Archive

  • Time for a bit of rocking

    BMW's unfaired boxer twin, the R1150 R is a sophisticated response to the continuously expanding retro market and a reactionary demand for the return to minimalism. Unhampered by the bulk of a fairing or integrated bodywork, the R1150 R is a boxer with

  • 'I'm not a slogger'

    GLAMORGAN'S record-equalling Twenty20 batsman Ian Thomas hopes to prove he is not just a one-day batsman but a genuine county cricketer. The 25-year-old Machen-born Newport club player was stung by criticism in some quarters of his only county championship

  • Gipsies spark festival fears

    A GROUP of gipsies who left a £100,000 scene of devastation when they were evicted from the LG site, moved on to ground at Newport's Tredegar House yesterday just three weeks before the start of the National Eisteddfod. Council workers are today working

  • Results for Newport County Borough.

    (Winners in bold type) Allt-Yr-Yn: Clive Busson, Plaid Cymru 257 Victoria Colley-Wall, Lab 750 Matthew Evans, Con 1,645 David Fouweather, Con 1,576 Alan Jones, Lab 705 Leslie Knight, Con 1,520 Geoffrey Lee, Lab 804 Megan Rees Webb, Lib Dem 474 David Watts

  • The Shane event 22.06.04

    Argentian 20 Wales 35 Wing Shane Williams was the hero of the hour as Wales levelled the series with Argentina at Velez Sarsfeld in Buenos Aires. In the land of tango Williams produced a moment of sheer magic to help inspire Wales to a famous victory.

  • Voting blow but Labour hold on

    THE ruling Labour party took a blow in Newport's council election battle. The opposition doubled its presence on the council as Labour saw its control cut from 79% to 62%. Nationally, the party lost more than 200 council seats and came third overall.

  • Thanks for the Memo-ries...

    MEMORIES of romantic evenings spent courting at Newbridge Memo are shared by many happy couples. And for 81-year-old Ros Luxton her recollections are especially tender as she was widowed 17 years ago. Now she says she would love to see the Memo restored

  • Ride free - the new Piaggio Liberty

    PIAGGIO is making scootering even more stylish with the arrival of the new word in city freedom, the Liberty. With classic Italian style and elegance, the Liberty is the perfect practical, economical transport solution for everyone. The Liberty, available

  • Payback time 17.06.04

    Wales coach Mike Ruddock has urged his players to take a leaf out of Lawrence Dallaglio's book of rugby wisdom as they go in search of revenge against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday. In the wake of Wasps' home Heineken Cup pool match defeat to

  • 'Tall order' for Rees

    DAVID Rees today spoke of the excitement of his new challenge as Newport coach and as overseer of the Newport Gwent Dragons Academy. The former Cross Keys coach confirmed he had been offered and had accepted the two roles and that he had informed his

  • Spectacular and spirited

    PUPILS at Newbridge Comprehensive have been busy rehearsing for their latest dramatic production, which is being staged this week. More than 80 children, mostly from the lower school, are involved in The Opera Ghost, and have been working hard for over

  • Double farewell 15.06.04

    COLIN Charvis is a lucky man. Not only is he still the Wales captain, but he's still in Argentina. Both privileges - for that is what they are - could have been removed from him after his staggering decision not to talk to the media in protest at a pay

  • Tickets Boom

    SEASON ticket sales to watch Newport Gwent Dragons next season are rising fast and already they are way ahead of last year's final figure. They currently stand at 2,500, around 800 more than last season, and set to go a lot higher. New chief executive

  • Wealthiest and swankiest

    IN MONMOUTH, the wine shops stock Cristal champagne, former megastar musicians hang out in the pubs, and an ex-Spice Girl is moving in around the corner. Is it any wonder that a new survey today reveals the Monmouth parliamentary constituency - which

  • Owen blow 25.06.04

    NEWPORT Gwent Dragons forward Michael Owen is set to pull out of the Welsh team for tomorrow's Test against South Africa in Pretoria. Owen was named in the team by Mike Ruddock though he had not been able to train because of muscle spasms in his back.

  • Relief as rapist stays locked up

    A GRANDMOTHER spoke of her relief at hearing that a rapist who brutally assaulted her over a three-year period has lost his appeal against conviction. The woman, who was the victim of vicious sex attacks by 6ft 5in Trevor Masters, has relived the nightmare

  • Attack mars pub opening

    A PUB says it's business as usual despite violence on its first night which forced it to close early. The new Wetherspoon's pub on Caradoc Road, Cwmbran, called the John Fielding after the town's Rorke's Drift hero, opened on Sunday afternoon. But manager

  • Switching to cruiser class

    NO sooner had Kawasaki's all new VN2000 roared into showrooms across the land, than four of them cruised straight back out of the Cradley Kawasaki showroom - in one day. The VN2000, the world's largest displacement production V-Twin motorcyle with a whopping

  • Bright future 28.06.04

    Wales coach Mike Ruddock believes that with "a bit of work" his side can challenge the world's best despite having conceded 50 points to South Africa in their one-off Test on Saturday. Ruddock is beginning the post-mortem of a tour which included defeats

  • Twinny in the city

    TWO versions for the evergreen Nevada - the "Base" and the "Club" with the same standards of comfort and handling which enable the concept of "easy riding" to be transferred within the confines of the city. Down the years, technology and design have sculpted

  • Toiling with intent

    WITH just weeks to go until the start of this summer's Eisteddfod in Newport work on the festival site in the grounds of Tredegar House is drawing to a close. Work started on the site in mid-June, when former Newport mayor Councillor Ray Truman cut the

  • Warning 23.06.04

    SOUTH African pride is at stake and Wales will face a huge task when they take on the Springboks at Loftus Versveld on Saturday. That is the warning from Andy Marinos, last season's Newport Gwent Dragons captain now chief executive of the region, who

  • Wales go close 14.06.04

    Argentina 50 Wales 44 AN AMAZING fightback by Wales wasn't quite enough to secure victory in their opening summer tour Test against Argentina at Tucuman. Seven minutes into the second period Mike Ruddock's men were 38-9 adrift, but battled back and almost

  • Hopes of Valleys job boost

    HUNDREDS of jobs could be created in Gwent if a consortium wins an £800m Ministry of Defence contract to supply a high-tech military communication system. US company Northrop Grumman plans to locate its project headquarters in Oakdale and initially employ

  • Pay strike 11.06.04

    The Welsh Rugby Union are embroiled in a row with national team captain Colin Charvis which has prompted his refusal to conduct media interviews. It means that unless he can be persuaded otherwise, the recently-signed Newcastle player will not appear

  • Forster's battle 18.06.04

    Just when Dafydd Jones might have imagined his Test career was about to take off, along came a new Wales coach who consigned him to the squad fringes. But the Llanelli Scarlet with the tough-guy image is back in his favourite number six jersey and impatiently

  • Stars come out to boost fund

    THERE are only two days left to register to take part in the biggest Sparkle event of the year so far. On Sunday hundreds of people are expected to enjoy the exercise and fresh air as they walk the six miles from Fourteen Locks, Newport, to Cwmbran Stadium

  • Dragons duo are in doubt 22.06.04

    NEWPORT Gwent Dragons pair Michael Owen and Hal Luscombe are both struggling to make the Welsh team for Saturday's tough test against South Africa in Pretoria. Owen is the biggest doubt, suffering from back spasms, not helped by the seven-hour flight

  • Mason due back soon for Wasps

    Newport Wasps' reserve Karl Mason doesn't expect to be out of action for too long following his first heat spill in the GMB Mavericks meeting with Boston at the Hayley Stadium on Sunday. The 18-year-old came a sharp cropper when a chain snapped on his

  • European election results

    Results for Wales electoral region Elected MEPs: Jonathan Evans (Cons) Ms Glenys Kinnock (Lab) Ms Eluned Morgan (Lab) Ms Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru) Turnout: 917,686 (41.36%) Party share of the vote: Lab 297,810 (32.45%) Cons 177,771 (19.37%) Plaid Cymru

  • Results for Torfaen County Borough.

    Council election results Winners in bold type: Abersychan Christopher Bloomfield, Ind661 ; Thomas Burgess, Ind 398 ; Kenneth Clark, Lab970elected ; Gwyneira Clark, Lab1,062elected ; Douglas Davies, Lab614 ; Wayne Tomlinson, Ind568 ; Raymond Williams,

  • Sweeney hailed Test injury hero 28.06.04

    RUGBY star Ceri Sweeney is being hailed a hero today after saving the life of his team-mate, Alix Popham, from Gwent, during a Wales test match. The Newport Gwent Dragons star pulled Mr Popham's tongue out of his throat to prevent him swallowing it after

  • MBK freedom, fun, fresh and exciting

    THERE'S no doubt that 2004 is a big year for MBK and a big year for scooters in general with more people finding their way to real independence and a whole world of fun on two wheels. With new riders from all age groups taking to scooters to get around

  • Forster set to miss out 16.06.04

    JASON Forster is set to miss out on a place in the Welsh team for Saturday's second Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires. The Newport Gwent Dragons openside flanker looks like being left out despite his try-scoring debut for Wales in the first Test

  • Patients to sue drugs company

    THREE Gwent epilepsy patients are suing a pharmaceutical company over allegations that a drug used to treat the condition damaged their eyesight. Michelle Coyne, 36, of Park Gardens, James Brimble, 67, of Hamilton Street, both of Newport, and Wendy Davies

  • Results for Blaenau Gwent County Borough.

    (Winners in bold type): Abertillery: Stephen Bard, Lib Dem 670 Ian Cole, Lib Dem 366 Nigel Daniels, Lab 940 Richard Jones, Ind 319 Robert Phillips, Lab 590 Royston Welch, Lab 640 Badminton: David Edwards, Lab 587 Clive Meredith, Ind 631 Bernard Price,

  • Gwent pair's big test

    Newport-based Phillip Price tunes up for next week's Open when he takes his place in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond tomorrow. Price, 37, who finished in joint 20th position last week in the European Open where he was defending his crown, is

  • Bike dealer has bike taken - by the police

    DENBIGH-BASED Kawasaki dealership, A & D Motorcycles is playing its part to promote road safety awareness in North Wales by lending a new Kawasaki Z750 to the North Wales Police BikeSafe campaign that has been organised with the help and guidance

  • Search for a legend

    DO you own a Legend? That's the question the world's most famous motorcycle company is asking owners of Harley-Davidson Sportster models. To celebrate the latest and newest models in the Sportster family - the original two-wheeled Hot Rod of the 50s -

  • Irish spies 22.06.04

    Wales coach Mike Ruddock is hoping Ire-land's inside knowledge of South Africa will help his team gain a historic first away win over the Springboks. Ruddock's team were the only northern hemisphere side to claim victory over a southern hemisphere rival

  • Bok with a bang 28.06.04

    South Africa 53 Wales 18 Wales coach Mike Ruddock was left with much to ponder as his team were overrun by a Percy Montgomery-inspired South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday. Wales had to deal with a home side superior in all departments and were outscored

  • Ruling party keep grip on Blaenau Gwent

    LABOUR kept a firmgrip on Blaenau Gwent in the council elections last night. The Liberal Democrats and the Independent group had both expressed high hopes of significantly reducing Labour's majority this year. Nationally the party lost more than 200 council

  • Going that one step further

    AT YAMAHA the goal we have set ourselves is to create scooters which encourage their riders to grow and develop. They are easy to ride for novices, but with the ability to satisfy the most demanding riders. So as their riders' skills and ambitions progress

  • Robinson's chance to prove a point 19.06.04

    Wales coach Mike Ruddock has told new fly-half Nicky Robinson that keeping the game plan simple should be the secret to success when the tourists go in search of revenge over Argentina in Buenos Aires tonight. Cardiff Blues fly-half Robinson has profited

  • Results for Monmouthshire.

    Council election results Winners in bold type: Caerwent Peter Butcher, Lib Dem 60 Brian Counsell, Lab 249 Philip Murphy, Con 384 Caldicot Richard Harries, Con 213 Gareth Jenkins, Lab 197 Ronald Stewart, Plaid Cymru 228 Cantref Lawrence Jones, Ind 263

  • Results for Caerphilly County Borough.

    Council election results Winners in bold type: Aberbargoed Paul Edwards, Plaid Cymru 213 Hugh Farrant, Ind 242 Alan Higgs, Lab 438 Wayne Pritchard, Plaid Cymru 217 Keith Reynolds, Lab 529 Abercarn Ian Ackerman, Plaid Cymru 430 Kenneth James, Lab 888 Jill

  • Percy's progress 24.06.04

    Percy Montgomery reckons he is a far better player for his two years in Newport - and Springbok coach Jake White couldn't agree more. The Newport Gwent Dragons full back will take the next step in his international comeback when he lines up for South

  • Piaggio's show of colours

    PIAGGIO, the UK's number one scooter manufacturer, has created a special one-off Euro NRG 2004 scooter in England colours, entering into the spirit of this summer's European Championships in Portugal. The Piaggio NRG is emblazoned with the red and white

  • School head warns parents over parking

    A NEWPORT head teacher fears parents will not stop parking recklessly outside his school until someone is injured. Michael Williams, head teacher of St Michael's Primary School, in Pill, claims parking chaos at the Baldwin Close school is putting his

  • Waiting for Wales 22.06.04

    NOW comes the acid test for Wales. They deserve every credit for fighting back to share the series against Argentina, but next up comes South Africa. That's going to be a different ball game altogether, not because the Springboks are suddenly world beaters

  • Old phone box fetches £640

    THE traditional red phone box is a rare sight, but one Abergavenny woman has had one standing in her garden for ten years. Until, that is, with the help of new technology she auctioned it on the Internet, selling it to a couple in Yorkshire. But it is

  • Ruddock's order: Stand up to Puma bullies 12.06.04

    WALES coach Mike Ruddock has demanded that his young players stand up to Argentina's bully-boy tactics when they enter what is reputedly the most ferocious arena in world rugby today. The Pumas' line-up is full of battle-hardened Argentinian macho-men

  • The raciest way to turn heads this summer

    SIXTEEN-24 year olds have no excuse not to be seen on two wheels this Spring, with amazing insurance offers on selected models in the sporty Gilera range. An incredible offer of £199 one-year third party fire and theft insurance on the racy Runner SP