Sports reports: Murray Bridge Rowers win 17 medals at Australian Masters
Plus the latest in 10-pin bowling, horse racing, golf and more.
This story includes a contribution from Michael Potts.
At the 2026 Rowing Masters Championships held recently in Perth, Murray Bridge rowers came home with 17 medals.
Graham Hunt earned one gold, four silvers and a bronze in his age group.
Kelly Lewis took home three golds, a silver and two bronzes with perennial performer Victoria Seidel snaring two gold, two silver and two bronze.
Meanwhile, Murray Bridge Rowing Club has again come home triumphant in the country women's premiership and country men's premiership.
A special mention must go to the club's masters women, who were third in their division; and congratulations to coaches and rowers on another great season.
Murray Bridge trainers score wins across five tracks
Another week has highlighted the depth of the Murray Bridge training ranks, with winners across South Australia and Victoria, including a standout three-win week for John Macmillan and multiple trainers adding to their successful seasons.
The week began in perfect fashion in Echuca on Tuesday, where John Macmillan enjoyed a winning double.
Full Commitment, ridden by Zac Spain, took out race six by 0.75 lengths before the pair combined again in race nine with Sioux Warrior, which scored by 0.35 lengths to cap off a successful interstate raid.
Stephen Theodore also enjoyed success across the border, with Boyd, ridden by Brad Rawiller, producing a strong performance to win race five on the Ballarat synthetic by 1.75 lengths.
Following the cancellation of Wednesday’s scheduled Gawler meeting, racing was transferred to Balaklava on Friday, where Murray Bridge trainers were quick to make their mark.
Mick Huxtable opened proceedings in race one as Reciprocal, ridden by Harry Grace, produced a strong performance to score by 1.26 lengths.
Garret Lynch rounded out the meeting with victory in race eight when Mr Trafficanti, partnered by Tala Hutchinson, finished powerfully to win by 0.81 lengths.
Metropolitan success continued on Saturday with Darryl Hewitt claiming race two at Morphettville as Snoopy Now, ridden by Taylor Johnstone, prevailed by 0.87 lengths.
Sarah Rutten followed up in race three, with Stirrup Cup, partnered by Harry Grace, digging deep to claim a thrilling 0.09-length victory in one of the closest finishes of the weekend.
At Bordertown on Sunday, Justin Pickering started the day in perfect fashion, with Real World, ridden by Alana Kelly, taking out race one by 0.35 lengths.
John Macmillan added another winner in race two as I Love This Song, partnered by Dom Tourneur, proved too strong to score by 1.19 lengths, giving him three winners for the week.
Sarah Rutten continued her winning run in race five with Victory Queen, ridden by Jackson Murphy, winning by 0.9 lengths.
Linda Treloar’s Rocktagon, with Harry Grace aboard, filled second placing.
Race six showcased the depth of Murray Bridge trainers, with David Tootell’s Charlesfort, ridden by Tala Hutchinson, winning convincingly by 2.36 lengths.
Sarah Rutten’s Territorian, partnered by Harry Grace, finished second, while Kristi Evans’ Unwind, ridden by Alysha Warren, completed an all-Murray Bridge trifecta in third, 3.19 lengths behind the winner.
Grant Young capped off the weekend in race nine as Refreshing, with Will Price aboard, scored by 0.76 lengths. Kristi Evans’ Whoops A Daisy, ridden by Dom Tourneur, finished a gallant second.
Redwood comes out on top at Bridge Bowl Masters
As expected, Sunday's 2026 masters event at Bridge Bowl has proven to be a fantastic contest with some amazing bowling on display.
Congratulations to the top 20 that progressed through to the final match, played in two of the toughest fields seen at Bridge Bowl.
In the end it was Travis Redwood who came out on top of the open grade, defeating Ben Muir 202-191 in the grand final.
Muir led the open grade all day, bowling a perfect game in game four for the high game and finishing up with an average of 219 for the day – amazing bowling.
In the restricted grade, Ebs Mar defeated Aiden Rawlins 201-190.
Rawlins came home strong, averaging 221 off the last three games and finishing with an overall average of 202 for the day, but it was Mar's 244 in game eight that took the prize for that field.
Dahlitz and Zrim team up the best
On Saturday, Murray Bridge Golf Club's annual foursomes championships have taken place.
It was an oddly named event where teams of two took it in turns to hit the team ball to see which duo gelled best on the day and took the championship title.
This year it was good buddies Corey Dahlitz, the recently crowned club B grade champion, and dual club champion Aaron Zrim who won the day with a total of 80 strokes around the old course layout.
Planning is of the essence, with teams attempting to maximise each player's strengths, being forced to tee off alternately on the different holes.
In the end, Dahlitz and Zrim had one shot up their sleeve from runners-up Jeff Morgan and Jeff Lipp, who fired an 81-shot round to just miss major honours.
It was a fair dinkum cold old winter's day that tested the resolve of the 50 or so hardy players that dared tee off.
Other players to be rewarded were the father and son team of Nathan and Lucas Ackland, who teamed brilliantly to easily win the best nett score with a round of 68.5 after their handicap was deducted from their score off the stick.
Brothers Cameron and Mikara Poharama were nett score runners-up with a more than handy 68.
It will be back to reality this Saturday with a stroke round awaiting everyone with the old course still in play after the recent rains caused the closure of the new holes due to dampness.
Murray Bridge Basketball Association welcomes new committee
Following the 2026/2027 AGM, the Murray Bridge Basketball Association is excited to welcome both our new and returning committee members for the next 12 months.
Congratulations to:
- President: Bohdi Pearson
- Vice presidents: Shaun Williams and Daniel Hocking
- Secretary: Zoe Fullgrabe
- Treasurer: Emily Melbourne
- General committee: Chantelle Bissell, Renee Hocking, Lauren Jeffery and Shirley Hartman
River Murray Football League results
- Mannum 5.7 (37) defeated Tailem Bend 5.5 (35)
- Coorong 24.10 (154) defeated Mallee Districts 7.6 (48)
- Mypolonga 10.7 (67) lost to Ramblers 15.17 (107)
- Imperials 8.13 (61) defeated Southern Mallee 5.9 (39)
River Murray Netball Association results
- Southern Mallee 43 lost to Imperials 52
- Mypolonga 63 defeated Ramblers 36
- Coorong 43 defeated Mallee Districts 41
- Mannum 61 defeated Tailem Bend 38
South Australian Amateur Soccer League results
- Murray Bridge United 1 lost to the Cove 5
J Eckermann 62'
Send your sports reports to, or express an interest in sponsoring this regular feature by emailing, jane@murraybridge.news.
