Sports News
 Hooks
and Slices
with Stan Bendall
Well, it's back into it again. I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy 2003, and may it be a peaceful and prosperous one as well.
NRDGA
Delegates should not forget this Sunday, January 12, as the Northern Rivers AGM will be hosted by Ballina Golf Club at 9am, with the executive meeting at 8.30pm. This meeting is probably one of the most important of the year, with the main topics being the ratification of programs and the election of officers for 2003.
Ballina
This Saturday is the men's Monthly Medal. The ladies also play a single stroke. Brownies golfers play an Ambrose fours this Sunday. There were a couple of aces recently by David Mitchell (3rd) and Eric Sellick (18th). At last Wednesday's single stableford, Gordon Killion took out the overall honours. The A grade victor was Robert Carson, B Grade went to Geoffrey Jacobsen, and C grade to Raymond Wicks. Last Friday another stableford was played with David Thick winning the day from Rodney Crowe (not relation to Russell) with Graham Moore finishing in third place. Last weekend, the annual Summer Cup was played over 36 holes. John Casey took out the gross section. The nett winner was Brendan Pollock. Paul Wilson won A grade, John Gates B grade, and Paul Leadbeatter the C Grade.
Byron Bay
The Summer Cup will be held on the 11th and 18th - check with the club.
Casino
This Saturday is a single stableford. Last weekend was the first monthly and was won by C grader Darren Morrissey with a fine 63, by three from Danny Jones. Tom Jones, club legend, won A grade section with a fine 65 (71 hits). Steve Matheson won C grade. Last Thursday's single stroke event was won by Steve Humphries with 62, by two from greenkeeper and past club champion Brad McLennan (4 hcp). Don't forget members - fees are now due and can be paid at the bar.
Kyogle
This Saturday is a 4BBB (and club fees also due). Last Saturday's monthly medal went to Kurt Newton in A grade and B grade victor to Paddy Boyle. Luke Henry won the putting comp with Frank Henry winning the vets ball.
Lismore
This Saturday, a 2 ball stableford will be played in conjunction with a single. And there is a sheet on the notice board for interested parties to take part on the "Club Shootout".
Northern Rivers rep Rhein Gibson will have a top year in 2003 as it appears that he has hit his straps already at the ripe old age of 16. He recently took part in the inaugural Aaron Baddaley tournament in Victoria, easily winning his age section and finishing 2nd overall with a fine four under over 36 holes. He has been selected to play in Baddaley's team to take on juniors from the rest of the world in Fiji later this month. He is currently playing in the Harvey Norman Week of Golf in Sydney and will fly off to Fiji this weekend. Rhein should be a permanent fixture in the NSW state team this year and is one of the best prospects to come out of the club and Association for quite some time. Break a leg mate.
Another top club and Northern Rivers player from yesteryear, Scott Morrissey, is now head teaching pro at Golf Club Kennedy, WA.
Another local success is Kane Webber, home from the USA for a rest. He has 18 months left studying under a golf scholarship, and has even developed a twang!
Last Thursday's single stableford went to Les Amor playing from juniors Michael Hughes and Scott Amor.
Last Saturday's monthly medal saw Tim Cox win A grade. Roscoe Meyer won the gross with 76. Veteran golfer Murray Buckley, took out B grade with 65, Tom O'Brien C Grade and Wayne McInness the gross with 80 hits. Tim Cox also won the monthly mug, which I think he will be putting to good use.
The course is looking great at the moment after the rain over the past few weeks. However, we should all still pray for rain as the water restrictions have affected us, and a lot of other clubs. Next meeting to plan the centenary year will be held at the golf club on Wednesday, February 5. Any ideas most welcome.
Mullumbimby
This Saturday (11th) is the Annual Brunswick Valley Open - all visitors are welcome. The Open will be followed by a monster monthly mixed on Sunday, which is also open to visitors.
Woodburn/Evans Head
This weekend, the men play a single stroke for the January monthly mug. Last Thursday, the veterans played a 12 hole stroke. Roger Bonham took the honours from Lester Capp. The course is in top condition considering the dry with a big help from the volunteers. The ladies played a single stableford with Nancy Webb winning from Dianne Perkins. The RSL played a 12 hole single stroke last Sunday, with Boydie Collyer beating Carol Youngberry.
Ashes Campaign for 2014 Underway
 Far North Coast Green bowler, Alex Bambrook, sends one down against Hawkesbury at Mortimer Oval on the opening day of the Far North Coast Junior Cricket Council under 12 carnival.
Anyone wanting to see Australia win the Ashes in the 2014-15 season can get a sneak preview this week here in Lismore. The Test players of the future can be seen representing 16 regions from across NSW and south eastern Queensland, on Lismore's playing fields all week in the 20th annual Lismore Workers Club/Far North Coast Junior Cricket Council Under 12 carnival.
The domination that Australia currently enjoys in Test and One Day cricket is a direct result of the coaching and playing opportunities that our juniors enjoy. This carnival plays an important role in the statewide network of carnivals for each age grouping. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the competition a special function and presentation night was held at the Lismore Workers Club on Wednesday night. The final of the carnival will be held on Friday, starting at 9.30 am, at Oakes Oval.
All other grading matches are scheduled to be completed by midday to allow all of the players to gather at Oakes to see the second innings of the final.
This is an outstanding event, with attendance to all matches, including the final, free of charge.
Swimsafe Lessons
One of the most important aspects of growing up close to the coast in Australia is the need to learn to swim safely. Each year the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation conducts a series of Swimsafe lessons for juniors.
With a new series of lessons set to begin on Monday it is not too late for parents to book their children in to help them develop the skills to be safe around water for life.
Swimsafe co-ordinator, Lucinda Jenkins, said "Swimsafe classes will be running during January for children aged from 18 months to 12 years. Local classes will be held at pools in the Lismore, Ballina, Byron, Kyogle and Richmond River shires.
"The very simple message Swimsafe offers is that if you want your family to have fun and be safe in and around the water then your children should learn to swim."
For more information or to enrol call the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation on 13 13 02.
Local Fishing Looks Good
 Matt Cook of Charters Hardware, Nimbin, with a 30kg cod caught off Cooktown.
Welcome to a New Year of exciting fishing. Over the holiday break many clubs take a rest from meetings and outings while other local anglers tend to avoid the pressure on the fishery to compensate for the increased number of visitors to the region.
The photo today is of a huge cod caught off Cairns. The weight was over 30kg. In reality this is a small one, as they can grow to 500kg plus.
On trips to Swain Reefs I have seen them under the boat four times the size of a big man. Not wanting to hook them or hurt them, we were throwing them fish skeletons tied to a rope with no hook. The power of these cod and groper is simply amazing, yet they glide around the water so gently. In many of the lagoons on the Barrier Reef these huge fish seem to occupy an area as his or her territory. It will be a shame if they are ever harmed. We believe we have seen them up to 500kg in weight.
The Richmond Valley Sport Fishing Club has a bass outing on Saturday, January 18, at Bungawalbyn from 3pm to 9pm. Meet at Moonem for a start. All fishing is lure or fly only and all fish are to be released. This is a true sport fishing club and new members are welcome. Please ring 6621 3047 for more details.
Whilst there have been many visitors, the fishing has been far from poor. Mud crabs have been very good with most people getting a good feed.
Around Ballina there have been some nice blackfish on the North Wall and at Missingham Bridge; whiting at Pimlico and Rileys Hill; some nice big flathead down the Porpoise Wall; bream around the rock walls at Pimlico; not many but some very nice tailor off the headlands and at least one nice jewfish of 13kg from the North Wall was caught on a big storm soft plastic lure. Bass anglers seem to be doing best at Clarrie Hall Dam.
This weekend, Jan 11-12, try around 7am to 10am and similar in the evenings. Low tide will be at 9:30am Saturday and 10:45am on Sunday. High tide will come in at 3:23pm Saturday and 4:30pm on Sunday. Remember to make your adjustments for how far up the river you are from the Ballina entrance.
Year of the Lions - Group One Rugby League
 Kevin Walker, Lismore City Lions captain/coach for 2003, ready to take the team up the stairway to (premiership) heaven.
The MCG and the Stadium Australia may ring to the passions of the nations biggest grand final celebrations every year, but the future is uncertain for both Australian Football and Rugby League. Pundits have predicted they will both struggle to hold on to their player base over the coming decades.
The success of Rugby Union and Soccer on an international scale, both of which hold high-profile World Cups every four years, is always going to represent a threat to the two Australian 'populist' football codes' ability to attract young players and to hold on to their existing player bases.
But here on the Far North Coast there is a groundswell to counter the round ball and the rah rahs.
Last year saw the establishment of the Lismore City Lions Rugby League Club and now comes the announcement of the formation of the Casino Lions AFL Club. Both codes have seen local clubs fold over the past few years so the birth of new clubs is a promising trend.
Lismore City Lions Rugby League Club
After coming into existence a little over a year ago the Lismore City Lions Rugby League Club has now successfully completed a full season in the Second Division of the Group One competition and are looking towards a strong future.
The club came into being when former Workers Club team mates Phil Dryden and Gavin Myers got together to run the Gollan Hotel in the Lismore CBD. They were looking to put something back into the game and found that the club they were looking to sponsor already had a hotel sponsorship. As Phil Dryden puts it "One thing led to another and we decided to see if we could put together a team for second division. It all came about because we both felt as though the game needed support after the Super League war. Obviously we also thought it would be good for the pub, but we could have done a number of different things to achieve that, this was really about promoting the sport."
A late start to proceedings meant that last year was a trial run of sorts for the Lismore City Lions. They were given the nod of approval for the 2002 season by the Group One board in November 2001 which meant hat most players were tied up for the following year. "It was a bit of a Dad's Army of sorts. There were a few players who put their hands up immediately and we asked around amongst former players that we knew. One bloke, Daryl Crockford, did a great job. He started as our strapper and before the season was out he was pulling on his playing boots for the first time in twelve years.
We didn't expect to have success on the field in 2002, although we were very pleased to get that first win under our belts.
What we were looking for out of the year was to see, firstly, if we could run a club successfully, secondly, to see if there was a place for a Second Division club here in Lismore, and finally, to see if there were enough players who were interested in playing on a Saturday to justify starting a club.
Each of these goals were achieved last year and now we are looking towards improving the strength of the team on the field. One big step in that direction is the appointment of the highly credentialed Kevin Walker as the captain-coach of the team for the 2003 season. Kevin is a former Kyogle player who represented Group one last season. He is the assistant -manager at the Gollan Hotel and could see that this would be a perfect opportunity for him to start making the transition from being a top level country player to a career in coaching.
The club is still on the look out for interested players for the 2003 season. Anyone interested in pulling on a Lismore City jumper for the year should contact Kevin, Phil or Gavin at the Gollan or turn up at Crozier Oval ready for training at 6 pm on Tuesday 21 January.
Club President, Phil Dryden, along with Gavin has helped to make the club an administrative success as well. This was recognised late last year when he was voted to be the 2003 delegate for Second Division to the Group One Rugby League Board.
Casino Lions AFL Club
After a failed flirtation with Australian football in 1984 Casino now has its own stand-alone AFL club. The Casino Lions announced their formation late in 2002 and have been conducting training sessions for both its senior and junior list since December.
The senior squad training is being held at Casino's Queen Elizabeth Park, No.2 Oval, every Thursday, starting again on 23 Jan.
Auskick training sessions will be held for junior players at Colley Park each Wednesday, once the school year kicks off.
The venture is one that has come about due to the efforts of a few players with SAFL experience and is looking to develop a strong junior base.
If their livery is to be any guide they are in for a successful time ahead as they are likely to be wearing a similar strip to that of the current dual AFL premiers the Brisbane Lions.
Club President, Stephen Wills, estimates that it will cost at least $10,000 to get the club off the ground for its first season. "Much of the costs are one-off, such as goalposts and the like. We are fortunate that we have had the initial assistance of two local companies. The support of Richmond River Blinds alone has been critical in the establishment of the Casino Lions Australian Football Club. We have also been able to gain the sponsorship of one of our local hotels, The Tattersalls, which has also committed a four-figure sum towards the club."
Casino has a historic place in local Australian football history, with the Lismore-Casino Roos having reached the Grand final of the Summerland Australian Football League in 1984, the inaugural year of the competition.
The first premiership decided in the Summerland AFL was the 1984 Under 17 title, taken out by the Lismore-Casino team.
The following year the now-defunct Roos dropped the Casino component of their identity.
The training facilities in 1984 were all in Lismore and the venture never established a genuine casino presence. This time things are very different. At pre-Christmas training sessions there was an average of 12-15 players in attendance. The clubs initial sign-on drew a total of 23 signatures. The list has now grown to 28 players with the club eager to hear from new or experienced players.
While they currently have a caretaker coach for the pre-season in Brett Patton, the Casino Lions are looking to make a permanent coaching appointment for the coming season. Experience as a senior player or coach would be desirable. If you are interested in playing or coaching please contact the club president on 66 622444 during business hours.
In other local AFL news Kevin Tandogac, (pronounced Tando-watch) a former Ballina Bomber, has been drafted by reigning AFL titleholders the Brisbane Lions.
The Lions have shown a great deal of faith in Kevin, placing him, along with five other Queensland based players on their Rookie List for 2003.
In an article posted on the AFL website the Lions state "Tandogac is a fierce competitor who has sound endurance and tagged the opposition's best player on many occasions for Southport last season.
He played his junior football at Springwood before moving to Ballina on the far northern NSW coast, then was encouraged to venture back up to Southport to further his football.
Tandogac, who turns 20 next year, is viewed as something of a late developer with some potential.
Rain Saves Beach Party Raceday
Over the years the bane of many sports on the Far North Coast has been rain.
Countless competition rounds of summer and winter sports have had to be cancelled or rescheduled because Huey has sent down too much of the stuff.
Then of course came the drought and everything has been topsy-turvy, with some events threatened by the lack of rain and grass coverage on the playing fields.
But now the (horse) shoe is on the other foot.
As a result of the showers over the Christmas/New Year period the Lismore Turf Club Beach Party Raceday, set down for Saturday, January 18, will definitely be going ahead as per schedule.
Club secretary-Manager, Michael Timbrell, said the track has a great grass coverage at the moment.
"Although some rain would obviously help, there is no danger of the meeting being cancelled due to dry weather," he said.
"We have a huge day of activities planned including sand castle building competitions, jumping castle and face painting for the kids. We will also have prizes for the best men's and women's beachwear, plus, thanks to our sponsor North Coast Financial Services, one lucky racegoer will win $500 cash just by dressing for the beach."
Look in next week's Echo for more details.
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