Welsh syndicate lands a dragon-sized £3.6Million prize
A syndicate of 16 National Lottery players – many of whom have never met in person – are looking forward to sharing a life-changing £3.6Million EuroMillions prize.
The lucky syndicate was formed by Rhian Owen, 44, and a handful of her work colleagues at Bridgend Council. Rhian worked in the West Hub, which gave the syndicate its name.
When Rhian moved to a new job, she kept the syndicate going by recruiting new members on Facebook. The West is Best Syndicate blossomed into a diverse mix of people, including old friends, family, and even her former rugby coach.
Recounting the story of the syndicate’s incredible win, Rhian said she saw an email telling her she’d won a National Lottery prize the morning after the draw. She added, “I didn’t think much of it at first. Then, on the way to work, I stopped outside a shop and decided to log in to my National Lottery account. I saw it said, ‘claim your prize’ – and when I scrolled down and saw all the numbers matched, I was in complete shock!”
Rhian called her sister who is also a member of the syndicate. She said, “We just couldn’t stop screaming. 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.”
Her next step was sharing the amazing news with the rest of the syndicate via a Facebook group chat. The result: a steady stream of colourful reactions!
Rhian already knows how she’ll be using her winnings. She said, “I’m going to do up my house. I’ve also booked a family holiday in October and we’re planning a bigger trip with all my sisters, brother, and parents. It’s just incredible knowing we can do this together now.”
- Wayne Jenkins, Rhian’s former rugby coach, is jetting off to Spain for a holiday and plans to gift money to his adult daughters.
- Nicola Butler, an ex-colleague, is planning a much-needed family holiday.
- Tracey Harry, Rhian’s sister, is buying a campervan and helping out her three children.
- Jayne Owen, Rhian’s other sister, has two lines and walked away with double the winnings. She’s already bought a campervan.
- Liann Gregory, Rhian’s best friend, is giving money to her three grown children, getting some home improvements done and buying a caravan.
- Louise Fahey, another of Rhian’s close friends, is investing in a rental property and helping out her children.
The syndicate’s win was even more remarkable because the EuroMillions jackpot had reached its cap of £208Million, meaning additional prize money from ticket sales rolled down into the next prize tier – significantly boosting its prize.
9th July 2025
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