SWANSEA HALF MARATHON: Record day on the bay as Olympian sets new course best

Thousands of runners took to the streets of Swansea on Sunday for one of Wales’s biggest mass-participation races — and an Olympian left with a new course record.

The 2026 Mizuno Swansea Half Marathon sent runners through the city and along the seafront, cheered on by crowds lining the route from start to finish.

It was, organisers said, a record day for the event — the record turnout they had forecast when previewing the 12th edition delivered on dry roads and a brisk coastal breeze.

Footage shared by the council’s Enjoy Swansea tourism team captured the moment the field set off, streaming under the Copper Bay bridge and along Oystermouth Road.

The women’s race produced the standout performance. Rose Harvey — an Olympian and the fifth-fastest British female marathon runner of all time — won in 1:11:58, a new women’s course record for the event.

Tracy Barlow finished second in 1:13:19, beating her own previous course record, with Chelsea Baker third in 1:14:04.

The men’s race was won by Omar Ahmed in 1:03:42.

Jonathan Butler of Swansea Harriers was second in 1:06:07, with Charlie Jones of Western Tempo third in 1:06:48.

This year marked the first as headline sponsor for the global sports brand Mizuno, which organisers said had helped raise the event’s profile further.

But beyond the elite times, the day belonged to the thousands of club runners, first-timers and fundraisers who made up the field.

Hundreds of children and families also took part in the Freedom Leisure Family Fun Run, a 2K event joined by mascots Tommy the Turtle and Ozzie the Osprey.

Charity fundraising was led by headline charity Shelter Cymru, joined by Maggie’s Swansea and Morgan’s Army, whose runners raised money and awareness along the route.

Race director Tash Smith said the atmosphere had been “absolutely incredible”, from the elite athletes at the front to every runner crossing the line.

She said seeing people achieve personal bests and complete major goals, backed by the Swansea crowd, was “what this event is all about”.

Event founder David Martin-Jewell, of organisers Front Runner Events, called it a “landmark year”, crediting the new Mizuno sponsorship and the response from runners and the city.

Entries for the 2027 race are already open, with organisers expecting places to go quickly.

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SWANSEA: Leisure centre visits top two million — but the figures show what it costs to keep them open

Swansea‘s leisure centres are busier than they have been in years — but a council report has laid bare how much it costs to keep them running.

More than two million visits were made to leisure facilities across the city in 2024/25, according to the latest Leisure Partnerships Annual Report.

Usage at the centres run by Freedom Leisure alone reached 2,098,565 — up from 1,878,928 the year before — with gym memberships climbing to 13,274.

But the same report shows those centres cost more to run than they brought in, with the council topping up the gap.

Across the Freedom Leisure contract, the centres earned £8.5m in 2024/25 but cost £9.9m to operate.

On top of that, the council paid Freedom Leisure a management fee of £1.17m — up from £987,000 the previous year — plus a further £182,000 in contract support.

The cost of the National Pool

The picture is starker at Wales National Pool Swansea, which ran a net cost of more than £1.6m.

The council’s funding for the pool reached £680,800 for the year, after an extra £200,000 was agreed at Cabinet specifically to cover a deficit pushed up by rising energy costs.

The pool’s set-up is about to change. From August, the Wales National Pool — along with the rest of Swansea Bay Sports Park — will be run by Freedom Leisure, named as the site’s new operator in April.

It means the not-for-profit trust that already runs the council’s leisure centres will, from 1 August, also take on the pool, under a separate contract overseen by a council and university joint venture.

The change is tied to a wider £150m vision for a sport and health “superhub” at the Sketty Lane site.

Energy bills the recurring pressure

Energy has been the recurring pressure across the venues in the report, echoing the extra costs support the council stepped in with back in 2023.

The report notes that operators running large facilities with swimming pools have been hit hardest, given how much energy they consume.

There were brighter notes. The redeveloped Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre and its new sports barn saw gym membership jump 32% and bookings reach 90% capacity within weeks of opening.

Freedom Leisure also won learn-to-swim provider of the year and a sustainability award at the 2025 Swim Wales Awards.

Plantasia bucks the trend

Plantasia, the tropical zoo run by Parkwood Leisure, told a different story — visitor numbers fell 4.8% to 111,697.

The report links that drop to a wider slump across Welsh attractions, with cost-of-living pressures blamed for visitor falls of between 15% and 25% in 2024.

Despite that, Plantasia still turned an operating surplus, and recently earned major industry accreditation from BIAZA, placing it among a select group of UK and Ireland zoos recognised for animal welfare and conservation standards.

Part of its surplus was reinvested in a £90,000 “Giants of the Past” dinosaur installation, with the council contributing £40,000 of its share towards the project.

The Wales National Pool, meanwhile, hosted 36 event days over the year, including international competitions, and saw its coaches and swimmers represent Team GB at the Paris Olympics.

Tracey McNulty, the council’s head of cultural services, parks and cleansing, said affordable leisure played an important role in supporting residents’ health and wellbeing.

She said that while rising energy costs continued to present challenges, the council’s partnerships were keeping services running and investing in facilities.

The report was presented to the council’s Cabinet for noting, rather than for a decision.

It follows a similar review a year earlier which charted the post-pandemic recovery in visits to the city’s leisure venues.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Freedom Leisure announced as new operator for Swansea Bay Sports Park
The company running the council’s leisure centres takes on the National Pool from August.

SPORTS HUB SHAKE-UP: Major changes approved at Sketty Lane
How the £150m superhub vision is reshaping the city’s biggest sports site.

More than 5,000 use sports barn in first month
The redeveloped Cefn Hengoed centre proved an instant hit.

SWANSEA: Plantasia awarded major industry accreditation
The tropical zoo earns full BIAZA recognition for its standards.

SWANSEA: Lauren Bryant named Sportsperson of the Year as city’s sporting heroes celebrated at annual awards

The ceremony, held in association with Freedom Leisure and presented by ultra-endurance athlete and TV presenter Lowri Morgan, brought together 500 guests to recognise the city’s sporting community — from grassroots clubs and volunteers to elite individual performers.

Tracey McNulty, Head of Cultural Services, Parks and Cleansing at Swansea Council, said this year’s winners reflected the full range of the city’s sporting life. “These awards once again highlight the incredible depth of sporting talent we have in Swansea,” she said.

“This year’s winners reflect the full spectrum of our sporting community, from the volunteers and coaches who give countless hours behind the scenes, to the dedicated individuals and teams who continue to excel in their disciplines.”

Craig Jones, General Manager at Freedom Leisure’s Swansea LC, said sport had a unique ability to bring communities together. “Events like these highlight the important role physical activity plays in improving health, wellbeing and community spirit,” he said. “It is a privilege for Freedom Leisure to recognise and support those who make such a difference.”

Lauren Bryant took the top individual prize on the night, named Sportsperson of the Year in an award sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited. Ken Wright received the Lifetime Contribution to Sport award, also sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited.

Among the junior honours, Jacob Robert Morgan Davies was named Junior Sportsman of the Year and Kaitlin Gourlay took Junior Sportswoman of the Year. The School Team of the Year award went to the Ysgol Gyfun Gwŷr Year 9 Rugby Team.

Eleanor Organ won Junior Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, sponsored by Stowe Family Law, while Chloe Morgan was named Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability. Sindhu Bhairavi Mahadeven received both the Volunteer of the Year award and the Getting Swansea Active Award.

In the club and team categories, Mumbles Rangers Girls Section won Junior Club or Team of the Year, and West Swansea Hawks Ladies RFC took Senior Club or Team of the Year. Pontlliw Primary School Young Ambassadors received the Swansea Young Ambassador Recognition Award.

The coaching awards went to Andrew Williams, named Community Coach of the Year sponsored by Specsavers, and Gareth Jones, who won Performance Coach of the Year. Keisha Wilde received the Inspiring Young Person of the Year award, and David Huxtable was given the Special Recognition Award.

The full list of winners is below.

Sportsperson of the Year — Lauren Bryant (sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited)

Lifetime Contribution to Sport — Ken Wright (sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited)

Junior Sportsman of the Year — Jacob Robert Morgan Davies (sponsored by Childcare Offer for Wales)

Junior Sportswoman of the Year — Kaitlin Gourlay (sponsored by Specsavers)

Junior Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability — Eleanor Organ (sponsored by Stowe Family Law)

Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability — Chloe Morgan (supported by Wales National Exercise Referral Scheme)

Volunteer of the Year — Sindhu Bhairavi Mahadeven (sponsored by EYST Wales)

Getting Swansea Active Award — Sindhu Bhairavi Mahadeven (supported by Enjoy Swansea)

Community Coach of the Year — Andrew Williams (sponsored by Specsavers)

Performance Coach of the Year — Gareth Jones (supported by The National Institute for Sport & Health)

Inspiring Young Person of the Year — Keisha Wilde (sponsored by Arvato Connect)

Special Recognition Award — David Huxtable (supported by Freedom Leisure)

Junior Club or Team of the Year — Mumbles Rangers Girls Section (sponsored by Route Media)

Senior Club or Team of the Year — West Swansea Hawks Ladies RFC (supported by 60+ Active Leisure Scheme)

School Team of the Year — Ysgol Gyfun Gwŷr Year 9 Rugby Team (sponsored by Gower College Swansea)

Swansea Young Ambassador Recognition Award — Pontlliw Primary School Young Ambassadors (sponsored by Youth Sport Trust)

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Making a splash: Swansea swim school wins gold accreditation from Swim Wales

The charitable and not‑for‑profit trust, which manages 29 leisure centres across Wales, was awarded the highest quality mark available for delivering the Learn to Swim Wales programme. The Gold Accreditation recognises excellence in governance, sustainability and effectiveness in swimming education, going beyond basic industry standards and safeguarding guidelines.

A milestone for Swansea

Freedom Leisure manages Swansea’s leisure centres on behalf of the city council and currently supports around 4,000 swimmers through its Learn to Swim programme. The scheme is delivered by a highly skilled team of teachers, offering lessons to both children and adults.

Chief Executive Officer Ivan Horsfall Turner said the award was a proud moment:

“We are delighted to have been Gold Accredited by Swim Wales for our Learn to Swim programme and extremely proud to be the first leisure operator in Wales to have achieved this accolade.”

He added that the partnership with Swim Wales helps provide children and adults with confidence in the water, particularly important in coastal areas such as Swansea.

Recognition from Swim Wales

Swim Wales Chief Executive Officer Fergus Feeney praised the achievement:

“This distinction demonstrates a sustained commitment to excellence in swimming education, ensuring that children and adults across Swansea have access to the highest standard of opportunities to acquire a vital life skill.”

Learn to Swim Manager Hanna Guise added that Freedom Leisure had shown “just how committed they are to providing their learners with the highest quality learn to swim offer,” setting a benchmark for other providers.

Local impact

Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure, said the award reflected the quality and dedication of the team:

“It’s reassuring to know that our leisure centres – run on behalf of the council by Freedom Leisure – are providing such high‑quality tuition that is recognised nationally.”

He added that the recognition highlighted the strength of the partnership between Swansea Council and Freedom Leisure, delivering opportunities that benefit residents of all ages.

#CllrAndrewStevens #FreedomLeisure #LearnToSwimWales #LeisureCentre #Penlan #PenlanLeisureCentre #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaLeisureCentres #SwimWales #swimming

Gowerton sports complex pitch makeover complete

The extensive refurbishment was made possible thanks to a £230,000 grant received from Sport Wales and Freedom Leisure, as a result, the pitch at Elba has been accredited by the International Hockey Federation and will continue to be the proud home of Gowerton Hockey Club. 

Yasmin Marshall from Gowerton Hockey Club said:

“We are so proud of our home pitch now as this new surface was much needed – each winter we would have to postpone games due to flooding or a frozen pitch.

“Hockey at Gowerton can now be played at a higher standard, just from the new pitch – this being vital with our first team playing Prem 2 and our squad housing international players.

“The new pitch has secured the future of hockey at Gowerton and we’re hopeful it will encourage more individuals to get involved with the club – this which we’re already starting to see as the season progresses.”

The pitch is also suitable for football and a wide variety of outdoor sports for local schools, sporting groups and communities in and around the Gowerton Area to use and is the ideal surface during the winter months when grass fields and pitches become muddy and unusable. Bookings are now being taken for sport groups to use the refurbished pitch at the Elba, operated by Freedom Leisure.

Gwyn Owen, Freedom Leisure Area Manager in Swansea commented:

“The refurbished pitch at the Elba offers year-round access for local residents and clubs alike.

“Indeed, it is a fantastic outdoor pitch for the whole community across Swansea and we’d encourage as many people to come and see for themselves the new look pitch and all the other amazing facilities at Elba Sports Complex.”

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said:

“Swansea has a long tradition of producing hockey players that go on to compete at a high level. We also have a strong pathway of introducing new players to the game through the work of clubs like Gowerton who provide skills sessions for all abilities.

“It’s great that this effort can be supported by the introduction of modern facilities such as the new surface at the Elba and Swansea Council is grateful to Sport Wales, Hoci Cymru and our partners at Freedom Leisure for making this happen.”

For clubs and organisations wishing to enquire further about the pitch or make a booking please contact [email protected] or call the Elba Sports Complex on 01792 874424.

[Lead image: Freedom Leisure]

#ElbaSportsCentre #featured #FreedomLeisure #Gowerton #Hockey #SportWales

In partnership with Freedom Leisure, the ‘Swim Together’ project will involve running group sessions at indoor pools, which are specifically designed to help improve participants’ mental health. 

The project builds on the success of Mental Health Swims’ existing UK-wide network of outdoor swim groups and will make their support more accessible to those with disabilities and limited mobility, as well as people living in inner city areas.

As with their outdoor groups, sessions are centred around using peer support to help people to feel seen and understood. 

The first phase of Swim Together Wales, announced today, will begin at the LC Swansea early next year, with the aim of rolling it out to pools across Wales over the next few years.

Swim Together was piloted last year in Warwickshire and is already being rolled out in parts of England. Once the initial phase of the project is up and running in Swansea, individuals will be referred through GPs, social prescribers, and other healthcare professionals.

Tim Georgievsky, Healthy Communities Officer at Freedom Leisure said:

“The opportunity to collaborate with Mental Health Swims on setting up a Swim Together session was a no-brainer.

“The importance of looking after our mental health has been well documented over the last few years and rightly so, but it’s still something that needs to continue and that’s what we are aiming to do with setting this up. 

“At Freedom Leisure our mission statement is ‘improving lives through leisure’ and I can’t think of a session that would echo this more than a Swim Together session.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing this session grow and hopefully expand across more of our Freedom Leisure sites, with the overarching goal of helping as many people as possible who are dealing with mental health.”

Mental Health Swims was set up in 2019 by Swansea resident Rachel Ashe MBE when she was searching for a welcoming, inclusive space that actively supports those struggling with their mental health.

After experiencing the benefits of outdoor swimming herself, she set up a regular outdoor swim group at Caswell Bay.

This soon became Mental Health Swims, which was set up with the aim of creating a community where people living with mental health issues could connect with others while experiencing the benefits of swimming. Since then, the organisation has trained over 350 volunteers who have set up more than 150 outdoor swim groups across the UK.

Rachel Ashe MBE, Founder of Mental Health Swims, said:

“We are delighted to be launching Swim Together in Swansea. In partnership with Freedom Leisure, we will provide support to many of the people who need it most.

“With the demand for mental health services steadily rising in the UK, this work is more important than ever.”

Victoria Waters, Partnership and Participation Manager at Swim Wales added: 

“We at Swim Wales recognise the significant impact the aquatic environment can have on both physical and mental health.

“As health is a key pillar of our YMLAEN Strategy, we are delighted to see initiatives like this taking place in a Welsh pool. We are committed to supporting growth with the goal of creating a healthier, happier nation through aquatic activity.”

[Lead image: Mental Health Swims]

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/10/18/mental-health-swims-launches-new-project-in-swansea-to-support-local-community/

#FreedomLeisure #mentalHealth #MentalHealthSwims #SwimTogetherWales #SwimWales

Report reveals decision to end deal with operator of Lichfield and Burntwood leisure centres came after closure talks

https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2023/02/11/report-reveals-decision-to-end-deal-with-operator-of-lichfield-and-burntwood-leisure-centres-came-after-closure-warning/

#Lichfield #News #Politics #BurntwoodLeisureCentre #featured #FreedomLeisure #FriaryGrangeLeisureCentre #LichfieldDistrictCouncil

Councillor “cautiously optimistic” proposals for future of Lichfield and Burntwood leisure centres will be good news for users

https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2023/01/30/councillor-cautiously-optimistic-proposals-for-future-of-lichfield-and-burntwood-leisure-centres-will-be-good-news-for-users/

#Lichfield #News #Politics #featured #FreedomLeisure #JoanneGrange #LichfieldDistrictCouncil

Councillor seeking reassurances over Burntwood Leisure Centre after plans are unveiled to end agreement with operator

https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2023/01/27/councillor-seeking-reassurances-over-burntwood-leisure-centre-after-plans-are-unveiled-to-end-agreement-with-operator/

#Lichfield #Burntwood #News #Politics #BurntwoodLeisureCentre #DougPullen #FreedomLeisure #FriaryGrangeLeisureCentre #LichfieldDistrictCouncil #SteveNorman

Plans unveiled to end agreement with operator of leisure centres in Lichfield and Burntwood

https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2023/01/26/plans-unveiled-to-end-agreement-with-operator-of-leisure-centres-in-lichfield-and-burntwood/

#Lichfield #News #Politics #BurntwoodLeisureCentre #DougPullen #featured #FreedomLeisure #FriaryGrangeLeisureCentre #LichfieldDistrictCouncil