Latest news with #Merthyr
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Natalie Powell: Olympian who swapped judo for golf
As sporting transitions go, swapping judo for golf is not the most obvious change that springs to mind - and Natalie Powell acknowledges 34-year-old former world judo number one works as a pathway and high performance officer at Wales Golf, the national governing body of amateur golf in a contrast from her previous sporting life, but Merthyr-born Powell knows a thing or two about elite an Olympian, as well as a world and European medallist, she has been tasked with helping push through the next generation of Welsh golfers, though admits her own skill on the course is still a work in progress."I've never been a golfer, but I am closer to being a golfer now than I ever was," said Powell."I've been to the driving range a few times in the last few weeks and we actually had a wellbeing day with the Wales Golf team which was really nice, my first experience on a proper golf course. I can definitely see how people get the bug for it."Powell started with Wales Golf 10 months ago and said she is "really enjoying it". "It's such a great environment, the sport is great, the people are great and it's nice to do something different after doing judo for so many years," she added."It's definitely not something I would have predicted maybe a year, even 18 months ago. It is such a great second sport. "With judo I couldn't fight forever, my body wouldn't allow me to do that, whereas with golf it's not so taxing on the body and a lot more taxing on the mind which I think makes it a perfect transition from high intensity sport". Moving on from judo In 2017, Powell became the first female British judoka to be ranked number one in the world by winning a gold medal at the Abu Dhabi judo Grand sees this as her crowning achievement, in addition to winning Commonwealth gold at the Glasgow games in 2014, as well as world and European bronze while the passion for judo still burns brightly - she coaches youngsters at the Cardiff Judo Academy - Powell remembers the moment when she realised that her competitive career was coming to an was the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the "Covid games" which should have taken place a year prior, where Powell failed to achieve a podium place."I think the transition probably started after Tokyo. I put my heart and soul into Tokyo and it didn't pan out the way I'd hoped," said Powell."The year following Tokyo, I was very much one foot in, one foot out and I probably didn't want it as much as I previously had done. It had always been judo, judo, judo, that was it, that was life and I think after Tokyo, I had the kind of realisation that maybe it's time to step into something else."Having achieved a degree in biomedical science and a masters in advanced coaching Powell said her focus was shifting."I was starting to get experiences in terms of doing talks in schools and starting to broaden my horizons outside of the judo and then I was very fortunate with my coach Darren [Warner], he was always thinking about that too, so he was always thinking how he could help me and having the conversations early."I think by the time it came I was very much ready to make that step. For 26 years my life has very much been judo, and in the last 15 it's been intensely judo, so the transition was definitely scary but I was really lucky that I had such great support from my coach, my family and my friends."I coach Cardiff Judo Academy and run classes two or three nights a week so it's really good and really nice to still be connected with the judo community because that's given me so much". Helping the next generation Powell has joined Wales Golf at an exciting time. The female game in Wales will no doubt be boosted by the arrival of the world's best players in July, with the Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl member Darcey Harry qualifying for the tournament by winning the 2025 Belgian Ladies Open, Powell and her Wales Golf colleagues hope the 22-year-old is the first of many promising young Welsh talents coming through."It's incredible and Darcy winning [in Belgium] that's just the icing on the cake really. To see her perform in Porthcawl is going to be incredible for golf, Wales golf and everybody involved really," enthused Powell who says she has three different projects."We're trying to do a coaching programme at the moment to upskill the level of coaches in the country, which is really exciting. "Putting a pathway in place to give the kids the best chance of getting from club level right up to the elite Welsh national team."And then acting as a mentor with some of the former players and hopefully helping them with my experience and giving them someone to talk to and get advice from."I think it's just really nice to give back and not escape the sporting world because that's always been my passion".
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Promoted Merthyr to compete in National League North
They are the football club proud to come from the south Wales valleys – but have been told they will be a 'northern' team next season. There were huge celebrations when community-owned Merthyr Town won the Southern Premier League South title. But it has been confirmed they will now play in the National League North next term – with 300-mile away trips to Darlington and South Shields among their away days in a regionalised division. In front of more than 3,000 fans at Penydarren Park last month, the part-time outfit sealed promotion to English football's sixth tier, their highest level in 30 years. The Martyrs had played in the Western and Southern Leagues since being reformed after Merthyr Tydfil's liquidation in 2010. And the club had been aware the potential make-up of the teams next season at sixth tier level – and the large contingent of teams from the south of England - could see them having to plan to head north. Three south of England sides, Dagenham & Redbridge, Ebbsfleet and Maidenhead, dropping out of the fifth-tier National League would have given organisers a headache in how to split clubs. The National League confirmed its allocations for the 2025-26 season on Thursday, although says those are subject to appeal. A Football Association spokesperson said: "We make every effort each season to allocate National League System [NLS] clubs to the most geographically suitable league possible. "The clubs are allocated to a league based on the step in the NLS that they will be playing in, and their location in the country. These allocations are subject to appeals. "Geographical suitability continues to play an important part in NLS allocations, and we always try to balance this against the number of teams in each division to ensure sporting integrity is maintained." 'Merthyr can go as far as people want' Merthyr Town owners vote against Cymru Premier move Merthyr are not alone in the anomaly: Oxford City, Hereford United and Bedford Town have also been placed in National League North, whose other new clubs include Robbie Savage's Macclesfield Town. The game at Hereford's Edgar Street will be Merthyr's shortest away day, with a 43-mile, one-way trip taking around an hour. But it will take fans – and players – as much as 12 hours on the road in a round-trip for their game at South Shields. At the time of their promotion, chairman Les Barlow said their placing would make "no difference" as they revelled in a season in which they enjoyed a 32-game unbeaten run. Merthyr won the Welsh Cup in 1987 and went on to upset Italian giants Atalanta in the following season's European Cup Winners' Cup. Last season, they turned down a lucrative offer from the Football Association of Wales to join the Welsh league system, a decision manager Paul Michael says was vindicated by their promotion.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- The Sun
Fury as trains ‘upgraded' at cost of £1billion have NO toilets on board in move slammed as ‘absolute madness'
COMMUTERS fear being caught short in a £1billion rail upgrade which includes trains with no toilets. The electric tram-trains will be brought in as part of 'improvements' in South Wales. 1 But one passenger said it was 'absolute madness' that the carriages will be without loos. Rail staff admitted they were 'dreading' the likely problems with the elderly, children, disabled people and drunks. The Welsh Labour government says the new South Wales Metro project will 'provide better transport options'. Passengers needing the loo will have to get off at a station. One commuter said it was 'absolute madness', adding: 'We certainly are going backwards in Wales!' Another added: 'No public toilets at the vast majority of stations either. 'I regularly travel from Cardiff to Merthyr and also Aberdare. Both big towns and not a toilet in sight.' One shocked commenter added: 'I have a funny feeling there's going to be lots of urine on the floor on a Friday and Saturday night.' Transport for Wales said on-board toilets would 'significantly reduce capacity' and that passengers would always be within a 20-minute journey of a loo.
Powys County Times
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Pam helps husband dream of Wales walking football trip
A POWYS man's dream of playing football on the world stage – at the age of 75 – is being aided by his wife, who is helping him fundraise for the trip. Pam Barlow swam 70 lengths of her local swimming pool, to mark her looming 70th birthday, in Builth Wells last week, while also raising money for husband Dave, who is heading to Sweden later this year to play for Wales in the International Walking Football Federation World Championships. Dave, a keen sportsman in his youth and who was once an apprentice at Blackpool, was first introduced to walking football by Mandy Gornicki, his neighbour in the tiny Powys village of Cefn Gorwydd, near Llanwrtyd Wells, in 2023. Mandy, a former Welsh women's player, who featured in the first-ever Wales international in 1993, helped Dave earn his first cap for Wales Over 70s; and they both represented Wales at the European Championships in Marseille that June. Now, Dave is hopefully off to the world stage, with a little help from Pam. 'Walking football has given my husband a new lease of life,' she said. 'After playing competitive sport for most of his life, he never dreamed he would be putting on his boots again to play international football at the age of 75. 'So, I just wanted to give a bit of help to the team as they represent Wales this July. 'The trip is completely self-funded and the team is trying to raise funds for some smart travel and warm-up gear to give them a sense of national pride and promote walking football. 'This is an amazing activity, which can help with all kinds of mental and physical well-being for older men and women. 'With this in mind, I decided to do a sponsored swim at my local pool in Builth Wells. I completed 70 lengths in 70 minutes in my 70th year. 'My daughter set up a GoFundMe page and we are well on our way of reaching our target of £700.' Pam completed her 70 lengths in an impressive time of 52 minutes, 41 seconds, on Friday, May 2, and thanked the swimming pool staff who were so supportive. Dave praised his wife's 'phenomenal' effort and said all of his team-mates are doing similar things to raise money for the trip. 'Unfortunately, everything is about self-funding these days, especially in amateur sports,' said the retired PE teacher. 'Every little helps and everyone in the group has been brilliant in fundraising for themselves.' Dave will travel with the Wales Over 70s squad to Sweden for the tournament, taking place from July 3-6, and featuring the likes of the hosts, as well as Italy, France, England, Peru, Australia, Norway, and even a team from the Scottish isles. 'I train at Merthyr and it's a wonderful bunch of boys, there's a terrific camaraderie,' added Dave, who moved with Pam to Powys over a decade ago. 'It was my debut in 2023 and now I'm probably one of the more senior members, in terms of age and experience. 'I'm enjoying the experience. I played sport all my life, including football, rugby, basketball and cricket, but football's always been my first love. 'I quit playing rugby at 46 and thought it was time to give the body a rest. But after a chance meeting with Mandy down the road, it's opened a lot of doors. 'It's tough to give up playing sport, at any level, but I would encourage people to pursue any opportunity that's out there. 'You're a long time retired so take every opportunity. My doctors say keeping active is the best thing you can do.'
Wales Online
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Iconic Welsh rugby club thrashed 104-0 by rivals but fans proud of team
Iconic Welsh rugby club thrashed 104-0 by rivals but fans proud of team It came a huge shock with Neath third place in the league. Merthyr celebrate winning the Welsh Premiership (Image: Merthyr RFC ) Neath lost 104-0 to Merthyr in a shocking result that has made Welsh rugby fans check the scores twice. The Ironmen bagged 16 tries in the top of the table clash, with the huge victory coming one week after they secured the Welsh Premiership title. Merthyr were presented with the league trophy at The Wern, and marked the occasion with a relentless barrage of tries against a severely fatigued outfit who had played three games in a seven-day window and changed half their team from the previous match. The home side did not pull any punches though, and were 66-0 up at half time. They would go on to score another six tries in the second half to make matters worse for Neath. Adam Hoskins got himself four tries with teammate Dafydd Thomas securing a hat-trick with Ben Jones kicking 11 conversions. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. This game came just 72 hours after Neath had played Pontypridd in a 34-33 thriller at Sardis Road, which they narrowly lost. It officially confirmed Pontypridd would finish second, not Neath, who ended the season third. Article continues below While there are still five games to play this week, that devastating result against Merthyr marked the end of Neath's season. Despite this, there's no chance of Bargoed pipping them to third when they Pontypridd this weekend, with the Welsh All Blacks 10 points clear in third place. Fans on social media were shocked by the result but understood the wider context of a difficult week that ended with the freak scoreline, with one of the best teams in the division being thrashed by over a century of points. Neath Supporters Club said: "This is one game out of a very long hard season. Please don't judge on just one scoreline. This came after very physical games against Bonymaen and Pontypridd. Three games in seven days. Don't forget we don't get any support from our region. So it's a very tough ask for our squad." Article continues below One Merthyr supporter said: "You nearly beat Pontypridd on their home pitch, you came third in a league where there are no easy games. "Yesterday was one match too many given the time it takes to recover from playing a hard, physical game like rugby. You did your best and played until the end trying to score and you didn't resort to old school rugby - putting in cheap shots - all the best next season." Another wrote: "Not a scoreline Neath will be proud of one bit, but credit to all the players, staff, supporters, who must be hurting at the moment. But third in a very tough league is a great achievement, congratulations on a great season to all involved at Neath RFC."
