Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker with Lindsay Doust

Remember your licence

Riley Edwards with a Barramundi.

A Merry Christmas to all our readers, may you catch a nice feed of fish during the festive season. There will however be extra pressure on our waterways, due to the greatly increased number of fishing lines that get cast at this time of the year and this can sometimes have a negative effect on catches. There are only so many fish to be caught, regardless of the number of anglers.

Many of the holiday anglers will be once-a-year people, so remember your licence, size and bag limits.

Summer usually brings the flathead and whiting on as the main species in our estuaries and this season will be no different.

The tides this week-end are good for whiting in the well known whiting spots and assuming most of us will be eating prawns on Christmas Day, the Boxing Day tide in the morning is spot on.

Some nice flathead are showing up around the Ballina Ferry with a number of these in the 2.5 to 4kg class and if using plastics, there are some nice schoolies and trevally mixed with them. The trevally may not be our best table fish but they are great sport on 3kg to 4kg braided line.

The river continues to frustrate bass anglers. It clears up a little then we have more rain but it looks like we can put our lures away for a few more weeks yet. Toonumbar and Clarrie Hall Dams will be the best bets over the next few weeks for bass.

Enjoy your Christmas and New Year and your fishing. We will be in touch again when the Echo returns from its Christmas recess.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

Fat chance you'll be any help, Santa

It is very easy to preach and take a 'holier than thou' higher moral ground; to box the readers' ears about watching the Boxing Day test on the box instead of playing beach cricket with the kids; to chip away at people about putting on the pay TV golf instead of walking nine holes; to turn on the rhetoric about the battle of the bulge and obesity.

But all it does is lift the stress levels for my beloved readership and after all, emotional stress (another soothing chocolate anyone?) is one of the major causes obesity in the first place.

Excessive mental stress depletes energy levels, inclines us towards eating more sweets and fatty foods, and depletes our enthusiasm for physical activity.

We need the sugar fix to maintain the mental effort of all the worry. Fatty foods calm our anxiety. Just as importantly, in a state of anxiety our digestive systems doesn't work properly. Anxiety creates a flight and fight response, restricting circulation to the heart and head and dramatically slowing digestion. It's not a good combination.

Often it's emotionally stressed children and adults who are obese and it's a vicious cycle. The larger we get, the more people attack us for being overweight and the more stressed we become... so greater the desire for solace in food. All we need is calm, quiet encouragement. The journey back from excessive weight is a slow one that demands a lifestyle change. The best thing you can do is offer support and friendship.

For some, the Christmas period is one of the most stressful and socially dislocating times of the year. There are marked increases in major stresses, from road fatalities to storm damage (or even dealing with the relatives). More children come into the care of DOCS at this time of the year that any other. For many, Christmas sucks.

So don't add to the hysteria. Chill out.

It's fine folks. Just sit on the couch if you're tired and don't set unreasonable goals that only create high expectations and stress. 'Tis the season to be mellow.

Some of us just don't have enough friends to organise a game of beach cricket. Don't worry about it. Find what friends you can and have a quiet chat or just sit and watch the cricket together. Ring Lifeline if you need to, for a friendly ear.

By all means go for a game of golf, but don't compete for space on the course. Ring up before you go to see if there is space to play and remember Casino, Kyogle and Coraki (and even Tintenbar) have lovely courses too.

The children will probably be on your case to run about like chicken-sans-head. They're children, they don't realise how important relaxation is. Yet.

SO WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T STRESS.

I can't stress that enough.

Faithfully - The Loon

Sport rage

Over the last four years the numbers of sporting officials has dropped by a staggering 26% according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has attributed this collapse to a growing lack of respect and abuse of officials. Research seems to indicate that the most common reason for quitting is verbal abuse. To address what they are now calling 'sport rage' the NSW government has launched webpage rich in information to counter these growing anti-social tendencies.

Of course officials are not the only people badly affected by the aggressive and anti-social behaviour at sporting encounters. It creates an unsafe environment for players, coaches, spectators and volunteers alike.

Sport rage comes in all form shapes and sizes. Earlier this year a South African soccer referee shot dead a coach at the end of a game.

Anger management, as a general rule, needs to become part of club culture. In the past, psychologists believed that bashing bags was a positive way to relieve stress. But more recent studies indicate that repetitive physically aggression in response to stress tends to hardwire those responses into the brain. Those violent responses then tend to take over at moments of intense stress. Given the increasingly monetary and vocational nature of sport, sport is high stress.

The website includes a 'sport rage prevention kit' that covers incident management, the laws regarding abuse and violent behaviour and a host of tools to encourage fair play.

This site is a must for local sports clubs. Visit www.dsr.nsw.gov.nsw.au

The Suns set, but with pride - Soccer FNC

Tom Guttormsen with his Golden Boot Award and Kayleen Hopf from Harvey World Travel Lismore.

The North Coast Suns can look back on this year's Summer Youth Soccer competition with great pride despite falling just short of a berth in the quarter finals. The young Suns outfit needed two things to progress to the next stage; a high scoring win over Slacks Creek in the last match of the qualifying round and for South West Queensland (SWQ) to lose to the Sunshine Coast Hawks in their final game.

The first objective the Suns fulfilled in scintillating fashion, slotting home five goals to one against "The Creek' in Brisbane on Saturday night.

This year's local premier division golden boot, Tom Guttormsen, showed all his class, speed and determination posting a personal hat-trick of goals to ensure the Suns had every chance of making the finals. James Hirst and Daniel Morrow also helped out with a goal apiece as the Suns dominated possession and territory during the encounter. Although the Suns did concede a last goal they had lifted their goal average by the required four to be level with South West Queensland. All they needed SWQ to lose to the highly-rated Sunshine Coast Hawks.

That match was a thriller. SWQ scored early in both halves, but they also allowed Hawks striker Sam Bennett a hat-trick. As the match was drawing to an end the Suns looked bound for the quarter finals, but it was not to be. With only minutes left on the clock SWQ pushed everyone forward and it earned themselves a draw.

The Suns had done everything in their power, but in the end their undoing was a match beyond their control.

Coach Paul Foster was philosophical about not making the next stage.

"These lads are very young and I was extremely happy with the way they did everything asked of them during the competition. They were up against some very experienced and talented teams and we certainly improved with every match," he said.

Lock up your kids

Mayor Merv King and councillor John Chant hunting rabbits? Or ready to dodge bullets from the faithful pitching arm of Far North Coast baseball stalwart Geoff Hallman?

Rex Airlines Far North Coast Baseball is offering the perfect solution to school holiday boredom - yard ball.

As part of the upcoming AA Under 17 National Baseball Championships at Albert Park, the US Major League Baseball is bringing a yard ball batting cage to Lismore. The child-friendly cage allows the youngsters to learn the finer skills of batting with the safety and confidence of a foam ball in a supervised environment.

This very popular cage will entertain kids for hours, or they can join their parents watching one of the 36 Australian Championship matches at Lismore's own international standard Baseball Park - all for free.

The championship runs January 7 to 16, and will showcase the elite of Under 17's baseballers from throughout Australia. The games begin at 10:30am and run late into the evenings under lights at Baxter Field.

The standard of play will be exceptional, with future Major League Baseballers, Olympic potentials and numerous future stars strutting their wares.

Joining the crowd are a number of scouts hoping to spot the next big signing for the US Major League. Not surprisingly, some of these players will be pitching at around 150 km/h, which is right up there with the pace of cricket speedsters, Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar.

For more information on session times, visit the Far North Coast Baseball website at www. fnc.baseball.com.au and follow the links for the daily time slots.

Fun is a mission

Rafting is just one of the fun things kids can do at the Brunswick Heads Scripture Union Family Mission during the Christmas break.

Looking for something fun for the kids just after Christmas? Think about taking them along to the Brunswick Heads Scripture Union Family Mission. Also known as "beach mission", the program runs from December 28 until January 5 at the Brunswick Heads Public School.

Highlights include a family biathlon, a raft race and a host of entertainment. Each day there are activities for all age groups, from 3 to 18. TheY also caters for parents, with sessions on car maintenance, first aid, craft and golf, as well as an adults dinner. On January 2, there's a special parent pampering afternoon. Everyone is welcome on any day and it's all free.

Up to 50 beach missions span the NSW coast, all operating at the same time. The aim of each team is to make God's love known to children, young people and families, while also building relationships and having a great time.

All children need to register on the days they attend the program. Registration forms are available from any team member from December 28. For further information on Brunswick Heads SUFM, call 0413 323 805.

Sharks sighted in Lismore

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

Local rugby league is set for a huge season in 2005 with the Group 1 competition expanding to include 14 teams.

The big hits and fancy footwork kicks off on February 5 with an exhibition game against a US team and a national competition trial match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Parramatta Eels at Oakes Oval in Lismore

Although it is doubtful Brett Kimmorley, Phil Bailey or Nathan Hindmarsh will be play after being part of the winning Tri-Nations team, the rest of the squads should be at full strength, including the thrill-a-minute David Peachey.

Both teams under-performed in 2004, so this pre-season game promises to be a deadly serious encounter, especially for younger players trying to crack into the top team.

The curtain raiser between Tweed Heads and the United States Tomahawks promises to be a real cracker as well, especially after the form the Tomahawks exhibited against the world champion Kangaroos recently. And it will also be amusing to see how the Yanks play on grass rather than synthetic turf.

In May, Oakes Oval is also the venue for another top class fixture when Country Origin takes on City Origin in what is basically the selection trial match from the NSW Origin squad.

The city v country rivalry can be traced back to the beginning of rugby league and the first annual NSWRL and CRL clash began in 1928. The origin concept added spice to the mix in 1987 and since then the encounter has been a torrid one between some of the best players the state has to offer.

League comp grows to 14 teams

On a local level, Group 1's team numbers will expand to 14 with the inclusion NSW side of the Group 18 competition. This will bring teams such as South Tweed, Seagulls, Tweed Coast Raiders and Cudgen into Group 1. The first round will see everyone involved, with each side playing against the others, before the second round reverts to a set of local derbies with Group 18 teams playing each other and the original Group 1 teams fighting it out. How it will affect the final point score is unknown, but on a economic level it will help the local clubs, who depend on local derbies to bolster their gate takings.

Local organisers are keen to lift the number of registered referees for this season. And they're also on the lookout for former whistle blowers. Give Robin a call on 6632 2023 if you'd like rejoin the local league peace-keeping force.

Women leading sport

Applications are now open for the Sport Leadership Grants for Women program.

In 2004, grants were provided to 68 individuals and sports organisations to develop women's sport leadership skills.

The grants are available in five key areas: high performance coaching and officiating; Indigenous women in rural and remote communities; women in disability sport; women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women in general sport leadership.

Funding of up to $5,000 is available to individual applicants and up to $10,000 for approved organisations.

Applications close on Friday January 28. For more details, go to www.ausport.gov.au/women/grants.asp.

Cross your fingers for clear skies - Cricket

NSW Country representative, Ian Gregory, races past umpire Warrick Oliver to bowl against Ballina Bears last match. This weekend he picked up 3-21 from his nine overs but it wasn't enough to stop Lennox Head knocking off the 138 they need for victory.

Three teams seem to be vying for this year's LJHooker premiership - Norths/Goonellabah RSL, Southern Districts and the Casino Cavaliers - but it would be a brave commentator who would write off any of the next four teams on the ladder; Tintenbar East Ballina, Ballina Bears, Easts or even Lennox Head. Every team in the competition is improving, particularly Alstonville, the Bears and Lennox.

A number of teams will lose their top young players when they take off for university or to further their cricket or work ambitions in the city in 2005. Easts will obviously feel the loss of NSW Country batting sensation Tom Cooper, but few sides will be completely unaffected. The veteran Souths and Hawks teams looked to be the best fireproofed against player losses (unless it's due to retirement...), which boosts their campaigns for the trophy.

Souths have the added advantage of a seemingly easier run into the finals with games against Alstonville, Workers, Lennox and Ballina Bears, but this could prove to be a deceptively easy path. Alstonville's top order found some form against Casino last weekend as Derek Partridge (63) and Gary Boyd (31) made some long-awaited runs. Greg Potter (26) also got a start before being run out. Potter, on his day, is one of the most elegant stroke-players in the region and Gary Boyd is a very clean hitter. If they fire, no side is safe.

If it wasn't for Sam Irvine's (96) purple patch of power hitting, Alstonville could easily have prevailed.

Workers are a young team rich with the burgeoning talent of Wes Koskela and Matt Legge. If their brace of older mercurial players strike form, anything can happen. Steve Hughes, Mick Knight and Paul Ianna can all hit the cover off the ball if they can just get a start.

Lennox Head also proved that they're no easy beats when they got the better of Easts on Saturday. The addition of former Brisbane first grader Paul Everingham gives the side a distinctly mature and determined look. Everingham, who helped Marist Brothers to the minor and major premierships back in 1980s, brings an enormous depth of cricket knowledge and a real fighting spirit to the team.

The Ballina Bears clobbered Marist Brothers to race past their 113 in only 29 of the possible 45 overs. Opener Lee Barnett must have knocked up his 72 at close to a run a ball.

So much for the easy path to premiership glory.

The Hawks and the Cavaliers have a harder road to hoe - firstly against each other and then the powerful Tintenbar East Ballina team.

While points will be harder to come by, the difficult road can help lift the performance levels of the teams going to the semis.

The Hawks tied with Souths in their second consecutive tie, following a similar outcome in their match against Tintenbar/East Ballina.

To play in two tied matches is extraordinarily unusual but to tie two games in a row is simply careless. Only kidding.

Souths must have been quietly confident of amassing the necessary 166 with form batsman Paul McLean (65) at the wicket, but with his run out Souths staggered and were fortunate that the scorers had muddled the books.

What is becoming increasingly obvious is the turn that off spinners are getting on the local Lismore pitches. McLean (2-26) and Steve Lockhart (2-20), both finger spinners, took wickets and were highly economical. In the up coming NSW country championships having a quality spinner could prove decisive.

NSW Country Championship

Country Victoria are the present holders of the Country Championship title and look like maintaining their strangle hold on the title during the Australian Country championships which start with a civic reception on January 3 at Oakes Oval.

Country Victoria boast a host of city first grade players, notably off spinners Paul Bradley and Chris Hopper, who are both quick through the air and quick through their overs. NSW Country batsmen will need to be aware of this pair penchant for spitting out their overs in rapid succession and do what they can to upset their rhythm.

Victoria also have the notable inclusion of a right handed batsman called Richie Hassett and yes he is related to one time Australian Test Captain Lindsay Hassett. Richie is making the step up this year from the Victorian 2nd XI. NSW Country will be hoping that young Hassett is not as quick on his feet as his forbear who amassed over 3000 runs for Australia at an average of 46 during the 1930's , 40's and 50's.

Victoria's Bradley Major is another batsman that New South Welshmen will need to restrain. Major scored 144 in his 1st grade debut at the modest age of 15. Bradley's father also scored a century in that match and played for the Victorian Country team 20 years ago.

NSW Country, who were runners up last year, will take on Victoria in the first game at Oakes Oval on January 4-5. This match could easily determine the outcome of the entire competition. If NSW Country has any chance against the Mexicans, local players Ian Gregory and Tom Cooper will have to be on their mettle. Gregory will be fortunate to share the new ball with Newcastle's Duncan McIlveen who picked up 19 wickets last year.

NSW Country will play their next game at Oakes Oval as well as against East Asia Pacific on January 6-7. Their third round game is against Western Australia at Fripp Oval on January 9-10. NSW then move on to South Australia at Thompson Oval, Brunswick Heads on January 11-12 and then finish up playing Queensland at Heaps Oval Lismore on January 14-15.

Under 12's Carnival

January 4-7 Lismore will hold the 22nd annual Under 12 Cricket carnival with teams drawn from all over NSW and Southern Queensland. Two Far North Coast teams will be part of the 14 team competition. The championship, which is played across the breadth of Lismore's local recreation fields, has usually gone the way of the Newcastle sides.

An under 13 carnival will also be taking place in Ballina during the same time.

School asked to play ball

FNC Softball is asking for expressions of interest from local primary schools to participate in an after-school competition during Term 1, 2005. The games would be played at Albert Park at 4.30pm under qualified umpires, beginning in week 2 or 3, with finals played in week 10. Coaches may also be available.

The aim is to teach young players the basics of softball and prepare them for the Public Schools Sports Association round robin, which will follow later in the school year. The children who participate will have the advantage of game experience and specialised coaching. Students who currently play in FNC competition will not be excluded.

The teams are mixed gender and everyone gets the chance to try different fielding positions. Schools can nominate whole teams or individual players. Teacher participation will be encouraged. Some equipment will need to be supplied by schools and the kids will wear school sports uniforms.

Contact Suellen Pursche on 6663 1488 for details.

Jesse Baynham makes contact with a high one in the modball in a game between a combination Dodger's Workers team and Goonellabah.