Riverina Leader sport, July 13, 2016

Although the distance in a sprint orienteering course is much shorter than normal, it is generally held in an area with considerable detail that allows numerous short legs with many changes in direction. Debbie Davey set some excellent courses that zig-zagged in an around the many buildings on the CSU campus. Concentration became paramount towards the end of the course which also involved some hill climbs.

Following a good run in the Gold Coast marathon last weekend Briohny was the fastest around the 2500m course. Lachlan Billett, celebrated his selection in the NSW Schools Orienteering team with an excellent second placing about 30 seconds off Briohny’s hot pace. Alex Davey was third and John Oliver finished fourth.

Dale Clegg finished mid-field but was fast enough to win handicap honours for the day just ahead of Lachlan.

Times were a bit slower but competition was much closer on the 1800m Course. Hannah did enough to win just ahead of Iain, Ashleigh and Eloise Crossett. Charlie Cheesley was in the mix but had to settle for third place with Clare Jessup finishing fourth.

Harriet Priest was the sole participant on the 1200m course.

The next event will be at 10am on Sunday, July 24 near Gerogery. This will be Event 7 of the Interclub Challenge against Albury. Follow the orienteering signs from Five Mates Bridge.

Results: 2500m Course; Briohny Seaman 17.22; Lachlan Billett 17.56; Alex Davey 19.07; John Oliver 20.48; Trent Seaman 22.28; Dale Clegg 25.28; Ian Jessup 26.25; Julie Gooding 26.41; Amanda Billett 31.35; Charlotte Priest 32.04; Kobe Priest 40.27. 1800m Course: Hannah Billett 30.19; Crossett Family 31.07; Charlie Cheesley 31.34; Clare Jessup 33.33; Kath Oliver 44.20. 1200m Course: Harriet Priest 17.56.

WAGGAROOS JUNIOR SELECTED IN NSW SCHOOLS ORIENTEERING TEAM

WaggaRoos junior orienteer Lachlan Billett has been selected in the NSW Schools Orienteering team to contest the Australian Schools Orienteering Championships in Queensland in September.

The Australian Schools Orienteering Championships will be conducted September 26-29 as part of the 10-day Australian Orienteering Championship Carnival that is expected to attract more than 600 competitors from across the nation.

Lachlan came to the notice of selectors following excellent performances at the annual Riverina Schools Orienteering Championships. In 2015 he was invited to join the NSW Junior Development Squad training camp in Orange and more recently was invited to train with the ACT Junior development squad when they visited Wagga in April.

The 15-year-old TRAC student has already done exceptionally well at state and regional level. He is the current M14-15 NSW Schools Sprint-Orienteering Champion, the M14-15 Riverina Schools Orienteering Champion and was runner-up in the 2015 M14-15 NSW Schools Individual Championship. Lachlan is one of a number of very talented juniors the WaggaRoos club is developing at the moment and his selection is a just reward for the effort he has put in to improve his orienteering skills.

Lachlan will compete in the Sprint, Individual and Relay orienteering events at the Schools Championships as well as the national championship events at the weekends. The national championships will be held in the granite belt near Stanthorpe.

Although recent heavy rain will no doubt stand the course in good stead for the upcoming warmer months, our current winter competitions have paid the price, with only last week’s nine-hole vets comps, and Sunday’s stableford event being played.

Last Monday, the Vets played a 4BBB stableford event, which was won by the formidable team of John Burkinshaw and Eddie Wall with 29 pts, while second spot went to Bernie Mogford and Peter Kirkman 26 pts, from Jim Briggs and Barney Matthews, 24 pts on a c/b.

Thursday’s stableford event was taken out by popular Vets Committee boss, Bob Moore, who beat his handicap by ten shots for 26 pts, one clear of Tony Brunskill 25 pts, followed by Barney Matthews 24, and Garry Forde and Don Thorne on 23 pts. There was one highlight on the day, however, and this was provided by Don Kirwan. Don, who is probably the straightest, if not the longest hitter in the club, had been using the same golf ball for around six months, or so he reckons. For some reason though, the ball was starting to lose its ‘zip’, so Don broke open the packet of a brand new Callaway Tour Edition golf ball whilst waiting on the tee of the par five 5th hole. After sending the new ball straight down the middle of the fairway, as usual, he laid up his second shot, a smooth three-metal, to a spot well short of the dam. The only problem was that his new ball went about fifty metres further than what his old one did, and inevitably found itself in a watery grave. And yes, Don did let the new ball know what he thought of it.

A very wet week was rounded off  on Sunday, with Peter McDonald winning the weekly nine-hole stableford event with 21 pts, from Peter Taylor 19 pts. Ball comp to 18 pts.

Tuesday 5th July bowls cancelled due to rain.

Thursday 7th July 2016  Social Bowls

 F Mahon, L Carroll def  K Reid, J Edwards.  V Burkinshaw, J Stair Def J Chappelow, N Gay.  B Cotterill, S Lucas, B Robinson def J Wilson, M Williams, J Fitzsimmons

L Maher, B Cuthbert, E Larkin def M Thornton, P Macdonald, H Tyrell.   The winners today were T Browne, L Woolbank.

On Sunday fifteen shooters contested centrefire field. First place went to Rob Baird (363.03); followed by Clayton Hogno (337.01) and Michael McAuliffe (323.02) with Rob Wells and Tony Gestier only one centre behind for equal fourth.

Lever Action went to Paul Passlow (409..02) followed a long way back by Mick Reed (281) and Mick Doughty (275).

Saturday the 16th is black powder from 1.30 and Sunday the 17th is centrefire 200y group from 10. For more information contact Don EWIN on 69263757 or donbruce8@bigpond.com

Well what a doozie of a day we had last Wednesday. Three, (Don P, Smithy and yours truly)  shot off down the Mangoplah road intending to go through Albury and then to Howlong for lunch.  We got to Albury and were within sight of a nice cup of coffee at the Borellas Café and the clutch cable came adrift on my bike. Now this is the one day of my life I have left my mobile phone at home, but luckily Don P had his with him to ring NRMA Roadside Assist.  Here we are standing on the side of the road trying to tell the operator where we are (after going through 27 options on the keypad) and she can’t understand what we are saying because of the wind.  Finally a patrolman arrives and decides he can’t fix the problem because it is a motorbike, so he gets another bloke from Grealy’s  Garage, to turn up with a bike trailer who lugs us off to Blacklocks.  The service we received at Blacklocks was second to none and our old friend John Metcalf had me fixed and back on the road in no-time-flat. Lunch was at the Shell Servo next door but not what we were looking forward to. By the time we were all sorted out it was getting on time wise so we just headed up the Olympic Goat Track back home. I have to say the number of people who stopped to offer  help was extraordinary, it shows the good side of the community. 

There was the usual gathering at Billy’s Café on Saturday morning and the day didn’t turn out too bad.  Remember every Saturday from 10am. I ventured to Mount Selwyn with one of my grandkids, in the car. He had a ball and I froze after looping the loop (twice) on the snow in my RM Williams boots.

There was no official ride on Sunday but I know that one or two went off somewhere. The weather was grey and bleak but relatively warm with little or no rain. Next Sunday (17th) the ride is scheduled to take in Tallangatta and those great bike roads in Northern Victoria. Gather at McDonald’s car park, in Edward Street, for a 9.30am departure.

Our next branch meeting will be at the Radio Club Rooms, in Small Street on Tuesday 19th, starting at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7pm for some socialising. Next official ride will be to Morundah Hotel to meet up with Griffith and Albury on August 7.  

All Wednesday rides depart from Billy’s Café at 9.30am where the planning committee decides where to go over a nice hot cup of coffee.

No tennis this Saturday in the junior tennis competitions at the Forest Hill courts due to the school holidays. The next junior tennis competitions will start Saturday, July 23.

The masters competition is for players wanting more serious tournament play, with proper tie-breaker sets being played. There is prizemoney for the top 20 players in the competition for all players having played five matches, as well as a best and fairest award. To take part, just turn up at the start time of 3pm.    

The last masters competition was won by Caden Maxwell on 47½ points over Oliver Plum on 44 points close behind Reece Rutland on 39½ points then Lara Plum on 26½ points and Karnie Spalding on 23½ points making up the top five places.

The junior tennis competition is open to all juniors wanting to play tennis in a friendly relaxed format, and is their first steps to playing competition. All players should be able to serve to take part. This competition starts at 3pm.

In the junior tournament Mitchell Spalding was the winner on 52½ points with Tory Grantham on 35½ points ahead of Lachlan McDonald on 28 points then Dylan Haisell on 24 points with Larissa Wyatt on 16½ points.

The Best and Fairest Awards went to: Masters duel winners Caden Maxwell and Oliver Plum. Junior Tournament winner was Mitchell Spalding.

All enquires about the junior competitions or tennis lessons please contact Roman Adamcewicz on 6922 4963 or 0439 584 125. Social tennis every Monday and Thursday night from 7pm for all standards at Forest Hill contact Col 0447 464 234 or Trevor 0407 513 974.