Sport

If I asked you to play pickleball, what picture would you have? ... Being pickled and chasing a yellow fluffy ball—no, that sounds like tennis! ... The game is a racket or paddle sport in which two players or four players hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball with paddles over a 34-inch-high net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction.  

393 fish were caught during the Moulamein Football Netball Club’s annual fishing competition. ... This year's event saw entrants become citizen scientists, forming a partnership with Dr Nathan Miles from NSW Fisheries at Narrandera to record vital fish data to monitor fish numbers between the Balpool Bridge and 19-mile reserve on the Edward River at Moulamein.

Step back in time to a world of yesteryear when draught horses ploughed the fields and pulled the wagons. This weekend the Allora Showgrounds comes alive with the third annual Darling Downs Heavy Horse Festival – a celebration of our agricultural history and the pioneers who built this great nation.

Kimberly Grabham. Locally grown MMA champion, Danielle ‘Drop Bear’ Curtis, daughter of Linda Wright and Les Curtis, has done it again! The fierce, independent Drop Bear fought in the Co Main Event of Pallas Athena Women's Fighting Championship INC in Canada.

Of all the things that challenges a leader’s energy and stress levels is the need to constantly coach the right mindsets and behaviours into others. Doing this effectively requires a patient, deliberate and an ongoing approach, rather than angry outbursts. It is important for a leader to start any behavioural coaching conversation by assuming best intentions, whether this is the case or not. A coaching conversation that begins with both parties being emotionally charged or angry never leads anywhere constructive.

Karen Jones. Local speedway racer Jamie Jones showcased his skills against eight other Top Stars Junior Sedans in the Centralian title at Arunga Park Speedway last weekend, delivering a commendable performance. Joining him from Tennant Creek in the Street Stocks was Jayden Giezedanner who also made his mark in the competition.

“Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail shall keep the postmen from their appointed rounds.” According to Wikipedia, the original saying was spoken about 2500 years ago by the Greek historian Herodotus but it could have been applied to the hardy showies who competed on the second day of the Victorian Agricultural Shows Annual Championships at Bendigo.

Carriage drivers from all around Australia, plus volunteers and visitors from as far away as Canada, made the Level 2 “Battle of the Borders” CDE at Carbery Estate, Mullengandra NSW, an outstanding event.

Pickleball: it’s one of the fastest growing sports in Australia and it’s now coming to Clifton. The best way to describe this new sport is to say it’s similar in some ways to tennis but played on a smaller court using a paddle instead of a racquet and using a ball that is more user friendly than a difficult, bouncing tennis ball.

A leisurely fishing trip with some mates from Jeremal Bridge to Tintaldra on Saturday became very memorable when Josh Boers landed this 93cm Murray cod, much to the envy of his fellow anglers.

The Towong Turf Club is expecting a record crowd and full fields for its Cup meeting on Saturday after receiving 268 nominations for the seven-race card. The 2023 $30,000 Costello Rural-Life Plan Strategic Solutions Towong Cup is shaping up to be a hotly contested event with 2022 Mischinka aiming for a second victory.

Former Allora local and Australian champion netballer, Laura Geitz, is partnering with Rural Aid in the lead up to Mates Day on March 20 to urge Aussies to think about the farmers behind the food we eat under this year’s campaign theme ‘Every plate tells a story’.

Perth born Kirby Bentley, former player for the Fremantle and Carlton clubs in the AFL women’s comp, visited Wilcannia Central School on Thursday 22nd Feb., to socialise and throw a few balls with the students from both schools. Sponsored by Lifeline through a Regional NSW grant, Kirby’s aim was to promote "How’s Ya Mate?", mental first aid for kids.

Seeking an extra splash of excitement, hundreds of spectators lined up along the banks of the Clarence River at Corcoran Park in Grafton … as the Northern Rivers Aquatic Club hosted a high-powered day of racing ... "It’s great for the local community that this event was able to go ahead because it brings tourists to Grafton, and it also helps to support the Northern Rivers Aquatic Club": Ricky Howard.

Kimberly Grabham. Home grown MMA Champion Danielle ‘Drop Bear’ Curtis is jet-setting abroad once again, to fight ... Danielle is stepping up a weight division on short notice ... This is so she can fight at bantamweight in the Co-Main Event of the show ... the Pallas Athena Women's Fighting Championship ... in Calgary Canada ...

When you live, work, volunteer in a place like Wycheproof – it’s inevitable that the community becomes a strong knit working unit. Such strong knit working units, in the form of community clubs, are set to be on  display in abundance this forthcoming March long weekend.  

Wedderburn is North Central Playing Area’s midweek pennant premiership team after defeating Wycheproof by 7 shots in an exciting and fitting end to a very successful season, played at the St. Arnaud Country Club. For much of the game, Wedderburn held a slight advantage, which stood at 11 shots shortly after the luncheon resumption, 52 ends having been completed.

Pam Dillon. Neil Scriven from Scriven Exploration Pty Ltd is again sponsoring Barkly Region Sport Education swimming and water safety program. Neil’s company, Scriven Exploration Pty Ltd, which explores for minerals north of Tennant Creek, recognises the importance of water safety in remote communities.

Mark Blythe. Tomorrow (Saturday 2 March) at the Maldon Progress Hall you can attend the third biannual Maldon Classic Bike Show ... You will be privileged to see possibly the biggest and best display of classic pre-2000 road racing bikes anywhere in Australia.

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) last week endorsed a submission to the Queensland Government’s 60 Day Independent Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Venue Master Plan Review in relation to the potential upgrade of the Toowoomba Sports Ground (Clive Berghofer Stadium).

The investment in synthetic grass greens has proved a winner for the Corryong Golf Club with more than 50 players from across the region competing in the annual tournament on Sunday - the largest field for many years. The highlights of the day were Division 1 Women’s winner, Dana Lampitt, shooting a new course record of 84 and Gordon Webb recording the second best round on the new course with a 77 in the A Grade Men section.