Sports reports: Brock Hallett wins the Battle of the Bridge

This story includes contributions from Daniel Irvine and Michael Potts. Email your sports reports to liana@murraybridge.news.

Brock Hallett has led from start to finish to claim the annual “Bill Wigzell Battle of the Bridge” at the Murray Bridge Speedway.

After setting the quickest time in qualifying Hallett just fell short of a clean sweep after finishing second in his heat.

With the dash being cancelled, due to a brief rain shower, he started the 25-lap finale from the front row.

Due to the track surface Hallett elected to start on the outside of the front row elevating Luke Dillon onto the pole and it proved to be right decision.

Hallett led the field into turn one on the opening lap, a position he would never relinquish.

Dillon would run second to Hallett for the opening ten laps with Matt Egel and Marcus Dumesny in tow.

With the track being extremely fast and difficult to pass on the track conditions would put an end to Luke Dillon’s run as the leaders caught the tail of the field but were simply unable to lap Jason Wilson.

• Read more: murraybridgespeedway.au.

Matt Egel wins Sprintcar Stampede

Meanwhile, in what will go down in history as a Murray Bridge classic, Matt Egel has produced a masterful display to win the Australian Sprintcar Stampede.

Prior to his charge to the front Egel was as low as 8^th in the running order but he utlised both the top and low grooves to storm to the front.

Running down early race leader Brock Hallett with 8 laps to go before going on to claim the $10,000 winner’s cheque.

After the opening night of the 2-night event saw a locked down racetrack following a brief rain shower the track surface for the Australian Sprintcar Stampede was the complete opposite.

The track allowed racing all over the 360-metre racing surface with a low and top groove and a huge cushion built up on the wall.

As a result, the racing was some of the best seen in recent years at Murray Bridge and it showcased the sport at its finest.

Plus, the fact the field included a majority of the leading drivers in the country right now didn’t hurt either!

• Read more: murraybridgespeedway.au.

Jasamine Irvine takes top spot in windy conditons

The weekend's shoot from 700 metres, saw cool but very windy conditions, making it tough for all shooters.

In the Target Rifle (TR) competition, the battle for top honours was close
between Robert Paech and Jasamine Irvine, with Paech finishing just one point ahead off-rifle, scoring 97.09.

However, Irvine secured a convincing win in the handicap competition.

In F-Class, Mark Nesti from F-Open emerged as the top off-rifle scorer with 112.07, including an impressive second round of 58.04.

Gordon Harrison led in F-Standard with a score of 109.04.

The handicap award went to Wayne Halliday, whose 107.02 converted to a winning handicap score of 124.1.

Both Rob and Mark had the unusual distinction of topping their categories off-rifle while also taking home the "Magpie Award" for the week, a rare combination of achievements.

Shooting will continue next week from the 400-metre range.    

Heath Ackland heads a bevvy of great scores

Saturday was Stroke day in cool breezy conditions with a shower or two adding to the players' degree of difficulty on course.

No problems!

Some fabulous scores were recorded despite all that with Heath Ackland topping the list with a sensational nett 60 to win the day.

That's a whopping eight shots better than handicap so pretty special. 

Each of the grade winners all had blinders too with Anthony Edwards having a 63 in A grade, Josh Doyle also a 63 in B grade and player of the moment Oakley Edwards a 62 to win C grade.

That's some wonderful golf played and there were another handful of players who also each beat their handicaps.

Looks like the two new holes across in the old racecourse can't come on line quick enough to give players an extra challenge.

With the challenging layout and gigantic greens that will be on offer there!

That's barely two months away, so not long to go now.

Doyle's superb nett 29 back nine won him the days Pro comp while old stager Graeme Southern caressed a gorgeous nine iron up close to the flag on the 4th hole to secure himself the Yabby. 

In the Wednesday competition  a stunning strike from Craig Kimber on the par three 11th saw his ball roll straight into the hole for an ace!

Quite opportune too for Kimber as this also gave him an eagle and with the mid week eagles nest not having been won for about five months a healthy $400 worth of balls awaited him afterwards.

Unluckily for him hot golfer Brett Altschwager eagled the 12th so the huge pot of balls had to be shared.