Sports reports: Racing trainer suspended for three months

This post includes contributions from Murray Bridge Rifle Club’s Daniel Irvine, Murray Bridge Golf Club’s Shane Aldridge and Murray Bridge Lawn Tennis Association’s Graham Buttle.

A Murray Bridge-based trainer has been suspended for three months after one of his horses tested positive to a prohibited substance.

An elevated level of cobalt, which can improve a horse's performance, was found in a urine sample from the gelding Santelmo Fuego after he won a race at Naracoorte on August 22.

After an investigation, Racing SA stewards voided the race result and charged trainer Grant Young with breaking the rules of racing.

Mr Young pleaded guilty and, considering his "relatively clean record", was suspended from racing for three months, effective at midnight on Tuesday of this week.

The same horse, Santelmo Fuego, gave Young one last win before the suspension came into effect, in race eight at Morphettville on Tuesday.

Additional stewards report: Santelmo Fuego270KB ∙ PDF fileDownloadDownload

Andrew Heard and Frank Marshall come out on top

A small contingent gathered at the Deed Range in Monarto on Saturday to compete in the Murray Bridge Rifle Club’s annual pairs match for the prestigious Pears Trophy.

Shot from 600 metres, competitors draw lots, were paired off and coached each other.

The event was self-handicapped out of 240, with target rifle V-bulls counting for sixes.

Not only was the day a lot of fun, but also offered valuable coaching and wind-reading practice, which is normally hard to come by in a regular championship season.

There was certainly the opportunity to practice those skills on Saturday as the right wind proved notoriously hard to read at times.

Stand-out first-round scores went to the pairs of Andrew Heard and Frank Marshall – Heard was able to coach Marshall to a perfect 60 – and to Gordon Harrison and Rikki Ryan, who between them were able to get Harrison to a very sound 56.

Combined with their handicaps, this gave the two pairs the advantage over the competition pair of Rob Paech and Jasamine Irvine, and the defending pairs team of Greg Traeger and Daniel Irvine.

Irvine and Paech proved very consistent in their second round but ended well short of their target, managing to reach 226.

Harrison and Ryan were also consistent, only falling shy of the magic 240 by two points and finishing second.

Irvine and Traeger managed a slight improvement in the second round, but it was not enough to come close to the day’s winning combination of Marshall and Heard, who managed to shoot exactly 240 thanks to an “unfortunate” four from Marshall’s last shot that prevented the pair from “busting”.

David McDonald was the unlucky odd shooter out for the day, but shot a very tidy 58.04 and 56.02 over his two rounds.

The club thanked those who could make the day and take advantage of the skill-building that the unique event provided.

This week the club will travel to Bordertown for an inter-club shoot.

Murray Bridge Golf Club seeks female players

Women and girls are invited to come and discover the game of golf at Murray Bridge Golf Club next Sunday, November 14.

Professional coaching will be on offer between 1 and 2.30pm, so women can learn proper grip, stance and swing technique, then play a few holes.

No cost will be involved – just have a hit and a giggle, then a free barista coffee or soft drink afterwards.

The club’s female members and players usually catch up on Tuesdays at 6.30pm.

Murray Bridge Lawn Tennis Association results

Pennants

Sportsmen (six sets, 52 games) defeated Schools (two sets, 31 games)

Postel (six sets, 55 games) defeated Swanport (two sets, 48 games)

Doubles

Twin Bridges (five sets, 54 games) defeated Mobilong (four sets, 52 games) in a match with four tiebreaker sets and a forfeit due to injury; player of the match: Lynette Bald

River Aces (nine sets, 63 games) defeated Swanport (no sets, 35 games), who were gallant in defeat as they fielded three players from the junior competition due to the unavailability of regular players; player of the match: Delrae Thomas

Juniors

Avoca (11 sets, 77 games) defeated Schools (four sets, 63 games)

Swanport (12 sets, 83 games) defeated Murraylands (three sets, 53 games)

Coorong (13 sets, 87 games) defeated Banks (two sets, 47 games)

Murray Bridge News is happy to share news, results or photos from sporting clubs throughout Murray Bridge and the surrounding region, free of charge. Email peri@murraybridge.news or call 0419 827 124.

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