more caps to his tally. 'When you see a player like him in training and the habits he has, you understand why he's had such a great career,' said Bellamy. Advertisement 'I'm so appreciative of what he's been able to do for our country. He's been one of our greatest players. You want that to stay for longer.'
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales and Swansea midfielder Allen retires
Swansea City and Wales midfielder Joe Allen is retiring at the age of is out of contract at Swansea this summer and has opted to call time on a career which has seen him make almost 600 club appearances and win 77 international was one of the key figures in the most successful period in the history of Wales' men's team, playing at three major tournaments and establishing himself as one of the nation's finest club career started and finished with boyhood club Swansea, while he also spent four years at Liverpool and six years with Stoke City and had a brief spell on loan at Wrexham as a teenager."This is incredibly difficult. This is not something I've taken lightly, I've spent a lot of time pondering it," said Allen. "The timing's right. I made the decision, got to 100% about a month ago. I wasn't sure how the last few weeks would go, how I'd find things, but it's actually been a good spell really. I've enjoyed it." Swansea host Oxford United in their final match of the Championship season, which will also be the last game of Allen's career."I've had a chance to reflect and take it all in. I'm really looking forward to what's going to be my last game on Saturday," he added."I'm very proud. I didn't think I'd be sat here playing as many games as I have for clubs I have done at that level and for Wales as well. "I've been incredibly fortunate and as I've reflected over the last few weeks very grateful and thankful to everyone who has has helped me on my way to have these amazing experiences."Allen's retirement is likely to come as a disappointment to Wales head coach Craig Bellamy, who brought the Pembrokeshire-born player out of international retirement after taking charge last had originally halted his Wales career in February 2023, in the wake of the 2022 World ended a 64-year wait to play at the World Cup in Qatar, but the tournament was a disappointment for Robert Page's side as they went out at the group started Wales' final game in the competition, against England, having returned after a long-term injury lay-off in their second group match against were happier times at Euro 2020, when Wales reached the second round, and most memorably at the 2016 European Championship. Allen was one of the stars of what proved to be a golden summer as Chris Coleman's side reached the semi-finals of Wales' first major tournament since won his first Wales cap in 2009 having come through the ranks at Swansea, where he made his league debut as a 16-year-old in helped Swansea win the League One title in his full season, then played a central role as they became the first Welsh club to win promotion to the Premier League in a year in the top flight with Swansea, Allen followed manager Brendan Rodgers to Liverpool in a £15m deal in made 132 appearances for Liverpool – and was part of the side which came close to ending the Reds' wait for a Premier League title in 2014 – before joining Stoke for £13m in played more than 200 games for the Potters, staying with the club despite their relegation to the Championship in 2018, before opting to rejoin Swansea when his contract expired in he has had various injury issues since returning to Wales, Allen remained an important figure when fit to play, as well as being continually hailed for his influence away from the made just short of 250 Swansea appearances across two spells with the club he first joined at the age of nine.
