Author: Rhys Gregory

An outstanding cricketer at Monmouth School for Girls has won a showpiece final in front of 20,000 people at Lord’s – and gained national acclaim from the England captain. Sophia Smale, 17, played an important role as the Oval Invincibles carried off the Women’s Hundred crown on Saturday night. Sixth Form student, Sophia, was described as the ‘best young player of the tournament’ by the England women’s captain, Heather Knight. Sophia, who lives near Newport, was also tipped by Heather Knight to be a contender for the England Under-19s World Cup squad later this year. She has taken another big…

The Federation of Small Businesses in Wales has launched the annual Celebrating Small Business Awards, an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contributions of small businesses and the self employed across the UK. As the largest event of its kind in the small business calendar, the high-profile FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards are free to enter and open to all. With winners from each category securing a spot at the prestigious UK final and a chance to be crowned the UK Small Business of the Year, it’s an opportunity for widespread recognition. Earlier this year in April, the 2022 Awards…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales and FUW Insurance Services Ltd. are looking forward to welcoming members and customers to the Usk Show on Saturday 10 September. The event, which has been a roaring success for the Union last year, will be held at Usk Showground, Gwernesney, Usk and promises to once again be a busy and successful day to celebrate the very best of Monmouthshire farming and rural life. FUW Glamorgan and Gwent County Executive Officer Sharon Pritchard said: “We are very excited to welcome friends, family, members, FUW Insurance Services customers and everyone who wants to find out more…

Talented Welsh butcher Ben Roberts has won a bronze medal at the World Champion Butcher Apprentice competition in Sacramento, California. Ben, 30, from M. E. Evans Butchers, Overton-on-Dee, represented the Craft Butchery Team Wales in the competition yesterday on Friday at the World Butchers’ Challenge, often referred to as the ‘Olympics of Meat’. He had to wait until an awards ceremony in the early hours of this morning – UK time – to discover the result and was overjoyed to have finished in the top three. Ten apprentice butchers from around the globe competed, with the Craft Butchery Team Wales…

Spire Cardiff Hospital has completed a major investment programme, delivering state-of-the-art equipment to benefit patients and the climate. A new CT scanner has just been unveiled, which represents a £1.5 million investment by Spire Healthcare and will enable up to 20 patients a day to be scanned to detect cancer, cardiac disease and urgent neurological, gynaecological and orthopaedic conditions. The scanner will help provide diagnoses for both NHS and private patients, which will alleviate pressure on waiting lists and reduce waiting times for a scan. The new equipment uses the latest technology, which means that it will take less time…

Multiple New Zealand champion and WRC winner Hayden Paddon and co-driver Jared Hudson won this year’s Get Connected Rali Ceredigion. Recording his first ever all-asphalt victory, Haddon described the event as one of the best rallies of its kind in the world. After taking the lead on Saturday’s fourth and final stage, driving a Hyundai i20 N R5, Paddon consolidated his advantage over Sunday’s eight stages to cross the line 38.7 seconds ahead of 2019 Rali Ceredigion winner Osian Pryce and co-driver on this occasion Noel O’Sullivan in a VW Polo GTi R5. Driving a new Hyundai i20 N Rally…

Poor Rosie has been in the care of staff at  RSPCA Bryn Y Maen Animal Centre for more than 200 days and has had no interest whatsoever. Now staff at the Upper Colwyn Bay centre hope that Roise – who is a six-year-old domestic shorthair crossbreed – will find her perfect furever home soon. Centre manager Vicky Williams said: “Rosie is one of our long stay residents – and we just can’t figure out why! “Even though she is sweet, confident and so friendly she has been with us now for more than 200 days. It could be her colour…

Believe, the enchanted Christmas experience, is returning to St David’s Cardiff with tickets set to go on sale next week.  The wondrous Christmas grotto launched at St David’s Cardiff for the first time in 2021 to sell-out success and, due to popular demand, is set to make a return this year. Believe will open daily from Friday November 25, right up until Christmas Eve, Saturday December 24.   Believe invites guests into a mystical cavern to meet McJingles, one of Santa’s most trusted elves, along with Norbert, his magical reindeer friend. After hearing Norbert’s story, the children will take part in a festive craft activity decorating their own bag of magical…

A FAMILY firm proved to be a glass above during the pandemic after increasing turnover and taking on new staff. Approaching 40 years in business, Anglesey-based Peninsula Home Improvements credited new partnerships and diversification as having a positive impact on growth. Sales director Dylan Hulse – a graduate of the popular Leading Business Growth programmes at Bangor University Business School – revealed a more reflective approach played a major role in expansion of the award-winning Gaerwen business, one of the region’s leading suppliers of specialist windows, doors, and conservatories. As Bangor and Cardiff Metropolitan universities this month launched their second…

Six innovative engineering projects have been unveiled as voting opens for the 2022 Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) People’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice Award showcases the best of civil engineering, recognising projects that have a positive impact on the local economy and communities, while highlighting the positive benefits civil engineering has on communities. The shortlisted projects range from a new container port in Nigeria to the restoration of a peat bog on the English-Welsh border. They also include an elegant bridge connecting communities in Glasgow, flood defences in Lincoln, the renovation of a Grade II-listed ferry terminal on the…