Sport

Peter Hibberd. The Charlton Harness Racing Club in conjunction with the Djaara people ran its annual race day at Charlton on Wednesday. Being the traditional owners of Country across central Victoria, the land on which the harness racing training centre is based was granted to the Charlton Club in 2012. Every year since, the Club has a special day to celebrate this important event.

It has taken her three years to stitch it all together: former Maldon resident Leigh Jacobs has meticulously compiled an album of photos and documents that tell the story of her father Keith Laity’s life. The [Tarrangower] Times had the privilege of looking through Leigh’s tribute to her father ... In demolishing the old building on Bank corner and building a new garage, Keith changed the face of Maldon forever.

It has elements of Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella, but our story is far from a fairytale, and doesn’t take place in a magical far away land. Our story involves one man’s dream, giant pumpkin seeds, a pumpkin boat, and our mighty Murray River.

Any rugby league reserve grade side that boasts the return of talented players such as Moe Clune and Brad Pocock was always going to be hard to beat, and the Hay Magpies side put on a show for home ground fans ... The league tag game started off the action on Sunday ... Many players were on debut including Wendy Gonevulavula who quickly became a crowd favourite ...

On the last day of abalone fishing this season reporter Chris Van Der Merwe visited Yanchep Lagoon while the Yanchep Surf Life Saving Club was patrolling the beach. As well as keeping people safe the club performs rescues and educates the community.

Will Hunter. More than 1000 competitors will be hoping to take home the chocolates from the Copper Coast 2024 SA Masters Games this Thursday to Sunday, April 11 to 14. It is the third time in four years the Copper Coast has hosted the games, and venues across Kadina, Wallaroo and Moonta will host a total 20 sports.

Global Ballooning, renowned for its captivating hot air balloon experiences in Melbourne and Yarra Valley, is thrilled to announce its participation in the upcoming Big Balloon Bash competition event in Mildura. From 29th June to 7th July, 2024, Global Ballooning invites you to experience a breathtaking display of hot air balloons soaring through Mildura's picturesque landscapes while being part of thrilling competitions.

Clayton Wilkinson and Harry Kilburn will be swimming for victory this week in the 2024 Australian Age Swimming Championships at the Gold Coast. The boys train seven times a week with coach Shannon Comerford as part of the Casino Swimming Club.

Quill and Alyssa. In the lead-up to the Easter long weekend, social media pages lit up with notices from tractor pulling teams starting out their journeys towards the 46th annual Australian Tractor Pull Championships, held at Quambatook on Easter Saturday.

A $35million sporting hub reliant on ratepayer cash has been officially ruled out by the Naracoorte-Lucindale Council. The council decided in its March meeting to handball the “project lead” back to the sporting clubs involved.

Narrandera Shire Council’s brand new pump track in Marie Bashir Park is now open and ready for riders of all ages and skill levels. The pump track features smooth, flowing berms and rollers, varied terrain for beginners to advanced riders, a bike-friendly surface that’s easy on tyres as well as nearby parking and amenities.

Preparations are in full swing for this year’s Man From Snowy River Bush Festival (April 11th-14th) which is expected to be one of the best attended and most successful in its 29-year history. "We are genuinely excited with what we have in front of us in delivering the 2024 festival," said festival chairman, Cameron Jackson.

Serena Kirby. Local winemaker Mike Garland was one of 50 cyclists who stopped in at Denmark Senior High School as part of WA’s annual Ride For Youth fundraiser. The cyclists joined 150 students from years eight and nine to talk about youth mental health.

The Nhill and District Sporting Club are super excited to announce new football recruit Peter Politis. Peter arrives in Nhill off the back of a season with the Nightcliff Football Club in Darwin. He played in their Premier Grade Grand Final.

Coming back from Newcastle a couple of weeks ago we passed him somewhere between Nyngan and Cobar. Just poking along, and we thought, another person with time on their hands to cycle, not drive ... Mic Whitty’s story is not the usual push bike rider's adventure story ... he hatched a plan to cycle and follow his grandfather's footsteps around the Western Front in France.

Mackenzie Walch, 18, has only been riding seriously since 2014 but the talented young eventer has just represented her country for the first time ... With eventing as her first love, she rose through the ranks and is now part of a group of young Tasmanian riders who find it necessary each year to compete on the mainland to get strong competition experience.

Member for Condamine Pat Weir has used a speech in Parliament to call for more investment to improve sporting facilities in the Toowoomba Region ... "The Toowoomba region was hopeful of a significant economic opportunity for its growing community with the announcement of the Olympic Games, especially given its close proximity to Brisbane and ongoing advocacy for a passenger rail connection to the south-east corner," he told Parliament.

Glyn Rees. Steady mizzling rain never muddied the Wattles Warriors challenge for the silverware honours of the 32nd Barrett Family Shield against the Warwick Cowboys at Clifton’s Platz Oval on Saturday evening, pulling up convincing 22 – 12 victors.

Three cricketers who have played more games than they care to remember have enjoyed representing Vic Country at the annual Echuca over-60s carnival last week. For those old enough to remember, Shane Noonan played for Charlton, particularly during the 1980s, after debuting for Wychitella.

Hang gliders will converge on the car-tow launching capital of Australia these Easter holidays for the 33rd annual Birchip Flatter than the Flatlands. Birchip’s Easter competition has grown significantly since the first event in April 1992 with more than 40 pilots expected to attend this year, which is a 30 per cent increase on last year.