Twenty Ten bridge official opened

A vast new bridge which will transport players and spectators to the practice ground during this year’s Ryder Cup has been officially opened by the First Minister of Wales.

Carwyn Jones AM cut the ribbon on the 120-metre long, cable stayed bridge over the River Usk in the company of Sir Terry Matthews, Chairman of The Celtic Manor Resort, and Richard Hills, Europe’s Ryder Cup Director.

The £2m twin-suspension bridge completes a £16m investment by The Celtic Manor Resort in building a new course, clubhouse and surrounding infrastructure, developments that were promised when one of sport’s biggest events was awarded to Wales back in 2001.

Primarily a footbridge for spectators, the bridge will also be able to carry golf buggies transporting players and officials as well as emergency vehicles, should the need arise, when The Ryder Cup is staged at Celtic Manor between 27th September and 3rd October, 2010.

Sir Terry Matthews, Chairman of The Celtic Manor Resort, said: “We are proud to open this wonderful new bridge as the final major piece of construction for this year’s Ryder Cup.

“We have invested a lot of time and resources in creating not only The Twenty Ten Course, the first golf course in history to be purpose built for staging The Ryder Cup, but also the surrounding infrastructure.

“This bridge to the new practice ground is an important part of that commitment to provide the best possible playing conditions for the top golfers from Europe and America who will be gracing the event, as well as enhance the spectator experience at The 38th Ryder Cup.”

As with the construction of The Twenty Ten Course and its clubhouse, the new bridge was built by Welsh contractors, bringing further benefits to the economy of Wales. Port Talbot-based Andrew Scott Ltd was the main construction contractor and Rowecord Engineering of Newport provided the superstructure and all steelwork.

Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales, said: “The Ryder Cup is a huge event for Wales and I congratulate Sir Terry Matthews and the team at The Celtic Manor Resort on completing the final piece of the infrastructure required on-site to host such a high-profile event, which will be a superb showcase for Wales.”

The bridge was designed with close attention to the environmental and ecological sensitivities of the tidal River Usk. A six-metre exclusion zone on either side of the river bank protects otter holts and ensures the migrating patterns of salmon and shad fish are not affected.

As well as the Ryder Cup practice ground, the bridge also links to a huge TV compound housing the world’s sports broadcasters on the Caerleon side of the river. On the golf course side, a vast tented village of spectator attractions will occupy the existing Twenty Ten practice ground between the river and the first tee.

Richard Hills, Europe’s Ryder Cup Director, said: “The installation of the bridge is a vital component of The 2010 Ryder Cup, facilitating ease of access to both sides of the River Usk. The bridge will also be able to carry emergency vehicles and with this opening another part of the infrastructure required to host The 2010 Ryder Cup is officially in place.

“The Celtic Manor Resort as host venue has continually demonstrated superb commitment and we congratulate them for making this happen in such good time and thank Sir Terry Matthews whose vision has led to the biennial contest being hosted in Wales for the first time.”

Sevilla crowned cup kings

Sevilla prevented Atletico Madrid from celebrating a cup double on Wednesday as they beat the recently-crowned UEFA Europa League champions 2-0 to take the King's Cup here for the fifth time in their history and second in four years.

Sevilla - who took the fourth and final UEFA Champions League place in the last minutes of the final match of the league season - lifted the Cup thanks to a fifth minute goal by diminutive winger Diego Capel and a second in time added on by Jesus Navas.

Sevilla captain Andres Palop, who made several good saves during the match, said it was mission achieved for the season. "It was a difficult and extraordinary final," he said. "This is what we wanted, qualify for the Champions League and win the King's Cup. We are very happy."

Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores was proud of his side's efforts. "My players put in an impressive effort," he said. "They gave everything they had, but congratulations nevertheless to Sevilla."

Capel's opener was a delight as he picked up Navas's blocked effort and fired an unstoppable shot into the Atletico net from just outside the penalty area. Atletico went agonisingly close to levelling the match in the 11th minute as first Argentinian international striker Sergio Aguero had his shot repelled and his strike partner Diego Forlan also saw his follow up effort saved.

Forlan - scorer of both his side's goals in the 2-1 victory over Fulham in the Europa League final - was to be a constant threat to Sevilla's defence, which was well marshalled by the French duo of Julien Escude and Sebastien Squillaci. The Uruguayan striker forced Palop into tipping the ball onto the post in the 43rd minute and then the Sevilla captain had to react smartly to turn away another Forlan strike 13 minutes from time for a corner.

Sevilla - who knocked out holders Barcelona earlier in the competition - were living dangerously and failed to take the few chances that came their way, most notably when Alvaro Negredo failed to score when just one on one with the Atletico 'keeper David de Gea. However, they settled the matter through Navas, who showed cooler temperament in the same situation as Negredo and despite being driven wider than he would have liked by De Gea he still managed to score.