Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker with Lindsay Doust

The big bad weather catch

Last week we had a picture of Pat Curran. Today, it's father and son with two top fish caught off Evans Head.

Last weekend was spoilt by bad weather. Most offshore boats were kept in port and even the river meant looking for a sheltered spot away from the strong southerly. A good raincoat was also needed. However, hardy anglers ventured out to catch the occasional school jewie and nice flathead. Overall it was a good weekend to do some maintenance on fishing tackle.

That said, the social interclub challenge at Clarrie Hall Dam was a great success. The challenge between four local clubs ended with the Richmond Valley Sportfishing Club coming out on top in the overall length division by only 10mm. Hundreds of bass were caught and all released with the main lures being either soft plastics or spinner baits.

Many thanks to the Tweed Council who opened up the Cram's Farm area for camping and fishing over the weekend. The longest bass caught there was 39cm and one angler (who fished very long hours) caught over 50 fish.

Clarrie Hall Dam is a town water supply and fishing is only allowed for boats powered by oars or electric motors. This is also reflected in many of the big Queensland Dams, eg Hinze on the Gold Coast, the Brisbane water supply dams and others. However, in New South Wales, we are unable to get the authorities to move with the times. Rocky Creek Dam could be a great recreational catch and release daylight venue with no negative impact at all on water quality.

This weekend is the Ballina Shimano fishing classic. Entry is only $22 with great prizes. All fish are to be weighed in alive. Entry forms at Suffolks Sports Store.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

Whose committee is it anyway?

It's often said that politics and sport don't mix.

I'm more of the opinion that politicians can't mix it on the sports field and that politics in sport, like death and taxes, is unavoidable. And while our elected representatives often find it difficult to hit the pitch during a game of social cricket, their work in the chamber is vital to the future of our beloved pastimes.

So hoping to find the sweet spot, I thought I might help with the middle order batting during the current debate over the future of Lismore Council's committee system and particularly the make up of the Lismore District Sports Association (LDSA).

Council general manager Paul O'Sullivan has hinted that he thinks the present public consultation structure is flawed. In fact he has intimated that the committees have become private clubs whose members think they have the right to harass Council staff.

His proposed solution is a trio of high-powered councillor committees to oversee the work of lesser policy committees made up of councillors and community members. The renovated LDSA would become the 'Sport & Recreation policy advisory group', answering to a 'Quality of Life' (it sounds like palliative care) standing committee.

Why he thinks high powered committee members will be less inclined to pressure Council staff, I'm not sure.

With Lismore about to embark on a series of major sporting carnivals, councillors like John Chant, who chairs the LDSA, is wondering how this new committee is going to work with a proposed Events policy advisory group and the Tourism policy advisory group, who find themselves under the wing of the Economic development standing committee. How to undo the O'Sullivan Rubik's cube?

For what it's worth, I have two suggestions.

Firstly and most importantly, the review of the committee system should be open to public submissions.

Secondly, I would submit that the LDSA should consist of delegates from the 12 largest registered sporting associations. Each of these elected delegates would have the voting power equivalent to the number of registered players in their association in the Lismore City area.

Far from meeting irregularly to discuss strategic directions, the new LDSA should not only outline a proposed budget for sporting expenditure, it should also have recourse to bargain over the details. Ultimately councillors are the umpire when it comes to deciding where the money goes, but why can't the people it directly effects have more say in where they think the money should go?

Some councillors don't know a flipper from a zooter or a chip from a grubber or a slider from a television series, so you have to wonder if their election mandate really makes them qualified to control Council's sporting expenditure?

Sport brings tens of millions of dollars into this community.

Now we know Mr O'Sullivan isn't a fan of history (or George Santayana it seems), but a little history lesson is called for, because it seems that this management obsession with pyramids, despite pictures to the contrary, makes everything a little top heavy, with Council seeing itself as arbiter of all decisions for this city, forgetting the ongoing grassroots contribution many people make to our daily lives.

The LDSA was originally an independent association that formed under its own steam and slowly came under Council control - partly for convenience reasons, but also to ensure more effective communication and co-ordinated decisions. The Council is now trying to define the rights and responsibilities of the committees as though they were council departments. They're not. Organisations like the LDSA are part of the directly democratic nature of our system of politics.

It should be up to the committee to determine, in discussion with Council, its own rights and responsibilities. The committees are not another subservient part of the executive, they are a direct conduit of the people's will and are in existence to advise Council.

Risking the goodwill of the sporting community, by failing to properly consult with them, makes me wonder if this committee review is for the benefit of the community or simply for administrators who are forgetting why they got their job in the first place.

Veterans polish off the silver - Table Tennis

Three regular players at the Goonellabah RSL Table Tennis Centre, Werner Borkhardt (Byron Bay), Colin Gradwell (Lennox Head) and Geoff Simes (Lismore), upstaged highly regarded opposition to bring home an array of silver medals from the recent Australian Open veteran table tennis championships in Canberra.

Werner Borkhardt, playing in the over 60s men's singles competition, finished on top of his group after the preliminary rounds before the knockout stage. In the semi final, Werner faced 18-time Australian singles champion Igor Klaf of Melbourne and caused sensation by eliminating Igor from the competition 3-2 in a dour struggle.

Former Vietnamese champion and defending titleholder Inh Van Le from Sydney was Werner's opponent in the final. Van Le had not lost a set over the whole week of competition and kept a clean slate, winning 3-0.

In the doubles, Werner teamed with Alan Drury of Brisbane to knock off world veteran championship bronze medallists, K Cole and H Foelich, in the semi final.

In the final they faced the formidable defending champions, Igor Klaf and Van Le, who claimed their third consecutive title.

Werner's effort earned him a spot in the Australian test team to play New Zealand early next year.

Geoff Simes competed in the over 75 men's event. Although Geoff was unseeded he produced some exceptional form to finish on top of his group after the preliminary matches, and defeated more fancied opponents in the quarters and semis. Once again the local champ fell one short of the title, but his silver was an exceptional performance.

Senior superfish

240 years + female medley relay 2004 Queensland State and Pan Pacific Games record holders (l-r) Anne Cresswell (Victoria), Minnie Smith (Twin Towns), Therese Crollick (Duck Creek Mountain) and Tricia Liddy (Twin Towns).

Local swimmer Therese Crollick set a games and state record in the 4 x 50 metre (240 years plus category) medley relay in the recent Pan Pac Masters Games. She combined with two swimmers from the Twin Towns club and one from Victoria for the race, but unfortunately, the state record can't be recognised because the swimmers were not from the same club.

Therese and two other local swimmers, Scott Hahn and Kath Egan, made the journey up to Southport pool to compete.

Lismore's Scott Hahn swam excellent times against very tough competition and came away with a bronze medal in the 50m butterfly. Scott had a tough programme, swimming four events and two relays in one day, but enjoyed every minute and said he will definitely be back next year. Scott also plans to compete in the Queensland Master State Championships in April.

Kath Egan of Ballina was very pleased with her two personal bests in the 50 backstroke and 400 freestyle.

There were over 400 swimmers competing, including some well known names like Shane Gould and Jenny Whitley from Sydney.

The Duck Creek Mountain Swim Club is having a Christmas get-together at the Pioneer Tavern, Wollongbar, on Wednesday, December 8, at 7pm. Anyone who is interested in joining the adult swimming club is welcome.

A little ray of Suns shine

In what coach Paul Foster referred to as 'a sloppy effort' the North Coast Suns finally got the better of Slacks Creek, thanks in part to the sending off of a Creek player in the second half, to win their local match in the Brisbane Summer Youth League on Saturday night. The Suns finally drew away to a 3-1 win on the back of goals from Matt Gordon and Mathew Pratten against the depleted Creek side.

The game was played in constant drizzle, which might excuse some of the lack of touch and failure to maintain possession that typified the Suns' play.

After early pressure from the visitors, Suns' Eden Robinson found the back of the net from close range. The goal was laid on by Tom Guttormsen, whose controlled free kick fell well for the advancing Robinson.

The Suns one goal lead didn't last long when Slacks Creek were awarded a penalty early in the second half. The Creeks' Greg Farrell slotted the goal and it looked like being a cliffhanger until the send off.

The Suns speedy line-up used the numerical advantage with Guttormsen providing another goal for Mathew Pratten thanks to a clever cross and Matt Gordon also beating the keeper.

In the other match of the double header, Rochedale Rovers got the better of Brisbane Force 3-0, with a send off also marring the contest.

This Saturday night, November 27, the Suns will take on the form team of the competition, Rochedale Rovers, at the Italo Club, Lismore. Rovers smacked the local lads 5-0 in the first game of the round. The Suns will have the home ground advantage this time and have improved markedly, but they will need to lift their work rate if they are to restrict the skilful Rovers line-up.

The match up between the solid Rochedale defence of Ryan Turner, Jake Sherwood and Mark O'Neill against the pacy Guttormsen and Hirst should prove a big influence on the result.

The game starts at 7.30pm.

Harlequins triumph

The Lismore Harlequins added another gold to their impressive medals cabinet when they took out the over 45s soccer at the Pan Pacific Games on the gold coast recently.

Despite determined and consistent partying the Harlequins increased their team medal tally over 11 years of competition to eight.

Every year for the last decade the Harlequins have travelled to Masters games, amassing four gold medals, two silver and two bronze.

This year's side opened with a 1-1 draw against Uruguay Seniors, before downing the strong Kiwi Masters 2-1, Camden Old Boys 3-0, Gold Coast Beach Boys 2-0 and Canberra Old Boys in the final 1-0.

Double trouble

Casino Little Athletics Centre will host the second round of the Northern Rivers Zone LAANSW Tri Series athletics competition this Sunday at Riverview Park, South Lismore.

"With the first round being washed out after just one third of the program had been completed all the athletes can't wait to hit the track again," Cecil Keep, president of the Casino Little Athletics Centre, explained.

"This weekend will see the full second round program of events being contested plus the make up events for round one being scheduled in as well. This will mean that the older age groups may have up to eight events scheduled for the day. This will keep everyone on their toes, even the officials."

Once again the three to five year old tiny tots will feature on the program as a participation event. Their program will include a 50 metre track, 50 metre mini hurdle race as well as long jump.

Sunday morning's program begins with registrations between 8 and 8.45am with the first track event scheduled to commence at 9am.

Lismore parents please note there will be the normal morning events on this Saturday, November 27.

The Northern Rivers Zone Championships will be held at Nambucca Heads on December 4-5.

Masters of the red centre

Although they didn't bring back any silverware, six local softballers did bring back some great indigenous art and some spectacular images from the 10th Masters Games in Alice Springs.

Val and Ross Dowse, Lynne Brown, Susan McDermott, Kimm Giacobetti and Suellen Pursche joined over 4500 competitors at the games, where the average temperature was 34°C.

While Lynne was busy shopping and scoring, Ross was taxiing Val, Kimm, Susan and Suellen to the games. The quartet joined local team Alice Nomads to play in the Division 1 competition to play six games during the week.

It might be the red centre, but sporting facilities are superb; lush grass and night lighting. Their last game was against a team from Melville Island, who hadn't played softball before (they took home gold medals in soccer). After the game, the Island Girls presented artworks to the team captain.

Along with a host of magical photos, the group made some new friends and plan to return to Alice Springs Masters Games 2006 and hope be part of a FNC team.

Waratahs to visit Lismore

Story & photo: Julian Ryan

Far North Coast Rugby president Maurice Ryan, HSBC NSW Waratahs coach Ewan McKenzie and Life Saver Helicopter general manager Perry Wells at Crozier Oval on Tuesday with a signed Waratahs jersey that will be auctioned for charity when the Waratahs come to Lismore in February next year.

Rugby fans will have a chance to meet some of their heroes when the Waratahs visit Lismore early next year for an open training session at Crozier Oval.

As well as the training, a number of Waratahs and their coach Ewan McKenzie will be guests of honour at a fundraising dinner in aid of the Life Saver Rescue Helicopter and Far North Coast Junior Rugby.

Mr McKenzie said the visit is a great opportunity to promote the sport in the bush.

"We will be using the visit to get in touch with our support base and further the cause of rugby in regional NSW," he said. "We're looking forward to meeting all of the fans and supporting the helicopter and the local juniors."

Far North Coast Rugby president Maurice Ryan said he was delighted with the visit.

"North Coast Rugby has experienced the largest growth in numbers of junior rugby teams in regional NSW," he said. "This visit will give the juniors a chance to meet some of the highest profile players in the game as well as help the Life Saver Helicopter," Mr Ryan said.

The Waratahs will train in Lismore on Thursday, February 3. The fundraising dinner will be held that evening at the Southern Cross University Union Restaurant.

For tickets and bookings phone the Life Saver Helicopter Base on 6627 4444.

What's hot, wet and pink?

Tom Cooper and Brett Ruttley walk off to raucous applause after Tom scored 100 off the last ball of the 50 over match against East Asia Pacific at Oakes Oval recently.

Eastern Districts will don hot pink pyjama tops for the first of the one-day games against Workers Club at Oakes Oval this Friday night from 5pm. If there's a light drizzle - where the game can continue under new rules - expect some hot wet pink pyjama tops. With newly selected Country NSW players Ian Gregory and teen superstar Tom Cooper, featuring in the game, it could give local cricket the sexing up it needs.

Workers Club officials are doubtful they can match the Eastern District fashion statement, especially since the club's board seem to have refused funding for coloured jim jams.

Whatever they wear, one thing is for sure: Workers are looking down the barrel of a belittling at the hands of Bruce Jobson's team. Apart from the speed, bounce and movement that opening bowlers Ian Gregory and Brett Ruttley can summon up, the last time that Cooper and Ruttley paired up on the Oakes wicket they put on a partnership of 101 against East Asia Pacific. On paper, Easts should dominate in every department.

To make matters worse, the under-dressed Workers will be without opening bowler Mick Knight, who obviously inspired Glen McGrath when he top scored with 73 in their last game.

On Saturday, Oakes Oval hosts the Souths versus Tintenbar/East Ballina game from 3pm. Souths haven't dropped a point in the LJ Hooker League and managed to dismiss the 'Bar for 75 last time they met - some 80 runs shy of the Souths total.

Since then, Tintenbar's Brett Crawford and Phil Dalli have found some form with the bat, but they will need to focus if they are going to get on top of Souths' miserly attack. Blok, Bateman, Fredricks and Coster have been quick to find the right length (full) on bowler-friendly pitches. The Premiers' older heads even got the better of the powerful Easts line up last round.

Tintenbar made light work of Ballina Bears last game, dismissing the hapless side for a meagre 100. Only four of the batsmen managed double figures on the Kingsford Smith landing field - flattest track in the region. They'll need to lift if they are going to hold off the high flying Norths Goonellabah RSL this weekend.

The Hawk's Nathan Bonamy easily leads this year's bowling averages with 16 wickets at the cost of only 82 runs. Bonamy is an intelligent bowler who has let the wicket do the work and Fripp Oval should be again to his liking after the rain.

The Bears will also have to counter the depth in the Hawks' batting line up, including the pick of the side, Adam Osborne, whose very well constructed 43 n.o. helped guide his team to victory over Marist Brothers.

Lennox Head were bundled out for 95 by Casino Cavaliers and they will have to improve markedly in this weekend's one day against the well-drilled beef boys if they don't want a repeat performance. At one stage Lennox were 8-43 and if it wasn't for Denmeade (27) and Legzdins (21) it would have been a walkover.

The Cavaliers' young bruising batsman, Sam Irvine, performed brilliantly for the North Coast team in Maitland recently and his confidence will be sky high. This looks like another mismatch, but then the one day game has this way of balancing the ledger.

The final match of the knock out one day round is between crypt inhabitants, Alstonville, and the equally challenged Marist Brothers squad.

The Hawks had the brethren 6 for 9 in the last match until Ferguson (48) and Arnett (75) restored some pride. However, the total of 6-138 was far from enough against the top of the comp Hawks.

Alstonville has had a forgettable start to the season with Redmayne their only consistent performer with the bat and even he hasn't gone on with it. Greg Potter is, however, a class act and he is due for a big one. This should be the match of the round and it gets under way at Nesbitt Park from 12.30pm on Saturday.

Walking the talk

ATSIC Many Rivers Regional Council in partnership with NSW Sport and Recreation are set to deliver greater sporting opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from the Hawkesbury River in the south, to the Tweed River in the north.

The 'Walkin the Talk in Sport' program joins human resources and a sports funding portfolio to create fantastic sporting opportunities for indigenous people.

Mr Paul Hernage, Regional Manager for the Northern Region of the NSW Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, said Walkin the Talk in Sport has a wide range of programs and services available to Indigenous people.

"The partnership aims to promote active participation in sport and recreation, skill development, talent development and provide financial assistance to talented young athletes," he said.

As part of the initiative, applications are now open for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for Aboriginal Sports Funding Grants of up to $500 in the following categories:

1. Participation grants - for individuals, coaches and officials.
2. Team, organisation, club or special events grants.
3. Talent Development Scholarships - for advancing sportspeople.

Guidelines and application forms for the Walkin the Talk in Sport funding grants are available by contacting your NSW Sport and Recreation regional office.

The local Aboriginal program office is at Lake Ainsworth Sport & Recreation Centre. For further information phone Teena Reeves on 6687 7168.

Pitching in

FNC Baseball is politely seeking volunteers for a working bee at Baxter Field this Sunday from 8am to 11am. The working bee will focus on maintenance to prepare the diamonds for the upcoming Under 16 Australian AA Baseball Championships.

For info phone Leanne Clark on 6624 3000.

Speedway postponed

Keep your engines idling car lovers, because the December 4 speedway meeting has been postponed to an unspecified date next year. The cancellation is due to the unavailability of the Late Models. The next meeting at Bartercard Lismore Speedway will now be the Mr Modified Series round 1 on Boxing Day.

Trivia night

Headlanders Bodyboard Club is holding a trivia night to raise funds for Caitlen Brown, who was severely injured whilst bodyboarding on the NSW South Coast. The event will be held at the Ballina Jockey Club on Thursday, November 25. For more information, please phone Ballina High School on 6686 2133.

Team challenge

The first annual Headlanders versus Border South Bodyboard Club Teams Challenge was held in small surf at Ballina over the weekend. The two clubs fielded their 12 best riders over three divisions with Border South Bodyboard narrowly taking away the silverware.

I've got a lovely bunch of bicycles

Josh McHugh, in his debut in B Grade, convincingly won the first twilight criterium of the Northern Rivers Cycle Club season at Wollongbar.

Phil Cooke and Peter Fairfull made a break and worked together in the C grade division to keep clear of the field until the finish when Peter's powerful sprint put him a couple of bike lengths in front on the line. Terry Crowe (another newcomer to the grade) narrowly won the sprint for third place ahead of Tony Clarke.

Keiren O'Grady (in his maiden race) led for the last few laps in D grade only to lose the final sprint.

In all, a field of 18 riders were split into three grades for the twilight race. Due to light limitations, all three grades raced on the small circuit at once. This caused the race to become a little bunched at one point when C grade lapped D, and B in turn overtook the C graders. As the days get longer, the four grades will be split into two separate races.

Overall the handicappers seemed to get it right, as nearly every rider who'd been bumped up into a higher grade won a place.

There was quite a gathering of spectators for the event.

The next criterium is at Russellton Industrial Estate on Sunday, December 5. Sign on is at 7am. Visit the Northern Rivers Cycle Club website for details - www.nrcc.org.au.