Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker

So much for my suggestions last weekend! The strong north easterly made conditions very difficult outside and on the beach. So long as we continue to get these hot, humid days, it is very likely there will be a strong north-easterly as well.

It was pleasing to hear during the week that funds are being made available to either remove the Norco Weir at Casino or alter it to allow the passage of native fish such as bass. Bass need to travel up and downstream as they migrate to and from spawning areas and this weir has been a major barrier to the natural instincts of the bass.

We are often asked if seniors need a fishing licence. The answer is yes, unless they are receiving a government pension or are part of the Indigenous population. A Seniors Card does not exempt you from a licence unless you are a pensioner. Persons under 18 are also exempt, not students over 18.

This yellow belly (golden perch, pictured), weighing just over 8kg, was caught last December while on a trip out Emmaville way. It was taken on a red and black spinner bait in the gorge country of the Severn River. Just recently another Lismore angler caught a 10kg Murray cod only 500 metres away from where the yellow belly was taken. This is private property where cabins are available to rent.

I am happy to provide the contact number for any who would like it. It is 4WD country and the trip is very worthwhile. Note: all fish caught at this site have to be released.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

Let's get real about reform

It's time to get deadly serious about reform in the Lismore and District Sports Association (LDSA). Late last year the general manager heralded sweeping changes to the structure of the LDSA, along with all the committees. The LDSA answered this call for change with a polite yet resounding 'get stuffed', but the chance for change hasn't completely evaded us.

My detailed suggestions are as follows.

Each meeting of the new committee will be a riveting NORPA production filmed under lights on Oakes Oval. The monthly reality TV experience would be called My Sports Association Rules and like the offspring of a union of The Flood and Australian Idol, it would be dreadfully well meaning and will capture the hearts and minds of our great nation.

A young female and scantily attired cast would replace the long-term sports enthusiasts that are on the committee at present. Most of the cast would be drawn from the major capitals, where there's lots more good looking people. What's more, by employing the children and friends of the major network bosses, we will get much better coverage.

What would be lost in terms of local knowledge and commitment to the local sporting community would be made up by the ratings and the torrent of sponsorship dollars.

The bum dance would accompany all successful motions, minutes will be sung in karaoke (watch for the Beatles special featuring Help and Lady Madonna), and tea will be served by Ian 'Dicko' Dickson. It's a bonanza waiting to happen... we could fill the multi-million dollar memorial pool black hole overnight!

During the running of the series the TV audience would be asked to vote off members who they felt weren't sexy enough to represent our region. Oh, and who didn't fair all that well in the occasional committee procedure quiz?

To make things more interesting Lismore Council will have a mole on the committee. The TV audience will again be asked to text message in the name of the mole and their correct entries will go into a barrel, which will be tossed over the levee into the next minor flood. Should anyone complain that there hasn't been a winner to the pick-the-mole competition, a winner will be drawn at random from the telephone book. The winning entry will then be hidden in the bottom of a quarterly report. If the winner entry is ever uncovered, then that winner will get the chance to choose what kind of flowers they want on the roundabouts.

During the 12-month My Sports Association Rules series the chairship will be rotated to give ineptitude a chance to flourish. This will sort the workers out from the wafflers and ensure that monies needed to fund the pool loan repayment would not be squandered on sporting infrastructure in the meantime.

The last remaining committee player will win the right to choose which council Lismore is forced to amalgamate with. Mark Burnett, eat your heart out.

Local softballers make Northern Country team

Local softballers Danni McLean, Bec Burbidge, Jaimee Claydon and Karina Harvey have all been selected in the girls Under 16 Northern Country team after the Far North Coast dominated the divisional championships in Tamworth recently.

The selections came on the back of the Far North Coast grand final victory over McLeay 10-7.

Bec Burbidge, who pitched the final with great speed and accuracy, combined brilliantly with catcher Danni McLean, giving up only 3 hits throughout the game. Danni's footwork and calling of play was exceptional and her understanding with shortstop Jaimee Claydon was nothing less than phenomenal. Karina Harvey performed well with the bat, slogging a grand slam in the final as FNC clobbered 8 hits during the match.

FNC had started the series nervously, losing their first two games, but the girls never gave up hope. As the pressure mounted the players grew in stature and intensity. The third game against McLeay Valley went down to the wire, with the game going into extra time. In the last innings the girls ran all over a crumbling McLeay to sweep to victory 21-5.

On Sunday the FNC battery clicked into gear as every player hit safely against the Tamworth team. Despite their success with the bat this game turned into another nail biter as the FNC squeezed by their adversaries 17-16. The next game against McLeay Valley was very tight as well but once again FNC prevailed 8-5 and the win put them into the final.

Kristie Oag was injured on Saturday and came into the final game as a Designated Player (DP) and had two safe hits.

The grand final win earns FNC the right to contest the State Championships in May.

The boys Under 16 FNC team also went to Tamworth but failed to come away with any silverware, however, Nick Gooley, Lachlan Johnson and Brendan Gillespie were all selected for the Northern Country squad.

Burning Rubber with Ben Daley

One for the road

Herne and his mobile.

The 04-05 V8 Dirt Modified season has been a mixed bag for Stuart Herne, but last weekend at Lismore Speedway changed all that. Herne's victory on the Lismore circuit lifted him to NSW No. 1 as he added yet another state championship win to his already impressive V8 Dirt Modified portfolio.

In a race that passed without a single stoppage, people were held on the edge of their seats until Herne crossed the line ahead of second placed Victorian champ Tim Morse and Gold Coaster Luke Oldfield.

After taking the lead early in the race, Herne was never threatened, while further back the competition for places was intense. Morse, Oldfield, Tony Sneddon, Ray Klarich and Aussie champ Mark Robinson were all involved in a major battle. Morse and Oldfield eventually broke free to take their finishing positions respectively.

The Modified Production sedans put on some good racing with Aussie champ Peter Lack coming home in first, and Lismore clubmen Greg Worling and Steve Downes filling second and third respectively.

Other winners during the night were Nick Stubbs in the Amca's, Jason Green in the Stockers, Luke Gray in the Streeters, Matt Gamble in the 4 Cylinders and Thomas Duncan in the Juniors.

Next weekend Lismore Speedway will host the inaugural running of "The Grenville" - The Grenville Anderson Super Sedan Memorial. Stay tuned for a preview of the race next week.

Doubting Thomas

According to National Party Lismore MP Thomas George, sporting and recreational groups in the Lismore electorate are entitled to be peeved with the State Government's delay of funding under the Sport and Recreation Capital Assistance Program (CAP).

"Not only has the State Government appeared to have cut the amount allocated under the program to each electorate by about $5000, it looks like they might be slyly cutting a year off the program," Mr George said.

Mr George's office informed The Echo that sport and recreation groups in the Lismore electorate usually receive advice as to whether they will receive funds or not in about August or September each year. However, the government has slowly pushed the grants announcements out to March or April, Mr George said.

"I know that the sports and recreation groups in my electorate eagerly seek and await the announcement of the grants under the CAP, which enables much needed work on local sports amenities to be undertaken by those groups," Mr George said. "To delay payment to those groups, who are out selling chook raffle tickets and organising lamington drives and other fundraising activities to raise their dollar for dollar contribution, is an insult to those hard working, local sport and recreation committees."

Andrew Williams, press secretary for Sports and Recreation Minister Sandra Nori, said they had a very blunt response to the allegations.

"There is no delay in the delivery of the Capital Assistance Program (CAP) for 2005," Mr Williams said. "The CAP was scheduled for release in the first quarter of the year. For the past 10 years at least, there has never been an announcement on CAP funding in August or September."

The ride of your life

Long-term Western Performance Riding Club treasurer, Gail Mackney, sits very comfortably in the saddle.

Western performance riding originated in America and has been taken up in Australia since the introduction of the quarter horse.

The original Western Pleasure Riding Club began around 1980 in this area but due to a number of members' wish for a slower and more relaxed pace, a new club was formed a couple of years ago.

The new Northern Rivers Western Performance Club has members ranging from 13 to 61.

Western pleasure riding requires training horses in a different style. This training takes place in a relaxed atmosphere on clinic and show days where the horses and riders are instructed in bridge crossing, backing and turning between parallel poles and a number of other manoeuvres used in showing.

Clinic and show days are held on the last Sunday of the month. The next chance to be part of this delightfully relaxing pastime out at Jiggi is this Sunday, February 27, at 9am. Gina Pagan from Grafton will be the instructor for the day.

For further information phone Margaret on 6663 1491.

Life's a beach

Ballina Lighthouse & Lismore Surf Life Saving Club will host more than 500 local youngsters during the annual two-day Far North Coast Surf Life Saving Branch Championships on Shelley Beach this weekend.

In addition to the 500 competitors each day, there will be close to 100 championship officials - race starters, judges, referees, water safety and first aid officers, all contributing to the smooth running of the event.

During the championships Ballina locals will come up against stiff competition from eight other surf life saving clubs from the region; Brunswick, Byron Bay, Cabarita Beach, Cudgen Headland, Evans Head-Casino, Fingal Rovers, Lennox Head-Alstonville and Yamba.

Despite being one of the smaller clubs, Ballina Lighthouse & Lismore Surf Life Saving Club is expected to more than hold its own on the weekend thanks to the work of club trainers and local surf life saving heroes Rob Miles and Will Keane.

Adding a new dimension to the championships this year will be the addition of surfboard riding to the event schedule.

The championships start at 7am on Saturday with surfboard riding the first event. The official opening and march past will happen on Sunday from 9.30pm. The opening will culminate in the presentation of the Nipper of the Year award.

Members of the Ballina and surrounding communities are encouraged to come down to Shelley Beach to support and cheer on their local club.

Infrastructure refund

Former long-term Council employee and would-be councillor Laurie Cooper has called for Lismore Council to provide money for sporting infrastructure now.

Mr Cooper is angry after Council re-directed sports funding to make up a shortfall in the maintenance budget last year, and wants to see the money used for its original purpose.

Mr Cooper cited an article in The Echo a fortnight ago where councillor Jenny Dowell said Council staff had hidden the re-direction of funds at the bottom of a quarterly report.

"I know Council is in budget session at present and now is a perfect opportunity for Council to right their wrong and fix this sports funding issue," Mr Cooper said. "We have all read what councillor Dowell has had to say in the press and if we are to believe her then the councillors were misled."

However, Cr Dowell was quick to quash any idea that Council staff had deliberately misled councillors.

"I would not like to suggest there were any ulterior motives involved in the management of this issue," she said. "We made an error and we're working to get the best outcomes possible from the upcoming session."

Mr Cooper claims that approximately $200,000 has gone missing from five different local sporting projects in the last 18 months which was then allocated to the maintenance budget.

Lismore District Sports Association chairman Cr John Chant told The Echo that the LDSA had passed a motion early this month asking Council to re-allocate the money for the five projects in question as soon as possible.

"The motion was passed unanimously," Cr Chant said, "and it has been passed on to Council for deliberation at their next meeting."

Golf with Stan Bendall

Juniors dominate Miller Cup

Juniors Drew Hannigan, Joe Chilcott, Daniel Morgan and diminutive dynamo Tom Ruhl trounced their Mid North Coast opposition on the Byron Bay course last weekend to ensure that the Northern Rivers District Golf Association retain both of the BL Miller Cups.

The youthful quartet showed up their more experienced colt and senior teammates as they came away with a 5-1 win during the 4 ball match play and the single match play tournament.

The scores were tight after the first day with the juniors ahead 2-0, the colts drawn 1-all and the open team 1-all as well. It was only on the second day that the Northern Rivers teams pulled away.

Colts did their part in retaining the colts trophy with a close win 3½ to 2½ thanks to some excellent play by Brenton Marshall and Brendan Griffiths.

In fact it would have been a clean sweep if Paul Clark could have snuck past Peter Owen in the open division on the final afternoon. But it was not to be as Paul fell 3-2 and the open men's rounds ended in a 3-all draw.

In all it was an excellent weekend of golf, fine weather, good track, and very closely contested match play.

Workers set to snavel 7's cash

Last year's Port Macquarie 7 a side winner, Lismore Workers Club, will be looking to add to their coffers when they travel to Lennox Head for Soccer FNC's inaugural North Coast 7's tournament this weekend (Feb 26-27).

Workers picked up $2000 dollars for their efforts in Port Macquarie last year and will be hoping to snavel a fair wack of the $4000 prize money at Lennox this year.

The new FNC tournament is set to become an annual event and has already attracted major sponsorship from Lennox Point Hotel and entries from four clubs outside the region - Hunter Hornets, Tamborine Mountain, Grafton and Kingscliff.

In all, 14 clubs will be vying for the prize money across four divisions.

However, Soccer FNC premiers, Workers, might find it hard going against newly promoted Goonellabah, Stars and the coastal teams.

In the open women's division, Lismore Workers will probably be the side to watch as well, with SCU also likely to field a strong line-up. In the over 35s Lennox Head and Byron Bay look strong contenders. Matches will be played at Skennars Head fields.

Baggaley bound for Croatia

Nathan Baggaley outclassed his competitors in this year's grand Prix 2 in Penrith last week to qualify for the 2005 Australian Flatwater Canoe/Kayak Team. The team will travel to Croatia in August to compete for Australia in the Flatwater World Championships. 

In what was a clean sweep for Cape Byron Canoe Club in the K1 500 class, Nathan beat fellow club members David Rhodes and Craig Rodgers across the line with 1.14 seconds to spare.

However, David also showed he is in line for a spot in the national team with a win in the K1 1000 class.

In addition to their individual wins, Nathan and David wrapped up their weekend of great racing by taking out the K2 500 class.

Frantic fight for finals spot

Competition for a finals berth has reached fever pitch, if you'll excuse the pun, as the LJ Hooker League moves into the final game of the preliminary rounds. Only Souths are completely secure at the top of the competition on 55 points, having clinched the minor premiership with a hard fought win over Lennox on the weekend.

Below them five teams are wrestling for the three final spots; Tintenbar East Ballina (The Bar), Ballina Bears, Norths Goonellabah RSL (The Hawks), Casino Cavaliers and Lennox Head - all of whom, excluding Ballina Bears, have a reasonably easy draw for the final match.

The Bears, who leaped to third with an outright over Workers, must win this match against Souths to hold their spot. The Bears will be missing their inspirational captain Andrew Gordon for the first weekend of the game. Andrew will be away on representative duties in Alice Springs. However, Souths batting has looked increasingly suspect over the last few weeks and it has only been their indominable bowling line-up that secured them the title.

The Bar, who are coming off a gutsy win over the Hawks in Lismore, are at home to competition crypt inhabitants Alstonville. Alstonville managed their first win of the season last week when they handed on the wooden spoon to Marist Brothers. The Bar's batting should prove far too powerful for the inexperienced red soilers.

The Casino Cavaliers, who are hitting form at just the right time, should make light work of Marist Brothers when the brethren get out to Queen Elizabeth Park. Cavaliers' captain and former Country NSW representative Adam Shields spanked 123 off Easts on Heaps Oval last weekend as the beefy boys brushed aside the waratahs two days in a row. On Friday night the Cavaliers also got the better of the men-in-pink in the one-day knockout semi final.

The Hawks have a more difficult job ahead of them to stay in the finals race as they take on Easts on Nesbitt Park. Easts may have a depleted and increasingly inexperienced line-up but they still have major weapons in the bowling of Ian Gregory and Jake McKinnon, and significant batting prowess in the form of Bruce Jobson and Brett Ruttley. The Hawks have been without the left arm orthodox spin of Steve Lockhart and it has been a telling factor. This one could go down to the wire, however the Hawks should be more desperate and that should see them through.

The dark horse in this race is Lennox Head. Lennox will play the Workers Club on Oakes Oval. Workers were outrighted last weekend by Ballina Bears and their batting is in disarray. They could give up the maximum points again and that would see Lennox in ahead of the Bears and the Cavaliers. It will all depend on whether Lennox can get on top of Workers' accurate bowling attack and score quickly enough to set up the big win.

Forward battle looms in rep rugby

Last year's grand final adversaries, Ray Taylor and Tony Handford, will join forces when Far North Coast Dolphins take on Central North in the landmark Country Rugby Union Championships this Saturday, February 26.

The rangy Lismore City second rower, Taylor, and beefier counterpart, Casino's Handford, will need to be on their mettle early against Central North's muscle men, who have dominated recent games.

In past encounters the big Central North forwards have often called the tune. The Dolphins will be out to match them up front this time around and have named Lismore's star second rower Ray Taylor, Casino's Tony Handford, Country representative prop Dave Hales and the Rat's Daniel Doyle in the run on team.

The first round of the Country Rugby Union Championships will be crucial for both teams, with the winner likely to represent the north of the state in the play-offs at Aussie Stadium on March 26, provided they can overcome Mid North Coast in later matches.

Coaches Gervase Bertus (FNC) and James Thibault (Central North) are aware of the importance of the game and have built up their teams for Saturday's showdown.

The Dolphins have played trials against Bond University and Gold Coast representative team the Cyclones. They will finish their preparation with training at Wollongbar this Wednesday.

Central North has played a trial against Sydney Grade side West Harbour and had a vigorous two and a half hour training run on Sunday.

An Under 20s clash between the two regions will get the show on the road at 4.30pm, before the Far North Coast vs Central North game at Ballina Quay Reserve from 6pm. This will be followed by a junior game with the North Coast Academy of Sport taking on the Northern Inland Academy at 7.30pm.

Canteen and bar facilities will be available and admission is free.

Umpiring stats deceptive

Fears that the numbers of referees were on the decline have been allayed by new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. In the five years since the last report on involvement in organised sport, the percentage of adults involved in whistle blowing outside the Sydney metropolitan area has marginally increased from 38,100 in 2001 to 46,600 in 2004. In percentage terms this means that the numbers of people umpiring and refereeing has remained basically stable.

However despite these figures, local umpiring and refereeing associations are still troubled by a decline in officials.

"It's interesting - our number of badged umpires has gone up from 11 to 70 in the last four years but most of them have gone back to playing the game, rather than umpiring," said Far North Coast Cricket examinations officer Greg Smith. "Seconds, thirds and fourths still have no umpires. We could easily do with another 10."

To this end FNC Cricket are holding an information session at South Lismore Bowling Club next Monday, February 28, at 7pm.

During the session Greg will be showing a video outlining some of the recent rule changes.

Rabbitoh renaissance

Last year's South Lismore Under 14s featured (rear l-r) manager Paul Kelly, Marty Russell-Tait, Luke Williams, Paul Archer, Blake Northfield, Andrew Bolt, Ashley Naclerio, Lochlan Purshe, Scott Biddell-Brown, Louis Hollis and coach Wayne Cuthbertson, with (front-r) Brendan Sheaffe, Mark Murray, Andrew Smith, Beven Cuthbertson (c), Robert Kelly (vc), Graham Walker and Dean Matthews.

South Lismore Rabbitohs are looking to field four teams this year, whereas last year they only had one - the firebrand Under 14s.

The plan for this year is for Under 8s, 10s, 12s and 15s to be pulling on the red and green bars of the bunnies.

One of the oldest teams in country rugby league, the South Lismore Rabbitohs are well set to build on the success of last year's reformation.

Sign-on is at Crozier Oval this Saturday, February 26, from 10am to 12noon. Registration only costs $60, which includes shorts and socks.