Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker with Lindsay Doust

Last chance to comment on Marine Park

Pat Curran with an 11kg kingfish

The new moon provided, as predicted, a good run of quality whiting. Up to 17 boats were fishing at a time near Pimlico Island and the burnt pine. One whiting caught measured 42cm. The preferred baits were bloodworms or tubeworms. Some nice blackfish have also been taken, mainly on cabbage weed and I saw a 'beaut' flathead caught on a soft plastic that weighed over 5kg. Mixed with the whiting have been some good bream.

A reminder to everyone that submissions on the Cape Byron Marine Park close on November 29. Suggestions on how to fill out your submission will be available from Suffolks Sports Store. The Anglers Action Group have prepared a submission with the assistance of qualified and experienced solicitors who had input into both the Jervis Bay and Solitary Islands Park.

A petition opposing aspects of the Park is also available for signing at Suffolks Sports Store. Take note we said 'aspects' of the Park. Anglers do not necessarily oppose the Park, just most of the proposals to do with fishing zones. Anglers tend to be very "laid back, we'll let someone else do this and criticize like hell when we are hardly done by." One person rang me to ask what I was doing about it. I asked him what he was doing. Nothing was the answer. Time has come for this attitude to change because we are facing more and more of these pressures.

Recently a report from Europe is saying it is time to stop fishing with hooks. I'm sure nothing will happen at this early stage, but the people behind these kinds of movements work away at it and in time they become the norm. Whoever thought that the day would come and you would not be able to fish off the beach in most of Byron Bay or much of the rocky headland at Lennox Head; but this is the reality of the Marine Park.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

Don't quote me, but...

Reporting on the machinations of council committees can age a man in ways only presidents and prime ministers understand. Searching for some semblance of the truth amidst the mish mash of mealy-mouthed managerial jargon, not to mention staying awake during the umpteenth anecdote from the last century, can have a staggering effect on the central nervous system.

For all that, I do not wish to detract from the importance of the present committee system review that Lismore Council is undergoing. Maintaining and enhancing the public consultation process, particularly for sport, is essential for the sporting future of this region.

Although it has caused my hair to go gray and fall out, I have dutifully worked through the material and sat, ever-wrinkling, through the meetings. I have interviewed the protagonists through failing eyesight and hearing loss and I am little the wiser.

Though it seems, and don't quote me or refer to me by name or even suggest that this is an unqualified statement, but it 'seems' that the general manager wants to establish two high-powered committees to replace the 16 committees currently in place.

Former councillor Reg Baxter, apparently, and don't quote me or think for one second that I'm being controversial, wishes to return to a time when the Lismore & District Sports Association (LDSA) has executive control over its own budget. This isn't going to happen by all accounts. These are the two extremes of the saga of the LDSA. In the middle ground sits a small but determined group who want to keep the LDSA basically as it is. I think, and you can quote me and damn me to hell for it if you wish, that the process of delegation to the LDSA should be draw by election from all the relevant sports associations; soccer, netball, athletics, baseball, rugby league and union, swimming, tennis, martial arts, etc.

During my investigations, two little examples did peak my interest as examples of how things can or don't work.

Exhibit A is the Masters Games Committee. By all rights it should be in abeyance along with the LDSA, which has been mothballed for the last six months awaiting the general manager's review. But the Master's Games people have simply ignored the review and got on with the job, I am reliably informed. Without their efforts, there would be no Masters Games next year.

Exhibit B is one of the biggest sporting issues debated in this town over the last decade - the new aquatic centre. I'm informed by senior representatives of the LDSA that Council didn't bother consulting the committee about the development, surely one of the most significant sporting facilities this city will see. But then, two of the chief proponents of the redevelopment of the Memorial Baths site, councillor John Chant, and former councillor Reg Baxter, were on the committee.

Draw your own conclusions.

Honour for swimming stalwart

Longstanding Lismore swim instructor Alison Myatt has been awarded the Joy Parker Memorial Swimsafe Staff Service Award by NSW Sport and Recreation.

"Her high quality swimming teaching skills are obviously well-known in Ballina and Lismore," said North Coast Region Swimsafe coordinator, James Roberts. "Alison has a fantastic reputation as a quality swimming instructor with many people calling in wanting to re-book their child into a second Swimsafe program - but only if Alison would be teaching."

Alison said she loved teaching kids how to swim.

"I get so much satisfaction out of seeing them progress from being afraid of the water and not wanting to get splashed, to having the confidence to go it alone and actually swim," she said.

"It's really nice to have been recognised by NSW Sport and Recreation in this way."

Swimsafe lessons in Lismore begin at the Summit Sport & Fitness Centre, Goonellabah, on January 10 and at the Splash Factory on January 4. For more information phone 131 302.

Swimsafe times

The starting date for the Summit Sport & Fitness Centre and Splash Factory Swimsafe classes is January 4, 2005.

Swimsafe is conducted at pools across NSW for school age students right through to adults.

Within each group, lessons are run for complete beginners through to confident swimmers who need to improve their technique.

The nine-day program costs $36.45 for preschoolers (18 months to 4 years), $48.60 school age(4 years and over), with an extra siblings discount price of $36.45. The fees do not include pool entry fees, which may vary between pools.

To enrol in Swimsafe phone 131 302.

Triathlon season warms up

Fifty of the Ballina Triathlon Club's finest lined up for the second club race of the season at Pop Denison Park on the weekend. The early season contests aren't handicapped, so that means a large crowd entered the water at the same time. After much splashing and thrashing, Matt Lamont and Rachel Brown were the first two out of the water.

These the two set up a blistering pace for the others to follow. Matt finished in a time of 25:31, closely followed by Dom Howard with a time of 25:57 in the men's division. Rachel was first female home in a time of 26:51, with fellow NCAS triathlete Kate Nine second in 27:10.

Some performances worthy of mention were Todd Pursey (aged 17) with the fastest 5km run leg in a time of 18 min 53 sec.

The young duckling's event, for the youngest members, again produced some excitement, when Harrison Brown led out of the water, increasing his lead with slick dressing moves. Alexandra Alder chased strongly, followed closely by younger brother Sam Alder, but despite solid runs they were unable to catch the determined Brown.

Next week's event is at Pop Denison Park. Duckling's event starts at 5.45pm and the main race starts at 6pm.

Trinity gets wet and wild

Trinity Catholic College water polo junior boys and junior girls teams came away undefeated in the recent Lismore Diocesan Water Polo Championships in Ballina. The junior girls team even overcame the intense rivalry of Woodlawn 4-3 in the final.

On the same day the senior Lismore Diocesan Water Polo Championship was held in Alstonville, where the senior Trinity team lost their first two games, but came back to take out the title.

Local soccer promises heated battles

The Lismore Italo Club hosts this Saturday's much-anticipated top and bottom clashes in the third round of the Summer Youth League.

At the bottom of the group, the local North Coast Suns are hoping to overcome Slacks Creek to stave off the embarrassment of the wooden spoon. Their opponents have conceded 19 goals in their last two encounters, whereas the Suns have only allowed nine, and in weekend games, both teams finally managed to find the back of the net.

Suns coach Paul Foster certainly believed his side improved markedly on their round 1 performance. Despite missing a number of players, young replacements were impressive during a 4-1 loss to Force. Foster will look to Luke McPherson and Kyle Sutton to continue their good form. This is the Suns' first home game of the season and a large crowd is expected.

Preceding them is the top of the table clash between Brisbane Force and Rochdale Rovers at 5.30pm. A little bit of rivalry has built up between the two sides over the past year and this game promises to be one of the most entertaining to date, especially since the sides have booted home a combined total of 28 goals in just two matches. The smaller field at Barrow Lane will be unfamiliar to both sides and ensure a tight game with the battle in midfield likely to decide the outcome.

The Slacks Creek v North Coast Suns game kicks off at 7.30pm.

Under the big spotlight

Zac Engle takes just a bit too big a swipe at this one for Marist Brothers Blue in a Kanga under 10's game on Saturday.

Demi Pickford shows great technique, getting side on before bowling for Souths Red in Kanga cricket.

Umpire Bob Myatt was all smiles after his first game under lights.

South's Third Grader, Slim upholds the fine supportive traditions of his team. South's third grade has been wearing ducks for many years. They even own three specially velcroed hats for the purpose.

Bob Myatt umpired his first game under lights on Friday night when East Asia Pacific bowled it up to the Far North Coast open side.

Myatt, a member of the Ballina District Umpires Association, has only been an umpire for two years, but is already behind the stumps at regional games.

Bob sees umpiring as "the logical next step" after 24 years of playing cricket.

"It's a great way to put back in to the game. I started playing when I was six, I retired when I was 40," he said.

Bob was a wicket keeper-batsman for Cumberland second grade, his career highlight was lifting his team to premiership victory by taking six catches and contributing 60 runs in a final.

Bob only recently retired from the police force, as local area commander in Tamworth, so he could spend more time with his family and as it turns out, do a bit of umpiring.

"Umpiring is all about people management. If you explain to the captains that there is a rule called 'the spirit of the game' and that they are responsible to uphold the traditions of the game then things tend to work out fine," Bob said.

"I like to get on first name terms with the players. I prefer it if they call me Bob. Umpiring is a great job, you're in every ball. It's the best seat in the house."

NOTICE

Girlfriends, trustees of the Australian and Queensland Cricket Association and players recovering from injury will all be happy to note that no local senior cricket will be on this weekend, except at the Gabba.

Speed kills

State cricketer Mathew Phelps came home this week to check out the speed of our local bowlers and remind younger players of the need to keep that speed on the field and off the roads.

Phelps, who has been an occasional starter in the NSW Pura and ING cup squads, helped out as a speed camera recorded the bowling speed of students at his old school, Richmond River High, on Tuesday.

The roadshow also visited students at Trinity and Alstonville high.

In the Lismore area alone, speeding was a factor in 46 per cent of fatal crashes between 1999 and 2003, accounting for 13 deaths in five years.

A family affair

Tony in blue and Glen in red.

In the overall point scores for the Northern Kayak Marathon Series 2004, the Curtis brothers once again performed majestically, with Tony winning the open mens K1 division and brother Glen hot on his heals in second.

In the Veteran 45 womens single seated touring kayak division Marion Brownlie won through again maintaining her grip on the "Barnacle" trophy, a trophy which she has virtually made her own. Local paddler, Elspeth Berger, placed second in the same division.

Their efforts and solid paddling by the entire club helped the Far North Coast Canoe Club to fourth in the overall club series. Which is a very creditable result considering there were over forty clubs in the competition drawn from as far as Logan in the north and Forster in the south.

In addition to the Curtis brothers, Vince Cross took 5th place in the very competitive Veteran over 35 K1 class.

Brent McGearey, Mike McKeough, Paul Yager, Mark Yager, Garry Lee, Wendy Deboer and Naomi Norris were also placed in the races they competed in but did not attend enough races to be placed in overall series point score.

Lismore (FNCCC) will be hosting the first race of the Northern Marathon Series early in May 2005.

The Kayak Club Christmas Party will be on down at Shaws Bay, Ballina on Sunday, December 12, in place of a 'come and try' day.

An afternoon paddle including novelty races, canoe polo etc will be followed by early BBQ dinner.