Head Coach Wayne Pivac was pleased with his side’s bonus point victory over Ulster at Parc y Scarlets on Friday night, which ensures that the region move back in to second place in Conference B.

The Scarlets suffered a heavy defeat in Edinburgh in the last round with the prospect of slipping out of the top three a very real threat if a result wasn’t secured against Friday night’s opposition. 

The West Wales side, minus the international contingent, put their best foot forward from the word go scoring three tries in the first half getting a 22-7 foothold on the game by the half time whistle. 

A fourth try in the second half secured the all-important bonus point with the defensive effort solid for the most part, and despite a second Ulster try the Scarlets kept them away from the losing bonus point. 

Speaking after the game head coach Wayne Pivac said; “After the Edinburgh performance we did a bit of soul searching internally. We weren’t very happy with that performance and we knew that today was a big game in the context of our conference. If we didn’t get the result Ulster would have a buffer on us and there was a chance that we could have been out of the top three by the end of the weekend if we didn’t get the result. There was a lot to play for. 

“I thought the boys set up the win in the first half with the three tries. We talked at half time around controlling the first ten minutes after half time; building more pressure, force them to make more tackles. It was a big step up from what we dished out in Edinburgh. 

“This group have been together for three matches now, it’s their mini season if you like. Some of them put pressure on the big boys tonight. That’s what we want, we want pressure on selection, it keeps everyone on their toes.”

He went on to say; “We just reiterated in the changing room after the game that we don’t want to repeat the performance that we saw in Edinburgh. When we pull the jersey on we have to make sure that everybody steps up and offers themselves physically, it was a lot better tonight.”

Scarlets travel to Glasgow next weekend before returning to Parc y Scarlets on Friday 7^thDecember to take on Ulster once again, this time in the third round of the Heineken Champions Cup campaign.

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The organisers of the brand new Superprix of Wales have given the ‘Green for Go’ to start online ticket sales for next summer’s big event at the Parc y Scarlets rugby stadium.

The high-octane Superprix of Wales motorsport extravaganza comes to Llanelli on the weekend of June 7-9.

“Interest in tickets is very high and many motorsport enthusiasts were so keen that they pre-registered their interest in tickets many weeks ago through our website,” event promoter Tim Matthews said at his Llanelli HQ this week.

“Now, we are delighted to announce that tickets sales are live online via our website and Ticketmaster.

“There’s just 28 weeks to go before what will be a world first – a unique blend of Rugby Union and international motorsport at Parc y Scarlets. This will be a truly unique event and we are hoping for sell-out crowds throughout the weekend.”

Tickets for the Superprix of Wales for the 7th, 8th, 9th June 2019 are also on sale through the Parc y Scarlets ticket office on 01554 292939.

Promoter Mr Matthews is a retired international racing driver.

He said: “We’ve been fielding calls about tickets for weeks now and we know many people are keen to save their seats as Christmas presents for motor sports fans in their families.”

The Superprix of Wales will feature some of the biggest names in motorsport as they bring Formula 1, Le Mans, British Touring, Rallycross and World Rally cars to Llanelli.

The motorsports extravaganza will run for three days on a specially-designed course that will see cars power around the outside of the ground and then through the middle of the stadium.

There will also be demonstrations, exhibitions, displays, a motor show, trade stands and a food village.

There’ll also be an opportunity to view some of motorsport’s most iconic cars close-up and meet the star drivers. It will provide plenty of chances for autographs and selfies.

Newport’s Steve Griffiths will be at Superprix of Wales, driving his 1989 Camel Lotus F1 car.

Griffiths brought the car, which was raced by Satoru Nakajima, to the launch of Superprix of Wales at Parc y Scarlets.

Mr Matthews added: “The Superprix of Wales will be the culmination of a number of years of hard work and planning. It will give spectators a unique opportunity to see, hear, smell and get up close to a collection of iconic racing brands and equipment.

“To be able to run these machines in and around Parc y Scarlets is fantastic. The Superprix of Wales will give spectators an incredible opportunity to sit in comfort and watch the action – and they can use the fabulous facilities Parc y Scarlets offers visitors.”

There will be a selection of tickets for all three days of the Superprix of Wales, but they will be subject to availability as seating will be strictly limited.

There will also be limited standing space around the outside of parts of the circuit which will include a Catering Village and a collection of trade stands.

Access will also be available to the assembly area with some tickets and with tickets from the VIP South Stand.

There will also be a limited number of tickets giving access to an exclusive Motor Show being held on the Parc y Scarlets site.

To purchase tickets for Friday’s event –https://www.eticketing.co.uk/scarletsrugby/EDP/Event/Index/188

For the daytime Saturday event – https://www.eticketing.co.uk/scarletsrugby/EDP/Event/Index/189

For the Saturday evening event – https://www.eticketing.co.uk/scarletsrugby/EDP/Event/Index/190

For the Sunday event – https://www.eticketing.co.uk/scarletsrugby/EDP/Event/Index/191

You can find out more about the Superprix of Wales on the following website –

Home

Twitter:

@SuperprixW 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/superprix.wales/

Instagram:

superprixwales

Photos:

Parc y Scarlets

The 1989 Camel Lotus F1 car owned by Steve Griffiths.

The 1989 Camel Lotus F1 car at Brands Hatch.

Some of the rally cars which will be featured at Superprix of Wales.

Superprix logo

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Llanelli’s Christmas carnival is set to go off with a big bang this year with 15 floats already confirmed.

Pentip School, KITE, RNLI and vintage tractors will be taking part in the procession on Friday, November 23.

Around 20,000 people are expected to line the streets as the town celebrates its biggest night of the year with traditional floats, spectacular fireworks display, funfair, live music and a host of entertainment.

This year the stage will be located in front of the Town Hall and with S4C Heno’s Mari Grug presenting.

The X Factor’s Jasmine, John Baker, Luke Rees, Cor Lleisiau’r Llan and Grwp Gwerin Mansant will entertain the crowds. Strolling walkabout street theatre show Winter Sprites will also be joining in the entertainment.   

Road closures will be in place from 5.45 until 8pm. Designated wheelchair spaces will be located near Llanelli Library.

It is organised by Carmarthenshire County Council, Llanelli Rural Council, Llanelli Town Council and Llanelli Round Table. Dwr Cymru will also be supporting the procession, which is one of the biggest in Wales.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Cllr Peter Hughes-Griffiths said: “Llanelli Christmas carnival has a reputation for being one of the best in Wales and signals the start of the festive period. The event gets bigger and bigger year on year and attracts people from across Carmarthenshire and beyond. Hopefully the weather will be on our side and that as many people as possible will come out and join in the fun.”

Andrew Roberts, Capital Delivery Programme Manager for Welsh Water said: “We’re proud to be supporting Llanelli Christmas Carnival again this year after a great festive event last year. As Carmarthenshire’s largest annual event, we are looking forward to working with all who are involved in the organisation to make this year’s event even bigger than the last. Our RainScape team will be adding to the Christmas cheer at the event and will be on hand to answer any questions about our ongoing work in Llanelli.

Local businesses and community groups interested in taking part in the carnival procession please email Roger at rogerbowen@taxassist.co.uk or call him on 07940 115864

Timetable

9am Llanelli Outdoor Market situated on Stepney Street

10am Take part in the Christmas treasure hunt at Llanelli Library

12pm Cowell Street closed for fun fair rides

4pm Big, small and scary fun fair rides open with lots of side stalls plus selection of hot/cold refreshments (supported by South Wales Showman’s Guild)

Street entertainment (various locations)

5.30pm Live entertainment and music begins including Jasmine from the X Factor and local acts John Baker, Luke Rees, Cor Lleisiau’r Cwm and Grwp Gwerin Mansant   with compere Mari Grug (main stage – Llanelli town Hall)

5.45pm Road closures in place for Church Street and side streets

6.15pm Carnival parade leaves Festival Fields, Sandy Road*

6.40pm Presentation to Christmas lights design winners (Main Stage)

Kindly supported by Llanelli Chamber of Trade and Llanelli BID

6.45pm The big Christmas lights switch-on by the, the Chair of Llanelli Rural Council, Mayor of Llanelli Town Council and the Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council

7pm Arrival of carnival parade in Town Hall area*

Kindly organised by Llanelli Round Table

7.40pm Spectacular Firework Display commences** (Town Hall Gardens)

8pm Outdoor market closes for the evening

8.15pm Carnival parade prize presentation (Main Stage)

9pm Fun fair closes

Car parking

Murray Street Multi Storey Car Park (524 spaces)

Church Street Car Park (73 spaces)

Thomas Street/Edgar Car Park (83 spaces)

Vauxhall Car Park (21 spaces)

East Gate Car Park (189 spaces)

*Please note all times and activities are subject to change. Road closures will start to take effect from 12noon, effecting town centre to traffic until around 8pm.

** Timings subject to change due to Carnival Parade

More up to date information on the day, please check our Facebook page DiscoverCarmarthenshire

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The 2019 edition of Aberystwyth University’s enterprise competition has been launched, with a £10,000 prize on offer to the winning entry. 

InvEnterPrize offers entrepreneurial students an opportunity to develop and pitch ideas to a panel of distinguished Aberystwyth University alumni.

The successful entry will be able to invest its winnings in equipment, facilities or professional services to turn an invention or business start-up idea into reality.

As well as an investment of £10,000, free office space for one year at the Aberystwyth Innovation & Enterprise Campus is also up for grabs for proposals in the bio-sciences, life sciences and agriculture sectors.

Now in its fifth edition, InvEnterPrize 2019 was launched on Monday 12 November 2018 by Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University. 

Professor Treasure said: “Aberystwyth University has a long history of promoting innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship and it is a pleasure to launch the latest edition of InvEnterPrize, which offers an excellent opportunity for our students to develop exciting new ideas and have them critically evaluated by successful industrialists. Employability lies at the heart of the student experience here at Aberystwyth and I am grateful to our alumni for their support for this innovative competition which offers an ideal opportunity to develop and potentially launch a successful business venture and career.”

InvEnterPrize, however, is not just about winning the top prize. 

As entrants develop their ideas, they will be able to seek expert advice and attend a series of workshops and presentations led by Aberystwyth University’s ‘AberPreneur’ Network, gaining valuable advice on the way. 

A shortlist of finalists will be invited to present their business proposals to the panel of judges in a Dragon’s Dencompetition event on Friday 29 March 2019. 

This year’s entrants will be looking to emulate the success of Clipr, who won the InvEnterPrize top prize title in 2018.

Developed by James Bryan, James Stone and Howun Lam, Clipr is a mobile app designed to revolutionise bookings in the hair and beauty sector.

James Bryan said: “Winning InvEnterPrize has enabled us to build on the proof of concept we established in Aberystwyth and work towards raising our seed round and growing Clipr in Brighton, Cardiff and Oxford”.

Sponsored by contributions from the University’s alumni, InvEnterPrize is organised by the University’s Careers Service. 

Director of Development & Alumni Relations, Louise Jagger said: “InvEnterPrize can mean so much to someone with a great idea that needs the financial support and guidance to get it off the ground. We are very grateful to the alumni who continue to give so generously towards the Aber Fund which funds the prize money and to the alumni and supporters giving time on the judging panel.”

The original concept was developed by the University’s Career Consultant and  entrepreneurship champion, Tony Orme.

Speaking at the launch, Tony said: “The launch of the fifth InvEnterPrize Competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week is not only an exciting moment for entrepreneurial students at the University, but it also continues to be the biggest Enterprise Prize in Wales, with a prize fund of £10,000 from our fabulous alumni… and one of the biggest student enterprise competitions in the UK”.

“In addition to the prize money, InvEnterPrize is supported by our alumni in another important way, with six prominent Aber grads acting as the Dragons, assessing students’ ideas and picking a winning product or service to invest in”.

Aberystwyth University offers a full programme of events to support entrepreneurial activity amongst students (across all degree programmes), graduates and staff. 

The application deadline for InvEnterPrize 2019 is Monday 4 February 2019. To find out more visit the AberPreneurs online page.

Photo:Marking the launch of InvEnterPrize 2019 are (left to right): Ben Jones, Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus Marketing and Parnerships Manager; Tony Orme, Aberystwyth University Career Consultant; Hayley Goddard, Aberystwyth University’s Individual Giving Officer; Elizabeth Treasure, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University; Caryl Davies, Head of Student Support and Careers Services and Lorri Browning from Be The Spark.

Links:

Aberystwyth University Careers Service https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/careers/

AberPreneurs – Turning Business Ideas into Reality https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/careers/starting-business/enterprise/

Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus https://www.aberinnovation.com/en/

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By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. The Money Matters column appears in the Pembrokeshire Herald, the Carmarthenshire Herald and the Llanelli Herald newspapers.

This week, in Money Matters, we continue our spotlight on the latest Budget from Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond . . .

At Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants, we have produced a summary on the tax measures which may affect you, your family and your business.

Here are some key points on business tax changes and updates– 

Making Tax Digital for Business: VAT

HMRC is phasing in its landmark Making Tax Digital (MTD) regime, which will ultimately require taxpayers to move to a fully digital tax system. Regulations have now been issued which set out the requirements for MTD for VAT.

Under the new rules, businesses with a turnover above the VAT threshold (currently £85,000) must keep digital records for VAT purposes and provide their VAT return information to HMRC using MTD functional compatible software.

The new rules have effect from 1 April 2019 where a taxpayer has a ‘prescribed accounting period’ which begins on that date, or otherwise from the first day of a taxpayer’s first prescribed accounting period beginning after 1 April 2019.

HMRC has recently announced that the rules will have effect for some VAT-registered businesses with more complex requirements from 1 October 2019. Included in the deferred start date category are VAT divisions, VAT groups and businesses using the annual accounting scheme.

HMRC has recently opened a pilot service for businesses with straightforward affairs and the pilot scheme will be gradually extended for other businesses in the next few months.

Keeping digital records and making quarterly updates will not be mandatory for taxes other than VAT before April 2020.

Keeping digital records will not mean businesses are mandated to use digital invoices and receipts but the actual recording of supplies made and received must be digital.

It is likely that third party commercial software will be required. Software will not be available from HMRC. The use of spreadsheets will be allowed, but they will have to be combined with add-on software to meet HMRC’s requirements.

In the long run, HMRC is still looking to a scenario where income tax updates are made quarterly and digitally, and this is really what the VAT provisions anticipate.

Corporation tax rates

Corporation tax rates have already been enacted for periods up to 31 March 2021.

The main rate of corporation tax is currently 19% and will remain at this rate for next year. The rate will fall to 17% for the Financial Year beginning on 1 April 2020.

Class 2 and 4 National Insurance contributions (NICs)

The government has recently announced that Class 2 NICs will not be abolished for the duration of this Parliament. The Chancellor confirmed in March 2017 that there will be no increases to Class 4 NICs rates in this Parliament.

The government’s proposed reform of Class 2 and 4 NICs has had a chequered history. The original proposal was to abolish Class 2 contributions and reform Class 4 contributions.

The Chancellor had to backtrack on the Class 4 reform due to the reaction to a proposed increase in rates and the Class 2 abolition was deferred to April 2019.

However, a significant number of self-employed individuals with the lowest profits would have seen the voluntary payment they make to maintain access to the state pension rise substantially and so the government decided it would not be right to proceed with the abolition of Class 2.

You can find out more about money matters on the Clay Shaw Butler website (under our news for business section) – http://www.clayshawbutler.com/news/latest-news-for-business

We have a strong and experienced team with great local knowledge all geared-up to helping you get the very best from your finances – whether that is as an individual or as a business.

We stay ahead of the game by putting great store by continual professional development for our staff.

With Investors In People status at Clay Shaw Butler, we care passionately about making sure our staff have all the tools they need to serve you, our customers.

Weblink – http://www.clayshawbutler.com

The team at Clay Shaw Butler can be contacted on 01267 228500.

The team at Clay Shaw Butler are on Twitter. Look for @clayshawbutler.

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The Ospreys team to play Leinster at the RDS Arena on Friday 23^rd November 2018, KO 7.35pm, is as follows:

15 James Hook 14 Hanno Dirksen 13 Cory Allen 12 Johnny Kotze 11 Keelan Giles 10 Sam Davies 9 Tom Habberfield 1 Rhodri Jones 2 Scott Otten 3 Tom Botha 4 Giorgi Nemsadze 5 Lloyd Ashley  6 Olly Cracknell (Capt) 7 Sam Cross 8 James King

REPLACEMENTS  – 16 Sam Parry 17 Gareth Thomas 18 Alex Jeffries 19 Rob McCusker 20 Will Jones 21 Matthew Aubrey 22 Luke Morgan 23 Tom Williams

Johnny Kotze makes his Ospreys debut (Osprey No. 235)

Sam Davies makes his 100^th Championship appearance (PRO12/14) 

The following players were unavailable for selection due to international duty:

Adam Beard, Aled Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, George North, Nicky Smith, Justin Tipuric and Owen Watkin

The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury: 

Dan Baker – Knee; Bradley Davies – Knee; Dan Evans – Hamstring; Gheorghe Gajion – Hamstring; Paul James – Shoulder; Lesley Klim – Hamstring; Luke Price- Fractured tibia; Scott Williams – Hamstring

Ospreys Head Coach, Allen Clarke, said: 

“This is another big challenge for us. Leinster away is one of the toughest fixtures in European rugby, regardless of the time of year or the team selected. 

“As always, our focus is on our own game, our mindset and our actions. We’ve had an excellent training week but ultimately we’ll be judged by the 80 minutes tomorrow night.”

Forthcoming Fixtures 

Fri 30 Nov – 7.35pm – Ospreys v Zebre – Liberty Stadium

Sat 8 Dec – 3.00pm – Ospreys v Stade Francais – Liberty Stadium

Fri 14 Dec – 8.45pm (Local) – Stade Francais v Ospreys – Stade Jean Bouin

Sat 22 Dec – 3.00pm – Ospreys v Scarlets – Liberty Stadium

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