JANUARY

THE year started well for former Greenhill pupil Bruce Tasker, who was named as part of the GB four man bobsleigh squad for the Winter Olympics in Sochi – before picking up silver with his team at the European Championships in Germany.

In football, Haverfordwest County briefly topped the Welsh League Division One with a 5-1 win over Porth, but then slipped to defeats against Cambrian and Clydach and West End.
In Pembrokeshire, Hakin topped Division One after James Stanmore struck four times in a 5-4 win at Monkton – and Pembrokeshire College student Laurie Haworth played for both Wales Schools and Welsh Colleges in the space of four days.

In rugby union, Pembroke won the month’s big derby by beating The Quins 39-0 in Division Five West, while Tenby United stunned Crymych 16-15 in the Pembrokeshire Cup. The latter’s head coach, Gareth Williams, was put in interim charge of the Wales 7s side (and later took the role full time), and Whitland Ladies RFC were honoured for winning promotion to the Women’s Premiership at an awards ceremony at the Millennium Stadium. Meanwhile, former Haverfordwest RFC and then Newport Gwent Dragons (now Ospreys) hooker, Sam Parry, trained with the Welsh squad.

Pembrokeshire and District Amateur Swimming Club enjoyed record numbers at their 39th annual championships – and Jonny Leigh (Narberth) won the first ever Pembrokeshire Squash Open at the Meads Leisure Centre.

FEBRUARY

IT was a month to remember for Neyland Cricket Club as they won the Pembrokeshire Indoor League for the sixth successive year – and then beat Ynystawe to claim the Welsh crown.
Their run continued through the regional rounds and all the way to the UK finals at Lords, where they were eventually beaten by Dearne CC.

Bruce Tasker’s Olympic dream nearly ended in a medal as his four man bobsleigh crew finished fifth at the Winter Olympics – while Crymych youngster Garan Croft boxed his way to a third successive Welsh Schoolboys title in Clydach.

Narberth RFC lost 19-6 at home to Premiership side Aberavon in the Swalec Cup – but their impressive league form saw them finish the month third in the Championship.

In football, Tenby, Monkton Swifts, Merlins Bridge and Johnston progressed to the Senior Cup semi finals – and Haverfordwest County’s under 19s made the last four of the Welsh Youth Cup with a 5-2 win over Pontardawe Town.

Tony Scourfield was appointed Chairman of the Pembroke County Cricket Club, and at the West Wales Indoor Athletics Championships in Swansea, the Pembrokeshire Harriers returned home with seven gold medals in their total of 20.

MARCH

THERE were agonising quarter final defeats for Tenby and Hakin United in the West Wales Intermediate Cup quarter finals – losing to Seaside and Cwmfelin Press respectively.

But the Vikings enjoyed wins over Neyland, St Clears and Merlins Bridge as they edged towards the league title.

Tenby beat Monkton 2-0 to reach the Senior Cup final, while Bridge overcame Johnston on penalties to join them. Haverfordwest County under 19s reached the Welsh Youth final after beating Cambrian and Clydach 2-0 – and the Bluebirds senior side remained in contention for the Welsh League Division One title with wins over Goytre and Aberdare Town.

In rugby, former Whitland players Jonathan Davies, Mike Phillips and Scott Williams played in Wales’ Six Nations campaign, which saw Warren Gatland’s men finish third, while closer to home Tenby United moved into the Division Three West promotion race by beating Haverfordwest 21-6.

Neyland won 31-18 at Llangwm in a fierce Division Five West derby, but in Division Four West it was a difficult month for Milford Haven, who were beaten 106-0 at Lampeter and 96-0 at Hendy.

Charlene Jones enhanced her boxing reputation by winning the Welsh Elite Lightweight Women’s title, and Vicky Lloyd won pentathlon silver at the Scottish Open.

Local horse trainer Rebecca Curtis celebrated O’Faolains Boy winning the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival – and there were record numbers at the seventh annual Pembrokeshire Duathlon in Neyland.

APRIL

THERE was a new name on the Senior Cup as a Billy Vaughan penalty and Carl Woodhouse own goal gave Tenby a 2-0 win over Merlins Bridge at the Conygar New Bridge Meadow.

Hakin hammered Goodwick 6-1 to seal a 14th league title, while Hundleton and St Ishmaels were relegated. Clarbeston Road claimed the Second Division Cup with a 2-0 win over Solva, and Herbrandston and Angle won promotion into the top flight.
Haverfordwest however, missed out on both the Welsh League Division One title and promotion after losing 4-1 at home to Taffs Well.

It was a mixed month for local horse trainers as Rebecca Curtis saw Teaforthree fail to finish the Aintree Grand National – but the Peter Bowen trained Al Co romped to victory in the Scottish Grand National.

In rugby, Tenby United and Aberystwyth made it to the Pembs KO Cup final, and in the Division One West derby Crymych won a thrilling game 26-25 at Whitland. But there was heartbreak for the Ysgol Y Preseli under 18s – beaten 19-17 by Llanishen High in the Welsh Schools final at the Millennium Stadium.

The annual Tour of Pembrokeshire was again a stunning success, despite riders battling torrential weather over the 50, 75, and 100 mile courses.

Meanwhile in snooker, the Manc A finished top of Division One in the Eddie Rocks Pembrokeshire Snooker League.

MAY

IT was Haverfordwest Cricket Club who led  Division One after champions Neyland suffered a shock defeat at Llanrhian, while Llangwm were the early pace setters in Division Two.

There was agony for former Narberth man Joe Allen as Liverpool blew a 3-0 lead at Crystal Palace before eventually finishing second in the Premiership table, while local referee Kevin Bowen took charge of the West Wales Intermediate Cup final between Penlan Club and Seaside at the Liberty Stadium.

Haverfordwest under 19s missed out on the Welsh Youth Cup when West End beat them 3-2 in the final.

In rugby, Tenby beat Aberystwyth 38-5 in the Pembs KO Cup final, and then sealed promotion with a 58-0 play off hammering of Wattstown. Narberth finished fifth in the Championship after inflicting a first defeat of the campaign on champions Ebbw Vale, and the Carmarthen Flamingoes won the annual Newport 7s.

In ladies golf, Becky Harries was second in the Welsh Amateur Golf Championships, while Raife Douglas and Seth Morris both won titles at the Welsh National Surfing Championships.

In snooker, Saundersfoot and Hook won the Jimmy Allen and DT Pearce Cups respectively – and Fenton school teacher Keiran Davies won the Welsh Cycling Association 25 mile Time Trial in Neath.

JUNE

A LAST wicket stand of 60 between Sean Hannon and Nathan Banner gave Neyland a crucial win over Haverfordwest, and took Gregg Miller’s men top of the table.

However, they were knocked out of the Harrison Allen Bowl by Narberth, who made the semi finals with Cresselly, Haverfordwest, and Whitland.

In Division Two, Johnston hit form to lead the table – with one highlight being a knock of 145 not out from Lee Summons against Pembroke.

In rugby, former Pembrokeshire man Geraint John was named 7s coach of Australia, and Danny Worrall won the snooker county singles title.

In football, Joe Allen captained Wales in a friendly defeat in Holland, and Angharad James played at the Bridge Meadow for Wales women as they beat Turkey 1-0 in a World Cup Qualifier.

Aberystwyth’s Gancho Slanowto won the gruelling 24 mile Preseli Beast in record time – and Becky Harries returned to winning ways at the West of England Championships in Bristol.

The Queens Baton Relay, which formed part of the build up to the Commonwealth Games, came to St Davids – while Harry Owen (gymnastics), Charlene Jones (boxing), Alex Matchett (triathlon), Shawnee Bourner (shooting), James Davies (rugby 7s) and Joel Machin (squash) were the six competitors with Pembrokeshire links to be named in the Team Wales squad for the Games in Glasgow.

JULY

IT was a busy month for local triathletes as Oliver Simon sent the home crowd home happy by winning the Tenby Long Course weekend, just weeks after setting a new course record at the Broad Haven triathlon.

Celia White took bronze in the 45-49 year old category of the European Triathlon Championships in Austria – and the Pembrokeshire Harriers boasted a host of winners at the Welsh Schools Athletics Championships.

In cycling, former STP pupil Rhys Howells was 16th in his race at the British National Time Trial and Road Race Championships, a race won by Sir Bradley Wiggins, and Nick Dyer and James Walters both won titles at the Bourse Welsh Masters Squash Open in Cardiff.

In cricket, there was an incredible finish in the DR Morris Cup final as Patrick Bellerby hit a six off the very last ball to give Neyland victory over Haverfordwest – who did have the consolation of making the Harrison Allen Bowl final alongside Cresselly. Kilgetty retained the Alan Brown Cup by beating Camrose.

In women’s cricket Burton won the Skelfayre Cup, and in hockey, Ellie Codd was selected for Wales under 16s.

AUGUST

NONE of our Pembrokeshire athletes returned from the Commonwealth games with a medal - but Charlene Jones, narrowly beaten in the quarter finals of her boxing category, described the trip as an “experience of a lifetime.”

Neyland and Haverfordwest dominated the end of season cricket honours, with the former retaining the Division One title and beating Cresselly in a delayed Jubilee Cup match.  The Town meanwhile, produced a dominant display to capture the Harrison Allen Bowl, again against Cresselly, and the club’s second and third teams also won the Alec Colley and Ken Morris Cups respectively.
Cresselly’s youngsters captured the Ormond Youth Cup by beating Kilgetty.

Llangwm and Johnston were the teams promoted from Division Two, replacing Narberth and Saundersfoot.

Former Tish player Andrew Salter was part of the Glamorgan Dragons side that narrowly missed out on Twenty20 finals day after losing in Lancashire.

Emyr Simmons and Shirley James were the male and female winners of the annual Pembrokeshire County Tennis Tournament, and Richard Gardiner was first home in the Tenby 10k race.

Oliver Simon retained the Welsh Triathlon Title in Fishguard and Renzo Algieri returned to body building to claim the Welsh over 50s title.

In athletics, the Pembrokeshire Harriers regained the Gerald Codd Memorial Trophy, and Hakin drew first blood in the Pembrokeshire football season by beating Tenby 4-2 in the Jubilee Cup.

SEPTEMBER

THE eyes of the World were on Tenby for 2014 Ironman Wales. Thousands took to the streets to offer the athletes support – and watched South African Matt Trautman come home first in just over nine hours.

‘Local’ rugby returned with the newly structured Swalec Leagues – and the opening day saw two Pembrokeshire derbies in Division Three West B as Fishguard and Pembroke enjoyed wins over Milford and Llangwm.

However, in the Pembs KO Cup a number of teams conceded their first round ties – the most surprise case being holders Tenby  not raising a side to face Crymych.

Alice Bevans, of Pembrokeshire Autograss Club, was crowned the 2014 National Autograss Champion of Champions – and Penelope Phillips, Jacqueline Challonder, Steve Arnold, Andrew Murphy and Adrian Phillips all struck gold at the UK Powerlifting Championships.

In cricket, just weeks after winning a delayed Jubilee Cup match, Neyland were beaten in the same competition by Haverfordwest after organisers decided to make the clash an end of season finale, and The Town’s Huw Scriven kept wicket for Wales over 50s, who reached the UK regional final before losing to the West Midlands.

In football, there was an action packed Division One clash at The Racecourse as Merlins Bridge beat Goodwick 2-1 – and Hakin hammered Saundersfoot Sports 17-0.

In the Welsh League Division One, Haverfordwest ended September four points clear after a 2-0 win at Monmouth Town.

Jockey Jodie Hughes rode her 50th career winner at Ffos Las – while Ben Llewellin returned from the World Junior Shooting Championships with a bronze after representing Team GB.

OCTOBER

IT was an emotional day at Cardigan RFC as more than 1500 people turned out to support a Dylan Rees XV against a Cardigan Presidents XV. Proceeds from the game and charity auction exceeded £50,000 – with the money going towards helping Dylan, currently in the University of Wales Hospital following a rugby accident last year, and his family.

In league rugby, the local derbies continued with Whitland edging out Tenby 23-21 (Division One West) and Milford beating arch rivals Neyland 31-20 (Division Three West B).

Haverfordwest’s Clair Davies competed in the World IronMan Championships in Hawaii, finishing 46th in the 45-49 year old category, while Stuart Crees and Caryl Mair Jones were the male and female winners of the Pembrokeshire and Dale Half Marathon.

Meanwhile, Ella Richardson successfully completed the Brutal Full Triathlon in North Wales.

In football, Angharad James was named the Welsh Women’s Young Player of the Year – and former Premiership star Simon Davies debuted for Solva in a West Wales Intermediate Cup defeat at St Clears.

Closer to the home, there was a controversial Senior Cup tie between Hakin and Merlins Bridge – which referee Kevin Bowen abandoned early, claiming he could not guarantee the safety of the players.

In cricket, Andrew Salter was named Glamorgan’s Young Player of the Year, and Haverfordwest’s Adam James received the 2014 George Cole Cup.

Milford Haven’s Kevin Johns and Jamie Phillips returned from the UK International Open in Birmingham with medals, Sam Joseph won the 2014 Pembrokeshire Karting Championships, Roly Adams ensured there was a local winner of the Osprey Sea Angling Open, and the annual Pembroke County Swimming Championships were hailed a huge success.

NOVEMBER

THERE was another highly successful Sport Pembrokeshire Awards evening at Folly Farm – where Mark Delaney was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

It was another great month for Pembrokeshire powerlifters as Paul Murphy, Jacqueline Challonder, Andrew Murphy, Steve Arnold, Adrian Phillips and Aaron Hoskins returned from the World Championships in France with a load of medals and records to their name.

The Strength Academy Wales centre celebrated its one year anniversary following 12 months of success – and Pembrokeshire Harriers runner Rhian Homer helped Wales win team bronze at the British and Irish Junior Mountain Running Championships in Ireland.

In football, Hakin made the last 16 of the FAW Wales Trophy, and Haverfordwest were taught a lesson by Welsh Premier side Airbus UK, who beat them 5-0 in the Welsh Cup. There was an entertaining Division One clash between Angle and Narberth, where three players and a coach saw red in a 3-3 draw.

Joe Allen played in Wales' creditable 0-0 draw in Belgium, and Kilgetty youngster Liam Cullen helped Wales to a first under 16s Victory Shield win since 1949.

In rugby, Warren Gatland was the star attraction at the annual Pembrokeshire Pathway dinner, and Whitland and Narberth beat Fishguard and Crymych respectively to make the semi finals of the Pembs KO Cup.

Geraint Bowen was presented with a Welsh Presidents XV cap, 15 years after winning one, and former Haverfordwest RFC and Scarlets prop Rob Evans trained with the Welsh squad. Also, Haverfordwest Ladies RFC player Joanna Price trained with Wales in both football and rugby.

In golf, Becky Harries finished top of the Welsh Ladies Order of Merit, and Jordan Hart represented Wales in the European Badminton Championships.

Jacob Thomas was presented with a new wheelchair, following a local campaign to aid his bid to play boccia at Rio 2016, and Haverfordwest Ladies hockey team beat Cardiff Athletic 6-3 to go top of the South Wales Premier Division Two.

DECEMBER

THERE was a marathon effort from Cardigan's Michael Kallenberg, who in Florence, Italy, became only the sixth Welshman in ten years to complete the gruelling event in a time of two hours and a 25 minutes or less.

‘Pembrokeshire Day’ gripped Parc Y Scarlets as hundreds of youngsters travelled from the county to watch the Scarlets beat Ulster in the European Champions Cup, and the Pembs KO Cup semi finals were drawn as Narberth v Whitland and Haverfordwest v Neyland.

In the Championship, the Otters enjoyed a 13-12 win over Swansea, and in Division Three West, promotion favourites Fishguard hammered Pembroke 50-19.

In women's rugby, Whitland secured a second placed Premiership finish after beating Skewen.

In football, Hakin went goal crazy as they beat the West Dragons 13-0, and St Clears 9-0, to remain top of the table.

Goodwick and Narberth made the last 16 of the West Wales Intermediate Cup – and Haverfordwest enter 2015 with work to do to secure promotion to the Premiership, as they lie fourth in Division One.