Issue 808
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Sports News
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Northern Rivers District Golf Association president Earl Scurr, Chris McLean from CUB, Mullumbimby club captain Darren Blake, Mullum club president (and winner) Kev Lawler and Mullum club pro Damien Webber at the Northern Rivers Directors' Day last Sunday. |
The NRDGA members Foursomes will be at Iluka on Sunday, March 10.
The NRDGA Mixed Foursomes will be held at Coraki on Sunday, March 24.
Mullumbimby hosted another successful Northern Rivers directors day last Sunday. Ninety four golfers teed off in a single stableford event which saw local knowledge prevail with club President Kevin Lawler winning the day with 43 points. Ballina's Jeff Hilyard finished in second place 1 point back with Helen Dunlop (Maclean) finishing in third spot from Kev's brother Barry and then Joey Falzon. Nearest the Pins won by Lismore's Dick Smith on the fifth, with Maclean's Jeff Grayson winning the 12th. Balls were won with 36 points or better on a countback.Thanks to Mullum Golf Club for hosting the special day and a big thanks to Carlton representative Chris McLean for putting on a few softies for the golfers.
Mullumbimby Golf Club will also host the Northern Rivers Champos which will now be played on Saturday and Sunday July 27-28. There appeared to be too much on in June with Pennants and champos so they have been changed.
A top effort from our girl from Casino. It was good to see her mentor, Lismore professional Peter Jaeger, carrying her bag.
Finishing third will boost that confidence and put her in fine stead when she heads out to the United States shortly, knowing full well that she can now compete with the world's best and hold her own. Well done Michelle, all of us in the Northern Rivers are so proud of your achievement!
Not to be outdone we have at Lismore Workers Golf Club another young talented lady by the name of Emily Gray.
Emily is only 15 years of age and took part in the Junior event at Yamba at the weekend. She won the overall Junior girls title with 77 hits breaking the course record by 2. Would you believe the previous record holder was another Lismore lady talent, Nicole Jenkins, who is the current ladies champ at Lismore Workers Golf Club?
Last year on the old course structure at Yamba Emily broke the course record, but subsequent to that Nicole took the record back with restructuring of greens etc. and now the record is broken again!
Members took part in a single stroke event at Coraki last Sunday with Tony Melbourne taking the honours from Ross Woolfe. Next came Desley Fisher, Graham Watson and Tony Threlfall. Trevor Robb took out the coveted NAGA trophy out in fine style with a long day on the course with 84 net! Next game Ballina this Sunday with a 7.30am tee off.
Andrew Tucker won the single stroke last Saturday with 61, winning by 5 from Paul Selman and Ray Wilson. Allen Maunder and Andrew Tucker won the two ball from Damian Hofmever and Geoff Morgan.
Greg Sandboe won the single stableford last Friday with 44 and Jim Hay 2 points back winning on a countback from Clyde Titcome.
Another single stableford was played last Saturday with only 57 golfers playing because of heavy rain (not here!) with Ronnie (Cambo) Campbell proving once again he loves the wet winning with 46 points. Paul Wilson won A Grade from Michael Harvey and Jeffrey Hilyard played very well to take out B Grade from Loenard Keith with evergreen Ray Doxey proudly winning C Grade from Neil Williamson.
The March Medal will be played this Saturday.
Bill Walters, Tom O'Neill, Paul Hurley and Paul's legend grandad and long time member of Kyogle JD. Jack Hurley, won the four person ambrose last Saturday by 2 from Noel Steele, Nick Doyle, John Doyle and Brendon Alvos.
The March Medal will be played this Saturday as a vardon and eclectic event and will be the qualifying round for the individual matchplay champos with 16 pairs to qualify in each grade.
Lloyd Kelly won the single stableford last Thursday on a countback from Will Roberts and Jim Warren, all on 43. Sarge Casagrande was the front nine victor from Clive Guthrie with Aub Gough winning the second nine from Rod Darke with Steve (Moose) Morrissey recording a fine 4 under par 66 to win the gross.
Club talent Lloyd Kelly also won the Colts gross section at Yamba last Sunday.
Last Saturday Barry Hart and Tony Johnston took out the 2BBB with 84 winning on a countback from Roger Boyd and Stewart Hase with another young club talent Luke Sharpe winning the single event in A Grade with 43. Alan Willoughby won B grade and Art Beavis took out C Grade. The coveted Bradman's trophy was well won by Terry Russell and Anthony Lewis.
New handicap system being installed (King St Computers) please report any problems to handicapper with Golflink to be hopefully installed at the end of March!
The Lismore Lady golfers played a two person ambrose last Wednesday with Tracey Makings and Betty Whitelaw taking the honours from Nicole Jenkins and Narelle Lewis.
This Sunday, March 3, the annual RSL versus Workers Golf Day will be played with an invitation to past members of both clubs to join in the nine holes of golf and BBQ afterwards. For contact ring 6621 2249
The March Medal will be played this Saturday and will be a stroke event.
Last Saturday a single versus par event was played with young club and Northern Rivers talent Trenton Root winning A Grade by 4 from Dennis Parker and Jack Scully. The taciturn David Greenstreet enjoyed his first victory after a long break taking out C Grade, winning on a countback from Lindsay James. Bert Russell featured for the first time in a while in B Grade taking the honours on a countback from Greg Northfield.
Club Captain Jack Caban rose to the occasion last Thursday winning the single stableford with a well played 44 from consistent Greg Cowan, beating Greg Northfield on a countback. Got the right captain Elk!
Thanks for the lift last Sunday from the boys and I think Chuck Chunder is in solitary for a while.
Last Wednesday the Ladies played a nine hole three person ambrose with Margaret May and Lorraine McDonald and Joyce Carney winning the day.
Last Thursday the veterans played a 12 hole stroke with Charlie Mayall winning the day from - true story - Frosty Day, a good winter competitor.
Last Saturday the men played a 4BBB aggregate event. Alan and Kurt Irvine were the overall winners by 3 from Jim Perry and Michael Gordo with the Ladies section won by Helen Connell with 42 points.
What's My Linewith Ian Clark
The weather was nothing to rave home about last weekend as it has brought choppy seas, rips and the beloved blue bottle to our shores.
And over the last few months tragedies have struck our lives with loved ones been taken by sea.
It is a very painful reminder to us all that we are not invincible and that although we are supposedly the smartest beings on the earth we have not been able to understand or predict mother nature.
Around 5-10 people will lose their lives from rock fishing in NSW alone every year. That is a pretty hefty fine to pay and to me no fish is worth your life.
From memory a wave travels at a speed of about 25 to 27 miles per hour.
Water weighs 1 kilo to 1 litre and salt water would be a bit more denser.
So to help explain, say we dissect the wave so that it is the size of your wheelie bin. That therefore would be 240kgs or nearly a quarter of a tonne of water that will hit you at about 25 miles per hour.
This is hard to believe when you stand in amongst the waves at the beach. This is because the beach is a gradual rise and thus slows the wave down. Come around the headlands and there is nothing to slow the wave. It comes from the deep and what stops it is the headlands rock shelf, which you are fishing off.
Still don't believe me? Then I hope you never find out for yourself.
Rock fishing has to be treated with respect. One way in and out is usually the case for all our local spots. Thus you have to monitor the tide.
Don't fish on the rocks that are wet. Don't turn your back to the sea and be prepared to get back up the rocks if a big wave is looming in the distance.
Stand back and watch for about ten minutes. Where are the waves breaking? Which way is the wash pushing? If you do get washed in where is the safest spot to get out? Nine times out of 10 it is around the corner onto the headland's beach. This could take you up to 20 minutes to do. So you don't want to be swimming around in heavy clothing in big seas.
This is easy to say now, but the worst thing you can do is try to get back onto where you were washed off from. You are only going to get smashed onto and off the rock face losing more bark and claret.
The most common cause of drowning is a knock to the head from hitting rocks as you are washed along with the wave.
Cleated shoes are good for weed covered rocks and suction soled shoes are good for black smooth rock. Although, my opinion is that you should not be fishing that close to the waters edge to warrant the wearing of either shoe.
Vests that inflate with a pull of a string, are light and allow no restriction of movement are available everywhere. Hand held EPIRBs now are light, compact and becoming more affordable.
The trick to rock fishing is common sense. The old saying 'if in doubt don't go out' still applies.
Watch the weather for changes. Wind change can whip up seas in minutes.
Waves are caused from storms and travel across the globe. A storm off New Zealand in the Pacific the day before that has created three metre size waves might hit our coastline within that hour you have just started to fish.
Rock fishing is the most dangerous of land based angling. If you want more info a couple of good sites on rock fishing safety can be found on www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au and NSW Health's site www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au or contact their offices for the brochure.
That's all for this week. Stay safe and fun fishing.
Despite the best efforts of Soccer FNC's board to reduce the number of premier division sides from 12 to 10 in time for this season, the introduction of the new format has now been pushed back to 2003.
With clubs now fully advised and aware of the impending reduction, the heat is on not just to claim one of the three titles up for grabs, but also to stay out of the bottom two positions.
The long-awaited change will bring the game into line with most competitions around the world and ensure top sides chasing premiership or semi-final honours near the end of the season no longer have 'soft games' against lower ranked sides with nothing to play for.
The spectre of relegation will inspire maximum effort from clubs facing the cut, generating interest at both ends of the ladder - as it did to unprecedented levels in 2001, when clubs thought the cut was imminent.
Interestingly, the two clubs which would have been relegated if the change had been introduced on schedule were two of the traditional Lismore giants who have never previously faced the drop, Goonellabah and South Lismore, raising a deeper issue.
How many of the existing seven Lismore-based clubs (Italo Stars, Rovers, Workers, Thistles, Goonellabah, Souths and Uni) can expect to maintain a presence in the 10 team premier division format in the coming years?
With competition from regional clubs becoming stronger every year, the Lismore-based clubs stand at the crossroads as they look to plot their path for a secure future.
South Lismore finishing near the foot of the ladder was no surprise last year, but for the once-mighty Goonellabah to take the wooden spoon was an indicator of a sea change in the power base.
The tidal change in fortunes was graphically illustrated in last year's grand final, when Maclean claimed the premiership double, taking the twin trophies outside Lismore for the first time in the code's 52 year history.
The grand final win was also the first decider to be contested without a Lismore club since the competition began in 1950.
To put some perspective on the sweeping changes, look back to 1992, when the six Lismore clubs filled the top six positions!
Semi-finals were then virtually the exclusive domain of Lismore clubs and at the time the code was governed by 'Lismore District Soccer', with the title of 'Soccer FNC' not being adopted until 1997.
The issue has not escaped the attention of Lismore Workers incoming premier division coach Kevin Keevers who has spent the last three decades as a player, junior and rep coach, junior club president for 10 years and is a former SFNC board member.
'In 10 years time I can see as few as two Lismore-based sides in premier division,' Keevers predicted.
'The emphasis on cultivating juniors, especially by the coastal clubs such as Byron Bay, Lennox Head, Tintenbar and others will ensure the current trend keeps the pressure on the Lismore clubs to survive at the top level.
'In a lot of ways it's the end of an era but the up side is that we'll become a more regional league as the promotion and relegation system opens the door for astute clubs which employ coaches who focus on bringing through their talented juniors,' he said.
The average age of premier division players has dropped dramatically in the last decade and while most of the Lismore clubs have done their best to keep pace, some will be feeling the pinch in 2002.
The bottom line appears to be clubs fostering their junior talent will reap the rewards of not just the coming season, but the future.
Jason Stewart from Tintenbar East Ballina scored 87 against Workers at Oakes Oval. Tintenbar took an outright victory, meaning they ended up as minor premiers.
Going into the last round of the LJ Hooker cricket league the four semifinalists have already been decided.
An outright victory to Tintenbar-East Ballina over Workers last week gave Tintenbar the minor premiership, wresting it from Alstonville at the last minute.
Tintenbar scored 259 in their first innings then Workers declared at 5-46, and were promptly sent back in after Tintenbar forfeited their second innings, meaning an outright result was almost certain - either Workers scored the necessary runs (214) for victory.
Workers failed in their attempt to overcome Tintenbar and ended up all out for 130, giving Tintenbar the outright win and the minor premiership.
In other games last week East took a first innings win over Norths; Ballina only needed 6 wickets to overhaul Lennox; Casino racked up a first innings victory over Brothers, assuring themselves a semi final berth and Souths continued their poor late season form by going down to Brunswick-Byron.
Although the results of the last round have no bearing on the semifinals:
Alstonville should have enough attitude after being denied the minor premiership to take care of Marist Brothers at Hill Park Oval.
Although Brunswick-Byron had a great game against Souths last week they'll struggle against Casino at Queen Elizabeth Park; Norths-Goonellabah RSL should take care of the Ballina Bears at Nielson Park; Workers should have a tight game against Easts at Oakes Oval and Tintenbar should take care of Lennox Head at Saunders Oval, Ballina with, as they say, a cricket score.
The Northern Rivers Echo recently received a copy of a letter written by Bill Harris, president of Richmond Rovers Soccer Club, to Ian Knop, chairman of Soccer Australia regarding the increase in the National Registration Fee.
Following this letter, The Echo was emailed a response by Soccer Australia.
It is with much concern, in fact, disgusted rage, that we find it even necessary to write this letter regarding the imposition of levy fees imposed on our players by your organisation.
I am deeply disappointed by the negative publicity our great game is being subjected to by the national media because of the obvious mismanagement by Soccer Australia, both past and apparently by present administrators (given the imposition of the levy). We, like many clubs, had already set our scale of fees for the current season when your body then announces the imposition of this levy. After a lot of inconverience and embarrassment we amended our fees as per your $6 levy but a short time later we were given 'modified' figures - Juniors $4.30; Seniors $9.80; Contract Seniors $24. This apparent bungling over the simple matter of a fee increase does not augur well for your administration and gives the impression nothing has changed from past mismanagers.
Our great game of football has been hit hard by the Insurance companies, the local council, our parent body Soccer Far North Coast Inc, and others by increasing fees and charges and our club is being inundated by many players and parents of juniors who are finding it very difficult to meet these ever-increasing costs. I genuinely sympathize with the current administrators of Soccer Australia but would respectfully point out that by imposing levies and raising monies ad hoc will only set our great game back.
To me it is ludicrous to impose financial 'hardships' on parents of very young players, to raise money to pay off the small amounts that Soccer Australia owes to the very wealthy and highly paid superstars in the world's Premier competitions who recently played for the Socceroos in the World Cup. The likes of Kewell and Viduka would almost certainly be very embarrassed if they realised five and six year old kids were in fact paying them their measly $30,000 owed by Soccer Australia. It seems to me like Robin Hood in reverse, i.e. 'Robbing the Poor to pay the Rich'.
We notice that in a recent letter from Mr Bill Walker of Northern NSW Soccer Federation, that National League clubs did not participate in the meeting of Soccer Australia when the levy was imposed. Does this mean our senior professional clubs were not levied similarly as the little amateur clubs such as Richmond Rovers. If so, we feel you have set in place a policy of discrimination of the lowest level.
Our Club, Richmond Rovers, was formed the same year as Soccer Australia but, thankfully, due to good management and commonsense, went ahead in leaps and bounds and we feel we are amongst the leaders in country football. We started with one team and now boast nearly 500 players and 40 teams so naturally we are very wary of anyone or anything that threatens our viability.
We are a not-for-profit incorporated club, much like any other small amateur rural clubs, and do not hold monies in reserve. We are not a confrontationist club and feel very passionate about our great game. We have in Australia some of the best players in the game and I am very confident we can eventually claim World Cup glory.
This will only be achieved by proper administrators whose collective priority should be a passion for the game and not concentrated on personal gain or glory.
Let's forget the past forty years of mis-management and concentrate on the future which will be to everyone's benefit.
Yours in sport,
Bill Harris
President
Founder & Life Member
Lismore Richmond Rovers
Soccer Club Inc
The National Registration Fee was introduced in 1989 at the cost of $1 per player, to help with the costs associated with running the National Teams which numbered three at that time. The NRF was increased to $2 in 1996, although $1 is a rebate to the State Federations for all registered players under the age of 16 to assist with their Coaching and Development programs.
In 2002, Soccer Australia is responsible for eight National Teams and their extensive and costly preparation programs. Soccer Australia is the sole financier of the eight teams, which consist of Men's Senior team (Socceroos), Under-23 (Olyroos), Under-20 (Young Socceroos), Under-17 (Joeys) and Under-15 (Young Joeys); Women's Senior team (Matildas) and Under-19; Futsal Senior team (5-a-side Indoor Soccer).
In 2001, Soccer Australia received approximately $395,000 from the NRF, however our National Team expenses for the same period were approximately $5mil for the Socceroos and $1.8mil for the other National teams.
Players, coaches and referees are to pay only ONE registration fee. Accordingly, a player who registers with more than one club and association or who is a referee, shall only be liable for one registration fee.
The fee structure for referees is being discussed with the referees bodies. It is proposed that if a referee is not paid, he or she pays according to age; that is, either $6.50 or $12. If the referee is paid then the fee is $35. Where the referee is also a player, the higher fee shall apply.
An NSL spectator base component is also being considered.
The NRF is expected to net $1.8 million per year.
Primarily the NRF is required to help fund the costs involved in supporting our National Teams and also our Coaching & Development programs, although initially the funds will be directed to servicing our current debt. In 2001, SA spent $5 million on the Socceroos and $1.8 million on the other National Teams, with no guaranteed annual revenue stream and stable capital base to support these programs.
There are several important reasons:
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Bowled Over
Hooks and Slices
