The 1.9km Easy course proved popular with family groups being mainly along tracks with some opportunities to take short cuts through the open forest. Nine year old Rob McDougall ventured out on his own for the first time and did very well finishing in first place almost 12 minutes ahead of the Farquhar family. This was in spite of making a couple of mistakes but impressively he worked out what had gone wrong and corrected appropriately.

Fifteen year old Cameron McDougall also did very well winning a very closely contested 4.1km Hard Course. Deb Davey set an interesting course that twisted and turned within itself across the prominent east-west spur in the centre of the reserve. This meant lots of direction changes and careful of map-reading to identify the significant features that would lead to the control site quickly. Cameron out-orienteered his much more experienced competitors winning by 46 seconds from Alex Davey with Iain Crossett a 19 seconds further back in third place.

Julie Sunley was the only participant on the 3.6km Moderate Course which offered challenges in route choice more than map-reading. Participants had to decide whether to go straight and tackle the hills or run further and go around them.

John Oliver was the only finisher on the 5.5km Hard course when Joannah McDougall withdrew after the fourth control.

Next event will commence at 10am on Sunday 25 March at the Livingstone National Park and State Conservation Area. From Jubilee Park travel south along Holbrook Rd for about 19km. Just after crossing Little Sandy Creek turn left into O’Briens Creek Rd. After a further 6km turn right into Wrigleys Rd and follow the orienteering signs to the assembly area.

Results. 1.9km Easy Course. Rob McDougall 29.54; Farquhar Family 41.25; Kath Oliver 44.59; Jarrah Gooding 61.11; Julie Gooding 61.49; Logan Seaman 5 controls. 3.6km Moderate Course: Julie Sunley 73.05; 4.1km Hard Course: Cameron McDougall 44.10; Alex Davey 44.56; Iain Crossett 45.15; Alexander Young 63.32; Stuart Young 63.35; Sean Sunley 68.25. 5.5km Hard Course John Oliver 49.52; Joannah McDougall 4 controls.

SOCIAL bowls: Tuesday, March 6: C Mackay, N Gray, J Willis d B Patterson, J Bishop, L Moorby.

Thursday, March 8: C Mackay, N Jones d B Patterson, L Moorby.

Saturday, March 10:  M Johnston, C Mackay, J Willis, E Low d B Laing, R Evershed, N Gray, J Beck.

Any ladies interested in trying lawn bowls phone Norma 6921 4610.

Bus trip to Altina Wildlife Park Friday, April 13.

SAN Isidore Tennis Club has social tennis every Friday at 6.30pm. All standards are welcome contact Ruth on 0409 743677.

At Forest Hill there is social tennis every Monday and Thursday night from 7pm for all standards contact Col 0447 464 234 or Trevor 0407 513 974.

Excellent tennis played last Wednesday in the Junior Doubles Tennis Competition at the Bolton Park Tennis Complex.

The competition is open to all players that are able to serve. To enter turn up at the courts before the start time of 4pm finish at 6pm sharp. Sportsmans Warehouse Giftcards awarded at the end of the competition as well as a Best and Fairest award.

Leading the competition is Makenna Irlam on 21 points with Lachlan McDonald on 20 points with Pat Wright on 17 points close behind Riley Wilson on 14½ points then Kelsey Atkinson on 10 points making up the top five positions.

Last week’s winners of the McDonalds Sports Award were Kelsey Atkinson and Mohamed Ghazy.

Last Saturday very close matches in the junior tennis competitions at Forest Hill courts.

The masters competition is for players wanting more serious tournament play, with proper tie-breaker sets being played. There is prizemoney for the top twenty players in the competition for all players having played five matches, as well as a best and fairest award at the end of the competition. To take part, just turn up at the start time of 3pm until 5pm.    

Leading the masters competition is Oliver Plum on 21 points, then Robert Grantham on 10 points close behind Pat Wright on nine points with Lachlan McDonald on seven points with Caden Maxwell on 5½ points making up the top five positions.

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. There will be trophies to all players having played at least five matches.

As well there is a special best and fairest award presented at the end of the competition.

This competition starts at 3pm to 5pm.

Leading the junior tournament is Tory Grantham on 11 points close behind Yassin El Sanabary on 7½ points with Alastair Wright on six points.

This week’s McDonalds Sports Award winners were Masters Sabrina Donebus and Junior Tournament Alastair Wright.

Enquires about the junior competitions or tennis lessons please contact Roman Adamcewicz on 6922 4963 or 0439 584 125.

LAST Wednesday a small group of six shot off to Narrandera way by way of the river road through  Euberta, Currawarna, Matong and Grong Grong. From there they took the Sturt Highway as far as the turn to Leeton and went across the Euroly Bridge to Leeton for lunch at the Leeton Hotel in Pine Avenue.  Always good for an honest country feed.  After lunch, a drink and a look-about they all saddled up and headed to Ardlethan  through  Colinroobie  and Kamarah  and it was at this point they lost Woody, but that is not too hard to do, Woody specialises in going off at a tangent. 

At one point they thought he may have gone off somewhere to find a bigger jam tin to put fuel in.  I have never known a bike to have such short legs. Anyway from Ardlethan it was back to Wagga through Coolamon after a great day savouring good  company and good  weather.

Fifteen turned up at Billy’s for morning smoko on Saturday  with the usual bouts of wisdom being shared amongst those willing to listen. 

Even if you didn’t want to listen there was no way you could escape.  It was loud and meaningful. 

I have always said that if bulldust was music we would have a symphony orchestra.   But the morning, as usual, was enjoyed by all.

On Sunday a contingent of eight left Macca’s dead on 9am and took the river road to Matong where we joined up with two on a bike from Leeton and two on a Spyder from Griffith.  From there we travelled through Ganmain, Coolamon, and Marrah to Junee where we witnessed the tail end of the Rhythm and Rail Festival. 

We missed the best bit  -  that was on Saturday however we did have a very nice lunch at the Railway Station Café and then a stroll through what was left of the exhibits, finally heading back home at about 1pm and pulling up stumps before the heat set in.

Our next outing will be this coming Sunday, March 18 and will join in on the Black Dog Ride which will be leaving from Wagga Motorcycles at the Wagga Leisure Centre,  Gumly at 9.30am. 

You can register online at www.blackdogride.com.au or register on the day at Gumly from 7am where the South Wagga Lions will cook up a bacon and egg roll and Scribbles Van will have a coffee for you, for a small fee of course. 

If you need any further information contact the “Bear” Falconer on 0407 650 400 or Nerolie on 0401 938 029. 

The ride will be through Oura to Jugiong for morning tea then across to Cootamundra, finishing up at the Liquorice  Factory, in Junee for lunch.   

On March 25 we have booked into the Wagga Boat Club for breakfast at 9am so if you would like to come along give Lorraine a call on 0428 312 336 to book your place at the table.             

The next branch meeting will be on Tuesday, March 20 at the Radio Club Rooms in Small Street, starting at 7.30pm. The doors will open at 7pm for some pre-meeting fellowship. 

Come on along and support your local Branch with some new ideas for future events and rides.        

SATURDAY saw seven shooters their hand at a 200yard Rimfire Fly Shoot. Tony Gestier again showed he's one to watch, shooting a 225.02 to win, followed by Mark Anstee on 205 and Tricia Stubbs on 189.02.

On Sunday we held Military Service Rifle which was contested by six shooters.Greg Hannon shot a perfect score of 50.5 at 50 yards however it wasn't enough to earn him the win. Bruce Milne claimed victory with a final score of 187, followed by Greg on 184.06 and John Buik on 182.01.

Next weekend we have Black Powder on Saturday from 1.30pm, and Centerfire 300m Fly on Sunday from 10am.

As always,casual shooters are more than welcome and we look forward to seeing you there! For more information see our Facebook page @SSAAWagga

THE Vets competed in a two-person ambrose last Monday, which was won by  the team of John Hazell and Don Thorne, who shot one-over off the stick for 31 nett.

Tony Brunskill and Peter Briggs took second spot with 32 ¼ nett, from Mick de Vries and Alan French 32 ¾, and Bob Moore and Bob Alexander 33 ¼ nett.

Thursday’s nine-hole stableford event was won by Ron Culgan with 21 on a c/b from Bert Adams, followed by Bernie Mogford and Les Hodges 18, Grahame Winson and Dave Sutton 17, and Barney Matthews 16 on a c/b.

Forty of the club’s ladies enjoyed their Summer Cup Luncheon and Presentation last Tuesday, with congratulations going to Cup Winner, Jan Leonard, with Jan Marks runner-up.

Most birdies went to Anne Leonard, while the Gobbler Trophy was won by Vi Gardner.

The girls also played a nine-hole stableford event, and in Division 1, Sue Oakman showed the way with 21 to win by a shot from Val Williams 20, on a c/b from Lorraine Hickey.

In Division 2, Simone Pilotto continued her recent red hot form to score 23 for a win from Colleen Mavroudis 21, and Jan Leonard 18. NTP to June Byrnes.

Members competed in a stableford event on Wednesday, and in A Grade, Warren Lynch scored 38 pts for a c/b win from Kerry Smith, with the consistent Kyle Harrison third with 36.

Ray Barnett won B Grade with 40 pts, two clear of Ted Ryan 38, followed by Merv Patterson 35 pts. NTP’s to Andrew White, John McLeod and Brian Smith, who smacked his seven iron 165 metres uphill to within a metre of the hole for one of his five birdies on the day, although his eight ‘wipes’ put a bit of a dent in his total score! Ball comp to 34 c/b.

Mick Laurent finally got it together for 38 pts to win A Grade in Saturday’s stableford event, from Ray Bell and Mark McIntyre on 37 pts. In B Grade, Ken Read lit up the course with 42 pts, one clear of Eden Stubbings, followed by Col Smith 40 pts.

Michael Buckley won C Grade with 39 pts, from Charlie Adams 38, and Owen Guthrie 37 pts. NTP’s to John Messing, who played a terrific shot to under a metre on the long par three 9th hole, Steve Hall, who also ‘flushed it’ to end up half a metre from the pin on the 13th, and Ray Gladman on the 18th hole. Ball Comp to 34 pts on a c/b. 

TUESDAY, March 6: social bowls: H. Tyrrell, v. Quigley & J. Wilson def N. Post, L. Carroll & M. Telford. J. Brown & R. Woodbury def J. Edwards & V. Burkinshaw. J. Howard, E. McCrum & F. Mahon def I. Plater, G. rose & B. Cotterill.

DAY WINNERS: H. Tyrrell, v. Quigley & J. Wilson.