Sport

Behind every rider, from the smallest pony club member to the elite competitor at the Olympics, is a person following with a box full of grooming equipment ... the annual FEI Best Groom Award has paid tribute to the heroes behind the scenes ... last year’s winner, Emma Olsson ... works for six-time world driving champion Boyd Exell.

Alyssa Walker. A group of over 50 archers descended upon Dunolly on August 4, preparing to defend the realm for the annual medieval shoot. With no one too old or too young to join the ranks, archers seized their cloaks, bows, and quivers (and in some cases, their armour) and took to the shooting range for the two-day competition.

The Towong Turf Club has been recognised for the success of its annual race meeting with its nomination as the ‘Best Country Racing Event in 2023’. Returning for the first time since 2019, the awards will be presented at a gala event on Saturday. "We are absolutely thrilled to be nominated for the Kelly Sports Country Event of the Year," said Towong president, Al Mackinnon.

Fitness fans are in for a treat when the Redback MTB Stage Race and Run Larapinta Stage Race return to Central Australia this month. The mountain biking and running events will test the fitness and mettle of even the toughest competitors as they race against the stunning backdrop of the MacDonnell Ranges.

When the 27th Historic Leyburn Sprints hits the streets this weekend, it will be thanks to the efforts of local residents to keep their historic little town on the map. On that map, the town comprises around 350 residents, one post office, two churches, a school, pub, police station, general store and a handful of houses. Except during the Sprints this weekend - August 19 and 20 - when up to 15,000 historic and classic motorsport fans ...

The REA Wagga Wagga Horse Trials held their biggest event to date in Narrandera last weekend. The competition boasted 268 starters on the day from all over Australia including Albany (WA), Mornington Peninsula (Vic), the Central Coast, Sydney and locals from throughout the region.

Teams from 21 countries and 59 pilots will compete in the FAI F3A World Champions at the Warwick Aerodrome. The best in the world, with some right here in Queensland, will show their skills in this precision aerobatic sport performing a set of manoeuvres in front of the judges and the spectators.

Peter Argent. One-time Central Yorke Cougars junior Luke Ivens is spreading awareness of the long-term effects of concussion. Ivens, who played 194 games for North Adelaide in the SANFL between 2000 and 2013, is now an ambassador for the Concussion Legacy Foundation Australia.

Charlton has hosted Wycheproof-Narraport in round 17 of North Central Football, playing for the Mount of Prevention “Respect” Cup, an annual event to raise awareness of domestic violence and the “It’s Never OK” campaign. Survivor and campaign organizer, Kim O’Reilly, was on hand to address the crowd and present the Cup to winning captain, Charlton’s Tim Hill.

Reaching Your Pinnacle - a mindset, not a destination. Leadership is not easy. It requires time, persistence, patience, and above all energy. This is especially true in regional and rural Australia, where the need for leadership can suddenly become foisted onto a person at any moment. The first test of leadership is your ability to lead yourself. If a leader is OK and in a good place, then they have an ability to help others.

One of the longest – and some say toughest – endurance rides in the country was revived this year as a one-off event to mark 100 years of Queensland's Country Women's Association and raise money for charity. The Winton to Longreach Endurance Ride, which was held from 1980 to 1988, covered 220km along the original Cobb and Co route between the two Queensland towns.

Pam Dillon. Twenty-one Tennant Creek Girl Guides enjoyed a great day on the waters of Lake Mary Anne last weekend. Girls ranging in ages from 5 to 14 years paddled around the lake and at times found paddling rather difficult with the windy conditions.

Bullioh’s finals campaign will continue after the Dogs comfortably accounted for Corryong in the 1st semi-final on Saturday by a massive 145 points. After a testing and winless season, the Demons offered little resistance as Bulliohs scored at will, piling on 29 goals in the demolition.

After more than two and a half years since it was first applied for, Wyreema’s Bracknell Lodge can now become home to a horse equestrian arena after Toowoomba Regional Council gave its approval last week. Councillors had the final say at a special meeting held last Wednesday and gave their unanimous support for the development application.

The Australian Diamonds are 2023 Netball World Cup champions, defeating England 61-45, in Cape Town ... Australia only dropped one match for the championship, going down by one goal to their fellow grand finalist in the last stage of the preliminary round. Sarah Klau, Yorketown, played ...

Blake Lee. Local sporting clubs provide an opportunity to bring people together, increase participation in sport, promote social connection and create a sense of belonging.   In recent weeks, the Birchip-Watchem football and netball clubs have been fostering this opportunity by hosting buddy programs to build and strengthen bonds between senior and junior players.

Have you ever noticed it is always the same people who volunteer and involve themselves in all aspects of the community? Regional and rural Australia would not be the same without our army of volunteers, community leaders, and people who put their hands up to lend a hand for the betterment of the community.

Australian Rural & Regional News finds out first hand from Sarah Watson what it was like to compete at international level in the triathlon championships in Hamburg and learns how she made it to this standard, and with a smile too.

The Denmark WA women’s soccer team watched their European namesakes beat China 1-0 in their opening match of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on July 22. The Denmark WA side saw Denmark’s s national side secure a last gasp 1-0 in a match which capped off a memorable week for the up-and-coming West Australian footballers.

This week our Rampagers team ... played a very competitive game against the Yanac junior team and won with a goal scored by Lewis. It's encouraging to see our first-year players continuing to increase their confidence, plus our more experienced players assisting them when needed.

A leader has a responsibility to role model a resilient mindset to overcome difficult times. Nothing goes to plan. Especially living in regional Australia there are always challenges ... Optimistic people are more resilient than pessimistic people. As Henry Ford famously quoted: “If you think you can - you are absolutely right! …. If you think you cannot – you are absolutely right!”