This post includes contributions from Daniel Irvine, Murray Bridge Golf Club and the River Murray Football League.

Competitors in the Irrational SOUTH 200-Miler prepare to set off from Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge on Wednesday morning. Photo: Graham Hallandal.

Twenty-nine ultra-marathon runners have set off from Murray Bridge on what event organisers are calling “the journey of a lifetime”.

The Irrational SOUTH 200-Miler will lead competitors along the length of the Lavender Federation Trail to Clare, 324 kilometres away.

Participants each paid around $1000 to run the course in just four days, and potentially endure “brutal winds, stinging rain and temperatures dropping below zero” along the way.

The race began near the trail head at Sturt Reserve at 7am on Wednesday.

Local bowler is bound for nationals

Murray Bridge RSL bowler Noel Kneebone has been selected among 12 men who will represent South Australia at the 2021 Australian Senior Bowls Championships later this year.

Both the men’s and women’s teams selected by Bowls SA will feature a healthy mix of metropolitan and country players.

The championships are scheduled to take place on the Gold Coast in October.

F-standard winner Ian Taylor contemplates his next shot at the Monarto rifle range. Photo: Daniel Irvine.

Long range tests rifle shooters

Fifteen shooters came out on what appeared to be a great day to shoot 1000 yards on May 29, but appearances turned out to be very deceiving.

It was described by Frank Marshall as a “completely illogical day”, as most shooters were left scratching their heads – and uttering phrases that can’t be published – after being knocked about and beaten up by the weather.

A thousand yards is always a test, but the breeze from the left proved at times almost impossible to read accurately.

Some, however, did excel despite the adversity, none more so than Adrian Conlon in F-open, who shot a masterful 118.08 to claim the off-rifle and handicap awards, despite his handicap being a miserly 1.4.

Also shining in their second rounds were Mark Nesti in F-open, who shot a 58.04, and Andrew Heard in target rifle, whose 47.05 was said to have “elements of brilliance” in it by John Cranwell.

That score also gave Heard wins in both the handicap and off-rifle categories.

Ian Taylor was among the winners as well, taking out the F-standard off-rifle prize with 106.02.

Adrian Conlon and Daniel Irvine lend a hand to new shooter Oscar Neuman. Photo: Supplied.

New members Oscar and David Neuman were able to persevere through the conditions and get an eye-opening experience of just how character-building long-range target shooting can be.

Oscar even managed an outstanding 58.02 in his second round with the assistance of coach Greg Traeger who, along with Terry Brown, had to retire partway through the shoot because of problems that compounded the difficult conditions.

Needless to say, because of the difficulty of the day, there were many candidates for the magpie award this week with more shooters than not hitting the three-ring at least once.

The winners however were the dependable duo of Daniel Irvine in TR and David McDonald in F-class, with Irvine managing to score a whopping six birds!

KG KO’s the competition at Murray Bridge Golf Club

Legend has it that in his old work days as a sergeant in the police force there were two ways that things could go: the Graetz way or the highway.

Well, things certainly went the Graetz way at Murray Bridge Golf Club on the weekend when KG monstered his way to victory in a stroke competition with a dominant score of nett 65.

Prone to getting trapped in a bunker or losing his patience somewhere along the way, stroke rounds are not usually KG’s strength but this time was different and trouble was nowhere to be seen as he carved up the back nine to roar home to victory.

Giving brief thought to calling in an Armaguard van at day’s end to get him and his winnings home safely, Graetz retreated to the sanctity of several bottles of red wine to celebrate his day out.

Jared Thoman continued his great form with A grade success as he beat his two handicap by a shot to score a nett 67 and leave runner-up Mario Grande and his nett 68 in his wake.

Tyre king Michael Vella was extra chirpy after landing the money in his regular foursome and his 66 was good enough to win the B grade over club vice president Mike Perrey, who played solidly for a 68.

Perrey would have been happy just to have been out there playing after narrowly escaping back to SA from Victoria’s sudden pandemic lockdown when over there holidaying.

Former local football umpire “Aussie” Bob McCormick easily led the way in C grade after Graetz was elevated to the day’s winner.

A nett 68 was all that was needed to give him a three-shot buffer over last week’s star and winner, Smiley Trinder, who backed up with another good round to be just off the pace this time.

President Bolton led the ball winners with a handy nett 69 after being well ahead of the game early on the back nine before wilting a shade.

Fiery Freddy Carter had a nett 70 while the Chainsaw, Paul McCulloch; larger-than-life Graham Edwards, “go to Graham Edwards”; Paul Harding; Lawerance Crack; Corey Dahlitz; and Kayne Rigby scored nett 71s.

The Fabulous One, Phil O’Malley, snuck in with a nett 72 with his great back nine leading the pro comp most of the day until party pooper Graetz gave him the old heave-ho to snaffle it with a great nett 30 back nine.

Visiting golfer Nick King, a West Lakes Golf Club member, had the audacity to play in the first group of the day and, as a 23 handicapper, plonk a shot right next to the pin on the 11th to snare the yabby for the day.

John Barwick, usually more of a mid-week golfer, was going along steadily until he struck trouble on the eighth green, having seven putts before picking up and moving on.

Well, the pin was in a tricky spot apparently and, coupled with a healthy dose of frustration, seven putts was the result.

I was going to write that we have all done it, but no, I don’t think many of us – if any – have!

On to a long weekend and a Stableford comp this Saturday.

River Murray Football League round 11 results

Jervois 13.11 (89) def Mannum 10.12 (72)

Jervois goals: J. Scott 3, C. Robins 2, Z. Barry 2, B. Wilson 2, T. Silverlock 1, A. Diamond 1, M. Noye 1, T. Kluske 1. Best: T. Silverlock, B. Wilson, T. Kluske, T. Miller, M. Kemp.

Mannum goals: Z. Bullard 5, C. Reschke 3, B. Tabe 1, B. Boughen 1. Best: S. Brown, J. Bormann, T. Russo, Z. Bullard, M. O’Malley.

Imperials 26.14 (170) def Meningie 1.8 (14)

Imperial goals: J. Boras 8, S. DeMichele 4, K. Dalitz 3, A. Morrell 2, H. Montgomery 2, L. Harrowfield 2, L. Young 2, A. Day 1, C. Anderson 1, D. Wilson 1. Best: L. Harrowfield, D. Wilson, H. Montgomery, N. Daish, J. Rance.

Meningie goal: M. Greenwood 1. Best: J. Hoad, W. Angas, T. Robinson, B. Halliday, J. Lawson.

Tailem Bend 12.20 (92) def Mypolonga 5.7 (37)

Tailem Bend goals: C. Smelt 7, J. Wilson 2, D. Hogarth 1, R. Smelt 1, D. Finnie 1. Best: H. Irwin, D. Finnie, S. Thomson, B. Rossi, D. Hogarth.

Mypolonga goals: S. Elliott 2, C. Pengilly 1, L. Gotch 1, T. Atkins 1. Best: T. Atkins, L. Gotch, S. Elliott, C. Stegmeyer, S. Martin.

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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Sports reports: Ultra-marathon runners set…