Sports Reports: Hard court tennis premiers crowned for 2022
Plus the latest in Murray Bridge rifle shooting, golf and cycling.
This post includes contributions from Melissa Denman, Daniel Irvine, Phil McGee and Murray Bridge Golf Club.
The Lower Murray Hardcourt Tennis Association’s season has concluded with a presentation evening at the John Dohler Hall in Murray Bridge.
MC Steve Manning introduced president Brendan Lambe, who thanked everyone for a great season.
Life member Cindy Hein presented junior shields.
The association split the junior competition for finals; top-four teams played for a division one shield and teams finishing fifth to eighth played for a division two shield.
- Juniors division two: Mannum Gold 5/41 defeated Lutheran Orange 4/28
- Juniors division one: Jervois 5/42 defeated Lutheran Red 4/42
Life member Hayley Davids presented junior trophies for the most games won:
- Female: Georgia Rich (Lutheran Red) and Caitlin Koop (Lutheran Black), 71.4%; runner-up Rebekah Durham (Lutheran Black), 67.9%
- Male: Kallan Woidt (Lutheran Red), 82.1%; runners-up Mitchell Gale (Jervois) and James Helgeson (Lutheran Blue), 75%
Life member Ken Zadow presented senior shields:
- Jervois 6/64 defeated Mypolonga 6/63
Life member Anne Davids presented senior trophies for the most games won:
- Female: Crystal Berling (Brinkley), 73%; runner-up Heather Richards (Brinkley) 73%
- Male: Wayne Schenke (Brinkley), 79%; runner-up Barrie Gale (Jervois), 76%
Life member Heather Richards presented perpetual trophies:
- Barry Noye Perpetual Trophy for the best female player: Courtney Manning (Lutheran Red)
- BTS Perpetual Trophy for the best senior male player: Paul Hein (Brinkley)
- Bruce Maczkowiack Perpetual Trophy for achievement: Lutheran Red’s junior team, for being undefeated in the minor round this year
Rifle shooters compete for Bruce Moulds Memorial Stool
Thirteen visitors have joined 16 Murray Bridge Rifle Club members to compete from 700 metres for the inaugural Bruce Moulds Memorial Stool, in memory of the former club member and much-loved shooter who tragically died of meningococcal last year.
By all appearances it was a beautiful day for shooting, sunny without being hot and with deceptively little wind early on, but what the breeze lacked in strength it made up for in deviousness, catching out anyone who let their guard down.
Things did not improve as the day wore on, with the wind continuing to swirl rather than settling down.
Nevertheless, some good scores were shot, and competition was fierce for this meaningful award.
In F class there were 11 58s shot, eight 59s and even one near-perfect 60.08 from Lynton Wakefield.
All up there were four shooters who registered scores of 116 out of 120, and five who managed to achieve 117, but at the end of the day it was Murray Bridge’s Adrian Conlon who won the memorial stool with the impressive score of 118.06.
But the lasting thought at the end of the day – as John Cranwell, the driving force behind this memorial shoot, pointed out – was to see a group of people come together, united by the memory of a genuinely kind and good-humoured man who was taken before his time.
The club looks forward to hosting the competition again next year, where Conlon has issued the challenge for his comrades to return and take the unique trophy from him.
- Read more: www.facebook.com/mbrifleclub.
Local cyclists measure up at gruelling endurance event
Several Murraylands riders have scored podiums in Revolve 24 at the Bend Motorsport Park.
The best result was local lad James Hand, from Tailem Bend, finishing first in the six-hour solo event held from 12 noon until 6pm on Saturday.
He managed an amazing 42 laps, covering 207km.
Mark Westlake, from Murray Bridge, and Riverland rider Jordan Von Stanke paired up as “Team Two-Wheelers” to ride in the 24-hour team of two event, finishing second and completing an outstanding 151 laps, covering 747km.
Murraylands Cycling Club members Doug Issell, from Murray Bridge, and Phil McGee, from Mannum, posted a late entry into the six-hour team of two event to ensure club representation and managed to finish fifth in that category despite minimal training and Issell recovering from injury.
One of the most courageous efforts was from Murray Bridge man Wayne Richardson, who completed the 24-hour event riding solo for 107 laps, covering 529km.
Another Murray Bridge man to tackle the six-hour solo event was Brad Tomkinson, who managed 24 laps, covering 118km.
Hopefully next year as the club evolves and we gain more members we will have a much larger contingent entering wearing the club colours.
- More information: www.murraylandscc.org.au.
Sun shines brightly on the golf course for Tasmanian immigrant
Grant Brightman lobbed into Murray Bridge Golf Club a year or so ago from the Apple Isle and has fit in like a glove.
He collected his maiden Saturday comp win in style on the weekend, defeating a 70-strong Stableford field.
Not one to go on about his golf too much, he just said he took it “one hole at a time” as he ground out a 39-point round to pip consistent A-grader Paul Harding on a countback.
Harding got pipped at the post not long ago, as well, so he is used to it; but he is playing well at the right time of the year, with the club championships starting in a fortnight.
His 39 points was a mix of elegance and finesse.
Possessed with a very good short game, he had two shots to spare over A-grade runner-up Wayne Duthie, who had 37 points.
A former Norwood league footballer from back in the 70s, Graeme Munt, won the B grade with a typically steady 37-point effort, seeing fairways and greens for nearly all of his round.
Runner-up was another former SANFL player, Garry Ryan, who donned the Roosters guernsey way back in the 60s.
A nippy goal-scoring rover back then, he can still play some handy golf off a 15 handicap; hìs 36 points proved this.
One of nature’s true gentlemen, Rob Magor, was successful in the C grade, carving out a quality 37-point round to hold off Norwood and Melbourne Football Clubs’ silvertail supporter Jeff “Stuff” Hall, who was just a point away in the runner’s-up position.
Ball winners were led by Aaron Zrim, with 36 points, followed by a host of players with 35: Brett Altschwager, Jared Thoman, Josh Doyle, “Chainsaw” McCulloch and James McLaren.
Appropriately, the day’s sponsor, Michael Vella, snared the final ball with 34 points.
His front nine of only 13 points wasn’t so great but a much-improved back straight of 21 points was good enough to win him the highly-sought-after pro comp.
Rob Walters had a frustrating day but chalked up an eagle on the 15th after hitting a cracking drive to within 25 metres of the green.
He then caressed a 60-degree wedge onto the putting surface – one bounce and slam dunk into the cup.
No eagle’s nest for him, but a brief thrill nonetheless.
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