Friday, September 22, 2023

Racing & Sport

International

Australian record throw for Matthew Denny

Matthew has cemented his status as one of the world’s premier athletes after being crowned champion at the Diamond League Final in Eugene, USA with an Australian record of 68.43 meters. This is the first time for Matthew to be crowned Diamond League Champion. He added 19cm to his Australian discus record to produce the throw of his life and seal his triumph.

Profile

Like father, like son

On page 15 of North-Central League’s giant-sized grand final “Recorder”, distributed at Boort on Saturday, is a list of 25 people who, since the resumption of football after World War II, have given outstanding service to the development of the game in this part of the State. Among them is Donald’s Frank O’Shea, widely recognized for his coaching of junior teams, and for his newspaper reporting of North-Central football.

Football

Tigers tested, but still untamed

Eighteen home-and-away rounds, a second semi-final, and a grand final, and Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers have remained undefeated in North-Central League’s 2023 senior football season.

Fishing

A whopper 7kg carp caught at annual muster

The annual Casino RSM Social Fishing Club Carp Muster has been running since 2009. There were about 100 people fishing this weekend, September 16–17 and plenty of carp was caught ... “My kids say its easy fishing for them and they put on a good fight when you hook them”: Casino RSM Social Fishing Club secretary Kristy Martin.

Basketball

Talbot’s return in sight

Fin Hansen. Kadina’s Stephanie Talbot is already eyeing a return to the court just six months after rupturing her ACL. The 29-year-old Adelaide Lightning captain will miss the majority of the 2023-24 Women’s National Basketball League season following the knee injury in her side’s third-to-last game of last season.

Racing - Vic

Donald Springs into racing action

Donald's race meeting on Sunday, September 17, was blessed with beautiful warm sunshine, suggesting that the Spring Racing Carnival has arrived. The track was rated a good four, with an upgrade to a good three prior to race three, with a moderate crowd attending the event.

Racing - WA

Trainer’s fall from a horse results in a fractured pelvis

Muchea trainer Alan Mathews’ fall from an unraced horse resulted in an operation and a short stint in rehabilitation ... Mathews, who has won six Perth Cups, said the accident that put him in hospital was a fall from a horse that wasn’t even going fast.

Coming up

Boxing

Imogen fighting her way to the top

Jess Liddy. Imogen McDonnell initially took up boxing for her fitness, but her love of the sport has taken her to places she could have never imagined. Originally from Minlaton, McDonnell, a 25-year-old nurse and trackwork rider, began boxing competitively in 2022.

Working dog

Alyssa musters the courage to take on the adults at the dog trials

Alyssa Brown and Magpie run around the Bonalbo Showgrounds enjoying their game of chasey. The Brown family are used to being on the road travelling to dog trials. Alyssa, her brother Nathan and their father Phil competed in the NSW Working Stock Dog Association State Championship trials at Bonalbo.

Pony Club

Pony clubbers pick right time to make their run up the straight

The Pony Club Victoria’s Ride to Time final held at Moonee Valley was a huge thrill for the 20 young riders who qualified in trials across the state. They got to gallop on the hallowed turf where the world-famous Cox Plate is run and rubbed shoulders with the elite jockeys Greg Childs and Michelle Payne.

Ponies

Pony crosses filling gap in dressage mount market

Rossanne Mason is not only a horse lover but an astute business woman as well. She was one of the first to see the expanding interest in dressage ponies and with her own Riding Pony stallion Penmain Posh and the imported Dutch Riding Pony stallion Triple Trees Prince Perfect bred a number of high-quality ponies performing in Australia and New Zealand.

Athletics

Congratulations Ellie

Allora P-10 Student Ellie Pidgeon was named the most outstanding Girl Athlete at the Darling Downs Track and Field Championship held in Toowoomba for both junior and secondary aged students. Ellie came first in three events...

Rugby Union

Locals shine in Country Rugby Championships

Future Wallabies stars were on show at Yamba over the weekend as the Ngayundi Sports Complex hosted hundreds of children from across the state for the under 12 and 13, 2023 NSW Country Rugby Union Championships ... The Far North Coast under 13 side, coached by the Lower Clarence’s Dane Mitchell, impressed in every one of its four games, scoring more than 100 points while keeping their opposition score to zero.

Cycling

New bike book – 16 Maldon-to-Maldon bike rides

Maldon Cycling Group has just published a book with information about 16 local bike rides ... Peter Strang, one of the team who produced the book said, “There are some great rides around Maldon. Hopefully, this book will help some locals and visitors explore the area by bike”.  

Football

Boys do the Barkly proud at ASPA footy championships

Dre Jackson from Elliott and Duqarn Foster from Tennant Creek were chosen to represent the NT at Australian School Sport Australian Football Championships held in NSW. The cold conditions had all the players making sure their beanies and scarfs were in great use off the field.

Cars

Duo keen to take out fourth street machine gong

Narrandera's Gary Myers and his son Jake have been chosen to run for the Street Machine of the Year awards with their famous Mustang and they are hoping for your vote ... The GM176/S1CKO Mustang gave Gary his first win in 2001 and it’s seen a few guises since his son Jake took up burnouts in the car, although it's always rocked blown 302 Windsor power.

AFL

Tigers host successful Prelim

Nhill and District Sporting Club hosted a successful Preliminary Final on Sunday, with record numbers through the gates. The crowds at Davis Park on Sunday for the preliminary final were confirmed by the League to be the biggest finals crowd in 2 years bar last year’s Wimmera League Grand Final.

Which one will it be?

On Saturday they will play off for North-Central Football League’s highest honour, the 2023 premiership – in both seniors and reserves! And  in case you’re new to North-Central clubs within the Buloke Shire, they’re the Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers and the Nullawil Maroons.

Indigenous

Traditional games and plenty of fun

Wooli Public School welcomed more than 170 kindergarten to Year 2 students from several Clarence Valley schools when they hosted the 2023 K-2 Traditional Indigenous Games at Wooli Sports Oval on September 6 … participants took part in a number of modified activities and games which were based on the skills and learning resources taught to First Nations children hundreds of years ago.

Racing

“After three long years … it’s our racing return”: Wycheproof prepares for Cup Day

There is a spring feeling in the air, a hustle and bustle ambience on Broadway. Anticipation is building. “Derby Day in the Country” is almost BACK.  Get set to celebrate the wonderful Elders Mt. Wycheproof Cup Day this November – a highlight of the spring social calendar in the Mallee.

Equestrian

Volunteer crisis could bring down the sport of equestrian

It's easy to go to a big horse event and admire the beauty and talent of the horses, the elegant riders, the enormous size of the fences jumped, but what people should really be looking at and applauding are the volunteers who have made it all possible. These events don’t just happen and unfortunately it is getting harder each year to find the people who are willing to put the time in behind the scenes to ensure the sport we love to participate in and watch continues.

Swimming

National champion Bailey Harm

Allora swimmer Bailey Harm has returned from the School Sport Australia National Championships in Sydney with a 2023 SSA National Champion title in the 50m Freestyle sprint. Bailey competed in seven events at the Championships, bringing home six national medals.

Swim champion Maeve Moore makes a splash

Berat local and Allora Swim Club member, Maeve Moore, recently competed at the School Sport Australia National Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre as part of the Queensland Swim Team. Maeve made the finals in the 50 breastroke and swam a personal best time of 38.88 to finish fourth place in the country.

Youth

Dream big, play bigger!

Over the weekend we had Under 14.5s have an impressive win for the semi-final against Trentham - which sets them up nicely for the next finals clash … The Club encourages its supporters to head over to Princess Park this weekend and support both our junior footballers and netballers. 

Shearing

Gun shearer tops circuit

Lockhart shearer Nicki Guttler has had a very busy 12 months on the NSW Sports Shear Circuit. She has been competing in the senior level against the men in 12 shows, coming first seven times, second two times, third two times and failed to reach the final in one event. All in all she was the top competitor at the end of the circuit by 28 points.

Harness

Bullockies skills to shine as they compete for Teamsters Trophy at Barellan’s Good Old Days Festival

Bullockies from around Australia will compete for the prestigious Teamsters Trophy while goats in harness will vie for the inaugural Little Teamsters Trophy at the 2023 Good Old Days Festival at Barellan in southern NSW on September 30 - October 1. The festival is the nation’s largest gathering of draught animals working in harness as they did on Australian farms over a century ago.

Showjumping

After 15 years, interschools showjumping still going strong

The Interschools Show Jumping series was started in Victoria in 2008 to promote the sport in the school community over courses designed by professionals at safe, purpose-built venues. In 2023, the series celebrated its 15th year with more than 200 schools represented at the three shows.

Shooting

Pistol Club encourages locals to give it a shot

On Sunday morning, the local Pistol Club held an Open Day at their range located just outside of town, providing members of the public with the opportunity to try pistol shooting. Members of the club, along with visiting members of Pistol NT from Darwin, were present to assist and teach those who attended.

Pony Club

Arabians

Rockstar crowd turns up for Future Farms open day

When a stud’s open day attracts a crowd big enough to rival a rock concert, you know it’s going to be great. The attention to detail at Future Farms’ open day and sale on Saturday was perfect, as you would expect from internationally successful trainers Kate and Doyle Dertell and their children Kody and Jessica.

Netball

Kurrajong Krushers winning hearts and games on local netball court

A team of netball players is winning hearts on and off the court as they connect with the community and change mindsets about what people with disabilities can achieve. The Kurrajong Krushers, a team of clients from Kurrajong Narrandera, Leeton, and Griffith, have joined the Narrandera social netball competition, and have been winning fans for the past five weeks.

AFL

Blues power

Cudgewa had Saturday’s grand final against Bullioh sewn up by quarter time in a lopsided affair. Cudgewa underscored its mantle as the 2023 Club of the Year on Saturday when the Blues claimed four premierships from the seven grand finals they contested.

Surfing

Yorkes Classic ‘23 champions crowned

Yorkes Classic 2023 champions were crowned amidst powerful, clean waves at the iconic Chinaman’s surf break in Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park on Saturday, August 19. This year’s 40th-anniversary celebrations did not disappoint, as light onshore wind combined with a southwesterly groundswell to provide perfect three-foot slabby surf all day long.

Cycling

Tyred Turkeys want to bring tourists on treadlies to town

The Tyred Turkeys are anything but tired. The group has 12 bike riders who ride regularly and have been mapping bike routes for 20 years. There are six founding members of the group who still ride together including Greg Daley, 68, and Damien Cox, 67.

Golf

Charlton ladies’ golf winds down

Eleven jazzed up ladies fronted in their eclectic outfits to play a 9-hole Pinehurst closing day game.  President Pat welcomed players and thanked the club for a successful year this being her last official duty.

Thoroughbreds

Thoroughbreds dominate field at friends of Werribee event

Fans of the Thoroughbred would have been excited to see more than 200 ex-racehorses competing at the Friends of Werribee Park Horse Trials at all levels last weekend ... The great popularity of horse trials shows that it’s not only the high flyers looking for sporting glory who participate.

AFL

‘Battle of the Councils’

The ‘Council Cup Clash’ was held on Saturday 26 August at the Katherine Showgrounds between the Beswick Bears, representing Roper Gulf Regional Council and the Timber Creek Lions, representing Victoria Daly Regional Council in a showdown game of AFL. This initiative aimed to foster collaboration, unity, and sportsmanship within the vibrant communities represented.

Bowling

Natasha ready for world stage

Birchip lawn bowler Natasha Hogan has been selected in Australia’s deaf bowls team to compete on the international stage ... Natasha is one of 12 players from around Australia who will compete in the ninth iteration of the world event, hosted in Colinton BC, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Athletics

National record for Allora’s Matthew Denny

Australia’s premier discus thrower Matthew Denny has etched his name into the history books, breaking a decade-long national record before settling for an agonising fourth place at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.