The West Is Best Syndicate, led by Rhian Owen, 44, matched five main numbers and one Lucky Star in the Friday 13 June draw, securing a prize worth £3,613,997 — nearly 27 times the usual payout for that tier due to the jackpot reaching its cap of £208 million.
Each member will receive just over £212,000, with Rhian’s sister Jayne Owen pocketing double after playing two lines. The group includes former colleagues, family members, and even Rhian’s old rugby coach — many of whom had never met until their celebratory gathering at The Blaenogwr pub in Bridgend.
Rhian, who first formed the syndicate while working at Bridgend Council’s West Hub, said she was in “complete shock” after checking her account and seeing the winning numbers.
“I still went to work because I didn’t know what else to do – but I ended up going home early as I was in a bit of a daze,” she said.
(Image: PA Images)
The win has sparked a wave of plans among the group:
- Rhian is renovating her home and booking family holidays
- Wayne Jenkins is heading to Spain and gifting his daughters
- Nicola Butler is planning a stress-free getaway after her husband left his job
- Tracey Harry and Jayne Owen are buying campervans and investing in dental care
- Jayne Davies is funding a private knee replacement
- Liann Gregory is treating her children and buying a caravan
- Louise Fahey is investing in a rental property for long-term security
The syndicate plays 17 Lucky Dips every Friday, with winnings reinvested into future draws. Their winning numbers were 2, 28, 40, 43, 45, with Lucky Stars 3 and 7.
Rhian said the win couldn’t have come at a better time for many members:
“Everybody’s had some sort of hardship or gone through really bad times, and it’s just amazing — everyone is so deserving of it.”
