Sport

Griffith Regional Aquatic Leisure Centre is set to host an exciting showcase of regional swimming talent as over 500 athletes from across New South Wales converge for the 2025 Country Regional Swimming Championships. Taking place on January 18-19, the event will highlight the state’s top regional swimmers as they compete for a place at the prestigious NSW Country Championships in February.

Queensland’s commercial fishing industry had a chance to be saved from ideologically driven decimation on Tuesday, with the Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) disallowance motion to reverse Labor’s gillnet bans in the Gulf of Carpentaria being debated in Parliament. “The Crisafulli government had a chance to put its talk into action,” KAP Leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter has said.

Mick Cattanach. Hay Senior cricket team had its first defence of the Creet Cup on Sunday against arch rivals Griffith. After holding the cup for the entire 2023/24 season, Hay was determined to keep homeground supremacy and hold the Cup in the first challenge.

Lachlan Dand. For the first time since 2021, one of the most prestigious events on the Rowing SA calendar last weekend returned to Renmark ... Renmark Rowing Club president Tony Townsend said the weekend was a "success" as over 740 rowers hit the water for more than 185 races across the two days, including some competitors coming from interstate.

Wilson McShane. After starting her drag racing career nine months ago, Harvest Christian College, Kadina, student Bailey Hawke claimed her first-ever victory at the South Coast Nationals (junior dragster) in Portland, Victoria, at the weekend (December 7 and 8). Hawke, 13, began drag racing in March and has since had seven runner-up performances across Australia.

Wilson McShane. If Minlaton’s Ivan McMahon is asked to pin down exactly what he does in his spare time, he might have a hard job answering. Ranging from being a school bus driver, former shoe shop owner (70 years), husband to Carlene and proud dad of three — Travis (Polocrosse Association of SA secretary), Scott (former North Melbourne footballer) and Layton — McMahon is a jack of all trades.

For many, the idea of being suspended at 7,000 feet is daunting, but for a number of hang gliding enthusiasts, it’s the thrill they eagerly seek year after year. It’s all part of “Big K Week”, a competition that draws participants to the Mallee for a week of hang gliding — aimed at developing their skills and achieving personal bests.

Together with family members, hundreds of friends and admirers packed the Donald Anglican Church and surrounds ... for the service celebrating the remarkable life of legendary sports therapist, the late Pat Allen. The service was conducted by the Rev. Judi Bird, who spoke feelingly of the difference made by Pat to the lives of people from near and far.

Communities from across the Riverina region are being urged to get behind their local volunteer finalists for the 2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards to be held in Sydney on Tuesday December 10. They include the Riverina Volunteer Team of the Year the Barellan Working Clydesdales Committee.

Lockhart shearer Nicki Guttler will attempt the Women’s 8-Hour Merino Lamb Shearing World Record at Parkdale Merino Stud near Dubbo on December 21 2024. The current record of 395 lambs was set on November 17, 2024 near Yass.

Honor Auchinleck. Artist Simon White’s mural ‘The Men and their Mounts’ in Corryong tells the story of the bush horses or brumbies and the stockmen who mustered and brought them down from the High Country and the bush-covered hills surrounding the Upper Murray before the First World War. The breeders of the Remounts and Walers often turned the young horses out into the bush to toughen them up and then brought them back in as four-year-olds for sale to buyers for the British Army in India.

Lachlan Dand. It is little secret for those who have completed year 12 studies that it’s one of the biggest years some can face, as high schooling days draw to a close. With exams, prom, and graduation all wrapped up, students at the Renmark High School (RHS), have one piece of official duty left. Students will head to the Gold Coast this Sunday morning for the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup, which was previously held in Canberra and Melbourne, running until 15 December.

Lucindale hosted a Twenty20 cricket match at the Cricket Club in honour of police officer, Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig on November 17. Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig was killed in the line of duty at Senior, outside Bordertown last year. According to SAPOL, the club hosted the event, beginning with a brief ceremony acknowledging Jason's service, sacrifice and his deep connection to the Lucindale community.

Wirrim solidified its position at the top of the ladder in Round 8 of the North Central Lawn Tennis Association, securing all ten points against Wycheproof. Meanwhile, Nullawil climbed to fourth place with a close victory over Birchip ... Nullawil’s top men – David Watts, Simone Fawcett and Tony Bartram – were in classy form ...

The remarkable achievements of 2024 Paris Olympian bronze medallist Matthew Denny will be celebrated with two significant legacy projects in Allora. The local community was invited to vote on two proposals. Naming the Allora Cricket Grounds discus ring after Matthew Denny, creating a walking path in Dalrymple Park, featuring markers that highlight the distance of the various records achieved by Matthew Denny.

Greenmount was the place to be last Saturday as those magnificent billy cart drivers and their rolling machines took on the Ramsay Street downhill course in front of a packed crowd who enjoyed every moment of juniors and seniors races. Drivers and their carts came from as far away as Byron Bay and the Gold Coast to participate in the Greenmount Billy Cart Challenge in a sure sign that this event is a winner for the town.

Some of Victoria’s most popular inland fishing spots will be drawcards for anglers this weekend when the annual Murray cod fishing season opens on Sunday. Cod opening is Christmas come early for many freshwater fishers and follows the annual three-month closed season – applicable to most waters north of the Great Dividing Range – which gives the iconic native species a chance to breed in peace.

Erika Quinn has celebrated success at Equitana Melbourne 2024, which was held on November 14-17. Erika took out fifth place in a field of 30 competitors from across the country in the prestigious barrel racing event held over two days.

The 55th Massive Murray Paddle finished on Friday in Koondrook having started four days earlier in Yarrawonga on Monday, November 18. Top athletes from all over Australia, New Zealand and the USA competed, along with at risk Indigenous youth paddling in teams following the Dungalayin Mileka Team model.

Race results Sunday 17th November. A Grade 1st: Joe Garner, 2nd: Dwayne McCallum, Equal 3rd: Fred Carberry & Sam Johnson...

An important milestone in constructing Lismore’s new $3.9 million Lismore Skatepark was reached this week, with the pouring of 2400m2 of concrete set to begin ... The facility includes both ‘street’ and ‘park’ (bowl) sections and a covered mini ramp, which is eagerly anticipated by the local skater community.

Wilson McShane. Six-year-old Harry Rendell, from Moonta, is following in the footsteps of his running idols. Supported by his parents Kara and Nick, he is training for a five-kilometre event in Melbourne ... Throughout November, he and his running team RUNNEZ have been participating in Stride 4 Stroke, a fundraiser for the Stroke Foundation.