Sports News

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

Free to do as they please, any old time

Getting a just decision from a governing body without a transparent process is like trying to get a decent result in the deciding Test match in the gloom and drizzle of the British Isles.

Nationally, the more the politicians draw our attention to sport the more you can be sure there is an increase in backroom deals. The latest being the deporting of a peace activist on the behest of the Pentagon. It is interesting that contrary political opinions are punished with deportation in Australia. That's freedom for you... worth all the bloodshed I'm sure.

Even locally there are similar wrong'uns being bowled. As I reported last week, our sports Public Advisory Group (PAG) has been taking orders from Lismore Council staff, rather than advice. During a discussion I had with councillor Frank Swientek he related, to his disgust, that members of the PAG, whose primary job is to liase with sporting groups, were 'advised' to not even talk to an advocate from a local league club. It's great to live in a free country isn't it?

In addition to these wonderful new practices Council staff have removed the 'general business' item from the sporting PAGs meeting agendas. Can you believe that? What it means is that nothing can be put before the PAG that hasn't been vetted by the staff beforehand, thus keeping the public's input into the PAG to an absolute minimum.

These are dark days and I'm not talking about the misery involved in losing the Ashes (sniff sniff). Our freedoms are falling faster than wickets on a green top and maybe that doesn't worry you. Maybe you trust the people in charge; Honest John and the like. Perhaps they're doing what you want for now but what about when they raise your hire charges beyond your means and you get evicted? Then you'll wish you had a say. But by then it'll be too late.

As an aside, when I was listening to the English supporters singing, I found the lyrics of their songs ponderous. They wanted to "build Jerusalem on England's green and pleasant lands". So they want to become the most violently contested patch of land in the world? Each to their own.

At The Net - with Ken Wray

The holiday racquet

The upcoming school holidays are a busy time for most local tennis clubs. At the Lismore Tennis Club we will again be conducting our very popular Department of Sport and Recreation tennis clinic, which will run from October 4-6. During the clinic juniors of all ages and standards receive expert coaching and instruction in all areas of the game. Most local clubs run holiday activities and interested mums and dads should contact their local club. For people interested in our clinic here in Lismore contact me on 6621 3417.

Summerland Age

Also during the school holidays we at the Lismore Tennis Club will again be conducting the very popular Summerland Age Round Robin Tournament. This annual event caters for the more advanced juniors, with all events conducted in a round robin format so everyone gets two days of tennis in singles and doubles. The tournament runs from October 8-9 and entry forms are now available from the Lismore Tennis Club.

Giving them Currie in Toowoomba

Dunoon's Markus Currie (pictured with his winners medal) was integral to the success of the NSW Public School Sports Association team, who won last fortnight's School Sport Australia Hockey Challenge in Toowoomba.

Since being selected in July, the team has only got together for one two-day camps prior to flying out to Toowoomba.

Matt Hobbs, assistant principal of Kyogle Primary School and manager of the team, said that the players grew exponentially even during their short time together.

"Apart for the camaraderie, watching each player achieve their individual goals gave me the greatest pleasure," Hobbs said.

Marcus Currie noted that he learnt much from the experience, but it was the friendships he will remember most.

A cricketer for life

Lismore's John McMahon (right) was one of five long serving cricket administrators honoured with a life membership from Cricket NSW this week.

McMahon, who first played for Balmain in 1947/48 before moving to Lismore in 1954, has been a member of the Far North Coast Cricket Council since 1955.

The highlight of the 'chinaman' bowler's career involved a number of Sheffield Shield matches with Queensland in 1959/60.

On a local level, he was named Lismore First Grade Cricketer of the Year in 1983, aged 51. McMahon also returned from retirement in 1989, taking 130 wickets in four seasons before finally retiring in 1993.

Congratulations John. And many thanks from us here at The Echo for your help with all things cricket.

Gillies dad's clinic

As the Poms celebrate their ascension to the title of cricket's World Champions in the dark drizzle they have become accustomed to, we are left to ponder, who will win back the Ashes?

Do you think you've got what it takes to smash Freddy Flintoff out of the attack? Are you a bowler who could take out the English top order? If you are then sign up for a clinic with Adam Gilchrist's dad.

Stan Gilchrist is a recognised level three coach and provides excellent professional instruction that will help develop your child's cricket skills.

He will be the head coach of a cricket clinic that will run from Tuesday, October 4, to Thursday, October 6, at St John's College Woodlawn. The cost is $44 for nine hours of tuition.

For more information or enrolment forms contact NSW Sport and Recreation on 6687 7168.

Coraki book a battle with Ballina

One of Ballina's old stagers, John Parker, gets the better of long serving Coraki half Robby Powell during the final of the reserve grade competition at Hepburn Park on Saturday. Coraki came away with a late winner to finish off Ballina's year 3-2.

FNC men's hockey

A late burst by Coraki in the final of the Far North Coast Hockey competition was enough for the men in navy blue to book a spot in next week's grand final against Ballina.

Easts Tigers led on the scoreboard for most of the game after a goal by Dave Willis in the 28th minute, until Josh Molyneux and Ben Moss found the back of the net within 10 minutes of full time.

Ballina, who have already won the regional competition, should be confident of defeating Coraki in the grand final. Coraki, who have had an up and down year, finished fourth on the standings before the finals series. However, the men from the floodplain won't mind the underdog status. They have plenty of finals experience and the Saturday afternoon game at 4.30pm at Hepburn Park will be a tough encounter, make no bones about that.

FNC women's hockey

East Lismore overcame a nervous start to account for Northern Star 2-nil to rebook a meeting with Glee in next week's grand final showdown.

Easts went into the game as favourites but Star must have forgotten to read the script as fill in keeper Amanda Hughes was inspirational at the back for the black and whites. After Erin Gulliver's goal midway through the first half Star must have started to think an upset was in the making.

Thanks to the sterling efforts of Karen Eakin, who finished the game black and blue, Easts soaked up all the pressure Star could bring to bear. Easts turned the tables in the second half as Roxanne Clarke and then Janelle Pitman found the back of the net.

The last time Glee and Easts met, Glee was fortunate to come away with the win. However, grand finals aren't ordinary games. The pressure is more intense and the participation of the crowd can lift the players. The big game gets underway at Hepburn Park at 3pm.

Redbirds come back to earth

Colourful local umpire Julian Sexton calls a strike during the final of the Interleague between the Redbirds and the Mudgeeraba Redsox. Umpires' calls add a lot to the spectacle. Sexton performed solidly and consistently behind the plate all year.

After six games in two weeks culminating in the spectacular upset win over Workers in the Far North Coast Baseball grand final, the Redbirds just didn't have any gas left in the tanks when they took on the Mudgeeraba Redsox on Sunday in the final of the regional Interleague.

The Redsox are a very powerful unit and quickly asserted themselves over the local side, taking an early 5-nil lead. It wasn't until the Redsox made allegations of baulking against the home team at the bottom of the fourth that they fired up.

The revival was led by 15-year-old Shane Davis, who followed up a fierce verbal assault with a solid single to centre field. Suddenly, the all-too-quiet crowd came to life as the underdogs lifted. In the end they pulled back four runs, going down 6-4 to the Gold Coast champions.

In contrast to the exhausted Redbirds line-up, Mudgee were a side with a firm focus on the title and were deserved winners of the Adrian Meagher Jnr Interleague Cup.

Zone 12 best in Ballina, again

Sydney South West (Zone 12) won the 2005 Greenmaster Inter-Zone State Championships, which were held at the Ballina Bowling and Recreation Club and the Ballina RSL Bowling Club over the weekend.

The citysiders defeated Illawarra by a mere five shots in the final 81-76.

In all 16 players from each of the 16 zones spread throughout NSW - that's 256 bowlers - took part in the championship

Swans bomb as Bombers sail to victory

The Summerland Australian Football League maintained a grand tradition by having its grand final teams run onto the field through a banner.

Ballina Bombers defeated Lismore Swans 12.8.80 to 7.17.59 at Murwillumbah on Saturday thanks to the excellent distribution from their ruckman. Ballina started strongly, kicking six majors to one in the first quarter. This trend continued into the second term as Lismore's inaccuracy in front of goal cost them dearly, and they went to the break trailing by 32 points despite having more shots on goal.

In the third quarter Lismore's captain Lyndon Dyson played inspirationally at the back but it was to no avail.

Bulls kick it away

The strings that have held the Casino Bull's stellar season together started to come unravelled on Saturday when their usually dominant pack frayed under the weight of the Grafton eight. Lacking the necessary go forward, the Bulls allowed the Redmen the first berth into the grand final, going down 25-23.

The loss also means the crimson and whites will have to beat off Ballina in Lismore this weekend at 3.30pm for the right to a rematch.

Last time Ballina met the Bulls the Seahorses even put on a push-over try, so there is no doubting the battle up front will be a tough one. As you read this you can rest assured that Casino will be hard at work trying to re-establish some structure in their tight five.

Tactically, Casino will be questioning their desire to kick the ball away. It didn't work against Grafton because it kept on coming back with interest, against Ballina it could be suicidal as it would open up the field for Ballina's blisteringly fast back three.

A family day at the races

In the lead up to next Thursday's Lismore Cup, the Lismore Turf Club is holding its annual family fun day this Sunday, September 18, with plenty of fun for the kids. The family day starts at noon and is sponsored by the Lismore Workers Club. Club members enjoy free entry and it costs just $6 for non-members, with everyone under 18 free.

Turf Club secretary-manager Michael Trimbell said the race day is designed with children in mind.

"Anyone who shows their Lismore Workers Club membership at the gate will get free entry. And as well as a seven race card, they'll be plenty of things to entertain the children, including kids' races on the track, sports, painting and a toy area," he said.

Of course the day the grown ups are waiting for is next Thursday's $40,000 XXXX Gold Lismore Cup. More than 10,000 people are expected to the track for the race that stops a city. Gates open at 11am with the eight race card kicking off at 1pm.

The competition is expected to be just as strong in Fashions in the Field, with the punters vying for prizes in categories such as best dressed couple and best hat.

And if you're planning to have a good time at the races, then Lismore Council and Kirklands have organised plenty of buses to get you there and home safely.

Buses will leave from the CBD to the track every 15 minutes from 12 noon until 1.45pm. Return buses start at 4.30pm and continue until 7.15pm. The cost is just $2 each way.

"Why go to all the hassle of driving and being stuck in traffic," Council's road safety officer, Wendy Johnson said. "There will be buses coming to the CBD from across the city and link up with the shuttle bus to the races."

John Crowther car park is the designated drop off and pick up spot for anyone who's getting a lift into the city and you can catch the shuttle from there.

Council safety officers will be offering free breath tests at the track and if you are over the limit, then you can leave your car at the race course knowing that security will be on guard overnight. The popular Lismore Late Nighter bus will also operate from 8pm until 1.45am for just $3 that night. "There's absolutely no reason - or excuse - for anyone to drink and drive," Wendy said. "And of course police will be out in force as well."

Meanwhile, to get you into the mood for Cup Day, the Lismore Cup Calcutta dinner dance is next Wednesday, September 21. Tickets are just $25. Phone 6621 3176 to book.

Lismore Cup race day entry is $15.

Festival of the Foot

Soccer Far North Coast was the envy of every other football code when they hosted 22 women's and junior's grand finals on Lismore's premier football fields, Crozier and Oakes Oval, last weekend.

The three-day event that I have dubbed the 'Festival of Foot' involved over 572 players and climaxed on Saturday night with the final of the Southern Cross Credit Union Women's Premier League.

In that match Workers completed a hat-trick, adding the premiership trophy to the pre-season Callan McMillan Shield and the Point Score Championship trophy.

The match itself was a rather tawdry affair, with most of Workers' midfield still recovering from a 21st birthday party the night before and Ballina short of their inspirational general Lisa Kelly. Perhaps the most colourful part of the game was the back of the Ballina coach's head, which had a big blue seashorse painted on it. Peter Smith, the coach in question, had shaved his head after losing a bet with his team that they wouldn't make the final.

Workers secured the title 2-nil.