Wales’ sporting year in photos

29 December 2013
Last updated at
15:11

Golfer Jamie Donaldson began the year with victory in the Abu Dhabi Championship
Stephen Maguire edged out Stuart Bingham in a thrilling match to win the Welsh Open snooker tournament at the Newport Centre
Becky James won four medals at the World Track Cycling Championships in Belarus, including sprint and keirin gold medals.
Swansea City’s Ashley Williams and Garry Monk hold aloft the Football League Trophy at Wembley following their 5-0 final win over Bradford City.
Wales celebrate winning rugby’s Six Nations following a 30-3 victory over Grand Slam-chasing England at the Millennium Stadium.
Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny was voted Six Nations player of the tournament.
Hal Robson Kany scored Wales’ winner at a snowy Hampden Park to secure a World Cup qualifying win over Scotland.
Wrexham’s first Wembley appearance ended in triumph as they beat Grimsby Town on penalties to win the FA Trophy.
The Millennium Stadium hosted ‘Judgement Day’ a Welsh Pro12 double header with Scarlets facing the Dragons and Ospreys defeating Cardiff Blues (pictured).
Captain Mark Hudson and manager Malky Mackay led the celebrations as Cardiff City celebrated their Championship title win and promotion to the Premier League.
Goals from Christian Jolley and Aaron O’Connor saw Newport County beat Wrexham 2-0 in the Conference Promotion Final to secure a return to the Football League.
Pontypridd players celebrate following their side’s 34-13 win over Neath in the Swalec Cup final at the Millennium Stadium.
Scarlets reached the Pro12 play-offs but lost to Ulster at Ravenhill in the semi-final. It was George North’s final game for the Welsh region before his departure to Northampton.
Wales players leave the field looking dejected after Japan claimed a historic 23-8 first win in the second Test in Tokyo to draw the series after the tourists had won 22-18 in the first Test.
Wales Under-20s reached the final of the Junior World Championships in France but lost 23-15 to England in the final.
Paralympian Aled Sion Davies, won two gold medals at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon in July, setting a new world record to win the F42 shot.
Wales wings Alex Cuthbert and George North scored tries as the British and Irish Lions beat Australia 23-21 to win the first Test.
British and Irish Lions wing George North carries Australia wing Israel Folau during the second Test, a match which the tourists lost 16-15.
But the Lions bounced back to win the decisive third Test in Sydney, with Jamie Roberts among the try scorers in a 41-16 victory to secure their first series win in 16 years.
Injured Lions captain Sam Warburton and stand-in skipper Alun Wyn Jones kiss the glass trophy after the third Test win over Australia which clinched the series.
$Geraint Thomas completed the Tour de France despite suffering a fractured pelvis as Team Sky won for the second successive year.$
Geraint Thomas completed the Tour de France despite suffering a fractured pelvis as Team Sky won for the second successive year.
Welsh Cup winners Prestatyn Town advanced to the Europa League second qualifying round with a thrilling penalty shoot-out win over Latvian side Liepajas Metalurgs.
The New Saints striker Mike Wilde battles for the ball with Bartosz Bereszynski during the Welsh Premier League champions’ Champions League tie against Poland’s Legia Warsaw.
Defending world 400m hurdle champion Dai Greene fails to qualify for the final at the World Athletics Championships, after coming fifth in his semi-final.
Nathan Cleverly lost his WBO light-heavyweight title and unbeaten professional record against Sergey Kovalev in August.
Cardiff Blues installed a synthetic surface at Cardiff Arms Park , beating Sale Sharks in the first game to be played on the new pitch.
Fraizer Campbell scored twice as Cardiff City beat Manchester City 3-2 in their first home game in the Premier League.
Hugh Morris announced he was stepping down as England’s managing director to return to Glamorgan as chief executive and director of cricket in 2014.
French golfer Gregory Bourdy won the Wales Open at Celtic Manor
Wales winger Gareth Bale became the most expensive player in world football when he signed for Real Madrid for £85m and scored on his debut against Villarreal.
Glamorgan bowler Andrew Salter celebrates with Simon Jones taking the wicket of Nottinghamshire’s Samit Patel in the YB40 final at Lord’s. But the Welsh county lost the game by 87 runs.
Triathlete Non Stanford was crowned ITU World Champion with victory in the World Series Grand Final in London.
Out with the old, in with the new: Liverpool’s Harry Wilson at 16 became Wales’ youngest ever player on the same evening Craig Bellamy made his final appearance for the national team in a 1-1 draw in Belgium.
Wales had a disappointing Rugby League World Cup, falling to reach the quarter-finals after defeats to Italy, the United States and the Cook Islands (above).
Wales manager Chris Coleman ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract with the Football Association of Wales.
Gareth Bale played 90 minutes of Wales’ final international of the year, a 1-1 draw at home to Finland in November.
North and mid Wales hosted the Wales Rally GB, won by World Champion Sebastien Ogier, pictured here during the final stage in Llandudno.
Manchester United’s former Wales captain Ryan Giggs celebrated his 40th birthday in November.
Wales beat Argentina and Tonga but lost to South Africa and Australia (pictured) during the autumn series in Cardiff.
Leigh Halfpenny’s remarkable year was recognised at the first Wales Sport Awards, voted BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality 2013.
WRU chief executive Roger Lewis shakes the hand of Warren Gatland after the New Zealander signed a contract extension to remain Wales head coach until after the 2019 World Cup.
The year ends on a low note for Malky Mackay as he is sacked as Cardiff City manager following a row with owner Vincent Tan