🏆 Sport

Sports reports: Coralie Bryan retires as lawn tennis secretary after 46 years

Plus Jack the Lad's Gold Cup win, Murray Bridge golf and rifle shooting.

Contributed

Oct 10, 2023 — 3 min read

This post includes contributions from Lorraine Graetz, Michael Potts and Daniel Irvine.

Coralie Bryan has stepped down after being Murray Bridge Lawn Tennis Association’s secretary for nearly half a century. Photo: Lorraine Graetz.

Coralie Bryan retires as lawn tennis secretary after 46 years

Mrs Coralie Bryan has hung up her tennis shoes and racquet on the secretarial role of a lifetime.

Bryan had been the secretary of Murray Bridge Lawn Tennis Association since 1977.

Season 2022-23 was her final ace, as she stepped down from her role and commitment to the sport she loves after 46 years.

It was a heartfelt day at the recent AGM when she was presented with flowers from the association members – she was overwhelmed.

Bryan is a life member and has a court named after her due to her magnificent contribution.

All the committee members, life members and players past and present thanked her for all of her hard work over the years, having been blessed with her love and tireless work and being forever grateful.

Justin Potter celebrates winning the 2023 Gold Cup aboard Jack the Lad on Saturday. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Jack the Lad beats local favourites to win the Gold Cup

Former New South Wales galloper Jack the Lad has proven an astute purchase by connections after claiming his first South Australian feature in Saturday’s $120,000 Murray Bridge Gold Cup.

A $575,000 yearling who spent the early part of his career under the care of champion trainer Chris Waller, Jack the Lad was plucked from an Inglis online sale in 2022 for just $37,500 before finding his way to the Finniss stables of Wayne Francis and Glen Kent.

The eye catching runner-up behind Ironclad in last month’s Balaklava Cup, Jack The Lad proved that was no fluke with a dominant 1.1-length win over En Français, with a wall of local horses fighting it out for third.

Read more: racingsa.com.au.

Lachlan Butler waits for no-one at Murray Bridge Golf Club

Saturday’s stroke competition at Murray Bridge Golf Club has been won by elusive, hot and cold C-grader Lachlan Butler with an eye-watering score of nett 61, or seven shots better than his handicap.

Only seen in comp golf every month or two, and with a wildly fluctuating form line, Butler can certainly play on his day, and Saturday was his day.

After also winning the pro comp with a blistering back nine of nett 29, he can expect the axe to fall from an unforgiving handicapper next time he fronts up.

Well done on this occasion, however.

Former local menswear guru Malcolm Blight hit form with his excellent nett 66 to be the day’s runner-up, as the smallish field of 58 reduced the comp to open grade.

Steady A-grader Paul Harding snared third place with a better-than-solid round of nett 67.

Nothing spectacular was recorded on course in terms of holes-in-one or eagles, but the reappearance of ultra-veteran John Bell, albeit for just a practice round after many months away dealing with a host of medical issues, was a miracle in itself.

This man just will not lie down, and his return to competition play soon will be welcomed by all.

Results: murraybridgegolfclub.com.au/competition-results-reports.

Rob Paech kicks back in the scorer’s chair after an opening round 49 at Murray Bridge Rifle Club. Photo: Daniel Irvine.

Robert Paech wins off-rifle at Monarto

Pleasant weather, clear skies and gentle but variable winds have greeted shooters from Murray Bridge Rifle Club for the 11th round of the annual championship, shot from a range of 1000 yards on Saturday.

The sunny conditions led to a strong mirage that made sighting particular difficult for scope shooters, while everyone had to contend with the fickle winds, keeping scores low across the board.

Starting well in TR was Robert Paech, whose 49.03 in the first round was always going to be hard to chase down.