Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker with Lindsay Doust

Whoever thought we would live to see many of the things happening today.

I refer particularly to global warming. For many years I came and went from Fiji and have many friends there who fear that their homes may well be inundated in the coming decades. Similarly, saratoga, a fish once only associated with the far north, are now being caught over the boarder in southern Queensland. The photo today is of Hans Jensen from the Richmond Valley Sportfishing (RVSF) Club with a nice saratoga caught last week in Hinze Dam. On the same day, John Ski also caught one. They are not a great table fish, in fact they are terrible, but as a sporting fish, they rank with barramundi.

Locally, some nice bass are showing up in the Richmond. For sportfishing anglers they are the prime target and we encourage barbless hooks, careful handling and release. If we do this right, we'll have a top sport to look forward to in the future.

The RVSF Club is to release another $4000 worth of bass fingerlings (about 8000 fish) later in the year.

Flathead, jew and bream, even if not in big numbers, continue to be caught on soft plastics locally. It is a great sport and as the weather warms, flathead will become more plentiful. Some nice jew were also caught above the ferry at Ballina on plastics. There are also a few blackfish still on the go around the Porpoise Wall, the old ferry approach and Prospect Bridge.

NSW Fisheries has just announced a reward for tagged bream and luderick (blackfish). Anglers are being called on to help in the study. The growth and movement of these species are being studied as part of a tagging project funded by the Saltwater Trust. Fish are caught, measured and tagged by NSW DPI staff, before being released. Luderick from along the NSW coast and black bream from the state's south are being tagged.

Anglers who catch these species should look for yellow tags in the back of the fish. Each tag bears a number, the words "NSW FISH" and the phone number 1300 799 374. If you catch a tagged fish please call this number as soon as possible. A reward is offered for the return of each tagged fish with the tag in place, together with information about the capture. Along with the reward, details about the fish will also be sent to anglers. For further information, phone Dr James Haddy on 9527 8421, 0439 032 935 or email james.haddy@fisheries.nsw.gov.au.

Two men have been fined more than $7,000 after being caught using illegal setlines in the Murray River, upstream of Euston. Fisheries officers seized eight setlines with a total of 170 hooks attached. Three murray cod were also seized and returned to the water alive. Fishers can only use four setlines (each with only one hook) to catch native fish in rivers west of the Great Dividing Range. Each line must be labelled with the fisher's name and address or boat registration.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

A Greek Tragedy

The gods of Olympus were often portrayed as envious, arrogant, jealous and boastful creatures. So is it any wonder that the games designed to honour these fickle immortals should be so rich in the same emotional excesses?

The whole record of the 28th Olympiad reads like a Greek comic-tragedy.

The tale begins with the envious ox-eyed goddess Hera, protector of young women and Olympic records (aka Dawn Fraser) leading the Greek media chorus in a rousing version of 'the champions have stolen the fabled performance enhancing ambrosia of the gods. We must destroy them and send their souls to Hades'.

Upon Hera's arrival at the games two great Greek heroes, Castor and Pollux, had already faked a bike crash to avoid the ambrosia test, not that it saved them.

Whilst Hera was dressing down a frustrated silver medalist for not saying thank you very nicely, the heroine Jana Pittman won favour with the media chorus by collapsing with a dicky knee. The chorus deserted Hera in droves to follow the younger goddess as she faced the dreaded Gaul surgeon, cavorted in the unsecret grove, won through in the famous 400 Herculean trials only to finally finish fifth. The media chorus promptly deserted her, with the scalpel of Damocles hanging posed over her running career.

Back on the blocks under the unsleeping eye of Hera, the water nymph, 'Thorpedos', through the intricate use of type 'a' security tags, overcame the seven-headed Hydra of commercialism to sell off his mate's happy snaps for squillions of dollars. All hail Thorpedos the Picturesque.

However, in the 2004 golden fleece epic, the darker ethos of the Greek gods never emerged with more vicious brutally, than when the seven 'Furies' descended upon an exhausted water sprite out on Lake Schinias. Then in classic Greek style, the belligerent Furies were transformed into tolerant and compassionate souls called Australians through the enactment of one press conference.

Throughout this saga, souls from many different disciplines and nations were publicly destroyed and fled to the land of the dark sunglasses and airport departure lounges. Such are the cruel consequences of consuming the ambrosia of the gods and getting caught.

Hera and the gods were pleased indeed.

Changing the guard - Bowls

After three years of leadership, Terry Doyle has stepped down to allow his deputy, Kevin Bulmer, to take over the presidency of the Northern Rivers District Bowling Association. The recent AGM brought together 18 regional delegates who elected the following committee: deputy president Hans Willems (Ballina RSL), vice presidents Kevin Soward (Nimbin) and Ken Frampton (Ballina), secretary Norm Stirton (Ballina), treasurer John Swain (Lennox Head), match committee chairman Kevin Locke (Alstonville), Junior Bowls chairman Bill Blackbourn (Ballina RSL) and publicity officer Bill Slade (LWHBC).

Wiping the floor with 'em - Judo

Andy Elmer, Louis Parr and Nicolas Casey-Sams completed a clean sweep for the combined Lismore & Lennox Head Judo Clubs in the boys Under 30kg division of the recent Jamboree Heights (Brisbane) YMCA interclub tourney. Andy took the gold, Louis the silver and Nicolas the bronze.

The win typified a great meet for the combined clubs, which walked away with 18 medals all up.

The gold medallists for the clubs were: Joel Parer (boys under 50kg), Mitchel Elmer (boys under 40kg), Abby Phillips (girls under 35kg), Joseph Parr (boys under 35kg), Regan Martinovich (boys under 25kg), Allen Foley (mens under 100kg) and Takahashi Watanabe in the mens under 85kg division.

Anybody interested in learning this intriguing and useful martial art can phone Alison Parr on 6687 6544 in Lennox Head or the PCYC on 6621 6276 in Lismore.

Table tennis

Weiner Borkhardt and Mark Simes have established an early lead for Ocean Shores in the summer team table tennis competition last week with a 4 rubbers to 1 win over Ballina and a 5-nil whitewash of Lismore at the Goonellabah RSL Table Tennis Centre last week. The Ballina/Lismore game proved a much more equitable match up with Ballina's Henning Hansen and Rod Hearne finally prevailing 3 rubbers to 2 over Tony Coronakes and Graham Bultitude.

 

Kumite, Kata and Kihon - Martial Arts Rhiannon Beardow proudly displays her three state title trophies. Eight-year-old Rhiannan Beardow won each section in her division at the Australian Karate Federation Queensland State Championships held in Brisbane recently. Rhiannon topped the state in sparring (Kumite), prearranged forms (Kata) and basic combinations, or Kihon Renzoku, where she was among 13 medallists from the Lismore Success Martial Arts team. The Russell family also stood out at the championships, with John, Joshua, Natalie and Adam earning one first place medal each. Anyone interested in learning karate should phone Richard Marlin on 6622 4799 or visit their web site at www.successmartialarts.com.au.

Chopper rides again

Gary Watson with his Miniature Aircraft USA-sponsored copter. Gary builds all his own machines from scratch.

Lismore's Gary Watson is Queensland and Victorian state champion in the absorbing art of model helicopter flying. Gary has done some charity fun flying for the local Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter and many people expect him to draw a large crowd at this weekend's NSW State Model Helicopter Championships at the Wade Park model flying field at the end of Military Road, East Lismore.

The championship will be used by national selectors to help pick the national representative team for next year's world titles, to be held in Spain.

Garry Henderson-Smith, secretary of the Lismore Model Flying Club, said Gary was second in the state standings and may end up representing Australia at the World Championships.

"Gary has had the opportunity to compete against international fliers this year and has shown that he is the equal of any in the world," he said.

Gary came second in the Indonesia Open in Bali in May.

All the competitors have put in countless hours of practice as well as spending quite large sums of money to reach the zenith of this intricate and subtle sport. Bring a directors chair or a blanket for the best possie.

Flying begins this Saturday at 9.30am.

Emphatic Workers claim minor premiership

East Redbirds Under 18 pitcher Brendan Shailles, lets one fly.

Workers capped an outstanding year with an emphatic 19-0 lock out of their nearest rivals Norths to win the minor premiership.

Josh Daley's work on the mound was exemplary, conceded only two hits to the powerful Norths line up. However, Daley wasn' t content with completely dominating the Norths' batters, he also rubbed salt into their wounds with a 'shock and awe-inspiring' game with the bat.

Josh's five at bats reaped four hits, including two home runs. Workers have the most potent offensive line-up in the competition and took little time ripping the heart out of the Norths' bullpen. Dallas Knapp batted 800 for the game and cleared the fence, Troy Pruess put away three hits from four attempts and both Mick McClelland and Wayne Devlin batted 600 with three hits each.

Having easily taken out the Rex Airlines Far North Coast Major League minor premiership, Workers have earned their week-long break and get a chance to sit back and watch Brothers and Norths fight it out for the honour of facing them in the grand final.

A record monstering?

East Redbirds finished a forgettable year on the back of a possible record 37-8 defeat at the hands of Marist Brothers. Luke Davis, who has only recently returned from injury, started well in the middle for the Redbirds, restricting the Brethren to a 7-6 lead by the bottom of the fourth, but as the game wore on and Davis' arm wore out, the experienced Brothers batting line-up got on top. In the last two innings, Brothers scored a massive 26 runs before the mercy rule was invoked.

Brothers defend their title

This weekend's semi final between Norths and Marist Brothers should be a cracker with Brothers representative pitcher Matt Gahan returning to the mound and the Brethren batting line-up on a high from last week's monstering of the Redbirds. Norths will need to dig deep to restore their shattered nerves after Daley's domination last weekend. Game one will start on Friday evening at 6.30pm on Albert Park 1, game two on Saturday at 2.45pm and, if required, game three will be at 6pm on Saturday night.

Riding high

The Athens cycling medal haul has inspired the North Coast Academy of Sport to prolong its youth cycling search. The extraordinary haul of six gold medals has prompted the Academy to re-open applications in the hope of attracting athletes who have never raced bikes before, but want to switch to this exciting sport.

Athletes, aged 13-15, will be tested to see whether they have what it takes to be a road cyclist. The other half of the squad will be selected from accomplished cyclists, aged 13-18, who have recorded consistently high level performances in road cycling over the last 12 months.

Interested cyclists will need to register their performances with the NCAS. To obtain more information and registration forms, visit www.ncas.org.au or phone 6620 3073. Applications close on September 23.

The winter series continues

Brendan Egan leads the winter series A Grade competition in the NRCC winter race series with two wins from three races. The series continues on the Bagotville circuit this Sunday, September 5. Riders are required to meet at the Dungarooba Rest Area at 6.30am.

 

Netball Rachael Williams from Rous 16 distributes from Wing Attack against Daley Tribes in the Under 9 Nettas. A run of goals late in the fourth quarter gave Lismore victory over Ballina 21-19, in the final of the Far North Coast Dairy Farmers Regional Netball State League first division in Grafton on Sunday. Lismore's Lauren Woods was outstanding in front of goal and her work combined with Lismore's tight circle defence to clinch the title. In division two, Lismore was ahead for most of the game until the unseasonal heat got the better of the largely inexperienced squad. Lower Clarence stormed back to take out the final 34-30.

Holiday skateboard camp

Local skateboarders are invited to a training camp at Lennox Head this September school holidays.

James Roberts, development officer for NSW Sport and Recreation said, "The S-Cape Byron Skateboard Camp is an exciting opportunity for young skateboarders to receive expert tuition and have some fun while also accessing the great facilities at Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre."

The camp is open to 8 to 12-year-olds for entry level skaters. The trainers are accredited and their focus is on safety and basic boarding techniques. Instruction, meals, accommodation and prizes are all included in the price.

Skaters should bring their own skateboard and safety gear and will enjoy other activities, including the newly built high ropes course, flying fox, snorkelling and canoeing.

For more information phone James Roberts on 6687 7168.

Paralympic crunch time

Ballina's Brett Boylan will be out to turn silver into gold when he rolls on to the Athens Olympic Complex as part of the Australian wheelchair rugby team. The team won silver at the Sydney Paralympics and the sound mix of youth and experience in this squad has them well placed to make the conversion.

Wheelchair rugby, although it is a relatively new sport for people with a disability, is developing rapidly throughout the world. Wheelchair rugby is a combination of the pace, regulations and skills required in basketball and rugby. The games are held on a basketball court, and the ball used is similar to the one used in volleyball.

Like all Aussie footy teams the squad revels in playing it hard and tough, indeed, wheelchair rugby is the only Games sport where a mechanic is on standby during each match-up with a welding kit at the ready to fix wheelchairs damaged in collisions, which are a feature of this competition.

Boylan, who has been representing his country since 1993 and was a star performer at the Sydney 2000 Games. "It is a mixture of American football, ice hockey and dodgem cars," commented Brett of his sport.

Brett took up wheelchair rugby in 1990 after recovering from a broken neck as a result of a driving accident. A longtime rugby union player and competitive sailor, his first impression was that the sport was a "bit weak".

"How wrong I was, 14 years on and I'm still amazed just how fast and physical the game is," he said.

(Story research by Kirsty Marshall.)

A golden afternoon for golden boots

Tom Guttormsen with his golden boot award and Kaylene Hopf from Harvey World Travel Lismore.

Men's Premier Division

Six of the 22 young men who run on this Sunday at 3pm in the major semi final between Rovers and Workers have won the Golden Boot Award during their playing careers. That's almost a third. Four of them; Olley, Sheridan, Towner and Mathews will be wearing black and white. If that's any indication of the quality of finishing available to Rovers they should enjoy a goal feast.

However, if there was an award for the most unsullied keeper, the keeper who has kept the most clean sheets, then Workers' Reece Evans would surely have it in his possession. Strikers have only managed to get past Evans for a miserly 21 goals during the season - six less than Rovers and two less than any other team.

The other thing in Workers' favour is the golden boot of Tom Guttormsen, who won this year's Golden Boot with ease and was positively incandescent in last weekend's semi against Casino. The Redmen put the Cobras to the sword 3-0. Tom slotted one and set up another with an amazing overhead bicycle kick from the edge of the box which thundered into the cross bar and bounced up for the simplest of head-ins for John Waight.

"I put it on a platter for him," Guttormsen said after receiving his Harvey World Lismore Golden Boot Award on Saturday night.

The winner of the Workers/Rovers game goes straight into the grand final. The loser must play the winner of Casino and Byron Bay. Rovers have never lost a grand final. Workers won't want to give them that chance.

In the other semi final Byron Bay travels to Casino to take on the Cobras in a do or die struggle. Although Casino are the front runners, Byron have Pandava and the talismanic Morhaus returning. Last week, the long absent Jones and Parkes also slotted into the Byron line-up to spring a surprise victory over Maclean 3-0. Byron seem to thrive on the finals stress and could easily knock off the big country boys.

Women's First Division

Despite going down to Byron 1-0 last weekend the speed and skill of Workers midfield should prove decisive in their match with Southern Cross University. SCU upset Ballina in last week's preliminary final to bring a premature end to the Seahorse's finals campaign. Felicity Kerslake's boot sank the Seahorses 1-0.

Byron's Rose Argent, the 2004 Harvey World Travel Golden Boot Award winner, earnt her team a crack at minor premiers Richmond Rovers, and possibly a place in the grand final. Rovers should be at full strength, as they have the most disciplined defence in the league.

Can Rose find the back of the net yet again? The teams run on this Sunday at Rovers 2 at 10.30am.

Bulls in the china shop - FNC Rugby Union

Lismore City will line up for their third game in a row against Casino Bulls in the grand final of the Far North Coast Rugby Union this Saturday. Neither side can claim a home-ground advantage - the game kicks off in Yamba at 5.15pm.

In their last two encounters, City have managed to lead into the break on the back of expansive play, and it's been enough to hold off the strong finishing Bulls, although in both cases it has been a close run thing.

Casino's five-eighth Dave Ellis managed a hat-trick of tries as he sniped from the base of their tank-like forward pack against Ballina last week. He will need to be deeply involved in play if the Bulls are to overcome City.

Lismore, although strong across the park, are blessed with a fast and effective back row in the shape of Conlan and Oliveri. Their effectiveness at the breakdown must be negated for the Bulls to have any chance. Casino's flankers will need to keep the ball in hand and pick and charge without error for phase after phase. If they can maintain that level of discipline around the edges of the ruck and play a flat backline they should be able to stifle City's attacking options.

Conversely, City will look for quick, clean ball, particularly from the lineout, so they can spread the ball wide to their skilled and fleet-footed backs.

The battle for lineout ball will be crucial. Lismore's Taylor has been effective in the air this year, but Casino's lifting in the set piece has alao been precise.

It's a classic match up of guile and speed verses brute strength - a game very much worth the drive.

Looking, looking

The North Coast Academy of Sport is seeking talented rugby union players to trial for its Warringah Rugby Club 2004-05 squad. To be eligible, you must turn 15 or 16 years in 2005, and reside on the North Coast.

The best players from each zone trial will then meet for the final selection trial in late September. A squad of only 24 athletes will then be selected.

Applications must be submitted on a form available from any school rugby/sport coordinator, junior rugby club secretary or via the NCAS website at www.ncas.org.au. Phone 6620 3073. Applications close this Friday, September 3.

Panthers room Woodlawn

Story & photo: Julian Ryan

NRL Panthers stars sign autographs for some adoring fans at St John's College Woodlawn last Friday. Pictured (l-r) Panthers utility back Amos Roberts, Bianca Kelly, Chantelle Swientek, Arlenna Swientek, Jacinta Walsh and Panthers halfback Preston Campbell.

NAIDOC week was back in July, but in an extension of local festivities, Penrith Panthers stars Preston Campbell and former Woodlawn student Amos Roberts visited St John's College last Friday.

The pair were invited to the school to meet a group of Bundjalung Elders and also talk with students about this year's NAIDOC themes of Self Determination - Our Community - Our Future - Our Responsibility.

Co-organiser of the visit, Greg Colles, said it was a fantastic opportunity for country kids to get to know two highly regarded and gifted players.

"It's especially important for our Koori students to meet role models like these guys and become inspired to aim high in life," he said.

For Amos Roberts the visit was a mixture of déjà vu and nostalgia.

"I came from Kempsey to go to school as a boarder here in the 90s," he said. "Lismore is like a home to me because of the Woodlawn connection plus my father lives here as well."

After a bush tucker lunch the pair were put through their paces during a game of touch football with the Koori students.

Giants amongst men

Mullumbimby's Chase Nelson throws the ball wide early on in the major semi final against Marist Brothers.

The 28-20 scoreline was flattering to Marist Brothers, who were outplayed across the park when they went down to the Mullumbimby Giants in the major semi final at Mullumbimby on Sunday.

The Giants' two critical playmakers, Godbee and 'Scooter' Hogan, were simply in a class of their own, particularly in the first half. Scooter's kicking game bamboozled the Marist back three, especially his mid-range banana chip kick, which turned right into the path of his hard-running centre pairing, leading to two tries. Hogan has also mastered a cross spiral pass kick, which also led to a try in the second half. And his towering spiral bombs and deft grubbers behind the line are equal to anything seen in the NRL.

If anyone wants to take the grand final away from the Giants, they'll need to work out how to nullify Hogan's kicking game.

Glen Godbee, who always hits the ball at pace, out-flanked the compact Brethren defensive line for a hat-trick of tries and looked dangerous every time he touched the ball.

Marist Brothers continually turned the ball back inside to their bigger men, notably Brett Spears and Shaun Coe, who were dangerous, particularly down the blind side.

To the Brethren's credit they never gave up and that never-say-die attitude sets them apart as probable grand finalists, despite this loss. Niko Vakararawa, who came in from the wing to help the forwards out in the second half, laboured hard for the Rams and deserved the try he scored late in the second half.

Marist takes on Ballina this weekend at Oakes Oval in the final, after Ballina came from behind to polish off South Grafton's season in the other semi final, 26-22.

The South Grafton Rebels dominated for most of the game due mostly to the poor completion rate by the Seagulls, who regularly spilled the ball. The score line was 22-10 with only 20 minutes remaining when the Gulls finally recovered their ball skills and turned on the razzle dazzle.

Get down to Oakes Oval this weekend for what should be a hard-fought match.