Sport

Jeff Hanson. Jake Myers created history at Summernats 35, winning his second Burnout Masters crown. Tearing up the asphalt in his 1966 Mustang, known fondly as S1CKO, in front of the 100,000-strong crowd in Canberra earlier this month, Myers didn’t disappoint, defeating winner of both the Masters and Championship at 'Nats 33 Rick Fuller and his new ride FULLONX, ahead of Michael Pratten in SPASTIC.

Rodney Stevens. They’re the eyes in the sky saving lives – drones – and Yamba Surf Lifesaving Club is fortunate to have some of the latest technology and highly skilled pilots controlling these amazing aircraft. Chances are, if you went to Yamba’s Main Beach or the Yamba Ocean Swim over the holidays, you would have seen a drone, monitoring swimmers’ safety and alerting lifesavers to any problems.

Taj's Small Fries presented by Board.Store concluded in emphatic fashion yesterday in Yallingup, with eight champions crowned in classic summer conditions in Yallingup marking the end of three days of amazing surfing at WA's biggest, best and most prestigious junior surfing tournament.

The first Australian athletes to qualify for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships have visited the course in Bathurst on 16 January 2023, just over a month out from the event ... "Bathurst is known for adrenaline-fuelled sporting achievements, and the World Athletics Cross Country Championships will be right at home at Mount Panorama with more than 500 athletes competing from 68 nations": Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole.

Racing SA is offering those living in the state’s South-East and wanting a career in thoroughbred racing a great opportunity to expand their knowledge ... Multiple Group 1 winning jockey and Racing SA’s industry, development and training officer Clare Lindop will be joined by Racing SA’s Jockey Coach Dean Pettit to host the day which will encourage and support students with the knowledge to progress their career in the Racing Industry.

Two young Raiders Football stars, Eli Boyd and Will Lake, both 16, had a thrilling, albeit cold Gaelic football trip. The trip through Wanderer’s Australia saw the local lads take on some of Ireland’s best young Gaelic footballers as they joined 40 students travelling to the other side of the globe.

Rodney Stevens. The Yamba Ocean Swim kicked off 2023 with a splash as a record number of entrants hit the water across all age groups, cheered on by a crowd of hundreds on a stunning summer’s day ... “We had 397 entrants this year which is well up on our previous best of 354 in 2013,” said Yamba Surf Club Surf Sports Director and Race Organiser Jim Dougherty.

Excitement  is building as  Western Australia’s biggest, best and most prestigious junior  surfing tournament prepares for a start next week, with Taj's Small Fries set to  splash down in Yallingup  for the 18th consecutive year. First run in 2006, Taj's Small Fries has become a rite of passage for many of the Australia's best young surfers, launching the careers of numerous surfing stars since it's  inception.

Emma Pritchard. Ruby Howell has her sights firmly set on a bright future. And the enthusiastic eight-year-old from Grafton is on track to achieve her dreams ... Ruby recently travelled overseas with her family to take part in the Competitive Off-Road Racing Series 2022 National Race Event at Carolina Adventure World in Winnsboro, South Carolina ...

Pony Club Australia has announced the winners of the 2022 awards.

Carriage driving is the quiet achiever in Australian horse sport. It is the harness answer to eventing ... Showing just how popular the sport is, competitors from five states recently took part in the second annual “battle of the border” level two combined driving event at Mullengandra near Albury.

The Darling Downs is arguably the centre of the Queensland thoroughbred breeding industry with numerous large and small horse studs scattered around the region from Cambooya to Gladfield and from Warwick to Greenmount where rich soil is ideal for growing good horse pasture. The breeding season starts in August and continues through till December with the first foals born in August and mares begin to be served by stallions in September.

The NSW Government’s Fish Stocking Program continues to play a vital role in enhancing recreational fishing opportunities and strengthening fish populations across the state. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the Fish Stocking Program saw a record number of native fish, salmonoid (trout and salmon) and marine species bred and stocked in 2021-22, with the NSW Government releasing more than 5.3 million fish into waterways throughout NSW.

Emma Pritchard. Spectators, supporters, coaches, and team members cheered loudly from the banks of the Clarence River near Memorial Park as more than 50 skilled athletes made a splash on the water when they competed in the 2022 Grafton Rowing Club Regatta on December 11 ... As a number of Queensland based athletes enjoyed plenty of success throughout the program, local rowers from Grafton, South Grafton, and the Lower Clarence also demonstrated their strength, durability, and endurance on the water, winning several races during the day.

Steamy conditions made life tough for participants in the Hope Vale Pig Hunt on the weekend, as more than 100 people took part in the 19th annual event. Hunters weighed in 38 pigs, with an average weight of 49kg.

Maldon's Public Pool opened last Saturday, attracting a good number of people for a much-anticipated cool-off. Squeals and shrieks broke the silence as the pool officially entered its summer season and swimmers said goodbye to the cold weather.

Jason Dunemann. Tennant Creek Darts hosted its annual Darrell “Bear” Logue Memorial Golden Nugget Tournament last weekend. The 34th edition of this fabulous tournament brought players from all over the country – 53 men and 20 ladies, including 10 locals, 18 from other parts of the NT and 45 from interstate.

Equestrian photographer Felicity Clay is passionate about saving the Australian Brumby and fans of her work can contribute to the cause through the purchase of her annual Brumby calendar. “I've been photographing the Brumbies in the Barmah National Park since 2018,” Felicity said.

Sean Cunningham. Narrandera boxer Jesse Riddell has made his debut in the ring following his selec ­tion in an indigenous All Stars team taking on The Rest Of The World boxers in Sydney. Under the guidance of his trainer Troy Prior-Greedy, the 25-year-old unleashed his fists of fury, losing in a split decision, but has gained an invaluable insight into the sport.

After being honoured at the Allora Regional Sports Museum earlier this year, the accolades continue for Allora born and bred netballer Laura Geitz, who was inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame recently ... "Drawn to netball by her older sister’s purple netball shoes, she stands an imposing 1.9m and is an extraordinary mix of athleticism and aura, competitiveness and charisma, grit and glamour. And she is one of Australia’s all-time greats": Queensland Sport.

Emma Pritchard. Beneath clear skies and amidst perfect summer conditions at Whiting Beach, 440 competitors put their stamina, strength, and endurance to the test on December 3 and 4, when they participated in the 2022 Yamba Triathlon. A popular local multisport competition which consists of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances, the event attracted triathletes from across the country ...

Mother and daughter Carly Loughnan and Asha, 12, took part in the Australian Brumby Challenge at Wesburn Park in Gippsland on the weekend ... Asha finished second in a strong field of 19 Brumbies just 120 days out of the wild ... These Brumbies have been caught from the wild by passive trapping, from either Bogong High Plains in Victoria or Kosciuszko National Park or Bago State Forest in NSW.