Latest news with #Rhydian
South Wales Guardian
6 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Rhydian Jones played tennis for 24 hours for cancer charity
Rhydian Jones embarked on the challenge at Llandybie Tennis Club to support the Sir Gareth Edwards Cancer Charity, which helped his family when his wife, Angharad, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2023, just months after their wedding. The charity, which supports young adults in Wales aged 15 to 35 living with cancer, provided crucial support to the couple and their daughter, Mabli, while Angharad was receiving treatment. One year into remission, the family decided to show their gratitude by raising funds for the charity. Rhydian's Serve and Stride for Cancer 24 & 13.1 challenges were born out of this desire. On Saturday, August 9, at 12pm, Rhydian started his first challenge, playing tennis non-stop for 24 hours. Throughout the marathon, Rhydian was accompanied by his friend and fellow tennis player, Carwyn Gape. An array of other players also joined in to support the pair throughout the day and night. On Sunday, as the marathon concluded, family, friends, and supporters gathered to celebrate the achievement. An air horn marked the end of the challenge. So far, Rhydian has raised more than £6,000 through his Go Fund Me page. Rhydian will now take a couple of months to prepare for the second part of his challenge. On October 5, he will participate in the Cardiff Half Marathon.
Cambrian News
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Cambrian News
Rhydian to represent Wales at Home Internationals
No stranger to the international stage, Rhydian previously donned the Welsh colours during his junior years. Now, having recently returned to competitive play, his performances in five of the six national events this season have earned him a place in the Men's Welsh squad.
New Paper
12-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
May 13 South Africa (Kenilworth) form analysis
Race 1 (1,200m) (9) INSIDE VOICE stayed on strongly late for third last time. The form of that race has worked out well and she has a good each-way chance in this field. (7) ELECTROMAGNETISM ran a lovely second last time. Include her in all bets. (2) PRECOCIOUS finished strongly in second last time before a break. Watch her closely. (3) RED TAFFETY was beaten just over six lengths on debut. She steps up in trip and could sneak into the places at a decent price. Race 2 (1,200m) (6) SOUTH OF FRANCE ran a great race on debut. The form of that race has worked out well and she will go very close to winning. (1) LOWVELD LILY caught the eye late on debut when she finished powerfully to run third. Include her into all bets. (2) MY DEAR FRIEND was beaten just over five lengths by the winner in her first run. She should be running on well late. (4) VIVA LA VIDA is well-bred. Gavin Lerena will ride her on debut. Watch the market closely. Race 3 (1,400m) (3) SIERRA SAGRADA ran well against older horses second-up last time. From a good draw, he should get the perfect run and will be very hard to beat in this race. (2) DIAMOND DAYS has a good each-way chance. He ran second last time at Hollywoodbets Durbanville and will be a major player in the finish. (4) BALZI ROSSI ran a fair race last time in a strong race. Watch for a big performance from this colt. (5) MAGNUS THE GOOD finished six lengths behind his stable companion at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in his last start. The apprentice takes off 2½ kg and he might be able to sneak into the quartet. Race 4 (1,000m) (7) THINGAMABOB can go close to winning. From a wide draw at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last time, she suffered interference, but the drop in trip is key. (6) RUBY REX ran second last time. Her form at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is very good, so she will be competitive. (3) AMERICAN ULTRA has been rested for a long time. Her two runs were good. If she does not need the run badly, she could easily win this. (2) FLEUR DE VILLE has been rested for 66 days. She was well tried in the maiden ranks and could sneak into the quartet. Race 5 (1,200m) (4) RHYDIAN ran an unlucky second last time when he only managed to find a gap late. If he has improved, he will be tough to beat. (3) KLEIN KAROO stayed on for fourth in the same race as Rhydian last time. He should improve from that run. Include him. (9) BOUNDLESS LOVE finished third in the same race as Rhydian and Klein Karoo last time. He is improving. Include him into all bets. (11) DIGBY was beaten just over two lengths by the winner first-up last time. Watch him closely. Race 6 (1,200m) (4) COLD BREEZE finished like a train for third last time. If she can back that run up, she will go very close to winning. (3) VIVO PER LEI ran a fair race last time. This is a weak race on paper, so if she enjoys the drop in trip, she will be right there in the finish. (9) CALL ME JANE finished fifth last time and it was her first run back from a long break. She is lightly raced, watch for big improvement. (2) ROSA OSIRIA gets the blinkers fitted. She could run a place on her best form. Race 7 (1,100m) (5) EMPIRE STATE ran a great race in the Big Cap last time and won over this trip two starts ago. He will be finishing strongly and has a good winning chance. (6) ELUSIVE WINTER ran a cracking third last time. The form of that race has worked out well and they will have to catch him. (7) BLUFF ON BLUFF never runs a bad race. He will sit just off the speed early and do good work late. (3) GIMMELIGHTNING needed his last run badly but he should improve. Watch him closely. Race 8 (1,500m) (7) KLEINZEE has won her last two races well, even if she was drawn badly last time. She has a good winning chance again. (3) LA DIVINA ran second from a wide draw at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last time. If she gets some cheap sectionals early, she will be hard to peg back. (4) LADY LOOK ALIKE won well last time. She is very consistent, include her in the play. (2) ONI SAN ran fourth last time. She needs to slide further in the ratings, but the draw will help her run a place at best.
Wales Online
08-05-2025
- Wales Online
E-bike riders trash field and cause £10,000 worth of damage as business issues plea to vandals
E-bike riders trash field and cause £10,000 worth of damage as business issues plea to vandals The vandals have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage over the years One of the bikers that caused damage (Image: Swansea Footgolf ) Fields used by a footgolf course have been left with damage upwards of £2,000 after electric bike riders "wreaked havoc" on it. The Swansea Footgolf course in Blackpill, was the first 18-hole footgolf-only course in Wales, but now its owners have said that it is being repeatedly damaged by electric bike and quad bike riders. They say around £10,000 worth of damage has been caused to the fields in total. Rhydian Thomas, 57, and Roger Maliphant, 64 who jointly run the course say they are a family run business and cannot afford to do repairs this frequently. Rhydian said: 'This course was an old golf course of 10 holes, 10-hole golf course. So obviously, when we converted this in 2016 to a Footgolf we had to create another eight greens to make 18. The damage caused by quad bikes in the months of January and February (Image: Swansea Footgolf ) 'There were 10 original golf greens so the five they damaged were primarily the original golf green so the better ones which are frustrating, very frustrating. So that happened a lot in January and February, we've got some footage of that.' Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here However, the incidents have increased in the past few months. Rhydian said: 'More recently there's the electric bikers, I think they're called Sur-Ron bikes, and there's been a gang of four of those who've been coming on the course. Article continues below 'It's always different people, the quad bikes are different people obviously, and then these are Sur-Ron bikes, the ones that came recently, and they're electric bikes. They use the course to ramp across and there are lots of hills here and then they turn around.' Damage to the fields is recurring (Image: Swansea Footgolf ) The bikers use the hills to ramp up (Image: Swansea Footgolf ) The most recent damage incurred at the field from riders occurred last week on Monday, and Rhydian says just the damage from that incident has left them footgolf course with a £2,000 bill. Rhydian explained: 'When the electric bikes and the Sur-Ron bikes came, last week, they came at 10 past seven one evening on a Monday, headed towards Mumbles and then they came back just before quarter past nine, spent four or five minutes ramping on the course wreaking havoc 'They created a trench which was 15ft long and about a foot deep, on our 17th fairway. They then decided to go over our first green multiple times. So again that has had to be moved, the holes had to move from that one.' Business owners say that the bikers have been leaving damage worth thousands of pounds (Image: Swansea Footgolf ) Rhydian added that he and his partner these incidents happen 10 to 20 times a year and he has reported it to the police every time. He said: 'So we're now getting quite a lot of police presence, the police are aware of it, they're going to probably involve drones soon to chase these people back to their home because they can then confiscate the bikes and destroy them.' Rhydian explained that the course is hugely popular with and attracts a large number of visitors each year, making it more frustrating for the owners. He said: 'We have upwards of 10,000 people a year playing foot golf here, families from age three to 83 who play, holidaymakers who come to the Gower in the summer months, the Swansea City players, they come regularly and come down to play with their families and friends. Last week the bikes made a one metre wide trench (Image: Swansea Footgolf ) 'We've had Osprey's rugby players here in the past and Welsh Rugby Internationals, they've come to play here. 'TV personalities come down to play and film here as well for documentaries. So it's used widely by lots of people.' Rhydian added that the local community has been frustrated by the incidents too. He said: 'Everyone we tell about this, they're always really upset and don't understand why they have to damage this because they have great fun here, they have good exercise, it's good for their mental health. 'They're out and playing with friends and family, they're kicking the ball around, it's great for exercise, right by the sea, it couldn't be a better location and yet you get these idiots deciding to do what they do, have no respect for people or people with livelihoods.' Rhydian said he hopes that electric bike riders just 'respect' their business. The trench made by the bikes was 15ft long (Image: Swansea Footgolf ) He said: 'I'll just say to them, look, I don't know why you're doing this, please respect us and what we're doing. We're not young anymore. We're two older guys who are trying to make a good living out of this and provide an opportunity for people locally to play. 'We're not council run property, we run this ourselves. Please find other areas to go. There should be plenty of areas you can go to, to not have to come and destroy an area which is loved by many people.' Rhydian is hopeful that with the increased patrols from police, the culprits will be caught soon. He said: 'It's down to the police really, catching them. Which they will, they always catch them eventually. Over the years they've caught many of them to be honest… there are a lot of patrols happening at the moment you know, and they will eventually be caught clearly. 'There's nothing that the local community can do other than just stay vigilant and anytime they see anyone on the course or you know damaging it on a bike, please take some footage of it and send it in to 101 online. Article continues below
