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Coordinates: 53°19′16″N 3°28′49″W / 53.32123°N 3.48019°W / 53.32123; -3.48019

Rhyl
Welsh: Y Rhyl
Rhyl
Rhyl  Rhyl shown within Denbighshire
Population	24,889 (2001)
OS grid reference	SJ015815
Community	Rhyl
Principal area	Denbighshire
Ceremonial county	Clwyd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	RHYL
Postcode district	LL18
Dialling code	01745
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Vale of Clwyd
Welsh Assembly	Vale of Clwyd
List of places: UK • Wales • Denbighshire

Rhyl (Welsh: Y Rhyl, pronounced [ə ˈr̥ɨl]) is a seaside resort town and community in Denbighshire, situated on the north east coast of Wales, at the mouth of the River Clwyd (Welsh: Afon Clwyd). To the west is the suburb of Kinmel Bay, with the resort of Towyn further west, Prestatyn to the east and Rhuddlan to the south. At the 2001 Census, Rhyl had a population of 24,889.^[1] The conurbation of Abergele-Rhyl-Prestatyn has a population of over 60,000.

Rhyl has long been a popular tourist destination for people all over Wales and North West England. Rhyl is accessible by road, rail, air via Liverpool Airport, and sea via Holyhead.

Once an elegant Victorian resort, there was an influx of people from Liverpool and Manchester after World War II changing the face of the town. The area had declined dramatically by 1990, but has since improved due to a series of regeneration projects bringing in major investment. European funding, secured by the Welsh Government, has produced millions for the development of Rhyl's seafront.

The town is also home to one of three acute general hospitals in North Wales. Glan Clywd Hospital is the smallest of the three (after Wrexham Maelor and Bangor) and provides emergency care and general surgery.

Etymology[link]

The origin of the name "Rhyl" is not fully known. However, the name appears in old documents variously as Hyll (1506), Hull (1508), [Leidiart] yr Hyll (1597), Rhil (1706), Rhûl (1749), Rhul (1773) Rhyll (1830), and Rhyl (1840),^[2] all of which are variations (and some anglicizations) of an uncertain original form. Other suggestions have been made that it might derive from the similar sounding Yr Hill (as in "The Hill") or Yr Heol "(The Street)". Another theory is that the name Rhyl originates from the Welsh 'Ty yn yr haul' meaning 'House in the sun' written 'Ty'n yr haul' note that the oldest known dwelling is actually called 'Ty'n rhyl' and that the town marketed itself as a resort as 'Sunny Rhyl'.

Buildings and landmarks[link]

Rhyl clock tower and East Parade

A Rhyl landmark was the Pavilion Theatre, an ornate building with five domes, which was demolished in 1973 and the adjacent pier which was finally removed in 1972. Rhyl's top attractions on the West Parade are now the 250-foot (76 m) high Sky Tower, which opened in 1989, and Rhyl Children's Village theme park.

On the East Parade is the SeaQuarium and the Rhyl Suncentre, an indoor leisure swimming pool featuring an indoor monorail, as well as Europe's first indoor surfing pool. Next door stands the New Pavilion Theatre, which opened in 1991. A run of traditional beach shops runs alongside the sea front. The Carneddau Mountains can be seen from the beach.

Barratt's of Tyn Rhyl is the oldest house in Rhyl. It is run as a hotel and restaurant.

The derelict Welsh Baptist Tabernacular chapel built in 1867 has been bought by the Muslim community and been renamed the Islamic Cultural Centre.

Marine Lake[link]

Former Ocean Beach Funfair site (December 2007)

The Marine Lake, an artificial excavation in the west of the town, used to be a tourist destination, with fairground rides and a zoo. The lake is a 12 hectares man-made reservoir and it was officially opened in 1895. Rhyl Miniature Railway is the only original attraction remaining on the site, a narrow gauge railway that travels around the lake and is now based at the new museum and railway centre. There is also a playground and numerous watersports clubs based around the lake.

The Marine Lake Funfair was eventually replaced by the Ocean Beach Funfair and demolished in the late 1960s. Ocean Beach finally closed on 2 September 2007 to make way for Ocean Plaza, a development which includes flats, a hotel and retail outlets, including a supermarket.^[3]

Regeneration project[link]

In an effort to regenerate and boost declining tourism, a number of projects are underway or being proposed. As well as the £85 million Ocean Plaza complex on the site of the former Ocean Beach Funfair,^[3] projects include the Drift Park development on the promenade and the reopening of the town's miniature railway around the Marine Lake.

The West End of Rhyl is undergoing much reconstruction. One of the major investments is at Rhyl College, a satellite site of Llandrillo College, with the investment being worth approximately £4 million.^[4] 2010 part of Rhyl College the new Sixth form centre.

Ann Jones, who has lived in Rhyl all her life, has been the Assembly Member for the Vale of Clwyd since 1999. Chris Ruane has been the MP for Rhyl since 1997.

They have partnered with Sony to redesign Rhyl cinema, it will be in 3D and in 4K resolution, it will be ready for July 2011.

Education[link]

The first Welsh medium secondary school was opened in Rhyl in 1956 on Rhuddlan Road and was called Ysgol Glan Clwyd. The school then moved to St. Asaph in 1969. The building now houses Rhyl's Welsh medium primary school Ysgol Dewi Sant, which in 2009 celebrated 60 years.

Sport[link]

Rhyl Football Club were a successful football team in the Welsh football pyramid. In the 2003–04 season they won the Welsh Premiership Championship, the Welsh Cup and the Welsh League Cup, and were losing finalists in the FAW Premier Cup. In the 2008–09 season they again won the Welsh Premier League.

Rhyl now play in the Cymru Alliance. On 17 May 2010, it was announced that Rhyl's Welsh Premier license had been revoked. Their appeal was unsuccessful and they were relegated to the Cymru Alliance.

Transport[link]

Rhyl railway station is situated on the North Wales Coast Line and is served by through trains provided by Virgin Trains between Holyhead and London Euston, and Arriva Trains Wales services to Cardiff Central via Newport and Crewe, and to Manchester Piccadilly.

The A548 road runs through the town, connecting it to the A55 Holyhead to Chester road at Abergele.

Notable people[link]

See Category:People from Rhyl

• Arthur Cheetham - The first film-maker based in Wales, worked in Rhyl.
• Ruth Ellis – The last woman to be hanged in Britain in 1955.
• Ched Evans – Professional footballer.
• Lee Evans – Comedian.
• Albert Gubay – Founder of Kwik Save.
• Sir Robert Jones, Bt, KBE, CB (1857–1933), orthopaedic surgeon.
• Ted Hankey – Darts player.
• Adrian Henri – Poet and painter.
• Nerys Hughes – Television actress.
• Sir John T. Houghton, leading scientist, former Chief Executive of the Met Office and former co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• Peter Moore – Serial killer.
• Mike Peters – Member of The Alarm.
• Lisa Scott-Lee – Member of pop group Steps.
• Steve Strange – Pop singer.
• Sara Sugarman – Hollywood director.
• Barry Hilton - South African Comedian.

References[link]

External links[link]

• BBC Rhyl page
• Phil Gould's memories of the North Wales Amusement Parks in the '70s (From themagiceye)
• Phil Gould's memories of the North Wales and South Wales Amusement Parks in the '80s (From themagiceye )

v t e Denbighshire Principal settlements Corwen Denbigh Llangollen Prestatyn Rhuddlan Rhyl Ruthin St Asaph Towns and villages Aberwheeler Berwyn Betws Gwerfil Goch Bodelwyddan Bodfari Bontuchel Bryneglwys Bylchau Carrog Castell Cefnmeriadog Cerrigydrudion Clocaenog Corwen Crogen Cwm Cyffylliog Cynwyd Derwen Druid Dyserth Efenechtyd Gellifor Gellioedd Glasfryn Glyndyfrdwy Gronant Gwaenysgor Gwyddelwern Henllan Hirwaen Llanarmon-yn-Iâl Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd Llandegla Llandrillo Llandyrnog Llanefydd Llanelidan Llanferres Llanfwrog Llangar Llangwyfan Llangyhafal Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch Llansanffraid Glyndyfrdwy Llantysilio Llanychan Llanynys Llwynmawr Maerdy Meliden Nantglyn Prion Pentrecelyn Rhewl Rhuallt Saron Tafarn Y Gelyn Trefnant Trelawnyd Tremeirchion Oldest inhabited location Bontnewydd Palaeolithic site Moors Berwyn range Mynydd Hiraethog

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Dean Allmark
Allmark in the ring in November 2011
Ring name(s)	Dean 2 Xtreme Dean Allmark Deano Too Extreme Dean Xtreme Dean
Billed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Billed weight	180 lb (82 kg; 13 st)
Born	(1985-12-26) 26 December 1985 (age 26) Stoke-on-Trent, Midlands, England
Resides	Spital Wirral, Merseyside
Trained by	GBH Wrestling School Keith Myatt Chris Curtis
Debut	January 2000

Dean Allmark^[1] (born 26 December 1985), is an English professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in All-Star Promotions and his appearance in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Allmark, who often goes by the nicknames "Xtreme", or "2-Xtreme", is one half of the UK Dream Team with Kid Cool.

Career[link]

Allmark began his wrestling career in the Stoke-on-Trent based wrestling promotion Great British Hardcore (GBH) in 1999, where he was trained in its training school by Keith Myatt and Chris Curtis. He had his first professional match in January 2000 at Longton WMC against Chris Curtis.

During Allmark's time in GBH, he won the British tag team titles twice, once with fellow trainee Timm Wiley and once with Robbie Dynamite. After this Allmark moved to Brian Dixon's All Star Wrestling.

In 2001, Allmark became part of All Star's roster and found new tag team partners with Robbie Dynamite and Kid Cool. Teaming with Kid Cool became a lasting partnership as the pair became known as the UK Dream Team. Dynamite's partnership with Allmark was less successful with both men beginning a long standing personal feud.

On 7 April 2004, Allmark made his biggest appearance outside the UK when he was chosen to be a part of Team Britain during Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's America's X-Cup. During the PPV from Nashville, Tennessee, Allmark failed to win his singles match against Team Mexico's Mr. Águila but picked up a win in a tag match against Heavy Metal and Abismo Negro when Allmark's tag partner James Mason made one of the opponents submit. Team Mexico eventually won America's X-Cup.

Back in England on 7 June 2005, the UK Dream Team defeated "The Chippendales", Mikey Whiplash (Michael Gilbert) and Johnny Midnight, to be recognized by All Star Promotions as the British Tag Team Champions.

Allmark went on to renew his feud with Robbie Dynamite and after months of rapidly intensifying rivalry, things came to a head when Allmark defeated Dynamite in January 2006 for his All Star British Mid-Heavyweight title, making Allmark a double champion in the promotion. Dynamite fought back though (with the aid of "Chippendale" Mikey Whiplash) and defeated the UK Dream Team on 25 February 2006 in Staffordshire to win the British Tag Team titles. Allmark was hospitalised after the match with a gash to the head that needed nine stitches. Allmark commented on the situation between the him and Dynamite on All Star's website writing;

Allmark tried to return to action in March 2006 only for the wound to re-open. He had to go back to hospital for more treatment. It was later announced that Dynamite and Allmark would meet in a no-holds-barred match on March 18 at the Victoria Hall in Hanley. However, this match never took place because only hours before the event Allmark received news that his 18 month old son had been taken ill. The two rivals repeatedly met in matches throughout the rest of 2006, many of which were for Allmark's Mid-Heavyweight title. Dynamite finally defeated Allmark for the title in 2007.

In 2006, Allmark became the head trainer at the All Star Wrestling school

On 1 September 2010, Allmark wrestled for Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling in St.Ives (DG:UK "Invasion 2"). There he defeated fellow British wrestler Stixx with a Spanish Fly Shiranui Kai.

On 10 July 2010, Allmark wrestled for IPW:UK's Summer Sizzler which in Sittingbourne to compete in the quarter final Of the IPW:UK Cruserweight Championship Tournament. He went on to defeat Max Angleus with a single man Spanish Fly but mainly known as a Shiranui Kai. Allmark is now in the semi finals of the tournament which should be held at the next IPW:UK show.

On 3 December 2011, Allmark made his debut for PCW - Preston City Wrestling, taking on the former UKFF number one, Dave Mastiff. This show also featured Desmond Wolfe's return to a UK ring.

Allmark next appeared for PCW on 24 February, taking part in a 4-way Cruiserweight match against Noam Dar, Joey Hayes and Zack Sabre, Jr.

On the 30th March, Dean will wrestle Noam Dar in their first singles match, once again at PCW

Deans next appearance for PCW will be on the 2nd June where he will take on Martin Kirby and the debuting Rockstar Spud

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • Deanosault (Double springboard moonsault)
  • Double underhook piledriver
  • Frogsplash
  • Shiranui Kai
  • Superkick
  • Top rope Legdrop

• Signature moves
  • Back Body Drop
  • Brainbuster (Used rarely from 2010–present)
  • Enziguiri (Sometimes while the opponent is stood in the corner of the ring with their back to the turnbuckles)
  • Flying Headscissors
  • La Filomena
  • Monkey Climb
  • Slingshot Quebrada Moonsault
  • Shoot Kick (Usually follows a headmare)
  • Spinning Heel Kick
  • Standing Moonsault
  • 619 (Tiger Feint Kick)
  • Topé Suicida

• Nicknames
  • "Too Extreme" Dean
  • Dean "2-Xtreme" Allmark
  • "Xtreme" Dean Allmark
  • Your Kickboxing Sensation

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• All Star Wrestling
  • British Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
  • British Mid-Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
  • British Open Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Kid Cool
  • Wrestler of the Year (2006, 2008, 2009)

• Great British Hardcore
  • GBH Catchweight Championship (1 time)
  • GBH Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Timm Wylie & Robbie Dynamite

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

• "Xtreme" Dean Allmark's cagematch profile
• "Xtreme" Dean Allmark's All Star profile