Sports reports: David McDonald triumphs in the wet at Monarto
Plus the latest in golf, table tennis and more.
This story includes contributions from Daniel Irvine and Michael Potts.
Six TR and five F-class shooters have braved the wintery conditions at the Deed Range at Monarto on Saturday to compete in the second round of the new championship year for the Murray Bridge Rifle Club from a distance of 500 metres.
The weather varied between cold and wet and cold and very wet, but the wind
stayed reasonably consistent from right for the duration, giving competitors a fair
chance during the afternoon.
Making the most of that chance were Greg Traeger and Robert Paech in TR, who
both shot double possibles finishing with 100.12 apiece, with Robert finishing ahead off-rifle on a count out.
Greg didn’t miss out, however, finishing top on handicap, half a point ahead of Andrew Heard, who was only a point short of joining Greg and Robert, finishing on 99.12.
In F-Class, it was close at the top, with David McDonald narrowly taking out the F-
Open off-rifle win by a point from Frank Marshall, 118.07 to 117.10.
Frank was rewarded for his efforts on the day by claiming the handicap win by a solid margin of seven points, ahead of Bryan Robertson, who was the top F-Standard scorer for the day.
Next week competition continues from 700m.
Winners congratulated at annual MBSCC awards night
The Murray Bridge Sporting Car Club and Motorcycle Club has held its annual presentation night, with many congratulations to all this season’s award recipients:
- Sportsperson of the year: Darren Brumfield
- Best and fairest: Terry Brown (SA9 modified sedan)
- President's Trophy: Lachlan Brown
- Volunteer awards: Kevin Milich and Trevor Cornish
- Formula 500s: SA31 Harrison Pfitzner
- Sprintcars: S80 Brad Vaughan
- Speedcars: S57 Robert Heard
- Junior Sedans Perpetual Trophy: SA14 Brodie Reichstein, 718pts
- New stars: MDA42 Chloe McCarthy, second SA19 Mayson Cadd
- Top stars: SA14 Brodie Reichstein, second SA91 Henry Brumfield
- Modified sedans: SA32 Brett Williams, second SA9 Terry Brown, third SA18 Brandon Elphick
- Street stocks: SA14 Nigel Reichstein, second SA19 Phil Watson, third SA24 Curtis Brown
- Rookie of the year: SA31 Jayden Garner
- Encouragement award: SA13 Ash Carver
- Wingless sprints: SA47 Joel Chadwick, second SA57 Robert Heard, third SA8 Darryl Sloan
The 2026-27 speedway season will kick off on September 12.
- More information: murraybridgespeedway.au.
Aaron Harding toughs out win on brutal day
It was tough going for the 56 competitors last Saturday at Ritter Street, with frigid temperatures and nasty bursts of rain making it less than ideal for a pleasant round of golf.
Early bird golfer Aaron Harding made the most of the more benign conditions to start the day by posting a superb 40 points to win the Stableford competition.
Having only joined the club late last year he is a more than handy and fairly consistent player competing in "A" grade.
On this occasion his round was solid with few mistakes and a winning score ensued.
Nearly half the field called it a day before their rounds were complete as the weather as well as the temperature deteriorated sharply late morning and early afternoon.
Neil "Dog" Rothe loves a scrap and he enjoyed a fine 39 point round to be runner up for the day although descriptions of his golf were mostly less than complimentary from his playing partners with the word "lucky" being mentioned quite a few times.
Visiting 3 handicap Echunga GC member Tim Jenkin slotted into a lunchtime group of locals to make a group of five and he was travelling pretty well halfway before half of his group decided to call it a day.
Fortunately, the two ladies decided to keep going enabling Tim to complete a brilliant 37 point round to claim 3rd place on the day.
With the new course back in action the downwind par five 8th hole proved popular as both James Machin and Jedd Rothe managed eagles on it.
Machin, a "C" grader no less, played driver and a 6 iron to tap in putting distance while Rothe, a long hitting "A" grader, found himself out by the houses off the tee before striking a sweet 3 wood to within ten feet to secure his eagle with a nice putt.
Star golfer Aaron Zrim won the Yabby on the tough 17th while the day's winner Aaron Harding snared the Pro comp for his brilliant 22 point front nine.
The Wednesday Stableford was won by Dylan Couzner with 39 pts, pipping R'up Oakley Edwards also on 39 with four golfers on 36 for 3rd - 6th places respectively.
Murray Bridge Table Tennis Singles tournament completed
Well done to everyone who competed in a recent singles tournament.
It was another fantastic night of competitive table tennis, great sportsmanship, and plenty of exciting matches.
- Handicap: Matt Ahrens (31), second Tyrone Hart (18)
- Division one: Shane Denman, second Mark Williams
- Division two: Nathaniel Mann, second Shylyn Pelotos
- Division three: Josh Hamond, second Ash Temby
If you'd like to get involved, visit murraybridgetabletennis.org.
Local trainers dominate at home on Saturday
A remarkable home-track meeting on Tuesday saw local trainers dominate the card, winning seven out of the eight races on offer before the success continued throughout the week with metropolitan and country winners.
Victories were spread across across 15 stables at Murray Bridge, Morphettville, Morphettville Parks and Mount Gambier.
Roslyn Day opened proceedings in Murray Bridge when Et Tu Kirkliston, ridden by Ashvin Goindasamy, claimed the victory in the opening race.
She continued on her winning way in race seven at Morphettville as Cradle Of Jazz, ridden by Andrew Stead, produced a strong finishing effort in race seven
The finish off a formidable week, she claimed race eight at Morphetville Parks when Silver Chaos, with Harry Grace aboard, proved too strong by 1.47 lengths.
This week's honourable mention goes to Darryl Hewitt who travelled to Caulfield in Victoria in the hopes of chasing his maiden group success, with Sir Now landing a third place finish in the Sir John Monash Stakes, the highlight race of the meet.
Murray Bridge United results
Murray Bridge United 0-2 Brothers United
Murray Bridge United reserves 7-1 Brothers United reserves
- Goals: J Rocky 19', 65'; E Slattery 27', 33'; T Williams 63'; G Alympic 85'; R Allchurch 88'
Send your sports reports to, or express an interest in sponsoring this regular feature by emailing, jane@murraybridge.news.
