Sports Reports: Murraylands gymnasts win state award

The Murraylands Gymnastics Academy wins an SA Gymnastics award; plus a Tour Down Under volunteer donates money to the Murraylands Cycling Club.

Sports Reports: Murraylands gymnasts win state award

This post was contributed by Jemma Tilley, the Murraylands Cycling Club’s Phil McGee and the Murray Towns Cricket Association.

Jemma Tilley and Narelle Rae-Simmons receive an SA Gymnastics award on behalf of the Murraylands Gymnastics Academy. Photo: Supplied by Jemma Tilley.

On the weekend, members of the Murraylands Gymnastics Academy attended SA Gymnastics’ Annual Awards Night, which recognises SA Gymnastics’ clubs and their achievements for the previous year.

The Murray Bridge-based club was lucky enough to receive four nominations for the 2022 awards.

The nominations were for the categories of club volunteer of the year, for Shavawn; men’s artistic gymnastics volunteer of the year, for Amy; men’s artistic gymnastics judge of the year, for Kalimna Roe-Simmons; and the excellence award for inclusive initiative of the year for the Murraylands Gymnastics Academy.

These awards were voted upon by the South Australian gymnastics community.

The academy received the excellence award for inclusive initiative of the year.

This was the second year that it was nominated for this award.

The award recognises clubs who actively engage the broad community and include gymnasts from a wide variety of needs, ages, ethnicities and abilities.

The academy’s application for the nomination mentioned the sessions it offers for all ages, with the youngest member being a six-week-old and the oldest being 87 years old.

The application also mentioned the spread of the community the academy services, from Keith to Birdwood and beyond.

Michelle McNeil, sixth from the left, has drinks with other TDU corner marshalls and assistant directors after a successful event. Photo: Supplied by Michelle McNeil.

Tour Down Under official donates her volunteer payment to cycling club

After volunteering as a corner marshall at this year’s Tour Down Under, Murraylands Cycling Club secretary Michelle McNeil has given the club her $300 volunteer payment.

“For the first time, the TDU is offering a donation for every day of volunteering to be donated to a club or charity of my choice,” she said.

“I have chosen the MCC and hope this can contribute to our club being a valuable asset in the community.

“I volunteered for six out of the eight days, including the women’s race.

“My duties as a traffic marshal were holding traffic at side streets off the route.

“This year included a considerable number of loops, which made it easier for the SA Police and TDU organisers to marshall traffic away from the race.

“The TDU are looking for more volunteers next year, and I hope that this inspires more community members to assist in this role.”

The MCC thanked Michelle for her great effort volunteering and choosing the club for the donation.

The money will go towards covering ongoing costs of the cycling clinics that the club is working hard to get up and running.

To date, the club has covered most of the costs from funding support from the Rural City of Murray Bridge grants program and an equipment grant through the Australian Sports Foundation, made possible due to the generosity of the Dickinson Foundation with support from HART Sport.

Cricket: Karoonda Magpies swipe at Tailem Bend

Karoonda 9/111 defeated Tailem Bend 58

For Karoonda: Cameron Cox 40, Jake Rogers 4/17

For Tailem Bend: James McInally 21, Umesh Badu 4/20

Mypolonga 81 defeated Wanderers 80

For Mypolonga: Aaron Zrim 16, Jared Marston 14, Lachlan Zrim 5/24

For Wanderers: Craig Fidge 16 and 3/16, Michael Stapleton 14

Mannum 9/277 defeated Monarto 130

For Mannum: Nick Lindner 105, Josh Boylan 55, Zak Muirhead 54, Kieren Hancock 5/44

For Monarto: Jacob Rance 60, Brock Smith 16, Jacob Brigandi 13 and 3/42


Email your sports reports to michael@murraybridge.news.

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