Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker

The curse of the carp

Lloyd Armstrong and carp at Chaffey Dam.

Last week we mentioned the catching of some carp in Chaffey Dam not far from Tamworth. They were truly big fish. Two or three were close to a metre long. European carp have invaded our NSW river systems. They are probably as prevalent in the western rivers as Murray cod and yellow belly. Most probably they have escaped from aquariums and they breed prolifically in our rivers. They are also in our coastal rivers. The Richmond and Clarence have both been invaded.

Locally there are populations in Bungawalbyn and Emigrant Creek and other places as well. They are terrible eating although some people who have settled here from Europe have a taste for them. They are very muddy and have lots of bones. If you catch one, cut its throat and throw it on land. Do not let it go alive. Carp are as big a pest in our waterways as the cane toad is on dry land. At this stage, although scientific work is being done on a method of eradication, they seem to be growing in numbers.

Lloyd Armstrong (pictured) caught this one at Chaffey Dam. He and Max Sidney caught three others that were even larger.

This Sunday there is a round of the Bass Electric Championship at Clarrie Hall Dam. Several members of the Richmond Valley Sportfishing Club are competing.

Last weekend as predicted the whiting performed well. This has been one of the very good years with many anglers getting their bag limit (20) with many fish close to 40cm long. School jew have also been worth a go with some nice fish in the 6-10kg mark (good eating size).

The crowds have largely left Ballina and this should improve fishing for the locals. I am looking forward to a couple of days throwing plastics at flathead. This Sat/Sun try from 8am to 11am with some plastics. Using fishing plastics (a type of lure) is an art. For only $18.95 you can buy a DVD on how to do it or hire a video from us at Suffolks Sports Store for $10 per night.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

Going berserk

Although the Australian Open was a bridge too far for our small, blonde, bellicose little Aussie, Lleyton Hewitt appears to have taken up the mantle of greatest fighter in Australian tennis history. But what sort of fighter is he?

In between the adverts that calmly informed us that we are a country of compassionate oil thieves, many of us watched Hewitt come back from two sets down game after game, such that it started to seem that he was immune to loss. After his great escape in the quarterfinals, tennis luminaries were hanging this title of the greatest Australian tennis fighter of all time, albatross like, around this neck.

Fortunately for Hewitt, Australians embrace losers as much, and maybe more, than we do victors. After all, our unofficial Australia Day is really Anzac Day, where we remember our greatest military defeat on the bullet-riddled beaches of Gallipoli and honour those who fell in that ill fated campaign.

However, before our sympathy for the vanquished Hewitt takes hold, I would like to offer a possible insight into the nature of Lleyton's fighting qualities.

Norse mythology is rich with the depiction of a semi-magical kind of warrior called a 'Berserker'.

Berserkers refused armour when they went into battle, preferring to work themselves into a fury instead. This fury or rage was said to have begun with shivering, chattering of the teeth and a chill in the body. The Berserker's face would swell and change in colour as they became increasingly hot-headed. Finally this unrestrained anger would at last give way to complete rage, where they would howl like wild animals, bite the edge of their shields, and cut down everything they met without discriminating between friend or foe. When this condition ceased, a great dullness of the mind and feebleness followed, which could last for several days. During the 'berserk' state these warriors would perform things which otherwise seemed humanly impossible, such as continuing to fight despite mortal wounds. It is also said that Berserkers were immune to weapons and could blunt their opponent's blades just with the intensity of their gaze.

Obviously, Lleyton doesn't cover his face in wode or bash the linespeople on the head with his racket, though I'm sure the thought must have crossed his mind. In fact he is humble in defeat and seems to be developing a sense of humour, which will serve him well after his playing years are over. That said, only his most one-eyed supporters would fail to see a bit of the Berserker in Lleyton.

Is it possible that Lleyton has Nordic forbears?

And congratulations to Marat Safin - anyone who can beat Roger Federer deserves a grand slam.

Keeping up with the best

Even a thick spattering of mud cannot hide Joshua Keep's love of cross country cycling. This shot was taken during the World Championships in Les Gets, France, in September.

Joshua Keep, named Lismore's Junior Sportsperson of the Year during Australia Day celebrations last week, revealed the secret of his phenomenal success in cross-country cycling to The Echo.

The Australian Junior Cycling Team member told us that he stretches every muscle in his body twice a day, or more if he feels any tension in the muscle.

This stretching, combined with a gruelling program of daily cycling, helped Joshua make the national team, which travelled to Les Gets in France last September for the mountain bike World Championships.

"It takes about an hour to do all the stretches," Joshua said. "I stretch each muscle for 40 seconds and longer if they're tight."

However, Joshua doesn't just keep his muscles limber, he also maintains a supple mind with study. Despite an arduous training schedule, Joshua managed one of the highest UAI scores at Kadina High, where he studied for this year's HSC.

Wanna get physical?

Ms Carly Lynch is the instructress at the Lismore Physical Culture Club.

The Lismore Bjelke Peterson Physical Culture Club is having a sign-on and information afternoon at the Lismore Heights Public School Hall this afternoon (Thursday, February 3) from 4-6pm.

'Physy', as its devotees fondly refer to it, incorporates dance, gymnastics, ballet and aerobic exercises for girls of all ages over four.

All choreography is designed to develop strength, grace, coordination and flexibility while also promoting fun, fitness and friendship.

Lismore Physical Culture Club is a long established club whose members compete at local, state and national level.

For further information phone the club's instructress, Carly Lynch, on 6689 9235 or 0432 345 298.

Tah's train in Lismore

The NSW Waratahs will be training at Crozier Oval, Lismore, today (Thursday, February 3) from 4pm to prepare for a Super 12 trial match against the Queensland Reds the next day.

They will then retire to Southern Cross University for a dinner in aid of the Life Saver Rescue Helicopter and Far North Coast Junior Rugby at 6.30pm. The guest speaker is Peter Fitzsimmons with guest MCs Jerry Collins and Wallaby Justin Harrison. Tickets are $95 per head, $900 for a table of 10, or $1000 per table of nine plus a player. For bookings phone 6627 4444.

Indigenous Bear makes NSW team

Len Blok delivers another difficult ball against Casino Cavaliers early this year. Len took 5-14 against Workers on the weekend.

Ballina Bears' captain/coach, Andrew Gordon, has been selected in the NSW Indigenous cricket squad for the second year running.

As part of the NSW Imparja Cup squad he will be competing in the National Indigenous Cricket Championships in Alice Springs from February 23-27.

The talented all-rounder, who works as an Aboriginal resource person at Evans River K12 School, won selection in the Indigenous Australian team last year and is looking for a repeat performance.

Andrew's team, the Ballina Bears, have been on the improve all year and are working consistently in the nets to make the finals.

"We're training very hard," Andrew said. "Twice a week. It's a very young squad. I'm 24 and I'm the second oldest player. We enjoy the extra session."

At present, the Bears are locked in a struggle with Lennox Head on Fripp Oval for a place in the top four. Lennox, who are level with the Bears on points, managed a very competitive total of 206 thanks to a solid start of 43 from veterans Paul Everingham (30) and Mark Denmeade (22). 59 from middle order batsman Tim Fisher combined with some lower order hitting to get the runs on the board. The Fripp pitch has only conceded one other score over 200 this year, so Andrew's charges have it all ahead of them.

Last week's rain produced a series of soft decks across the region, particularly in Lismore and Alstonville. The coastal grounds drain a little quicker but that didn't stop the Marist attack tearing through Tintenbar East Ballina's top order.

The Bar lost their first three wickets for 1 run against lowly placed Marist Brothers. Brett Crawford, Mick Warburton and Phil Dalli all failed to trouble the scorers as the wickets tumbled. Their ducks were the first of the Hooker season for all three of them. However, the Brethren failed to take full advantage of the early breakthroughs as the Bar ended up posting 180 off 70 overs.

Brothers shared the wickets out among themselves with Pat Foran (2-18) and Steve Arnett (2-24) the best of the bowlers. Interestingly, veteran all-rounder Chris Mathews, who has long suffered with back problems, also bowled 10 overs, which is a good sign for Brothers, as the lanky right-hander can be difficult to get away.

Medium pacer Luke Shay (63) and the Bars' captain Duncan Elphick (35) rescued the Bars' innings from ignominy with some good stroke play.

On a soft Nesbitt Park pitch Souths opening bowler, Len Blok (5-14), proved too tricky a customer for most of the Workers line-up as the men in maroon managed only 92 from 36 overs. However, Workers hit back late in the afternoon, leaving Souths 5-67 at the end of the day's play. The long and gruelling day in the extremely humid conditions took its toll on Souths while Workers newfound consistency with the ball got them back into the match.

That being said, with form batsman Paul McLean still at the wicket, Souths are still in the driver's seat.

Five caught and bowled dismissals in Easts first innings against Alstonville is virtually unheard of, but to start the next innings with two caught and bowled in a row is bizarre. Caught and bowled statistics are hard to come by but I'm sure that seven is a record for a day's play in the Hooker League.

Easts managed 128 thanks to a compact 42 to Martin Tucker. A stirring spell of opening bowling from Ian Gregory and Jake McKinnon then turned the tables on the red soilers to leave them struggling at 4-43, with their best batsmen back in the sheds.

The Casino Cavaliers and Norths Goonellabah RSL game was washed out last week and will be played as a one-dayer at Queen Elizabeth Park this Saturday. This crucial game will determine who drops out of the top four.

Ladies struggle over purse - Golf

More than 40 leading US, European, Asian and Australian tour professionals are expected to vie for the lucrative $15,000 Ladies Pro-Am purse at Coraki Golf Club this Sunday, February 6.

"Already we have nominations from a number of overseas players with New Zealand, Scotland and Sweden represented so far, along with a strong group of experienced and up-and-coming Australian players," said Coraki Golf Club president Neil Clark. "More than 40 lady professionals competed in the inaugural pro-am last year and all indications are that as many, if not more, will come again."

The Australian Ladies Professional Golf Inc sanctioned Order of Merit event will be the second presented by the club after its highly successful tournament early last year, which was won by Mullumbimby local Nicole James.

Nicole won last year's play-off against rookie Lindsey Wright on the first play-off hole when she confidently parred to secure her first victory on the ALPG Tour.

Players returning for this year's competition include Corinne Dibnah, Angela and Wendy Hawkes from New Zealand and Therese Hjertstedt from Sweden.

For further information on this Sunday's Pro-Am phone Neil Clark on 0429 929 083 or Peter Cordery on 6620 3696.

The Coraki Golf Club would like to thank Optus World and Sony Erikson, Carlton United, Mid-Richmond Plumbers, Strammit, Eagle Plumbing, Budget Eyewear, 88.9FM and NBN Television, as well as many others for their sponsorship.

Choppers to music

Third placed New Zealander, Simon Lockington, hovers his Vigor 90 model helicopter upside down just centimetres from the ground during the X-Cell Cup Aerobatic Competition in Lismore last weekend.

The expression session of the 2005 X-Cell Cup Aerobatic Competition thrilled a small but avid crowd of onlookers at Lismore Fields in East Lismore over the weekend.

The aerobatic competition drew a host of highly experienced national and international flyers to perform in the 'expression sessions'. These sessions require the operators to perform freestyle helicopter aerobatics to music.

The X-Cell Cup was held in Lismore thanks to the support of Fred Proos, an Australian importer and representative for the X-Cell model helicopter manufacturer.

Following the announcement of the event, entries came in from all over the country and overseas. Australia's top pilots contested the various sections of the event, among them three fliers who will represent Australia at the world titles, to be held in Spain later this year.

In the final rap up, Nigel Brown from Perth came away with the cup. Jeff Blunt from Newcastle was second and New Zealander Simon Lockington was third.

Owen to teach the teachers

Experienced presenter Louise Owen will conduct an Austswim course at the Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre from February 12-13.

NSW Sport and Recreation, in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society, sponsors this course.

The teacher-training course is the pre-requisite for all other Austswim electives and will provide participants with the essential competencies to teach swimming and water safety to persons aged four years and over.

Candidates in the course must have turned 16 prior to attending the course and possess a current CPR certificate to fully qualify for accreditation.

A full CPR course or a CPR update can be gained during the course.

Once qualified, Austswim instructors can register for employment with NSW Sport and Recreation's annual Swimsafe program.

For further details about becoming a swimming instructor, contact Tony Meldrum at NSW Sport and Recreation on 6687 7168.

Alstonville Tennis

Alstonville Tennis Club will be holding a sign-on at Lumley Park courts this Saturday, February 5, from 2-5pm.

The club caters for juniors and adults who want to play socially or competitively over the next six months, or who want professional coaching. For info phone Steve on 6683 4043.

Stars netty sign on

Italo Stars Netball Club is holding a sign-on day next Saturday, February 12, upstairs at the Italo-Australian Club, North Lismore, from 11.30am till 1pm. For more information phone Vickie on 6621 7648.

NRL hits Lismore

Greg Bird will be on his best behaviour this Saturday in Lismore after getting a 10-week suspension last year for kneeing a South Sydney player. Discipline is an important part of the Sharks' 2005 game plan.

Not since the early 90s has Lismore hosted a fully-fledged festival of the boot.

This Saturday over 10, 000 people will sit cheek to cheek upon the hills and stadiums of Oakes Oval to watch five top level games of rugby league. The league extravaganza, which gets under way at 1pm, culminates in a trial match between NRL giants Parramatta Eels and Cronulla Sharks at 7pm (for further details and the chance to win free tickets, see front page).

Last time the NRL sides met Parramatta wiped the floor with Cronulla 44-22. In the eight try rout at Cronulla's Toyota Park the Eels crossed out wide early on through the likes of Luke Burt and Matt Peterson, then their hard running pivots punched holes at the edge of the ruck to finish the Sharks off. Despite this victory in the third last round, the Sharks still ended up one ahead of the slippery men on the ladder. In all, 2004 was a below par season for both clubs, however, the trial match at Oakes Oval on Saturday night will be between two quite different squads.

Cronulla strengthen defences

The 20-man Cronulla Sharks squad has been bolstered by the inclusion of four inner city big men as a consequence of the Sharks amalgamation with the Newtown Rugby League 2nd grade team. Phillip Leuluai, Clifford Manua, Lafi Manua and James Stosic will all travel to Lismore to out muscle the Eels.

Leuluai, a one time member of the Junior Kiwi touring team, is a big tackling second rower, as is Clifford Manua, while Stosic will bulk out the front row.

The Sharks are employing the Newtown connection to sure up their defences, which looked particularly threadbare at the end of last year. The Sharks conceded 36 points or more in each of the last three games of 2004, when one win would have been enough for them to make the final eight.

A lack of discipline also marred Cronulla's season. The Greg Bird kneeing incident against South Sydney's Shane Marteene did nothing for the club's image and his 10-week suspension white-anted what had been a solid start to the year. As the season unfurled, hard man Danny Nutley also gave away too many penalties and often at the wrong end of the field. Cronulla coach Stuart Raper will be eager to encourage controlled aggression, particularly from his new inner city charges.

To this end Raper may well be keeping the big new boys away from Sharks fullback David Peachey. Peachey was arrested and released without charge after a mass brawl in Sydney's Kings Cross in late December. The brawl was apparently sparked when Peachey tried to stop a fight between relatives.

Ironically, the brawl erupted after a function at Rushcutters Bay where Peachey had been on hand to launch a Christmas CD to benefit his charity foundation.

Parramatta purchase playmakers

To counter the loss of elusive runners Jamie Lyon and David Vaealiki, the Eels have moved in the hard running Eric Grothe from the wing and pushed their five eight Daniel Wagon into inside centre.

Moving Wagon wider has made room for the brilliant running and creative play of PJ Marsh (Warriors) at half and ex-St George rake Mark Riddell.

Riddell, who is famous for his pre-goal kick salute, is sure to make plenty of yards out of dumby half and will be looking to link up with Nathan Cayless and the hugely built Dean Widders if he can break the line.

In addition, the recent signing of origin speedster Timana Tahu will add a real attacking edge to the Eels. He will be coming off the bench for this match.

The Parramatta line-up looks the goods, particularly around the edges of the ruck where Cayless and Riddell should have a field day. However, the Eels were full of name players last year and yet they rarely gelled.

Cronulla

Gains:

Adam Dykes (Parramatta);

Paul Mellor (Castleford);

Hutch Maiva (Bulldogs);

Luke Covell (Wests Tigers);

Luke Harlen (Penrith);

Beau Scott (St George-Illawarra);

Philip Leuluai, James Stosic, Cliff Manua (Newtown).

Losses:

Matthew Rieck (Wests Tigers);

Paul Franze (Penrith);

Chris Beattie (France);

Pat Gisbon (Carcassonne);

Dean Dosnich (Pia);

Jason Kent (released);

Michael Russo (retired).

Parramxatta

Gains:

Timana Tahu (Newcastle);

Mark Riddell, Henry Perenara (St George Illawarra);

Paul Stringer (South Sydney);

Chad Robinson, Ian Henderson (Sydney Roosters);

Glenn Morrison (North Queensland);

PJ Marsh, Marcus Perenara (Warriors).

Losses:

Adam Dykes (Cronulla);

Michael Witt (Manly);

Chris Thorman (Huddersfield);

David Vaealiki (Wigan);

Junior Langi (Salford);

Craig Stapleton (Leigh);

Lee Hopkins, Shane Muspratt (released)

Corey Pearson (retired)

Jamie Lyon (St Helens);

Wise Kativerata (Randwick rugby);

Chris Armit (Bulldogs);

Mal Kaufusi (London).

Meet the teams

The Parramatta Eels will be signing autographs and meeting fans this Saturday, February 5, at Lismore Shopping Square from 10-11am. Everyone is welcome.

The Cronulla Sharks will be holding training sessions for kids on Friday, February 4, at Oakes Oval from 3.15pm. They will also be signing autographs and meeting fans on Saturday, February 5, at Lismore Central Shopping Centre from 10-11am.

Pre-match entertainment

Well-known Gold Coast singer Rachel O'Dwyer and local entertainer Luke Vassella will be part of the pre-match entertainment that starts at 6pm, before the big match at 7pm.

Physically psyched

The Goonellabah Physical Culture Club is `psyched' for 2005, by all accounts.

2004 was their first year and started small with just a junior club, but the addition of two new teachers this year means that they can now offer seniors (14-16yrs) and ladies classes.

Australia Day Young Citizen nominee, Donna Lowden, will be teaching 3-7 year-olds, national finalist Jaime Whittingham will teach 8-9 year-olds and will assist with the 10-13 year class.

"We are very excited to have Jenna Conners joining us," says Jaime. "Jenna is a very experienced, talented and popular teacher and she will take 10-13 years and seniors classes."

The club also welcome, back from premature retirement, Margaret Webster.

Classes begin next Tuesday, February 8, and new members are most welcome.

Their new venue is the Goonellabah Scout Hall in Cassia Crescent, Goonellabah.

For further more information phone Lisa on 6622 5223.