Sports reports: Dragway history made at The Bend

Plus all the latest results in tennis, Speedway, bowls, shooting and golf.

Sports reports: Dragway history made at The Bend
Phil Read sent a packed Dragway at The Bend into a frenzy. Photo: Cameron Jew

This story includes contributions from Murray Bridge Speedway, Lorraine Graetz, Derek Vanderzon, Daniel Irvine, Michael Potts. Email your sports reports to liana@murraybridge.news.

0:00
/0:10

The record breaker, Phil Read. Video: Cameron Jew

In front of an official crowd of 15,032 for Saturday Qualifying, Phil Read sent a packed Dragway at The Bend into a frenzy getting down the track in 3.72 seconds at 522.62kph.

The Jim Read Racing driver’s time eclipsed the previous record set by Damien Harris here at The Bend in April proving that The Bend’s status as Australia’s fastest track was no fluke.

For the first time in 30 years in SA, Top Fuel is joined by the Nitro Funny Cars of which New Zealand’s Morice McMillian earned the Top Qualifier medal with a 4.027 second pass at 476kph.

The surprise packet was the Lawn Mower Racing in the Dragway’s new live-action arena.

A sport that has grown from small-town events to raise money for local communities, was put on the big stage with thousands of on-lookers amazed by the spectacle.

The eliminations have seen the National Drag Racing Championship Sportsman competitors duke it out for championship honours while Phil Read led the charge once again in Group one getting his Top Fueler down the track in 3.79 seconds at 486kph in the first of three Sunday rounds earlier today.

With The Bend declared the “taj mahal” or ‘home’ of Top Fuel Drag racing in April by Phil Read himself.

The Bend will maintain the spotlight heading into next weekend, October 25-27, as The Bend Classic arrives with another 20,000+ people.

Rod Williams, President Lorraine Vickers and Rosemary Daish with the Mort Daly award. Photo: Lorraine Graetz

The Mort Daly Memorial Trophy awarded

Murray Bridge & Districts Seniors Tennis Association opened their season recently at the Murray Bridge Lawn courts with hit off with a ‘Round Robin’ amongst the local members for the morning session. 

Two sets of mixed doubles were then played in the afternoon.

The AGM was held at the end of the lunch break and all committee positions were filled without hesitation. 

After serving four years as President, Lorraine Vickers has stepped down with Rod Williams now taking on the task.

The 'Mort Daly' Memorial Trophy for the 23/24 season was presented by President Lorraine Vickers to the female recipient, Rosemary Daish and male recipient, Rod Williams.

The 'Mort Daly' Memorial Trophy, (best aggregate score recorded) has been played throughout the last 24 years.

The next day of play will be Sunday 10 November when Murray Bridge will host guests from Fleurieu Peninsula, Riverland and South East.

Martin Hawson celebrate his Modified Sedans feature win on the weekend. Photo: Ray Ritter - KNJ Photography

Hawson and Thorne clinch Series Round wins

Saturday night saw two series events take place at Murray Bridge Speedway.

The Modified Sedans got their SA Eastside Bearings Series underway with ten competitors entered for Round one.

Martin Hawson would take out both heat events, making him the top point scorer heading into the Preliminary Feature.

The reverse grid format would see Hawson have to work hard to chase down both Heath Thorne and Wayne Williams.

And it would come down to the final lap, with Hawson passing Williams to take out the 15 lap preliminary event ahead of Williams and Thorne.

Read more at: https://murraybridgespeedway.au/hawson-and-thorne-clinch-series-round-wins/

The MJS Street Stock Series contested the second round of the 2024-2025 series after their first round was unfortunately not able to be held due to wet weather.

With a good field entered, the drivers were split over three heat rounds, which went the way of Darren Flatman (Heat one) and Heath Thorne (Heat two and heat three).

In the 30 lap feature event, it was Sam Brumfield challenging Heath Thorne from the get go, with Nigel Reichstein also on their tail.

Thorne and Brumfield traded places several times for the lead, before the field stopped at the mid-way point to change direction.

Thorne lead the field for the restart, with Brumfield and Reichstein remaining in the same order. 

 Read more at: https://murraybridgespeedway.au/hawson-and-thorne-clinch-series-round-wins/

The venue now looks forward to their next race night on Saturday, November 9th.

Tickets for the event are on sale now via www.speedwaytickets.com.au

 Jim Foster ( Legacy) and winners Tony Trewren, Neil Morris, Brenton Sinclair and Derek Vanderzon. Photo: Derek Vanderzon

Jervois Bowling Club hold 10th annual Legacy day 

Jervois Bowling Club held it's 10th annual Legacy day on Monday 21 October, fielding 16 teams raising funds for the organisation which helps provide much needed support for the families of services personnel in times of need.

Although the late withdrawal of a couple of teams reduced the total amount raised, it was nonetheless a successful event with over $3000 raised.

This takes the total of funds raised by the JBC over ten years to about $30,000.

Chairman of the Lower Murray Legacy Group, Jim Foster, was in attendance selling raffle tickets for the plethora of items and vouchers donated by the many local businesses such as DJ Auto, Rowe Aluminium and Daish Irrigation among many others.

Minge Funerals, Murdoch Insurance Brokers and Longs Sand and Metal continue their longstanding sponsorship of the day, while Ken Slater Memorials have also come on board.

A laser cut wall hanging donated by Karoonda's Robyn Burdett boosted the coffers by $400 and received enthusiastic bidding.

On the green two games of 15 ends were played, with a team featuring Jervois locals Neil Morris and Derek Vanderzon backing up last years win.

This time skippered by Murray Bridge's Tony Trewren, with MB RSL's Brenton Sinclair rounding out the foursome.  

The $400 first prize was donated back to Legacy as is the custom for this event.

Jervois hold off Tailem in Lower Murray Bowls

Jervois have held off Tailem Bend by ten shots to maintain their unbeaten start to the season at Jervois, collecting ten points in their 66 to 56 win.

Graeme Herbert, Daryl Little, Jeremy Scannell and Neil Morris were dominant in their 33 to 10 win over Micheal Throne, Brett Reschke, Stuart Rooke and Con Jones.

They dropped just five ends while scoring three or more shots on seven occasions in a great team effort.

Kevin Spinks, Graham Schene, Grace Hameister and Shane Fromm started well, opening up an early eight shot lead.

But they needed a strong finish to hold off David Hoare, Rob Hales, Ian Shepherd and Glenda Shepherd, winning 23-16.

Hoare closed to within 3 shots with 2 ends remaining, but Sinks respnoded with a 3 and 1 to close out the win.

Travis Schenke, Merv Stevens, Kevin McDonald and Grantley Byrne were far too polished for Graham Fromm, Shawn Hicks, Steve Kroehn and Derek Vanderzon as they cruised to a 30-10 win to salvage two points for Tailem.

After a tight start Schenke assumed complete control to lead 30-6 before a four to Fromm on the final end salvaged a little pride.

RSL vs Mannum

RSL reached their first win for the season with a resounding 78-41 win over a disappointed Mannum, who remain winless after two rounds.

The home side won on all three rinks in impressive fashion.

Karen Kneebone, Sam Mammone, Allan Wooldridge and Anne-Marie Kuchel were the biggest winners with a 30-12 win over David Kempe, Graham Leathers, Lynton Jones and John McDiamid.

Kneebone was off to a flyer, racing out to a 10-1 lead after seven ends, but Kempe worked his way back into the match by winning 8 of the next 9 ends, mainly with singles to trail 12-14 after 16 ends.

But the recovery ended empathetically as Kneebone added 16 shots to nil over the final five ends to win easily.

Jason Sipos, David Thiele, Kerri Bolt and Garyy Daniel continied their good form with a 29-15 win over Terry McDonnell. Martyn March, Tony Gill and Ron Van Tijn.

Sipos picked up two fives in the first half, the second of which killed off a rally from McDonnell which had closed the fap to one shot after ten ends, and was untroubled from then.

Noel Kneebone, Rob Soley, Matt Wynne and David Newell completed the clean sweep with a 19-14 win over Gavin Pfeiffer, Tom Towns, Steve Gregory and Ainsley Roberts.

Kneebone led from the start, steadily building the lead before Pfeiffer grabbed a six on the second last end to close the gap to four shots.

But it was too late, and Kneebone closed with a single to secure all 12 points.

Murray Bridge vs Karoonda

Murray Bridge lost at home to Karoonda in a rematch of last seasons grand final.

Murray Bridge remain winless after a close contest, going down 59-53.

Josh Porker, Malcolm Waechter, Erin O'Malley and John Wegner were too strong for Ben Trager, Helen Linder, Brain Trager and Gerry Penta, winning 28-17.

Rohan Zadow, Rohan omkinson, Gary Zadow and Ivan Silcock were four shot winners over Bruce Attrill, Andrew Meddle, Bob Jonson and Brian Leckie, 19-15.

Darren McIntosh, Tony Trewren, Charlie DiSanto and Paul Smart salvaged two points with a 21-12 win over Ian Symonds, Gary Mason, Malcolm McKenzie and Bill Comish.

Last Saturday rifle club reports a win for Jasmine Irvine. Photo: Canva

Jasamine Irvine takes out off-rifle and the handicap for TR

Eight members gathered at the Deed Range in Monarto on Saturday to compete in the Club Championship from 600 metres.

The weather was challenging, with the wind coming from the right and changing direction quickly which, if missed, easily pushed shots outside the bullseye.

Successful early was Jasamine Irvine in TR with a 48.03, and Mark Nesti in F-Open with a 57.03.

Ryan Yeates and David McDonald were not far behind in F-Open with 56s.

The second round proved more challenging with Greg Traeger top scoring in TR with a 45.01, and Yeates in F-Open with a 55.02.

Finishing the day on top, in both the off-rifle and the handicap for TR, however, was Irvine, with a 92.04 (106.6).

Stephen Howard was a narrow second in the handicap with 105.7.

Yeates also excelled, topping F-Open with 111.04 and claimed the handicap victory in F-Class with 119.5, four points ahead of Nesti.

Not going home empty handed were Traeger and Ken Lynn, who won the Magpie Awards for their respective classes.

Maurice Wells win Saturday's golf comp. Photo: Michael Potts

Wells back in town               

After a self confessed "pretty ordinary 12 months" club stalwart Maurice Wells finally re-discovered something like his best form by winning Saturday's par competition with a great score of four up.

All sorts of interruptions to his golfing schedule in recent times had made regular golf a nightmare but he has now sent a warning to the rest of the club to watch out!

A solid front nine of square was followed up by a blazing four up back nine as he adapted better to the slow paced recently cored greens.

There's plenty of life left in this old dog it would seem.                           

C grader has a day to remember            

Relatively new to the game member Shayne Webley was stumbling along at half way being four down and probably wishing he was elsewhere.

Nine holes later he was walking on air after scorching around the back of the course in a sizzling five up!

This got him to a score of one up for his round which won him the C grade and also secured him the rich Pro comp for the best back nine.

Wait, there's more!

The 26 handicapper also beat the rest of the field to the Yabby on the difficult 14th hole by dishing up a lovely iron shot to get closest to the pin and line his pockets even more.

One would have thought the club would have thrown in a set of steak knives for Webley also.......but, no.

Ahhh, what a great game golf is sometimes.                                 

Saturday also saw a trio of players each eagle the par five 8th hole which was a rare feat indeed.

All pretty handy A grade players so not a major surprise but all on the same day?

Still it won't be long when this hole is no more and instead converts to a longer more difficult par five when the new course opens for business before the end of the year.               

💡
Help Murray Bridge News tell our community’s stories by subscribing or booking an advertisement today.