Press Release issued by Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC):

Pembrey Country Park has been chosen to host major athletics championship events in an exciting new partnership with Welsh Athletics.

The park has built a strong reputation for major sporting events in recent years, including athletics, cross country and all-terrain cycling, and last year played host to a successful Gwent Cross Country League which drew a huge crowd of runners and spectators.

In this new partnership, Welsh Athletics has committed to holding a number of events in Carmarthenshire for the first time, including the prestigious National Cross Country Championships, previously held in North Wales and Swansea.

Securing the event is a big coup for the park, which is also set to hit the sporting limelight in September when it hosts the ‘Grand Depart’ of the Tour of Britain, bringing some of the world’s best elite cyclists to the county in September.

Alex Donald, Competitions lead for Endurance events at Welsh Athletics, said: “Welsh Athletics are delighted to be able to work in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council to bring our flagship Cross Country event to West Wales next year.

“Pembrey provides the ideal setting and great facilities to host the race, and athletes can expect a fun, scenic and challenging course around the park. The Welsh Cross Country Championships has a rich history and we’re looking forward to seeing our top endurance athletes across all the age ranges come here to test themselves and compete for National honours next February.”

The news has been welcomed by local athletes, including Team GB athlete Caryl Jones, GB Youth International Ben Thomas and Swansea Harriers runner Dewi Griffiths – who all hail from Carmarthenshire.

“Pembrey Country Park is on my doorstep so is an ideal place to train,” said Caryl. “I’m excited about this partnership which will see more major athletics events held here in Carmarthenshire.”

Ben Thomas added: “The landscape and facilities that the park offers make it a great venue for cross country championships. It will be great to have home advantage and the support of a local crowd during these competitions, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism, said: “Pembrey Country Park is fast becoming the major sporting venue in Wales and we are delighted to have secured this commitment from Welsh Athletics which will attract huge numbers to the park. This is an exciting development, which – alongside the fantastic cycling opportunities we are bringing to the Park – really puts Carmarthenshire first place on the map for sporting events.”

Weblinks –

http://www.pembreycountrypark.wales

http://www.welshathletics.org

Melin Consultants, providers of sustainable building and construction solutions, are pleased to announce that they will once again be the main sponsor of this year’s Melin Sospan Sizzler Middle Distance Triathlon.

Held in Burry Port on Sunday, July 29, the event is being staged by the non-profit organisation Healthy Life Activities.

It’s the third time for the middle distance triathlon (a demanding ‘half Iron Man’ event) to be held in Burry Port – and it’s the second year of Melin’s generous sponsorship.

This is the only middle distance triathlon to be held in Carmarthenshire and the challenging hilly bike course attracts athletes from across the UK.

Entry numbers doubled in 2017 and the aim is to make sure 2018 is even bigger and better.

The Melin Sospan Sizzler Middle Distance Triathlon involves a 1.9km sea swim followed by a challenging 90km bike course through the countryside around Burry Port and the Gwendraeth Valley. The bike ride includes the legendary Meinciau climb.

The 21km run is flat and will provide athletes will a great chance of posting a quick time.

Most competitors will be looking to complete the event in under nine hours.

The winning time for the inaugural year in 2016 was an impressive 4hrs 53min.

That was bettered in 2017, when the race was won by Stephen Evans, of Bynea Cycling Club, in a time of 04:39:15.20.

Jamie Best, Director of Melin Consultants, is a keen triathlete and has competed in events across the UK and abroad.

Jamie said: “Like all triathlon competitors I love a challenge. I am sure that the Melin Sospan Sizzler will attract interest from athletes from throughout the UK and they can be assured of a warm West Wales welcome and some first class race organisation from Healthy Life Activities.

As part of the event sponsorship, Melin will be looking to attract a number of corporate relay teams from Carmarthenshire and further afield.

As well as the opportunity for the winning team to lift the Melin Sospan Sizzler Challenge Cup, Melin will also be donating £100 to the nominated charity of the winning corporate relay team.

Jamie Best added: “At Melin Consultants, we’re proud to be involved in such a worthwhile event.
“I’m an active participant in triathlon events so I’m particularly pleased that our company is able to provide sponsorship.

“By helping Healthy Life Activities encourage attendance to the Melin Sospan Sizzler middle distance triathlon, we can ensure that people not only enjoy the challenge but also have the satisfaction that they’ve given back to the local community.”

Website link to Melin Sospan Sizzler –

http://www.healthylifeactivities.co.uk/melin_sospan-sizzler-middle-distance-triathlon

Melin Consultants are based in Dafen, Llanelli, and provide sustainability solutions to construction projects throughout the UK. This includes a host of specialist services, from renewable feasibility studies to thermographic surveys identifying cold bridging in building fabrics.

Healthy Life Activities offer the largest diversity of mass sports participation events in the country. These events cater for individuals of all abilities and ages. A not-for-profit organisation, their events offer great value for money. With 108 events organised over the last 16 years, their experience ensures that athletes are at the centre of the process. To date, they have helped to raise more than £55,000 for charities.

Entry details for Melin Sospan Sizzler –

http://www.healthylifeactivities.co.uk/melin_sospan-sizzler-middle-distance-triathlon/enter-online

Contact Information
For more information please contact Jamie Best, Director, Melin Consultants:
T: 0845 094 1593
E: jamie@melinconsultants.co.uk
Website: www.melinconsultants.co.uk

Photos:

Melin Sospan Sizzler logo.

Melin company logo.

Jamie Best, pictured at Carmarthen Mayor’s Races.

Competitor at last year’s events.

The winners of the 2017 Melin Sospan Sizzler.

Hywel Dda University Health Board Press Release:

With just one week to go before Hywel Dda’s Big NHS Change consultation comes to an end on Thursday, 12th July, residents across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire are being urged to get involved and have their say on the health board’s three proposals to fundamentally change the way that we provide local healthcare services for the better.

Over the last eleven weeks we’ve heard from thousands of people about our plans to radically overhaul healthcare services to ensure that they are safe, sustainable, accessible and kind for current and future generations.  Each proposal has been tested by our clinicians and members of the public have been asked to provide their feedback in a multitude of different ways, which will be independently analysed and considered before any formal proposal is put before the Health Board later this year.

Hywel Dda’s Chief Executive, Steve Moore, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in our consultation so far, whether they’ve taken the time to fill in a questionnaire, attended one of our public drop-in or stakeholder events, or provided feedback in other ways. 

“There is now one week left to go until the end of what has been the biggest and most important public consultation ever undertaken on the future of NHS services in west Wales, and every last sentiment counts. That’s why I am urging anyone who hasn’t already done so to read through our proposals and tell us what you think.

“I can’t stress enough how important it is for us to hear your views – now is the time to make your voices heard.”

Among the biggest challenges the health board currently faces are an ageing population, difficulty for many people in accessing services close to home, significant recruitment challenges – particularly specialist medical staff – and ageing hospital buildings which require a lot of maintenance to keep running.

To overcome these we want to radically change the way we provide local health care services so that people are accessing most of the care and treatment they need in their local community, and are able to stay at home while they are getting treatment rather than having to go into hospital. Reducing the number of main hospitals will mean having fewer medical rotas to fill, making it easier to attract clinicians to come and work for us; it will also mean shorter waiting times and fewer cancellations, and more money for local and community health services.

In all three of the proposals, Bronglais District General Hospital will continue to provide services for mid Wales; a new major hospital will be built somewhere between Narberth and St Clears, and there will be 10 community hubs across the Health Board area.

The proposals are:

Proposal A

• A new urgent care and planned care hospital between Narberth and St Clears
• Community hospitals in Glangwili, Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Withybush
• A general hospital in Aberystwyth on the Bronglais Hospital site

Proposal B

• A new urgent care and planned care hospital between Narberth and St Clears
• Community hospitals in Glangwili and Withybush
• General hospitals at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Aberystwyth on the Bronglais Hospital site

Proposal C

• A new urgent care hospital between Narberth and St Clears
• A planned care hospital on Glangwili site
• A community hospital in Withybush
• General hospitals at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Aberystwyth on the Bronglais Hospital site

Hywel Dda’s Executive Medical Director & Director of Clinical Strategy, Dr Phil Kloer, added: “Since we launched Our Big NHS Change consultation we’ve heard a huge range of different views about our proposals and I would like to personally thank everyone who has shared these with us.  The conversation that you have been involved in has been critical in terms of helping to challenge and shape our way of thinking – these are the biggest changes that we as a health board have ever proposed and it’s essential that we don’t leave any stone unturned.

“The challenges we face are really significant.  People are living longer, some with long lasting health conditions, and we expect there to be many more older people who will need regular health care and social care.

“In our area some people live in towns and some in country areas, making it difficult for us to ensure that services are in the right place for people to access.  Many people live a long way from services, so helping people to live at home while they have treatment can involve a lot of travel for health workers.

“We know that people want to be supported to manage their health in their own homes – about 4 out of every 10 hospital beds are filled by people who could be treated at home. Added to this is the fact that we’re finding it hard to get enough permanent staff, especially specialist medical staff, to come and work for us, and we also need to make fuller use of new technology such as computers, phones, telehealth and telecare.

“We all have a shared passion for the NHS, our services, our history and our staff and we want to harness this to design, together with you, the best health service for our population.”

Please tell us your views by:

Completing the online questionnaire at: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/hddchange 

Emailing us at: hyweldda.engagement@wales.nhs.uk

Telephone: 01554 899 056

Coming to one of our drop-in events:

Thursday 5^th July 2pm-7pm / Pill Social Centre, Milford Haven SA73 2QT

Monday 9^th July 2pm-7pm / Tumble Hall, Tumble SA14 6HR

A pioneering teacher training progamme at Aberystwyth University has been granted accreditation for five years by the Education Workforce Council.

From September 2019, the University’s School of Education will be delivering a new Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) offering two pathways to Qualified Teaching Status (QTS).

Student teachers can choose to follow either a Primary Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Secondary Enrichment, or a Secondary PGCE with Primary Enrichment.

Professor Malcolm Thomas, Director of the School of Education at Aberystwyth University, said: “This is a pioneering, integrated programme which responds to the needs of teacher education in the 21^stcentury, and which educates and develops student teachers to teach across both primary and secondary sectors. This ideology is in keeping with the Welsh Government’s National Mission and the new Curriculum for Wales, as well as with the increasing emergence of All-Through schools not only in rural authorities but also urbanised areas. We look forward to working with the Education Workforce Council on our accreditation in the coming months and meeting their specified criteria.”

The PGCE programme has been developed in partnership with the local education authority -Ceredigion County Council – as well as primary and secondary schools in Mid Wales.

Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, said: “Aberystwyth has a long history of training teachers and we are delighted to have been granted accreditation for five years by the Education Workforce Council to deliver initial teacher education from September 2019. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate 125 years in teacher training since the start in 1892/3, the year when the University of Wales was established.

“Not only does this programme strengthen our secondary teacher training offering, it also brings back primary teacher training to Aberystwyth. As a University, we would like to thank members of the Aberystwyth ITE Partnership Working Group inclusive of Ceredigion County Council and partner schools who have worked with us on these innovative proposals to develop teacher education for the future.”

Applications for the PGCE programmes starting in September 2019 are now open. For further information, please email education@aber.ac.ukor visit the website www.aber.ac.uk/en/education.

Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. Website – www.philevans.co.uk

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Unless you’ve been shipwrecked on a tropical island surrounded by sharks off the Cardigan coast, you’ll know that a red-haired troubadour named Edward Sheeran recently performed four sell-out concerts at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

I wasn’t one of the 240,000 fans who packed the stadium – and I also missed out on seeing The Rolling Stones and Beyonce.

Then again, none of ’em have ever turned up to see meperform.

And, let me tell you, if an audience gets too aggressive I can move like Jagger!

But things I’ve read in certain Welsh newspapers – notthis oneI hasten to add and it’s not easy to hasten when you’re down on your knees pleading to keep your job – made me wonder whether attending these huge concerts is more of a pain than a pleasure.

Apart from the cost of the tickets, if you live some distance from Cardiff, you’ll need to book a hotel, which have a habit of raising prices when demand for their rooms is high.

If you travel to the concert by car, not only will you have to park miles away, the cost of parking for several hours isn’t cheap.

Should you travel by train, if you live in Wales you’ll have to squeeze into those jam-packed, two-car ‘rattlers’ we have to put up with until the long-promised shiny new rolling stock arrives.

Anyone travelling from Paddington will have had a frustrating journey as The Severn Tunnel was (and might still be) closed.

Trains via Bristol Parkway and Newport were replaced by ‘Rail Replacment Services’ i.e. buses!

Not much fun when you’re carrying suitcases

If you want to catch a train homeaftera concert in the capital ends, there are so few late night trains out of Cardiff you’ve got more chance of winning the Lottery.

On reflection, spending three days in a muddy field in Glastonbury sounds much easier than attending a show at the Principality Stadium.

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Festivals everywhere:

Nobody loves a good party or festival more than the Welsh.

It’s as if we were born to perform and we have been holding these events long before the invention of radio, television, internet or newspapers.

Now that’s a long time!

It’s a form of ritual, a chance to show off and feel young and alive again, which is undoubtedly a good thing.

There is so much choice in Wales . . .

Food festivals, flower festivals, beer festivals, folk and jazz festivals . . .  and, my favourite, comedy festivals.

The festival scene is booming and record numbers are being recorded up and down the country, especially during our most recent spell of amazingly good weather.

These events are so important for the local economy, while preserving traditions that our grandparents and great grandparents started generations before us.

If you don’t believe me, ask them.

I’m now well informed that many people met up with their future partners at such gatherings.

Unlike the internet dating sites of today, the festival scene was often the only way to mix with like-minded people, which made it easier to talk or chat up a future partner.

Some years back, a survey stated that the first thing men noticed about women was their eyes.

Following this survey, women observed that the men in this survey were a bunch of liars.

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You can follow Phil Evans on Twitter @philevanswales and www.philevans.co.uk