Sport

The NSW Government has taken a monumental step towards securing the long term future of greyhound racing in NSW, announcing $25 million in additional infrastructure funding and a new funding model that will see the regulator fully-funded by the NSW Government.

Peter Davenport. Last week the Tennant Creek Eightball Association hosted the Northern Territory Eightball Titles. This falls on Tennant once every five years and all other centres travel here to compete. It was a great week seeing some excellent games being played by the best players in the NT.

The thrills and spills of the Tabulam Rodeo were interrupted on Saturday when a young girl fell off the bull she was riding and it trampled her. The 13-year-old received chest injuries when she fell onto the ground and was trampled at about 8pm at Tabulam Racecourse. She was able to walk out of the ring with assistance and was treated at the scene by rodeo paramedics.

Paint Main Beach pink with Evans Head Malibu Club’s first one-day women-only longboarding competition. Organiser Emma Perrier said the Saturday, June 19 event will be the Breast Comp Ever and will raise funds for the local Breast Care Nurse Service in Lismore.

Kendall Jennings. Before the tragedy struck at the 2021 Tatts Finke Desert Race, Barham local Riley Duncan piloted his motorcycle, a KTM500, to the 40th fastest time in Class Two of the Prologue with a six-minute 17.4 second time ... The first leg of the desert race from Alice Springs to Finke followed the old rail route near the most centre point of Australia – 226 kilometres of brutal Australian terrain, on the edge of the Simpson Desert, surrounded by mountain ranges and rock formations.

Monday morning the Memorial Club was a hive of activity with the start of the Northern Territory 8 Ball Titles. Along with the Tennant Creek players, there are teams from Darwin, Litchfield, Alice Springs and Katherine all hoping to take a trophy (or two) away at the end of the competition.

Barellan Rams are on a roll, notching up their second win for the season in the ProTen Community Cup rugby league at Goolgowi on June 5. At half-time, Barellan were 10 to Ivanhoe 6 and the full-time score was 14-10.

The SunSmart WA Bodyboard Titles presented by Good Earth Surf concluded in spectacular fashion at Clayton’s Beach in Mindarie over the weekend, with WA's first State Champions of the year crowned in exciting high-performance bodyboard waves. After beginning in Mandurah back in March, the SunSmart WA Bodyboard Titles attracted some of the State's most experienced riders who went head-to-head with WA's new generation of bodyboarders, who impressed in the wedging 2-3 feet waves on offer at Clayton's.

Emma Pritchard. It was the perfect opportunity for the local hockey community to showcase their skills and home turf pride when the Grafton Hockey Association hosted the Men’s Masters Over 50’s State Championships last weekend ... “For Grafton to be able to host a tournament of that calibre in these current times, and for it to make a significant contribution to the local economy is a big thing for the community,” said President of the Men’s Masters Peter Gibbons.

Geoff Helisma. Clarence Head Longboarders is holding its third annual invitational surfing competition at Turners Beach, Yamba, over the upcoming long weekend June 11–14 ... this weekend’s event is just the second invitational competition to be held on the north coast since the Covid pandemic arrived.

The Teebar Show, Rodeo and Campdraft is set to come back this weekend bigger and better than ever before. With campdraft and rodeo, ute muster, hall program, kids activities and movie night, live music and various stalls, there is sure to be entertainment for the whole family.

Somerset Regional Council is using new materials in its resurfacing works of some sections of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann said council was using a new plasticised binder in its resurfacing project ... “It feels distinctly different from the old surface."

Strong winds and raised dust did little to dent enthusiasm among remote Barkly students who recently got a taste of inter-school sports competition. Sixteen students from Irrultja Homeland Learning Centre travelled to nearby Ampilatwatja to join local school students for a two-day athletics carnival.

Kirstin Nicholson. It was a crazy few hours on Wednesday, May 26, when the Cohuna Kangas announced on its Facebook page that a person who attended their footy and netball matches on Saturday, May 22 had since tested positive for COVID-19. ... The town was sent into a flurry. Apart from the Kangas’ Facebook post, there was no official community-wide notification, and no official government announcement, leaving many wondering what was happening. The old bush telegraph was working at full capacity and social media was running wild.

Nicholas Rupolo. Barellan Two Blues are now in seventh place after a slim nine-point victory over Coleambally Blues in a drama filled game during round eight of the Farrer League. The Two Blues defeated Coleambally 32-23 away from home for just their second win of the season despite the game being called off in the third quarter.

Emma Pritchard. When he ran onto the ground at Bankwest Stadium on May 28, talented Wests Tigers fullback Daine Laurie wasn’t just playing for himself, his teammates, or his NRL club. He was also playing for his family and representing his Indigenous culture.

For the first time, the Golf Open was held as a stableford event and took place in the first week of May. The course was looking perfect due to many volunteer hours and some great work by “Hairy” - ‘on loan’ from the LHI Bowling Club.

Casino Cougarettes had mixed fortunes against Kyogle Turkeys in Ladies League Tag rugby at Queen Elizabeth Park on Saturday.

With recreational freshwater fishing worth $300 million to the economy, a local author has launched a complete fishing guide to the Murrumbidgee for anglers. Martin Asmus, NSW Department of primary Industries, and Dr Jamin Forbes have published the Fishing Atlas for Murrumbidgee river- Gundagai to Balranald.

Geoff Helisma. When Keeley Pritchett’s phone rang he didn’t recognize the number, but he took the call … a call that steered his life a little wide of the mark while riding towards a bullseye. Just over two years ago, the Lower Clarence man was an apprentice motorcycle mechanic learning his trade in Sydney. Following that unexpected phone call, Pritchett ended up touring Tasmania with five other bikers and starring in the film Wide of the Mark.

The things you see while driving in the Cape. This is Peter Stuart, an Atherton man on a mission. He’s riding all the way to the Tip of Cape York and for no particular reason.