Sport

A NSW parliamentary inquiry into the granting of a contract to resurface two arenas at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre has found the tender process managed by the Office of Sport was flawed and that “robust probity standards” were not applied.

Stuart Caulfield bolted home in one hour, 19 minutes, 12 seconds to win the Denmark Half Marathon in drizzly weather on Sunday morning. About 200 runners and walkers registered in the three events which included the 21km and 10km, and 2km for children.

Jeff Hanson. Nick Souquet has found his way back to the winner’s circle after landing good victories at Canberra on Saturday and Narrandera on Monday. On Saturday at Canberra, the Tumbarumba product and Wodonga-based hoop emerged victorious in the 1600m TAB Federal aboard the Mitch Beer-trained Scarlet Prince.

The current Allora Golf Course will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year, with a golf day and BBQ planned for Sunday 2nd October. We say “current” because this golf course is actually the third one in Allora. The first Allora Golf Club was formed in June 1927 and the course opened in August 1927.

Xavier Jacobs-Twain. After a worrying week of torrential rains and local flooding, Grafton Sporting Car Club welcomed  a near capacity field of almost 70 cars and drivers with two fantastic blue-sky days for the running of the club's 5th and 6th rounds. The field  got off to a flying start as the track dried out and heated up.

Cliffy Pearson retired from rodeo in fine style on Saturday night, taking top points in the open saddle bronc in front of adoring fans at the Hope Vale Bulls and Broncs event. The win was bittersweet for Pearson, who dedicated it in honour of Roxanne Hart, who passed away recently.

Log cabins and synthetic trees are part of a successful trial of fish-attracting structures in Queensland which could be just the boon freshwater fishers have been angling for ... the dam stretches over 500 hectares and the hunting ground was too spread out, the fish too hard to find.

The Victorian Government has been accused of “side-stepping the consultation process” over proposed changes to animals welfare laws that could see licences brought in for horse events and any commercial horse activity. Animal Care Australia (ACA) horses and livestock representative Karri Nadazdy said as a major stakeholder, ACA responded to the Animal Welfare Act Reform Directions Paper in December 2020 and said no warning was given that licensing was under consideration.

Licences for any professional horse activity and events in Victoria could be brought in under proposed new animal welfare laws. The proposal has been outlined in a plan developed as part of the reform process for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 and states that anyone “showing and exhibiting animals for a commercial purpose” would be subject to new regulations, including that a “licence is required”.

Peter Sedgwick. Last Wednesday, 14 September, Maldon hosted the season’s First Triples Competition. Twelve teams of three competed.  The participating players came from Maldon, Talbot, Carisbrook, Avoca, Dunolly, Harcourt, Maryborough Golf and Maryborough Highland ... Only one point separated the three top teams after the three games of 10 ends.

Like a shining beacon of fun and entertainment, the new cluBarham bowling facility lit up the night sky at the official opening on Friday, September 16. Members, invited guests and bowling dignitaries made up the 170 strong crowd in attendance ... What unfolded was a team of local trades and services that shared a common goal of building a facility that can attract regional, state and even national competition.

Jeff Hanson. Saturday's Riverina Football League (RFL) grand final at Narrandera Sportsground lived up to expectation, with the Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong (GGGM) Lions and Collingullie-Glenfield Park (CGP) Demons engaging in a low-scoring and finals-like slugfest. In a game dictated by momentum swings, both sides had their chances, but the Lions kicked away to score three majors in the final quarter, setting up a 6.12 (48) to 4.7 (31) victory, giving the club their first premiership in 11 years.

Glyn Rees. Team captain and coach Travis Burns’ Wattles Warriors first grade team served up their club’s fifth first grade premiership success since joining the Toowoomba Rugby League in 1966 when they dispatched the Gatton Hawks 51 – 20 at Toowoomba’s Clive Berghofer Stadium on Sunday in front of a packed crowd. While a swansong for the skipper, it was a dream come true for him and his sixteen team mates.

In October 2021 Maclean Business Chamber approached Mark Stephenson from Big River Ski Club to start the conversation around bringing the Bridge-to-Bridge Ski Race back to the lower river and the traditional full course, turning at Harwood Bridge ... “The Race is a big-ticket event in the Clarence Valley with competitors and spectators coming from far and wide, to take part, or be a part of the spectacular event": President of the Chamber, Christine Tyler.

If determination has anything to do with it, Darwin's Luke Purtill, whose mum says he has as much hardware in his body as “the bionic man”, may be riding for Australia in Germany next year ... “Luke’s goals are to be selected to represent Australia at the Special Olympic World Games,” his mum, Robyn, said. “It’s not just about winning though. Luke knows he wins every time he gets on a horse and would like to inspire every rider, regardless of ability to have the courage to reach for their dreams and be the best you can be.”

Australia's success on the international sporting arena has earned the country a reputation as one of the top equestrian nations in the world. The Equestrian Australia Hall of Fame was started in 2010 and honours EA's greatest achievers, but maybe it’s time the panel took a new look and added a number of greats who are missing from the list.

A cold and windy day with fleeting glimpses of sunshine set the stage at the Nullawil Football Grounds for the Golden Rivers Finals. The action was hot and so too were some tempers as passions ran high ... Murrabit walking away as A Grade netball premiers in the ’22 Golden Rivers Football Netball League season.

Hundreds of roller skates will be thundering around the Denmark Recreation Centre for end-of-term celebrations once again. The roller discos are back by demand, with a Super Hero-themed skate fest, held on Friday, September 16, the second disco to be held this year.

Glyn Rees. The excitement is building around Allora, Clifton and the Central Downs as rugby league devotees prepare for this Sunday’s pilgrimage to Toowoomba’s Clive Berghoffer Stadium to support the Wattles Warriors in their bid for 2022 Toowoomba Rugby League premiership glory.

Rodney Stevens. When Brian Elvery was offered the opportunity to ride his bicycle more than 500km to raise money for Ronald McDonald House he didn’t hesitate to accept. Last week, along with a core group of a dozen other cyclists plus support crew, Mr Elvery got in the saddle on Tuesday at Inverell, for the 2022 Ronald McDonald House Northern NSW Ride For Sick Kids, aiming to raise $200,000.

There are voices that are instantly recognisable, Morgan Freeman is an example in movies, Bert Newton on TV and for the Australian horse community it’s Graeme Barker. This week Equestrian Victoria awarded him "hall of fame" status for his service to the equestrian industry as one of Australia’s finest commentators.

It's marvellous what can happen when a horse-loving wife of a tech-head husband asks him to help her with keeping her equestrian records straight ... The software and app Andy Ide developed is called “HorseRecords” and it is already being used across multiple disciplines in the horse industry.