Downhill mountain bike action returns this weekend

British Cycling's National Downhill Mountain Bike Series Round 3, presented by GT Bicycles, takes place in Llangollen this Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and 29.

Venue for the action is One Giant Leap at Tan Y Graig Farm, LL20 8AR. 

The newly revised Squirrel Track will be used. 

It's super steep and technical as it winds itself down the famous Llangollen hillside with a number of recently added features and wider line choices to keep the riders on their toes.

The tried and trusted BDS Team are back organising their first National race since 2017 and say they have been working around the clock to deliver this event to bring back the good old days.

Organisers say spectators are welcome and there is free parking plus free admission to anyone aged 12 and under. For those aged 13 or over the charge is £5 per day to spectate.

Saturday
09:30 to 18:00 Practice

Sunday
08:30 to 10:45 Practice
11:00 to 14:00 Seeding Runs
14:00 to 17:00 Race Runs

County council elects new leader and deputy

* Leader - Cllr Jason McLellan.

Denbighshire County Council has elected a new Leader and Deputy for the authority. 

Jason McLellan (Labour – Prestatyn North) is the new leader and a co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru has been negotiated to form a ruling partnership. 

A former Prestatyn High School pupil,  Cllr McLellan has lived in Prestatyn most of his life.  

He qualified in Law from the University of Liverpool before working as a legal aid lawyer across North Wales for many years. He then worked for a Member of Parliament and two Members of the Senedd and is a former Denbighshire councillor, having served one term. 

He said: "I believe that Labour and Plaid Cymru have a mandate from the electorate to form a cabinet and deliver for the people of Denbighshire. 

"I am looking forward to working with Plaid and we have so much in common in terms of policies around economic regeneration, addressing housing issues and promoting the Welsh language and culture."

* Deputy Leader - Cllr Gill German.

Meanwhile, Cllr Gill German (Labour- Prestatyn North) has been elected Deputy Leader.

Councillor German is also from Prestatyn and a former pupil in the town. 

She has worked as a primary school teacher for over 25 years, with the majority of those years spent at Ysgol Penmorfa.

She says one of her biggest wishes is to work on creating greater equality in education.

MP meets people now living locally after fleeing Ukrainian conflict

* Back row from left, Volodymr, Lidiia, Sarah, Simon Baynes MP, Kim, Nataliia, Tetiana. Front row,  Andrii, Anastasiia, Kateryna and Maryna at the home of Sarah O’Brien near Trevor.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes recently met Maryna Ustymenko who is now living in Llangollen after fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He also met the Paliura family, whom his office helped bring over to Wales and are now staying in Trevor. 

Mr Baynes spoke with Maryna, who speaks fluent English having been a teacher back in Ukraine, and also her sponsor Kim Evans from Llangollen.

The MP also met the Paliura family, which includes Volodymr and Lidiia Paliura (grandparents), Nataliia and Anastasiia Minaieva (mother and daughter), Tetiana Paliura (daughter) and her two children, Andrii and Kateryna Maliuk.

They have been welcomed into the home of their sponsor Sarah O’Brien near Trevor.

During the visit they discussed the ongoing issues experienced by Ukrainian refugees with their visa applications, and the welcome and support they have received from the community in Clwyd South. 

Kim Evans and Sarah O’Brien said: “This is a very rewarding experience and we both feel we have gained life long friends and extra family members.”

Mr Baynes said: “As the local MP I was very grateful to have the opportunity to meet our new Ukrainian friends and to welcome them to our community in Clwyd South.

"I was delighted to hear that since arriving they have been made to feel very welcome. 

"I also want to thank Sarah O’Brien and Kim Evans and their families for welcoming the Paliura family and Maryna Ustymenko into their homes and for the kindness they have shown them since fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. 

"My office has been very pleased to help them and other families come to Clwyd South and is always available to help others from Ukraine in the same way in the future.”

Health Centre Friends back in action after pandemic

 

The Friends of Llangollen Health Centre, like so many other organisations, has been affected by the pandemic.  

One of its projects has been to contribute to the cost of installing defibrillators.  

The latest one is now outside the Conquering Hero in Rhewl.

The official hand-over (pictured above) was attended by Maggie Smith, Chair of Llantysilio Community Council, the Clerk to the Council Sandra Baker, and Audrey Brameller, a member of the Board of Trustees.

The Trust was also pleased to receive a generous donation from the Friends of Oakleigh represented by Ruth Tamms to the Friends' John Palmer (pictured above).

The Friends is a charity whose objectives are to relieve sickness and to preserve and protect good health amongst permanent or temporary residents in the catchment area of Llangollen Health Centre and Llangollen GP practice, including Glyn Ceiriog & Plas Madoc,by the provision of facilities, support services and equipment not normally provided from statutory funds.

With the support of volunteers, the Friends normally staff the café in the surgery, but this is currently on hold until things get back to normal. Fundraising activities have also been on hold.  

However, the Friends will be resuming fundraising with a coffee morning in the Memorial Hall on Market Street on Tuesday May 31 and would like t see as many people as possible coming along to show support.

* If you have any ideas on how we can support patients, please email John Palmer friendsofllanhc11@gmail.com

Fifth generation Kia Sportage is giant leap

Kia Sportage drive by Steve Rogers

There are not many car companies that can boast an SUV as their best seller in every corner of the world so turn the spotlight on the Kia Sportage.

I remember the UK launch in 1995 taking the car off road at the top of the Horseshoe Pass. Then it was nothing more than a capable, but only average utility 4x4 helping the fledgling Korean company break into the UK market.

It took 15 years and some inspirational design for us to sit up and take notice of the third generation Sportage, now an attractive all round family car which sold and sold and sold.

If 2010 was a big step forward then this year’s 5th generation Sportage is a giant leap. Not only has it undergone a radical redesign but there is cutting edge technology and hybrid power preparing the ground for what is ahead at the end of the decade.

Turning heads with stand out design is one thing but you have to do the business under the skin as well. So Kia started from scratch with a new platform, longer, taller and wider body, and plug-in or self-charging hybrid engine to compliment petrol and diesel units - yes there is still a diesel on offer.

There is even an all wheel drive with terrain drive mode, not that I think Sportage is going to spend much time off road although it will come in handy towing a caravan from a muddy field.

Sportage feels more grown up with its bigger body. Interior space has increased with ample leg and shoulder room for three adults in the back seats, which also recline, and a larger boot now boasting 587 litres with the back seats in place. The boot has two levels with small storage spaces under the floor because the spare wheel is replaced by a repair kit which, thankfully, I have not had to use so far in my motoring life.

For all its snazzy body styling, the cabin takes the star prize with its stunning dashboard  layout and general improvement in fittings and trim.

The area is dominated by a shiny black structure similar to a wide screen television housing two 12.2 inch screens. Dials ahead of the driver are computer generated and can be altered to display a variety of information. One novelty is a large camera in each of the main dials activated when indicating left or right, a modern take on a door mirror.

The driver’s eye still goes to the door mirror and the camera is impaired when it rains and in the dark but is another bit of new technology.

The centre touchscreen displays radio, various aps and navigation which was surprising slow to find a destination but easy to use.

Kia is well known for its generous level of kit, it was one of the first mainstream marques to have heated rear seats, an nothing has changed. My top of he range GT-Line S wants for nothing, ventilated front seats and 360 degree camera standout features, and the attention to small details in the cabin is admirable, check out the USB ports built into the shoulder of the front seats.

Of course there is a full suite of safety aids to keep you out of trouble.

Hybrid has added a new dimension to Sportage, a bit later than some rivals, and provides sprightly performance with decent economy. With the help of an electric motor the 1.6 litre petrol pumps out an impressive 226bhp so sixty comes up in an impressive eight seconds.

Driven sensibly the self charging hybrid should be good for 45-47mpg.

Which brings us on to towing and can it take the place of a diesel? Engine power is more than adequate and pulled effortlessly through the seven speed automatic box but around 24mpg was a good way off the 30mpg I get from my diesel Renault Kadjar but with the inflated price of diesel the gap has shrunk enough to make hybrid a viable alternative.

The downside is a modest 1650kg towing capacity. My lightweight four berth was only just inside the limit so many heavier family vans will not be a legal match.

There is plenty of high profile competition but this Sportage is a fine package and has to be on your shopping list.

Fast Facts

Sportage GT-Line S

£40,255 (starts £26,745)

1.6 litre petrol; 226bhp

0-60mph 8secs; 120mpg

44.1mpg combined

146g/km. 1st tax £215

Boot 587-1776 litres

Insurance group 26

Towing capacity 1650kg

Royal train artefacts go on show at railway over jubilee weekend

* Royal train artefacts which will be on show at Llangollen Railway.

A special display showcasing historic artefacts from Queen Victoria's Royal Train will be on display within Llangollen Station over the four-day Platinum Jubilee weekend. 

In 1897, the Great Western Railway marked the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria by constructing a new royal train for her. 

Railway companies had provided special saloon carriages, but this was the first royal train to be built and was fitted out in an opulent style.  

The GWR abandoned its royal carriages of 1897 during the 1930s and subsequently borrowed stock from another railway company when the need arose. 

Some of the carriage survived as grounded bodies, holiday chalets and in one case as a skittle alley in North Devon!

Many of the artefacts from inside the 1897 Royal Train vehicles have been lost over the years, but some items have survived and are now in the personal collection of Peter Dickinson, one of the founding members of the railway's Heritage Group.

The temporary display inside Llangollen Station will include carriage prints, glass panels and even some of the surviving door handles that were once inside Queen Victoria's Royal Train. 

The railway has a full programme of other events planned for the jubilee weekend.

Two new free courses at Pengwern Community Hub

Pengwern Community Hub has two new free courses starting in June.  

Organisers say places are limited and booking is essential by calling 01490 266004 or emailing: heulwen@sdcp.org. 

Both courses are suitable for beginners.  

Sewing machines and an overlocker can be provided for the sewing course, or people can bring their own along.  

The craft course takes place on the hub's Thursday Craft and Chat session and the first one is a taster session - so you can help decide what you would like to make - and then runs for the following five weeks.   

Materials will be supplied for the craft course.

The organisers add: "If you have service users, family or friends who would like to come along to either or both of these courses please do not hesitate to get in touch and if you can print to display the poster please do so."

Pengwern Community Hub's June diary