Wales has a new world champion and a first in the sport of boat sea angling in Pembrokeshire’s Gareth Protheroe – but only after an anxious wait. The 41-year-old from the village of Cold Inn was part of the Welsh team that competed at the 59th edition of the World Senior Boat Angling Championships staged last month in Crosshaven, County Cork, Ireland.

At the end of what has been an up and down season, Llantwit Fardre saved their best for last to secure Worthington’s Mid District Division Two Cup glory. A first half five-try blitz set Fardre up for a 47-27 victory over their Two East Central counterparts Cilfynydd at Sardis Road.

Cambrian Welfare rounded off a triumphant campaign as they came from behind to beat Nelson, 43-27 at Sardis Road and secure the Worthington’s Mid District Division One Cup. It bagged a second piece of silverware of the season for the Welfare, who had already been crowned champions of Division One East Central to earn promotion to next season’s new look Championship.

Those were the words of Deri coach David Iles after watching his side add the Worthington’s Mid District Division Five Cup to make it a league and cup double and cap a tremendous season. Tom Elliott was the star of the show with a 30-point personal haul to steer his side to a comfortable 40-12 victory over Hirwaun in their final showdown at Sardis Road.

Wattstown bagged the Rhondda derby bragging rights as they defeated 14-man Penygraig, 41-13, to lift the Worthington’s Mid District Division Three Cup at Sardis Road. Penygraig had won both league meetings between the rival clubs in Division Three East Central this season, but this time it was the Ducks who came out on top.

Ferndale ended their season by picking up another piece of silverware as they defeated Tonyrefail in their Rhondda derby at Sardis Road to lift the Worthington’s Mid District Division Four Cup. The two sides had both beaten each other once in Division Four East Central this season, where Tonyrefail finished second and earned promotion while Ferndale finished third.

There was delight for Canton – Dai Manley’s Dervishes – who ended the season with silverware by defeating Dinas Powys 25-19 at Barry RFC to lift the Worthington’s Malcolm Thomas Cup. The East District showpiece was, like last year, set to be hosted at Glamorgan Wanderers.

With her sights firmly set on the Paris Olympics this summer, Ruby Evans will hope to book her ticket to the greatest show on Earth next month. Evans has been named in the senior Great Britain women’s team for the artistic gymnastics European Championships in Rimini, Italy, in May in a line-up that also includes Ondine Achampong, Alice Kinsella, nine-time senior European medallist Becky Downie MBE and Georgia-Mae Fenton.

Wales’ Commonwealth Games star Emil Barber has announced his retirement from gymnastics due to a heart condition. The 23-year-old men’s artistic gymnast from Swansea was part of Team Wales at Birmingham 2022, where he was agonisingly close to bagging bronze in the men’s individual floor final, finishing just outside the medal places in fourth.

Ruby Evans is on track for a history-making 2024 as Wales’ top women’s artistic gymnast. If she does ultimately go on to successfully secure selection for the Team GB women’s artistic gymnastics line-up for the Olympic Games in Paris this summer, Evans will become the first Welsh gymnast to achieve that feat since Bedwas’ Sonia Lawrence last did so for the Atlanta Games way back in 1996.

Ruby Evans and Joe Cemlyn-Jones led the way with medals for Wales in a successful foray at the Northern European Championships. Team medals for the men’s and women’s teams along with a host of individual medals – it was another hugely successful Northern European Gymnastics Championships.

Great Britain pair Ruby Evans and Poppy-Grace Stickler will headline for Wales as full men’s and women’s teams compete at next month’s artistic gymnastics Northern European Championships in Sweden. Wales will include five Commonwealth Games stars after selection was confirmed for Halmstad and this year’s event from November 24 to 26.