Sports Reports: Matt Egel crowned Australian sprintcar champion for 2022

Plus news of the Irrational South 200-Miler ultra-marathon and the latest in local tennis, golf, football and netball.

Sports Reports: Matt Egel crowned Australian sprintcar champion for 2022

This post includes contributions from Sprintcars Australia, Graham Hallandal, Heather Richards, Murray Bridge Golf Club, the River Murray Football League and the River Murray Netball Association.

Matt Egel celebrates his national championship at Murray Bridge Speedway on Saturday night. Photo: Local Sprintcar Photography.

A new Australian 360ci sprintcar champion has been crowned at Murray Bridge Speedway.

Matt Egel led from start to finish in the 40-lap decider on Saturday night.

After starting from the pole, he dominated the feature event to become an Australian sprintcar champion and, in the process, put the disappointment of losing the 2014 championship behind him.

“It was a nerve-wracking 40 laps,” he said after the race.

“The lapped traffic was making me nervous, and I saw Ryan (Jones) show his nose twice there during the race, but we got the job done and I am absolutely stoked.

“This result really makes up for the race I lost with Tony (Bartlett) about eight years ago – it would be great to have two, it almost haunted me, we were so close, and we dominated that week – but now we have got one under our belt.

“We are in the history book now.

“It’s just a great thing for your career to be pencilled in as an Australian sprintcar champion.

“We will be on the T-shirt, it’s awesome.

“I can’t thank the Brown family and my guys enough.

“This has been the best year of my career.”

For second-placed Ryan Jones, the four-time champion, it was the first time he had been on the podium for the Australian 360ci title without winning the championship.

Runners depart Sturt Reserve on their way to Clare, 325 kilometres away. Photo: Graham Hallandal.

Ultra-marathon runners start gruelling event at Sturt Reserve

Competitors in the Irrational South 200-Miler have completed their ultra-marathon after starting at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge at 7am last Wednesday and running to Clare.

More than 30 participants and about 50 volunteers, including paramedics for each sleep station, came from around Australia for the event.

That number is expected to increase over the next two to three years; organisers eventually expect 100 or more to take part, including international competitors who stopped coming during COVID-19.

Sleep stations were set up at Keyneton, Dutton, Eudunda, Waterloo and Mintaro, with food and drink for participants.

Participants had to complete the 325-kilometre course by 11am on Sunday.

Runners Ian Westaway and Jonathan Miller pass the silos at Eudunda. Photo: Peter Herriman.

The first runner to complete the course was Melissa Robertson, who broke her previous record over the same course.

Runner 169, Ian Westaway, was this year’s oldest runner at the age of 63.

Many local businesses took advantage of the event by offering accommodation, dinners and vehicles over the days they were in Murray Bridge.

Assembled at Bordertown are Theo Weinmann, Kathy Pfeiffer, Jeanne Weinmann, Ray Rossiter, Sharon Watson, Michelle and Mikaela Saye, Lorraine Vickers; and Michael Saye, Heather Richards, Rosie Daish and Cooper Saye. Photo: Rob Denholm.

Tennis players represent the Bridge at Bordertown

An energetic contingent of local Murray Bridge tennis players has converged on Bordertown to participate in the Tatiara Regional Masters Games.

The whole of the 2020 games had to be postponed due to COVID-19, and was rescheduled to April 8-10, 2022.

Approximately 80 players attended the well run tournament, which was played on 12 painted cement courts in perfect sporting weather.

The games will be held on the Copper Coast next April.

Aaron Zrim bowls over his competition on the golf course

A stroke competition in the opening round of Murray Bridge Golf Club’s championships has been won by Aaron Zrim with a nett 66.

Easing back into golf after donning the whites during the cricket season, the talented A-grader was a shade too good for the 70-strong field.

After finishing high up on the gross score ladder, too, he appears likely to be a major player in the battle for this year’s championship.

Greg Lannan is another quality player who is going along steadily and this week won the A grade with a nice nett 67.

Big Joe Marcus took out the B grade with his nett 69 from comeback king Lloyd Norrish, who made his long-awaited return from injury with an excellent nett 70, including a stunning 39 off the stick on the back nine.

Malcolm Blight was at it again, winning the C grade with a 67, which was a mile in front of runner-up “Dog” Rothe, who carded a 70.

River Murray Football League results

Jervois 20.13 (133) defeated Tailem Bend 9.9 (63)

Meningie 21.15 (141) defeated Mypolonga 8.6 (54)

Imperials 20.8 (128) defeated Ramblers 3.7 (25)

River Murray Netball Association results

Imperials 63 defeated Ramblers 44

Tailem Bend 39 defeated Jervois 36


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