🏆 Sport

Sports reports: Martin and Gartner dominate at Murray Bridge Speedway

Plus Lower Murray bowlers escape the heat and Mypolonga wins big in Murray Towns cricket.

Contributed

Jan 13, 2025 — 4 min read

Tyson Martin celebrates his Wingless Sprint feature win with a victory lap around Murray Bridge Speedway. Photo: PIcko's Photos

This story includes a contribution from Derek Vanderzon and Michael Potts. Email your sports reports to liana@murraybridge.news.

The Murray Bridge Speedway was in action on Saturday night for the first time this year.

A full race program headlined by Round two of the Wingless Sprints and Round four of the MJS Street Stock Series.

A total of 37 Wingless Sprints took to track but the night was all about one driver, Tyson Martin as he claimed four from four on the evening.

After claiming both heat races he topped the points score but he made his night a little tougher as he drew an inverted six for the dash.

This outcome only spurred him on as he put on a show as he went for position six to win the dash in a breathtaking drive.

It was a similar story in the Street Stocks with the night being dominated by one driver as South-East resident Steve Gartner making the trip up to take the MJS points away from the series regulars.

Nigel Reichstein bagged some valuable points with a runner-up result ahead of Phil Watson, the ultra-consistent Craig Buchanan and last start winner Grant Harris.

Keith Moore, Nick Hill, Kye Richardson, Anthony Buchanan and Mark Merrett rounded out the top 10 in the 30-lap final.

Read more: murraybridgespeedway.au/martin-and-gartner-dominate-at-murray-bridge.

Mark Bolton holds new course record. Photo: Michael Potts.

Bolton shoots course record on new layout

With the new course hosting its first Stroke round after opening three weeks prior someone was going to post the best score and therefore hold, however briefly, the new course record.

It just happened to be the power hitting Mark Bolton who claimed that honour on Saturday last.

Shooting a one under par 69 on the new two stroke longer par 70 circuit he was also able to claim victory in the days stroke event with a superb nett 65 score.

Well done Bolts, let's see how long you can hold the record.

The new course sees the old par three 4th and par four 9th holes make way for the new par five 8th and par four 9th "across the road" on the old racecourse site.

Sure they're not long holes for the bigger hitter but they are exposed to the elements, more than a few out of bounds, watery and sandy obstacles await and the greens are huge so there are plenty of challenges still there for all players.

Not forgetting also that the old par five 8th hole is now a much longer 513m par five and more than a challenge for most!

Anyway, everyone's handicaps are adjusted accordingly in line with the new much tougher course slope rating (degree of difficulty) so just get out there and enjoy it.

Plenty of visitors have been noticed trying their luck on it since its opening and the feedback from these players has been overwhelmingly positive.

A Par competition awaits all and sundry this Saturday

Heat wins the day in Lower Murray bowls

Meanwhile, Saturday's heat ruined the latest round of lawn bowls, with only one match completed and the rest abandoned before the 11-end cutoff to achieve a result.

Unfortunately for Jervois, their much needed win over Tailem Bend to bring an end to its losing streak was to no avail, with the result likely carrying no points under LMBA rules.

Where a majority of matches are abandoned in any one division, the results of completed matches become void.

Nevertheless, Tim Hicks, Graham Fromm, Derek Vanderzon and Bruce Smith enjoyed a strong second half to defeat Travis Schenke, Merv Stevens, Kevin McDonald and Grantley Byrne, 24-13.

Graeme Herbert, Jeremy Scannell, Denis Hicks and Graham Schenke secured a one shot win over David Hoare, Rob Hales, Con Jones and Glenda Shepherd with a three on the final end in a terrific contest where the lead changed hands six times.

Duane Edwards, Michael Thorne, Kylie Slattery and Chris Slattery raced out to a 15-1 lead over Kevin Spinks, Rod Harris, Owen Allen and Neil Morris.

But they were almost run down by the home side who managed to pick up 12 ends, ultimately falling one shot short, with Edwards wisely pocketing his final bowl to preserve the win.