13 March 2023 , 10:29
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A group of three friends who created a syndicate while at college won £1million from a special EuroMillions draw last month.
Alex Gwynne, 28, Dan Phillips, 25, and Kyle Bowen, 25, started playing six years ago when a group in the year above them at Coleg y Cymoedd won £5,000 on The National Lottery.
At the time, their lecturer joked that the trio should start their own syndicate, which they did, and they have been playing together ever since.
Alex, Dan and Kyle are now celebrating their lottery win following the EuroMillions European Millionaire Maker draw on February 3.
Syndicate leader Alex said: "We've all got good careers thanks to our apprenticeships through the college but looking at my bank account now, it does feel that our lecturer's advice to create a National Lottery syndicate might have been some of the soundest!"
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The trio are now celebrating their huge win (Matthew Horwood)Alex said he decided to buy a few tickets for the special draw - when 100 millionaires were made in one night - through the National Lottery app.
He said he only found out about the win the following morning when he found an email about his win.
Initially, he logged in and was disappointed as he could only see a win of £2.40.
But when scrolling down to the syndicate tickets, he first saw £1,000 and then realised it was actually £1million.
Alex Gwynne, Dan Phillips and Kyle Bowen have won £1million (Matthew Horwood)Alex said he was "stunned", as he explained: "Alongside my day job, I manage a band – Ratoon - so I was just about to head to Cardiff when my mate's dad told me about the special EuroMillions draw.
"I thought it had to be worth a go so bought a few EuroMillions Lucky Dip tickets using the National Lottery app, some for me and some for the syndicate.
"I went off to Cardiff and thought nothing more until the following morning when I was watching TV in bed, waiting for our little one to get up, and idly scrolling on my phone. I saw a ‘news about your ticket’ email and logged in only to see a win of £2.40.
They created a syndicate at college"Feeling a bit disappointed that was all I’d won, I scrolled down to our syndicate tickets where my disappointment immediately stopped because I saw £1,000, then looked again and saw it was actually £1,000,0000. I was stunned, to put it mildly!"
After sharing the news with his partner, who was just as shocked as Alex, the dad of one rang The Apprentices WhatsApp group to share the news.
Fellow syndicate member Dan was just jumping out of the shower when his phone started ringing.
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They have been playing since collegeHe explained: "Usually when he buys tickets Alex puts it on our WhatsApp group so the boys know what draw we're in, on this occasion he hadn't so when the phone went I assumed he was just arranging a catch-up.
"Not that I don't like catching up with the boys, but discovering I'd won a share of £1,000,000 was even better news, and probably the best news I've had while stark naked!"
The Apprentices have been able to catch up for a celebratory drink or two and can start to make plans for the future
Alex said: "The win really couldn't have come at a better time for all of us as we move into ‘grown-up’ life.
"We're all starting to settle down and make long-term plans for the future, a bit different to how we were when we set up the syndicate, that's for sure!"
The trio celebrated their victory with a few pintsWhile the top of the list for the syndicate members is helping out family and wisely planning for the future with investment properties, there will be a few treats along the way.
Alex has already splashed out on a new caravan for his young family so they can enjoy holidays in their favourite seaside destination, Llangrannog, Wales.
Having taken all his holiday allowance for the year, Kyle has no plans to spend and has invested his winnings for the longer term, while Dan has bought a new car and plans to book a holiday before also putting the rest away for the future.
On February 3, 100 people across Europe became millionaire thanks to the EuroMillions special draw - with 30 prizes won by ticket-holders in the UK.
The Apprentices' winning EuroMillions European Millionaire Maker code was VGHX 98305.