Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker

Fish futures

The unseasonable late June rain will bring the fish on to the bite. Many of the winter species respond well to a river having a good flush out. Bream, blackfish and jewfish will be on the go as soon as the worst of the mud is dispersed. Bream and blackfish take yabbies in the dirty water during the day. The jew will respond to lures and feathers at the end of the breakwalls.

Anglers will be hoping that unlike the flood of January 2001 there will be no major fish kill this year. After that flood the Richmond was closed to fishing for several weeks. This had a significant effect particularly on the local fishing and bait shops.

The Evans Head fishing classic begins this weekend. It is probably the largest fishing competition held in NSW each year. About 1000 competitors are expected and it will climax on Friday, July 15, with one lucky person walking away with a boat package valued at over $30,000. Entry forms are now available at Suffolk Sports Store, 79 Keen Street, Lismore.

The recent rains will certainly mean good estuary and beach fishing and the Evans Bar is favourable, which should mean good catches from outside.

If you would like to take the trip there is some good winter bass fishing at Hinze Dam at the Gold Coast.

Don't forget we are searching for fishing photos and they can be dropped in to Suffolk's Sports Store or emailed to The Echo at sport@echonews.com if you have a digital version.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

Late knights knot aphekting mi performnce!

Do you find yourself wondering why the world seems to be full of complete morons?

The fact is that we are in the middle of a sleep deprivation epidemic. While many of us, myself included, sit fixated to the television coverage of Wimbledon and the one-day cricket, we are denying ourselves much-needed sleep. Simultaneously, we are pushed to do more overtime than any other country in the developed world.

Sleep is essential for the regeneration of the neurons of the frontal lobe of the brain. This section of the brain is responsible for speech and creative thinking. Consequently, the speech of the sleep deprived is often slurred and their thinking and writing becomes unoriginal. This means they often resort to using clichés rather than fully thought-out sentences. It means they have to take it one day at a time and can't put in the hard yards or give 110 per cent. That's why sleep deprivation is called the sports journalist's disease.

However the horror of sleep deprivation doesn't stop there. Should the individual fail to make up for the lost sleep, perhaps due to the concerns of a major flood, the condition worsens.

Rapid eye movement or REM sleep is the type of sleep where the brain dreams and dreams are important for cleaning and ordering the thinking processes. In this way REM is necessary for learning and memory. It is intriguing to note that people's performance of a newly acquired skill does not markedly improve until they have had a full eight hours sleep. Moreover, should the individuals continue to deny themselves dream sleep they will begin to hallucinate as dream consciousness overwhelms their normal conscious mind.

This happened to me recently in an appalling way. Last Sunday morning I truly thought I watched the Australians tie the one-day final against England. A tie that meant they had to share the prize. As if. But it looked so believable. The petulance on the Australian's faces looked so real.

It's got to stop.

I could start living in a completely fictional world. Like just the other day I thought I heard someone say that the Liberal Government have control of the Senate and that they intend to abolish unionism and destroy civil liberties through the establishment of new anti-terrorism laws. We all know that's never going to happen.

Mind you, if that horrific hallucination ever did become an actuality, at least the operatives of the new anti-terrorist bureau wouldn't need to employ sleep deprivation during their interrogations.

God, I need some sleep.

Clough's homer hands Aussies gold

Local softballers Jon Hudson and Garon Clough played a vital role in the Australian Under 19 team's gold medal defence at the ISF Junior Men's World Softball Championship in Canada over the last week, with Clough even smashing a home run in the final to set them on the road to victory.

Local softballer Garon Clough clobbered a three-run home run during the gold medal match of the International Softball Federation Junior Men's World Softball Championship in Canada on Monday. Clough's homer set Australia on the road to a 7-2 victory over Japan after the scores were locked at 2-all in the fourth innings.

The heroic Clough, however, is only one of three local young men who helped the Australian side gain the title of World Champions. Lismore's Jon Hudson and Michael Munro are also part of the Under 19 Aussie colts. This level of selection and performance establishes Lismore as more than just one of this country's major softball centres, but as a world centre for softball excellence. It's an enormous achievement.

The Australians went through the championships undefeated to seal their third World Championships title in a row. Congratulations.

 

Floodwaters wreak havoc at baseball fields Far North Coast Baseball commissioner, Geoff Hallman, surveys the scene at Albert Park where last week's flood wreaked havoc; flattening fences, uprooting concrete footings and cracking dugout floors. The north-eastern corner of Thew Field at Albert Park copped a hiding during last week's flood. Whether the levee increased the flow rate and consequently the damage is a moot point as Far North Coast reels at the loss of the facilities. Plenty of time and work, and several thousand dollars, will be required to restore the Albert Park baseball grounds to working order after last week's flood flattened fences, uprooted concrete footings and covered fences in debris. The flood and the consequent damage to the field has meant the extended postponement of the Under 12, 14 and 16 Timberjacks tournament and the probable abandonment of the Under 18 carnival. The two weekend carnivals are the flagship of the Far North Coast season and the loss of revenue is significant. Far North Coast Baseball commissioner, Geoff Hallman, has been in discussions with Lismore City Council about fixing the damage but as yet they have only promised to help clean up the debris and no commitment has been made to fix the vital boundary fencing that was completely uprooted by floodwaters. "The financial bite will be more that just score boxes and fences," Geoff said. "The Timberjacks carnival brings in around $10-15,000 to the Association each year, helping to fund the expensive costs of maintaining an international standard facility. This year the carnival will yield nothing more than expense." For more information on working bees or if you're a fencing contractor and would like to donate some of your skills phone Geoff Hallmann on 0414 014 365 or visit Far North Coast Baseball online at www.fnc.baseball.com.au.

Stuart not so rusty in Gromfest

Lennox Head surfer Stuart Kennedy carves it up in the quarter final of this year's annual Rusty Gromfest in Lennox Head on Tuesday. He came second overall.

Lennox Head local Stuart Kennedy put in an excellent showing in this year's 10th annual Rusty Gromfest in Lennox Head, coming second from an overall field of 96 competitors. Ellis Ericson of Byron Bay was the overall winner, while other locals who excelled including Nick Colbey, Garrett Parkes, Kurt King, Tom Gordon and Tom Steele. In the girls section Isabella Springis from Lennox Head made it through to the Under 12 semi-final.

The Rusty Gromfest is one of the premier junior surfing competitions in the world and success in Lennox Head can herald an ongoing career for prospective professional surfers.

Past Gromfest winners include World Championship surfer Mick Fanning and Chelsea Georgeson, Luke Munro, Rye Craike, Stephanie Gilmore and Jock Barnes, all of whom have either gone on to the World Qualifying Series or the Pro-Junior circuit.

Tursa men's premier league

Italo Stars will be hoping to maintain their spot at the top of the Soccer Far North Coast table when they run on against Lismore Workers in the match of the round at Rec 12 this Sunday, July 10.

All teams in the premier league have had two weeks off thanks to the flood and the cancellation of games for the Roar challenge match, so both sides will be fresh for this match. Then again then they might be rusty. Stars play an open and fast moving style of game, while Workers tend to hold it up and organise their attack. I think this will work to Stars advantage.

The other game of particular interest is between Ballina and Byron Bay. The Rams are in excellent form and Ballina haven't been off the top of the competition this year. The rivalry between the two sides is fierce and considering the physical style of the Ballina side, tempers are likely to be strained. This cracker gets lit in Byron Bay at 3pm this Saturday.

The Maclean Bobcats travel to Casino this Saturday to take on competition crypt inhabitants the Cobras at 5pm. The Bobcats are giant slayers by nature and often come to grief at the hands of the lesser-ranked sides. So my money's on the Cobras but I won't be wagering much.

The struggling Bangalow Bluedogs will make the journey into Lismore to take on the ever-reliable Richmond Rovers at 3pm on Saturday. Both sides play a long ball style so this promises to be an end-to-end encounter.

In the last match of the round, Thistles will travel up the hill to play Goonellabah, where it is more than likely they will cop a thrashing at the hands of the Hornets. Thistles are on the slide again after a mid-season revival and chances are they won't enjoy the point end of the Hornet side one iota.

Women's Southern Cross Credit Union premier league

Workers will be keen to re-establish their dominance after their recent loss to Rovers when they play Ballina this Sunday at 11am. The third placed Seahorses, like their male counterparts, have been having an excellent year and could rattle the technically excellent Redwomen. The other game of interest is between fifth place Byron Bay and second placed Rovers in Byron at 11am on Sunday. Rovers seem to have finally awoken from their early season slumbers and have regained the resolve that made them such a powerful force in 2004. The Rams also have a set of exciting young players. This should prove to be a very fast paced game, which should suit Rovers.

In Casino on Sunday the Cobras will be trying to drag themselves up a rung from the very bottom of the competition ladder when they take on Lennox Head at 9am. However, the White Pointers are quixotic to say the very least and they could turn on the passion and run away with it.

The final match on Sunday between Italo Stars and Goonellabah should go the way of Stars who have the home ground advantage for the 11am game.

All standings remain the same as last week.

All weather hockey

One of the beauties of playing on synthetic turf is that when every other game in the region is washed out by a flood your sport still gets the go ahead to play.

In the women's premier league Waratah Falcons outclassed an under strength Glee 2-nil to join the Redbacks at the top of the ladder.

Kingscliff bounced back from last week's loss to obliterate Northern Star 9-nil, with Kellie Moore a standout - scoring six goals for the match.

Redbacks maintained their unbeaten record, overpowering East Lismore 3-2 thanks to a goal by Stephanie Bennett late in the second half.

The two Gold Coast games have been deferred due to rain and look likely to be played next Thursday. United Vipers had the bye.

This Saturday in Murwillumbah United play Griffith at 5.15pm and Capri take on the Redbacks at 6.40pm. At Lismore's Hepburn Park this Saturday the Waratahs should maul Northern Star beyond recognition at 2.55pm.

On Sunday at the Gold Coast Glee will be desperate to get the better of Mudgee at 1pm after last week's loss, while Easts will be trying to get back on the winners board against Labrador at 2.30pm.

Men's competition

The Waratah Bobcats put on a totally awesome performance at Hepburn Park last Saturday, annihilating Northern Star 10-3.

Meanwhile, thanks to a hat trick from Chris Clarke, East Lismore gave Burleigh some stick, winning 7-2.

Coraki bounced back from last week's match in the best possible way, overpowering Mudgeeraba 3-2.

In Saturday's matches in Murwillumbah, United Vipers accounted for Allstars 4-nil in a heated clash. Redbacks bounced back after their disappointing loss to Capri last week and in the process climbed off the bottom of the ladder this week, taking a surprising win over the Mullumbimby Taipans 1-nil.

Capri had the bye.

This Saturday in Murwillumbah Kingscliff will play the Redbacks at 1pm, Mullumbimby take on United at 2.25pm and Murwillumbah should give United a run for their money at 3.50pm.

In Lismore the Allstars should account for Northern Star at 4.20pm.

On Sunday at Hunt Park on the Gold Coast Easts will look to continue their winning ways against Mudgee at 4pm, Ballina should wipe the turf with Burleigh at 5.30pm and Capri might struggle to hold off Labrador at 7pm.

Golf with Stan Bendall

Northern Rivers News

Northern Rivers Under 19 Champion of Champions, Luke Henwood, has been chosen to represent NSW in the coveted Shirley Cup in New Zealand in October. Luke, only just missed out on making the state colt side and will be part of the open NSW team for the event.

• Friday, July 8, brings an end to the junior golf coaching camp at Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head, where 45 junior boys and girls spent five days under the guidance of Mullumbimby professional, Damien Webber. This year the camp also involved professional golfers Ian Halliday (Casino), Ken Crank (Chinderah) and Brad Saunders (Ballina), with a special guest appearance by Greg Norman's former coach Charlie Earp.
• Monday, July 11, to Friday, July 15, is the Volkswagon State Age Championship on the Murwillumbah and Mullumbimby courses.
• Sunday, July 17, is when the Hans men's four-ball regional final will be played in Lismore, with three qualifying teams from each Northern Rivers club taking part.
• Sunday, July 24, is the Northern Rivers mixed foursomes at Coraki over 27 holes.
• Tuesday, July 26, is the Northern Rivers delegates meeting at the Lismore Workers Club at 6.30pm.

Tom on contract

Local batting ace Tom Cooper is one of seven rookies to be offered a contract by the NSW Pura Cup cricket team.

The selection tops off an extraordinary 12 months for the Lismore star, who trained with the Australian team during their tour of India and was the youngest player selected in the NSW Country Cricket team, which played on the Far North Coast over the summer.

Cooper is a very graceful top order batsman, whose wristy style and tremendous placement have earmarked him for greatness. He joins fellow Lismore veteran Matthew Phelps as part of the NSW list of contracted players.

Cooper, at 17, is the youngest of the rookies to earn a contract.