Sports reports: James McFadden becomes three time national sprintcar champion
Plus three local jockeys recognised and the latest scores in Lower Murray Bowls, golf and Murray Towns cricket.

This story includes contributions from Derek Vanderzon and Michael Potts. Email your sports reports to liana@murraybridge.news.
James McFadden has become a three-time Australian Sprintcar Champion after dominating the 2025 event at the Murray Bridge Speedway.
After winning his final heat race McFadden started from the pole and he was never headed in the 40-lap finale as he ran the top groove with precision.
His victory also broke a 35-year drought as he became the first driver since Garry Rush in 1990 to complete the Australian Championship and Grand Annual Sprintcar double.
“I can’t believe the run we have had this year," Mr McFadden said.
"Sheldon and Buzzy has put together an amazing team and to win the two biggest races in Australia in our first year is a credit to hard work everyone has put in.
"Plus, to get Buzzy his first Australian Championship is pretty special.
“We decided that the top would be the place to run, and we stuck to it, I knew the rubber was on the bottom, but I never saw anyone really challenge me for the lead, so I didn’t need to go down there to use it," he said.
Defending Australian Champion Lockie McHugh put in an outstanding drive to secure the runner-up position as he drove without power steering for a majority of the race.
Following his heat race the SRV team replaced the power steering box and the pump, but the issue wasn’t solved therefore McHugh was lucky to finish on the podium.
“That was a tough race, credit to James and the Brady Team they did an impressive job," Mr McHugh said.
"Without power steering I just had to run the bottom and hang on."
"It will be hard to give the #1 back but we will just go to Mount Gambier next year and try to get it back," he said.
His runner-up result continued his podium streak in the event having finished second or better in the last three editions of the National Title.



Tala Hutchinson, Sophie Mitchell and Maggie Collet all brought home awards at the Apprentice Academy award night. Photos: Atkins Photography/Facebook
Three local jockeys recognised at state apprentice awards
Three local apprentice jockeys have been recognised at the recent Apprentice Academy awards held in January.
Tala Hutchinson's strike rate of 16% won her the Best Winning Strike Rate.
Her ride on Lunar Solar at Naracoorte in August 2024 also won the Minister for Racing Ride of the Year which was voted on by the public.
The Simone Montgomerie Encouragement Award for first year apprentices went to Sophie Mitchell.
Maggie Collet was awarded the longest priced winner trophy in a three way tie, riding Sir Now with odds of $100.
- Read more on the awards: https://www.racingsa.com.au
Lower Murray bowlers defeat the heat
A tardy start proved very costly for Jervois as they fell five shots short of Karoonda, despite winning two rinks in their match at Karoonda.
The forecast hot weather prompted an early 9:15 start, and all matches were able to be completed before the heat intervened.
For Karoonda, Rowan Zadow, Len Symonds, Jayden Turner and Gary Zadow were off to a flying start with a five on the first end, and led 13-0 after just five ends against Kevin Spinks, Shane Fromm, Rod Harris and Neil Morris.
A five right on the break inflicted more damage, taking the lead out to 16 shots with Symonds in particular in great touch.
The second half was more evenly contested, but the 18 shot margin delivered Karoonda the win overall.
Tim Hicks, Graham Fromm, Derek Vanderzon and Bruce Smith conceded the first three ends and five shots to Ian Symonds, Garry Mason, Malcolm McKenzie and Bill Cornish.
They quickly bounced back with 14 shots over the next seven ends to seize control, and went into the break with a seven shot lead.
Karoonda were unable to string successive ends together after the break, and Hicks went on to win by ten shots, 23-13.
Graeme Herbert, Jeremy Scannell, Denis Hicks and Graham Schenke also started slowly, down 5-0 after two ends against Josh Porker, Malcolm Waechter, Erin O'Malley and John Wegner.
But they also recovered and went into the break with the scores locked at 12-12.
A four to Herbert upon resuming set them on their way and the lead was out to nine shots after 18 ends, and Jervois were within a whisker of taking the overall lead.
But Porker steadied with three twos in succession to reduce the margin to three shots, Karoonda were home by five shots 63-58.
RSL also relied on one winning rink to get the win against Tailem Bend, and in doing so killed off any realistic chance the home side had of making the finals.
Jason Sipos, David Thiele, Kerri Bolt and Gary Daniel easily accounted for Duane Edwards, Michael Thorne, Kylie Slattery and Chris Slattery 22-9 to set up the win.
The scores were tight early on with Edwards taking five of the first nine ends to trail 7-8.
But Sipos got right on top from there, conceding just two more singles over the last 12 ends, and winning 10 of 11 ends before dropping a single on the last.
David Hoare, Rob Hales, Con Jones and Stuart Rooke were 22-18 winners over Noel Kneebone, Matt Wynne, Ann-Marie Kuchel and David Newell, but would be a little disappointed to let an 11 shot lead after 14 ends shrink to two shots going into the final end.
A two to Hoare secured the win for Tailem, but the shots gained were invaluable for RSL.
Travis Schenke, Merv Stevens, Kevin McDonald and Grantley Byrne finished strongly to overwhelm Karen Kneebone, David Graham, Dale Neale and Phil Day.
Ten unanswered shots from the 8th to 14th ends had Kneebone well placed with a seven shot lead, but things quickly turned from there and after 20 ends the scores were locked at 18 each.
Schenke had the momentum and duly finished with a two to take the points.
Mannum were away to Murray Bridge and would be delighted to go home with ten points in their convincing 62-44 win.
David Kempe, Graham Leathers, Gary Odgers and Todd McDonnell inflicted a rare 23-7 thrashing to Darren McIntosh, Tony Trewren, Troy Penhall and Paul Smart.
Kempe had the first nine shots of the game on the board after six ends, and McIntosh was never back in the contest.
Gavin Pfeiffer, Tom Towns, Steve Gregory and Ainsley Roberts eventually wore down Helen Lindner, Brian Traeger, Ben Traeger and Andrew Meddle to win 19-15.
Bruce Attrill, Charlie DiSanto, Mike Ferris and Brian Leckie avoided a whitewash with a narrow two shot win over Terry McDonnell, Marty March, Tony Gill and Ron Van Tijn, 22-20.
Denman shines upon return in golf competition
After a six month break from competition golf young local member Brayden Denman returned with a bang in taking out Saturday's Stableford event in sizzling style.
Having joined as a member a year ago and playing seven or eight comp rounds with limited success over the first six months he then went out for a spell before returning on Saturday.
He certainly took a liking to the new layout in returning 43 points to win in a canter.
A regular player in the Twilight golf series played at the club over the daylight saving months this has obviously fine tuned his short iron play and putting so well done young man.
We are starting to finally get a bit of true summer weather and Saturday's comp saw the clubs Hot Weather Policy activated to beat the heat.
This also saw a smaller than normal field of 56 entrants try their luck making it just the one grade for all.
Good to see some different names up near the top of the leaderboard with runner up Justin Elliott playing his best round since joining the club in the last year or so.
Putt free zone for Deano
A rather unusual golfing quirk came to light on Saturday when veteran golfer Dean Wright announced that after having played the new par five 8th hole seven or eight times since its emergence he is still yet to putt on its green!
Seemingly every time standing on the tee with a gale force southerly blasting in his face he just hasn't had the power (or sometimes accuracy) to reach the green before he has run out of shots.
On the weekend when he had hit three really nice shots and was only 120 metres out with a nice line to the pin he thought "Surely today's the day?"
But no, his perfectly struck three wood hit the green, rolled up toward the flag and dropped in for birdie!
Disappointment again, well sort of, as still no chance to putt.
Golf is a funny game at times.
Mypolonga remain undefeated in Murray Towns Cricket
Monarto 10/172 lost to Mannum 5/175
- Monarto best: Ethan Smith 46, Riley Franke 2/24
- Mannum best: Max Loller 68*, Noah Vivian 3/20
Tailem Bend 5/161 lost to Meningie 8/162
- Tailem best: Paul Baxter 36*, Jarred Merritt 2/20, Umesh Badu 2/30
- Meningie best: Stewart Williss 44, Zeke Mcnicol 2/26
Mypolonga 2/97 defeated Wanderers 10/93
- Mypo best: Mark Oborn 51*, Samuel Elliott 3/11
- Wanderers besst: Steven Baltussen 15, Tom Watkins 1/12, Bradley Towill 1/17