Saturday morning Meet and Greet was a really low key affair with most of the regulars staying home to keep  out of the sun, or some such excuse. However on Sunday morning around 200 riders gathered at The Gumly  Liesure  Centre in preparation for the annual Black Dog Ride, which collects funds to combat suicide. The ride got under way at a little after 9.30am and took the route to Gundagai through Wantabadgery and Nangus and then from Gundagai up the Hume to Jugiong. We all stopped off at Jugiong for about an hour and enjoyed a drink, a sandwich and lots of camaraderie with fellow riders.   From Jugiong we took the direct road to Cootamundra and finally ended up at the licorice factory in Junee for lunch and all the formalities. There was one incident where a rider came off  their bike at Illabo and was transported to the Wagga hospital. The ride home from Jugiong, Cootamundra, Junee and Wagga was marred by horrendous winds and dust storms and at one point in time I actually had to stop  because  visibility was down to zero. However, in spite of all that, most riders had a great day out.

This coming Sunday we will be having breakfast at the Wagga Boat Club at 9am. If you wish to participate give Lorraine a call on 0428 312 336 to ensure your spot  at the table.

Our next ride is on Sunday, April 1 so is a good opportunity to make a fool of yourself. I don’t know where the ride will take you but turn up at McDonalds car park, in Edward Street at about 8.30am and all will be revealed. Apart from the rides which leave Billy’s Café, in Gurwood Street every Wednesday our next ride for April on Sunday the 15th. Conditions for riding are ideal at the present time so get that bike out of the shed and give it a spin.

MINOR Singles Championship second round: Rod Cramp def Jeff Post 31/17; Phil Howarth def Nathan Willis 31 /15. Henry Sperrin def Jim Sloan (on forfeit); Norm King def Tiny Bower 31/21; Darren Conroy def Kevin Nesbitt 31/16; Bob Robertson def Zac Bland 31/17; Mick Carey def Wayne Smithers 31/12; Ben Sharp def Peter Wild 31/13. Wednesday blind draw Triple winners: Phil Hancock, Jim Sloan, Barry Ingram, 22; runners up Paul Fenwick, Owen Cotterill, Rob Nolan 21; 3rd place Bernie Bunson, "Cowboy" Metcalf, 19.

Friday Nominated Pairs winners: John Stout, John Cowper 22; runners up Jeff Post, Barry Metcalf, Tiny Bower, 21; 3rd place Doug Kinder, Alan Jacobson, 17. Sunday Mixed mufti blind draw winners: Rex Lloyd, Bob Connors, Anne Leonard, 20; runners up Barb Cotterill, Bob Robinson, Alice Bower 17; 3rd place Mick Mahon, Bev Robertson, Helen Tyrrell 15. Friday Fully Loaded 3 Bowl Pairs return March 23. Two games 14 ends, draw for Partner and Card; prizemoney $220 with barbecue and lucky draw to follow.

COMING EVENTS

Wednesday blind draw Triples: Names in by noon for 1pm start. Friday Nominated Pair: Names in by noon for 1pm start. Saturday Blind draw: Names in by noon for 1pm start. Sunday Mixed Blind Draw: Names in by 5.30pm for 6pm start.

VERY tough conditions again at Lockhart. Hot and changing wind gave everyone a hard time. John Goodwin fared best in F Open showing a clean pair of heels to son Ben five points behind. In Target Rifle both Dave and Scott struggled in the fast changing conditions. The match was for our Biscay Cup which is open to B and C Target Rifle shooters. Being none present it came down to the A graders and Dave got the win after handicap calculation applied.

Next weekend will be 300Y Trophy shoot.

RESULTS: Target Rifle Scott Brindley TRA – 131.5, Dave Xuereb TRA – 130.7, David Slowiak -DNF (Out of 150). F Class   John Goodwin-FO-163.5, Ben Goodwin-FO-158.5, John Smoothy-FO-138.2, Graham Crowe-FS-134.1 (Out of 180). Match Rifle Phil Bain – 139.5 (Out of 150).

MICK Laurent made it three wins in his last three starts when he won the A Grade event in Saturday’s Monthly Medal with 70 nett, from Andy White 71, and Kyle Harrison 72 nett on a c/b. In B Grade, Tim Crowley also scored 70 nett for a win, from Peter McDonald 71 nett on a c/b from Paul McCallum, also on a c/b. Kade McDonald ran hot for 62 nett and an easy win in C Grade, from Kevin Rafter 68, and Graeme Coulton 71 nett on a c/b. NTP’s to Kevin Rafter, Mitch Blackstock and Andy White. Balls to 74 nett.

It was also Mick’s day last Wednesday when he scored 37 stableford points to win A Grade on a c/b from Roger Taylor and Peter Conlin, also on a c/b. Bruce Yeatman carded 38 to win B Grade from Alan French 37, and Ian Hitchman 36. NTP to Bill Whalan, Peter Biscaya and Kerry Smith. Ball comp to 34 on a c/b.

In Vets news, last Monday saw Ken Batt score 30 nett to win from Terry Baker 32, followed by Peter Briggs 33, Alan French, Phil Powell and Les Hodges 35, and Bob Hodge and Dave Sutton 36 on a c/b. Ron Culgan showed the way in Thursday’s comp with 34 on a c/b from Bill O’Rourke and Charlie Down, followed by Keith Withers and Jim Briggs 35, Dave Sutton 36, and DonThorne and Mick Tilden on 37.

The ladies held a Pynehurst Foursomes event for their Opening Day last Tuesday, and included in the 68 starters were visitors from Thurgoona, Commercial Albury, Tumbarumba, Royal Culcairn, Temora, Junee and Ariah Park. Div 1 Scratch Winners: Julie Boland and Sandra Crowe 81. Runners up, June Byrnes and Di Wolfe 89. H’cap Winners, Bev and Kim Robinson 69 5/8. Runners-up, Carol McGrath and Lyn Blake. Div 2 Scratch Winners, Julie Sunley and Colleen Mavroudis 95. Runners-up, Michelle Morrison and Carmel Adamcewicz 99. H’cap Winners, Erica Coglan and Kerry Smith 74 1/8. Runners-up, Heather Treloar and Sylvia Murphy 76.  NTP’s to Lyn Donohoe in Div 1, Carol McGrath in Div 2, and Val Brunskill in Div 3.

The girls returned for an 18 hole stableford event on Friday, and in Division 1, Una Pocock played well for 39, three clear of Jenny Myers, 36. Lilian Sutherland took out Division 2 with 38 on a c/b from Sandra Mellen, while the NTP’s went to Carmel Pearce and Pat Grieve. Ball comp to 31.

Finally, Tim’s nine-hole Sunday Stableford Comp went to the in-form Simone Pilotto with 23, from Roz Tilden 22. Ball comp to 19.     

TENNIS continues today 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 23.5 points with Pat Wright on 22, then Lachlan McDonald on 20 close behind Riley Wilson on 17 then Kelsey Atkinson on 12 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 3.00pm until 5.00pm.    

Leading the masters competition is Oliver Plum on 25 points, then Pat Wright on 11 points close behind Robert Grantham on 10 points with Lachlan McDonald on 7 points with Caden Maxwell on 5.5 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 13 points close behind Alastair Wright on 10 points then Yassin El Sanabary on 7.5 points.

This week’s McDonalds Sports Award winner was Alastair Wright.

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

San Isidore Tennis Club has tennis coaching every Monday from 4.30pm and social tennis every Friday at 6.30pm. All standards are welcome contact Ruth on 0409 743677.

RIVERINA Travelling Bowlers Inc, together with Holbrook Return Serviceman’s Bowling Club, host for our next event Sunday, March 25 at 10am, names in before 9.30am. Both clubs are extending an invitation to new and interested bowlers to experience a great day of bowls and social fellowship playing a challenging new game called “Scroungers”. Keeping the game simple and relatively easy to understand, we were hoping we could create interest from nearby clubs for support. Interested bowlers from nearby clubs Henty ,Culcairn, Yerong Creek and The Rock are especially invited, venturing further all bowlers at Wagga, Tarcutta, Adelong and Gundagai would be appreciated for their support.

We are prepared, to stage a great event and playing before lunch, a game (about 12 ends) and then sampling the hospitality of Holbrook Return Serviceman’s Bowling Club, dining in the bistro. While sharing with the locals there will be the usual Sunday raffles (many prizes) a feature the Holbrook club’s many patrons and members enjoy.

Our afternoon will consist of another 12 ends and the rink winners playoff to find the finalist. These will be shorted to about three ends while the gallery barrack for their favourite player. There will be a winner and runner up, prizes/ trophy awarded, and named “Holbrook Scrounger of the Day”.

After bowls comes the social time; we settle back, while the presentations are made and enjoy the company of new friends, we have sourced at Holbrook, then to draw the jackpot. Riverina Travelling Bowlers Inc. raffle will also find another happy winner, sharing some of the highlights of the day.

Time will close in on us and we will have to make tracks home. It will be a memorial day and Phil Swanson (Swanny) President Men’s Bowling Club, and his valued team will no doubt be doing all, to ensure YOU come back to Holbrook Return Serviceman’s Bowling Club and leave with great stories to tell friends and supporters back home.

Future and Past Events will be held at Yerong Creek on April 22, Gundagai on May 6, Henty on May 27. The AGM is in June, all welcome. Keep your eye on this space ... and read The Leader.

Riverina Travelling Bowlers Inc attended a Special General Meeting at the RSL Club Bowls room on Saturday, March 17 where 12 dedicated members attended. The news is that our important secretary position still remains vacant. Anyone feel they have the prowess and time to fill this rewarding position please call Michelle 0409 048 148. The constitution was discussed and open for comment, future and past events were also on the agenda. June Wolters  (president) chaired the meeting, and Michelle Henderson was congratulated on her achievements and efforts towards Riverina Travelling Bowlers Inc. being recognised by the Dept of Fair Trading as an Incorporated Identity.

Enjoy your bowls this week and see you at Holbrook Return Serviceman’s Bowling Club.