Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker

Get licensed for Easter

Easter is early this year, so the best fish will probably be a little time away. However, there are reports of nice sized tailor, particularly on some of the beaches in the early hours of the morning.

An unbelievable run of whiting continues, with every chance they will be fairly good on this full moon tide. Full moon is on Easter Saturday with a tide of 1.63 metres at 9.30am in Ballina.

NSW Fisheries have issued a reminder that over the holiday period extra fishing inspectors will be on duty checking licenses. Remember you can get a 3-day licence for $5 to cover the Easter period.

Fish habitat rehabilitation work continues across NSW.

Fourteen new projects across NSW will receive freshwater fish habitat rehabilitation work worth more than $110,000 - funded by the recreational fishing licence fees. The projects cover a range of popular fishing spots, including around Brewarrina, Condobolin, Wagga Wagga, the Hawkesbury and the Parramatta River. The work will rehabilitate about 70 hectares of floodplain and freshwater wetlands; improve fish passage along 200km of river; resnag 17km of river and improve more than 40km of river through weed removal and restoring vegetation. Fish populations are a good indication of the general health of our waterways, so improving the ability of our fish to survive, breed and migrate is important for all aquatic biodiversity. Freshwater fish such as silver perch, golden perch, Murray cod, eastern freshwater cod, freshwater catfish and Australian bass will benefit directly from this rehabilitation work.

Work is also happening in the Richmond River with a plan to remove or alter the Norco weir at Casino to allow the passage of bass.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

The sport of many

If sport was purely about keeping fit it would be restricted to bedrooms under the heading Sex. Sport is much more than that. Sport can entertain many people at one time, whereas even the most talented practitioner of tantric sex is hard pressed to entertain more than one. Sport can spontaneously elicit oohs and aahs from hundreds and even thousands of people simultaneously. Now that's hot.

This thought might turn some of the more prudish off watching sport, thinking it is somehow an unspoken form of voyeurism. Don't be put off. Crowds at sporting events and even individuals watching at home alone are involved in more than just vicarious titillation.

Experiencing pleasure when someone else finds success on the sporting field is a sign of spiritual advancement, of emotional wellbeing. You will notice that very young children and the emotionally debilitated can not sit still and watch a game - they have to play or at best they sit and criticise the play because they have not learnt to empathise. They cannot find joy in other people's successes.

Of course there are levels in being an audience as well. Some people find it impossible to see the beauty in the play of the 'other' team - they're so partisan that they're blind to the greater value of the game, but at least they have moved on from a completely selfish worldview.

Social commentators have in the past tended to make light of the vicarious nature of sports fans, labelling them 'yobbos' and 'norms' too apathetic to get up and play themselves. But they're missing the point.

The truth is that avidly watching a match is proof that the watcher is capable of some level of selflessness. That they have evolved emotionally. Admittedly, in many cases, they have not moved much beyond being partisan but they are on the way to loving human endeavour itself. They have opened their eyes to the intrinsic beauty of fair competition and the unspoken gratification of the many.

Others, like me, just like to keep fit.

Coaching juniors

Coaching a team looked like a good idea originally until you started to think about all the players and parents you'd have to handle. Then you started to worry about team selections, practices and game decisions.

Relax, it will work out. Look confident even if you're terrified. To play sport successfully you need to be confident and coaching is no different.

Being organised will help you feel confident. Read training manuals, look up websites, prepare you're training sessions. It doesn't take long and it will make it so much easier during training and on match day.

If you're coaching then you've probably played the game and you probably enjoyed playing the game. Keep enjoying the game. Your team will feed off you're enthusiasm or conversely they will starve if you are disinterested.

If you enjoy coaching they will enjoy being coached. Plenty of praise and very, very little criticism is the rule to follow.

As a coach it's important to remember to be there for every player, playing favourites will divide you're squad and set parent against parent and the parents against you. Coaching your own child is the trickiest thing imaginable. Some coaches are too hard on their own children, some favour them unfairly - ask other parents for their opinion on the matter - it's the only way to find objectivity.

It is important to play to win but winning isn't everything. Being gracious in defeat is something that as a coach you are perfectly placed to instill in you're players. Win or lose, whatever you do, don't bad mouth the opposition after a game. Remember, if they weren't there you wouldn't even be playing the game.

And always applaud the umpire after the game, no matter how they've performed, because without them there is no game.

Local schools on the ball

Far North Coast public schools have dominated the make up of the North Coast baseball squad for the upcoming combined high school trials at Olympic Park in Sydney.

Seven of the 14 squad members are from local schools; Trent Clark, Nathan Daley, Jeffry Ogilvie, Shane Davis, Lukas Myres, Ahren Baxter and Andrew Harvey have all been chosen to represent the region in this month's trial games over the next week.

Trent, Nathan, Jeffry and Lukas will also make up an important part of the powerful bullpen for the North Coast team. Lukas and Jeffry have both been starting pitchers in the local major league.

Speedway with Ben Daley

Lismore Wants for nothing

Carter Racing Teams' Wayne Carter and Wants Transports' John Want are sponsors for this weekend's Carter Racing Team Wants Transport Australian Modified Production Sedan Title.

Speedway racing will step up a gear this Easter weekend, when Bartercard Lismore Speedway hosts the Carter Racing Team Wants Transport Australian Modified Production Sedan Championships.

With over 60 nominations for the event that includes drivers from every state of Australia, the display of hard fought, exciting racing should keep many fans on the edge of their seats.

Current Aussie champ Peter Lack will be aiming for his third straight Aussie championship win, but it won't be an easy task if the Lismore locals have their way.

Event sponsor, Lismore's Wayne Carter from the Carter Racing Team, was keen to explain his sponsorship of the event.

"I've been involved in Modified Production since I started over 20 years ago, and decided that I wanted to put something back into the sport," he said. "I have wanted to sponsor a show for a while and when the title was given to Lismore, I jumped at the chance."

John Want of Wants Transport, long-time sponsor of the Carter Racing Team, will also be a major supporter for the event, joining Carter as naming rights sponsors.

"It's good to have John and his family on board with us also," Wayne said. "Wants sponsored our NSW title a few years back and enjoyed it so much they wanted to do something else along the same lines. My family has been associated with the Want family for a long time now and to back such a major event with them is just great."

Carter Racing Team would also like to thank the many businesses, both local and interstate, who have contributed towards this big event as major and minor supporters.

Start your engines

Motor enthusiasts from around Australia will be in car heaven this Easter when the Australian Street Rod Federation hosts the biggest ever Street Rod Nationals at Southport Parklands on the Gold Coast from March 23-29.

This special event, which only occurs every two years, will bring together fans and fanatics from all over Australia and overseas to marvel at over 1500 street rod vehicles, valued at around $100 million.

Rodders are driving their beloved street rods from far and wide to join in all the action as well as display their vehicles at this year's nationals.

Throughout the nationals money will be raised for the Family and Kid's Care Foundation. This charitable organisation offers a variety of special services to respond to the specific needs of children and their families. And all money raised from parking during the public days will be donated to Air Sea Rescue.

Entry is $15 for adults and $5 for kids.

Superfish bound for Sydney

Lismore High School's Emma Harris has taken out the North Coast Under 12 age champion title after a clean sweep of the 100-metre backstroke, freestyle and breaststroke at the North Coast trials in Coffs Harbour recently.

Emma, who trains at the Summit Sports and Fitness Centre under head coach Ken Malcolm, also had wins in the 6x50 metre medley relay and the 50-metre freestyle.

The wins qualify Emma to compete in the NSW state trials in Sydney from April 3-5.

Joining her on her journey to Sydney will be fellow qualifier Alyce Weight (50-metre freestyle and 100-metre breaststroke).

Tennis, anyone?

The North Coast Academy of Sport (NCAS) will soon be launching its inaugural tennis program and is now looking for the best players and coaches on the North Coast to join.

To be eligible to be a player in the program, athletes must attend the Australian Grass Court Championship in Mildura in April, be aged 12 to 15 years and reside between Taree and Tweed Heads.

Applicants for the head coach position must possess a current Tennis Coaches Australia advanced coaching accreditation (level 2 or higher) and have recent coaching experience of junior athletes. Experience in the planning, monitoring and evaluating of tennis coaching programs is also essential.

The assistant coach/manager position will require a person who possesses both current coaching qualifications and has recent experience in managing sport activities, preferably in tennis.

It is expected that a squad of around 12 athletes will be selected. The program will involve a 3-4 day intensive training camp during each school holiday break where athletes and their coaches from around the region will come to work with specialist consultants from Tennis NSW and the NSW Institute of Sport. Athletes will also complete training in sports psychology, sports nutrition, drugs awareness and public speaking.

Applications for players and coaches close on April 7. For further information and application forms, visit the academy website at www.ncas.org.au or phone 6620 3073.

Golf

81-year old local legend Bill Wotherspoon teamed up with Byron Bay's David Rutherford to win last weekend's Northern Rivers B grade foursomes at the Woodburn Evans Head course.

Bill has been contesting the event for over 50 years, winning it six times previously in the late 50s and early 60s with Vic Reynolds. Vic has since hung up his clubs and taken to lawn bowls in Iluka.

In the A grade foursomes, Mullumbimby men Peter Schweitzer and Rowan Johnson pealed off an excellent 1 over par 106 to take out the event over 27 holes on the Evans course. Peter has been a regional representative for many years and was striking the ball very well.

Both pairings succeeded against a quality local field. Indeed it was a virtual who's who with David Hobday, Jim Armond, Earl Scurr, Brian Denning and Jim Roach all taking to the greens.

Skipper steers Souths to finals win

South skipper Richard Nind hobbled his way to a match winning 92 on the first day of the Hooker League final on Saturday at Oakes Oval.

Richard, who has been struggling to run most of the year, finally tore a hamstring when he was in the 60s. Ironically his run rate increased when he was given a runner - his brother Michael - who started to turn singles into twos and twos into threes.

Earlier the Bar looked to have the game well in hand with Souths languishing at 5 for 120 when Len Blok (61) strode to the wicket. Mark Grant (3 for 75) and Luke Shay were both bowling well and with the ever-reliable Rex Parish (35) back in the pavilion the Bar were on top. In fact if they hadn't dropped Richard first ball and Len early in his innings then they might have toppled the premiers.

Instead, Len and Richard combined to put together a partnership of 125 in a relatively short time. Both are hard hitters and difficult to restrict once they have picked up the pace of the pitch.

Brett Crawford bowled well for the Bar, picking up 4-65 from 24 determined overs.

In reply to Souths 284, the Bar started well and were none down for 67 and riding their luck well. Souths had put down Brett Crawford three times and Mick Warburton had played and missed innumerable times. Then Scott Coster struck, not once but twice in one over, just before drinks.

All of Souths bowlers bowled with great discipline and showed enormous stamina, often bowling in spells of over 10 overs at a time. Coster bowled his 20 overs straight.

Souths slowly and determinedly went about their work and by the next break they had the Bar 5 down.

After the break, Phil Dalli (22) and Luke Shay (11) set about building an innings. Both had been bogged down by the Souths attack, which kept them on their backfoot. Something had to give. Phil dropped one at his feet and took off for a short single. Paul McLean ran in from behind square to field, but rather than pick the ball up and throw he just threw a tired left foot at it. The left footer hit the stumps and Luke Shay was run out. It was a turning point, just as much as the dropping of Nind had been the day before.

Half a dozen overs later the Bar were all out despite some hefty hitting by Duncan Elphick (30). Souths had retained the premiership. It had been an excellent year for the aging Souths line-up - they had won the premiership and only missed out on winning the one-day title by a single run. Until next year...

Fitness the focus

Prospective aerobics instructors, aqua aerobics instructors, gym instructors and personal trainers would be well advised to sign up for this year's Fitness Foundation Course at Lennox Head Surf Lifesaving Club.

The course, which runs from May 9-18, is being run by FIA (Fitness Institute Australia) and offers recognised qualifications in fitness instruction.

Pre-enrolment is essential with enrolment forms and further details available by contacting NSW Sport and Recreation on 6687 7168.

They're howling in the hills - Soccer FNC

Bangalow Bluedogs spent most of last year in a dog fight to avoid relegation for the premier division. This year they have burst out of the kennel with their heckles raised and their teeth bared and are now amongst the leading pack in the pre-season ANZAC Cup.

Last weekend the Bluedogs mauled a depleted Casino 3-1 at Colley Park, taking a three goal lead through the boots of Brent Hosking, Aryan Frereisch and the young pup Joel Rudgley, before Casino managed a consolation goal late in the second half.

Bangalow's success was in large part due to the tireless work of midfielder Iko Yamaguchi and defender Glen Hanigan. Bangalow is joined at the top of the comp by Ballina and last year's premiers, Workers Club.

The Redmen have already hit a rich vein of form, dismissing an under strength Stars in a 3-0 whitewash. Indeed, the encounter at Barrow Lane must have left Lucas McPherson feeling in the pink, as the speed merchant scored twice.

The Ballina Seahorses were more fortunate when they escaped with a 3-2 win over the Goonellabah Hornets at Weston Park. In what was an incident packed start to the match, three goals found the back of the net in the first five minutes. Ballina's Daniel Haigh scored from the spot in the first minute and then the Hornets, stung into action, scored through Brett Anderson and Adam Holmes in the proceeding four minutes. The game's ferocious pace continued with Ballina equalising late in the first half via the boot of Adam Izzard. The Hornets flew at Ballina in the second half but the Seahorses absorbed the venomous attack and hit back with a scrambled winner by Clint Colless just before the final whistle.

The Richmond Rovers kept their finals hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Maclean and Byron Bay did likewise when they put Thistles to the sword at home 3-0.