Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker with Lindsay Doust

Todays photo is of Aaron Mocatta with a 4kg coral trout caught on the central Queensland coast.

Last week we predicted the whiting should have been worth a try and they were on the bite around Pimlico Island. There were good catches on the weekend, and the fish were top quality.

The preferred bait seemed to be mud worms and to a lesser extent live yabbies (nippers). Beach worms do not seem to work in the river during the summer months. However, off the beach they would be the best bait.

Flathead are still taking a few soft plastics (and of course fresh bait) but we are still waiting for the best of them and they will come as the months warm up.

Bream are fairly slow in the river, but the odd good one is showing up on the beach (nice snowies). As the river clears up in Lismore, the bass should come again. There are a few boat trailers beginning to appear at the boat ramp, a sure sign it is beginning to happen again.

During early October, a number of fish kills occurred at the North Lakes Canal Estate in Ballina. Up to 40 mullet and moderate-sized bream died due to low dissolved oxygen in one of the estate's canals. A low level of dissolved oxygen is attributable to the warmer weather and little inflow of water to the canals. The layout of some developments can exacerbate these conditions. NSW Fisheries is working with Ballina Shire Council to develop ways to improve the water quality in the canals and reduce the occurrence of fish kills. Initiatives include working with residents to improve vegetation along riverbanks to reduce pollutants and nutrients entering into the canals.

A 34-year-old Maclean man was charged with illegally trapping eels on the Clarence River. Over 70kg of eels were seized and returned to the water alive. The man was fined and the Court ordered the forfeiture of his boat, motor and five eel traps. The use of eel traps is banned in freshwater rivers and streams because eel traps can trap and drown air-breathing native wildlife such as platypuses and turtles.

Don't forget the Ballina Fishing Classic on the weekend of November 26-28. Entry is only $22 for the chance to win great Shimano prizes. Early entries can be placed at Suffolks Sports Store.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

It's a sure bet it's a problem

To my knowledge Australia is the only country that stops everything, even polite conversation, to gamble on a horse race.

Intriguingly, the very first question in the Gambler's Anonymous compulsive gamblers 20 questions is Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?

So we're all behind already. No worries, plenty of questions to go. Maybe if I increase my wager on the next question, we can win back some of our national pride.

Let's choose one at random. Did gambling affect your reputation? Australians spend the most on gambling, per capita, in the world. Let it go. So long as we don't answer yes to seven or more of the 20 questions we're not compulsive. Bet you this one will be a no - double or nothing.

After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses? Well, it wouldn't be right to just give up because you're losing! Would it? Australians aren't quitters.

I'm feeling a bit nauseous about my chances in the next, but lets up the anti anyway. If Kerry Packer can lose a few million, what's a pay packet between friends?

Next question.

Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy? Well, happiness is subjective, my penury is another wealthy horse owner's pension fund. Lets just jump to the next question.

Have you ever felt remorse after gambling? Come on, who doesn't regret losing a wager.

Australians are not obsessive gamblers, sure we bet over $120 million - that's $6 each - on the Melbourne Cup, but we do that just for the fun of it. Don't we? I'll empty my bank account on this one. Next question.

Did you ever gamble till your last dollar was gone?

Look it's okay. Our entire economy runs on the revenue raised from gambling, we're just funding social infrastructure and tax cuts for the wealthy.

Hey Boss can I get a forward on my pay, umm... my car rego has just come up? Thanks mate.

Right, lets stake it all on the next question.

Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?

What am I going to do? I know, I'll just borrow a few quid from the till. I'll pay it back with interest, on my word.

Next question. Have you ever committed, or considered committing an illegal act to finance your gambling?

Relax, I'm good for it, you know, I'll sell my car. Next question.

Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?

God, I just wish I was dead.

Question 20. Have you ever considered self-destruction or suicide as a result of gambling?

In 1999 the Australian Productivity Commission concluded that over 2 million Australians were adversely affected by gambling; in the last few years with the advent of online gambling that figure has more than doubled.

Just like gambling on the results of a compulsive gambling questionnaire is lunacy, so is thinking you can gamble your way out of your problems.

Breaking the cycle of gambling is difficult but help is available. Just remember you're not alone. The whole nation has a problem. Phone 6687 2520.

Lets get physical

Donna Lowden, a finalist in the 1st year senior's section of the Far North Coast Physical Culture competition and Jaime Whittingham, second place in the 15 years (pictured) are here carrying their champion students Lilly Crawford and Zijuan Elsol. The two young teachers will now travel to the State Sports Centre at Homebush next weekend to compete in the state finals.

Enabling disables

NSW Sport and Recreation are offering three practical workshops this month for trainers and teachers to learn how to involve people with disabilities in sport.

"The truth is, people with a disability can be included in regular sport with little or no modifications," NSW Sport and Recreation regional manager, Paul Hernage, said. "It's really about thinking laterally - it could be the rules of game that may need to be modified slightly or the equipment we choose to use; the lists of variations and modifications are endless."

The workshops costs $33/$22 conc. To register or for more information, phone 9454 0222 or email suad@dsr.nsw.gov.au.

Hey shortie - Golf

Peter Knight, state coaching director with NSW Golf, will be conducting a men's golf development weekend focusing on development of the short game.

The weekend will be held at the idyllic Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre in Lennox Head on November 27-28.

Open to all club golfers with a handicap, the weekend will focus on the theory and practice of the chipping and putting. A sports physiotherapist will also be on hand to run practical sessions on sports injury prevention and strength and conditioning. For further information phone NSW Sport and Recreation on 6687 7168.

Blind-folded golf

William Whitecloud, organiser of this month's blind-folded golf tournament in Balgowlah, is keen to repeat the charity event on the North Coast. The kooky event is actually a great training device and an excellent fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants hundreds of wishes every year to children with life-threatening illnesses. If you're a golf organiser or coordinator this is a great chance to lift the quality of the local game, amuse the gallery and be a fairy godmother or godfather all at the same time.

William can be e-mailed on william@magiciansway.com or you can phone the foundation on 9234 6023.

Marathon courtesy of Curtis

Glen leaps from his Kayak before carrying it to the next drop off point.

Far North Coast Canoe Club kayaker Glen Curtis blitzed the field to take out this year's Queensland state open men's marathon title recently. Glen completed the three laps of 12km course and the three 150 metre portages (that means physically carrying the kayak between paddles) in a mere three hours and four minutes in very difficult choppy conditions, throwing off the rest of the field 10km out.

The incident-packed race at Maroochydore went pear-shaped only 3km into the ordeal as the entire lead pack ran aground. After a quick, impromptu portage, the race was back on, but not for long. 500m further on, Glen became snagged on fishing line. He quickly cast it off and fought his way back to the head of the field. As the race wore on, Glen's rivals slowly fell away, before a collision 10km out put paid to any challenge to his authority.

The only moment of doubt came at the last portage, when Glen's wife and runner informed him that another paddler, who had broken at the race start, had won back his two minute penalty by helping another kayaker back into their canoe. It had no effect on the final result, with Glen in the form of his life.

Come and Try

The Far North Coast Canoe Club invites everyone to come and paddle around on the Wilsons River in Lismore every second Sunday of the month from 9 to 10am. The next gathering is November 14, down at the old wharf at the end of Magellan Street. Tuition is free and the canoes and kayaks are provided free of charge, although it's important to book in advance. Phone Marian on 6624 6998.

No pool foolery

Members of the Lismore Swim Team who gathered at Alstonville pool ready for early morning training.

Superman, the Masked Marvel and creatures from the bottom of the garden have all joined forces to keep Lismore Swim Team's morale from crumbling after news that the Lismore pool would not re-open this summer.

Last week the team had gathered at Alstonville swimming pool, their new home, to hear club president, Scott Hahn, bemoan their fate. Would the 75-year-old club be forced to close down? No, surely not!

Having heard Hahn's plea to lift the faltering morale, mild-mannered swimmer, Jacob Power, slipped unbeknownst into a nearby phone booth. Suddenly, Superman emerged proclaiming, as he is wont to do, "Up, up and away" and promptly plummeted into the nearby pool. Shocked by Superman's sudden loss of super powers, a passing fairy princess plunged in after him. Fortunately, the fairy princess, aka Kristy Magann, had been part of the swimming club for a while and was well trained in side-stroke. Together with the Masked Marvel and a clown they saved the redoubtable hero and the club from the Council's planning kryptonite. Hurray!

Okay, maybe it didn't happen exactly like that, but it takes a lot of ticker to put on silly clothes and parade around someone else's pool in the dawn light.

"These kids (and many parents) are getting up before 5am each day to travel to Alstonville and swim, and then often come back again for another session in the afternoons," Scott Hahn said.

"To keep this up takes real commitment and they need to be encouraged. Not many people would realise the extent of the impact that no Lismore pool has on them."

The Lismore Swim Team would like to thank Alstonville pool and Summit Sport & Fitness Centre in Goonellabah for their help in these dark days.

"Everyone associated with the Alstonville pool and club has been most accommodating - our first joint Alstonville/Lismore team club night was a huge success - and we're looking forward to a great season. Not that we won't appreciate the Lismore pool when it's finally ready!" Scott said.

Girl power rows to victory

Trinity Catholic College rowers reaped the rewards of committed training in the Coraki Regatta last Sunday, coming away with a fist full of medals.

Hannah Green was successful in the women's novice scull and combined with Louise Hartcher to take out the schoolgirl's under 17 double scull event. Adam Harrison won both his single scull races and combined with Flynn Jackman to convincingly win the school boys under 17 double scull. Adam then combined with Hannah Green to take out the mixed double scull.

One of the best races of the day was the mixed quad with Adam, Hannah, Louise and Flynn pulling ahead in the last 50 metres to take out the event.

Little Athletics hit the track

The Lismore Little Athletics Centre will host the first round of the 2004-2005 Northern Rivers Zone LAANSW tri-series competition this weekend at Riverview Park, South Lismore. More than 250 athletes from as far afield as Nambucca Heads and the Gold Coast will be competing.

The format has changed from past years and contestants will compete at three carnivals as a group. Individual awards will be presented at each carnival and the overall winners in each age group will be decided with the aid of a points system directly related to each athlete's performances over the three carnivals.

If recent performances are anything to go by Lismore 80-odd athletes should acquit themselves very well.

The highlight of the carnival is the Tiny Tot event, with fierce competition expected in the play activities, a 50 metre race and the long jump. Each participant will receive a commemorative certificate.

Registrations begin at 1pm and the games begin at 2pm. Late nominations run until 1.45pm. There's no charge for spectators, so why not get along and support the local young athletes.

Local parents, note there are no normal morning events this week at Lismore.

Bronze Medallion

Surf Life Saving NSW has teamed up with NSW Sport and Recreation to offer an accreditation bronze medallion course in Lennox Head this summer.

The bronze medallion course covers topics like surf awareness, survival, patrol, rescue procedures, emergency care, anatomy and physiology and includes a CPR certificate as part of the accreditation.

"This is a great opportunity for community members interested in surf patrol or simply beach and aquatic safety," Sport and Rec regional manager Paul Hernage said.

The course runs part time for three weeks from November 16 to December 4, Tuesday and Thursday, 6.30-9.30pm, and Sat 9am-12 noon at the Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre. It costs $250.

Enrolments close next Monday, November 8. For details phone 6687 7168.

DO YOU WANT TO SCORE?

Two experienced scorers are required for the AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIPS January 4-15, 2005 to be held on the Far North Coast.

Phone John on 6621 6903 ASAP. Training and free lunches provided.

Umpire gets the finger from players

Sam Black, who took 7 for 8 in last weeks match, leans back as he tries to thump one behind square. If he had transferred his weight onto his leading foot he would have had more chance of making contact with the ball.

Dale Ledger smashes the first ball of the day over midwicket for four on the way to a quickfire 39.

Ryan Virtue bowls for Marist Gold in the Under 12s at Rec 10 on Saturday. He picked up an LBW during the over.

Questions about the credibility of some of the umpiring decisions from both sides after Norths-Goonellabah RSL's outright win over Workers Club at Neilson Park on Saturday. Although the wicket is below par, no-one would have expected 14 wickets to have fallen for 20 runs.

At one stage the Hawks were 6 for 141, chasing 150, with Nathan Bonamy (31) and Steve Lockhart (25) apparently cruising to a first innings victory. Seven runs later they were all out and Workers had snatched their first win of the season.

Roused by some of umpire Toby Fletcher's adjudications, the combined Lismore side sent Workers back in. Thirteen overs later Workers were all out for 13. It mustn't be their lucky number. The Hawks took two overs to pick up the excess and walk away with an outright win.

After the match, Worker's captain, Les McGuire, was completely ropeable and gave a commitment to place an umpires report before the association. When asked what he would like to say he replied, "just write Derby Day, he'll know what I mean."

Whether the umpiring was accurate or credible, the innings total of 13 is a club and association record across all grades. It included seven ducks - also believed to be a record. Nathan Bonamy picked up 7 for 5 from his 7.1 overs.

This weekend, Workers travel to Hill Park to take on Alstonville, who slumped to their second loss on the run against Lennox Head. Lennox lost seven wickets and looked gone for all money at 7-118 until opening bowler Glen Watson hit them out of trouble with a timely 20.

The Hawks, who are suddenly on top of the competition ladder, will take on a dispirited Marist Brothers at Nesbitt Park. Marist were put to the sword by Easts on the postage stamp-sized Blair Oval last weekend.

Easts exploded off the blocks, taking 45 off the first 7 overs despite a wet patch on a good length caused by leaky covers. (Please note, Lismore is hosting the senior Australian Country Championships in January and we won't live down the embarrassment if our covers leak during that competition. I hope Council is reading this! A hessian under cover would also be advisable.)

But I digress. After an early onslaught from Ledger and Rowlands, Bruce Jobson (61) and superteen Tom Cooper (71 n.o.) came together to produce a 98 run partnership as they swept past the Brethren's paltry 138 before declaring at 4-222. Marist folded for 65 under a withering spell of bowling by Ian Gregory (4-10) and Brett Rutley (4-11). Sure, 65 is five times better than 13, but that will be cold comfort.

South's Craig Bateman celebrated his return to new ball duties with an impressive 2 for 19, however Len Blok (3-15) came away with the best figures as the premiers made short work of the seasiders, bowling them out for 75. The Neilson wicket, though well grassed, is a flat track and bundling out the depth, Tintenbar batting order for under 100 is some feat. Be warned the premiers mightn't be on top of the ladder, but they're well on track. In what is definitely the match of the round this weekend Souths will be going head-to-head with Easts on the demon pitch out at Neilson Park. I wonder who is umpiring that match?

Tintenbar will happily return to the Kingsford Smith batting aerodrome for their next game against Ballina Bears. The Bears came undone against Casino's young leggie Scott Sheppard (4-44) on Fripp Oval last weekend, making only 197 in reply to the Cavalier's 244. The aerodrome won't be so helpful for the young tweaker.

Luke's brand new brute ute

Luke Gray makes a pass on the inside of Grafton's Geff Kilduff to take the Streeters feature win at Grafton Speedway last Saturday night.

Lismore's Luke Gray will add some spice to the Streeter's division at this weekend's Lismore Speedway by opting to run a Ford XF ute, instead of the Ford XF sedan. Although a ute on the dirt track circles is somewhat of a rare occurrence, Gray has already proved he's bashed together a real winner with a convincing win in the Streeter feature at Grafton speedway last Saturday night.

"The win was good. There's still a few things to do on the ute, but I am positive it will be better than my old Falcon sedan," Gray said, "It's already been nicknamed the "brute ute" by race announcer Bruce Maxwell."

Saturday night is the first chance for local fans to see the impressive new rig.

Headlining the program at this Saturday night's action is the guzzling V8 dirt modifieds. There's a full force from Lismore with the likes of Mark Robinson, Ray Eggins, Steve Wright and Dennis Mazzer strutting their struts and splattering the speedway walls with mud. Mick Santin will also join the V8 dirt modified brigade fresh from his victory at the Grafton speedway last weekend. Santin dominated the feature race, taking the win from Steve Wright in second and Dennis Mazzer third.

Gates open at 3pm with racing from 5pm.

Entry is $20/$15, $49 family (2 adults + 2 under 16s), $10 kids 13-15, $5 kids 5-12, under 5 free.

Enquiries 0417 214 839. Grandstand bookings 0428 832 417.

Let the Suns shine - Soccer FNC

The North Coast Suns will run on against Rochedale Rovers at Meakin Park, in Logan, Queensland, this Saturday at 5.30pm, as the 2004/2005 Summer Youth League gets underway.

The 12 teams in the Youth League have been divided into three groups of four. Every team in the group will play each other twice over the next six weeks of the competition.

At the end of these group matches, the top two teams in each group, plus the two next best qualifiers from the whole competition (based on points, then goal difference and goals scored) will move to the final series. This is a series of knockout games.

The North Coast Suns 2005 Team are: Matt Pratten, Riley Hechtl, Rowan Barrett, Lucas MacPherson, James Hirst, Rhys Evans, Tom Guttormsen, John Bradbury, Arron Smee, Matt Gordon, Yonas Van Dommele, Daniel Morrow, Niall McCarthy, Tommy Cranmer, Eden Robinson, Chris Matthews, Joel Saye, Kyle Sutton. Coach:Paul Foster; Assistant Coach: Jonathon Harlen; Goalkeeping Coach:Brendan Logan

Manager: Greg Downes.

The first Lismore game, against Slacks Creek, will be played at the Italo-Australia Club ground on November 20.

The women's team, the North Coast Flames will also play Palm Beach earlier in the evening.