Sports reports: O'Leary takes out State cross country championships
Plus the latest in horse racing, rifle shooting and more.
This story includes contributions from Daniel Irvine and Amanda Martin.
After taking out first place at Heathfield back in May, Murray Bridge Little Athletics rising star Darcy O'Leary has gone on to win the under-nine boys' division at the South Australian Winter Cross Country Championship at Urrbrae.
Athletes from Tiny Tots (U7) to U17 tackled the course as part of one of the biggest junior events of the winter season.
Competitors were required to have taken part in a minimum of three cross country meets throughout the season to be eligible.
Congratulations Darcy on your dedication and achievements this year.
If you'd like to know more about the Murray Bridge Little Athletics Club you can contact the club on 0418 859 637 or visit murray-bridge.littleaths.com.au
Rob Paech scores a rare double possible to win the Target Off Rifle competition
A fine Winter’s Day greeted shooters this past Saturday at the Deed Range in Monarto as 19 members and a visitor came out to test their abilities from 700 metres.
As a welcome change from last week, the conditions were mild and dry with a firm breeze from the left that most shooters found easy enough to read, a fact evidenced by the 11 possibles shot on the day.
This included the tremendous feat of a double possible from Rob Paech and Jasamine Irvine in Target Rifle, and from Adrian Conlon in F-Open.
Competition was close across the board.
In Target Rifle Rob managed to just edge out Jasamine for the off-rifle award with 11 centre-bulls to her 10, but Jasamine’s performance easily secured her the handicap win.
Greg Traeger also managed a possible on the day and Andrew Heard came tantalizingly close in his first round with a 49.07.
In the F-Classes Adrian’s lone double meant that he claimed the F-Open off rifle prize, but only by the barest of margins from David McDonald and Mark Nesti, who were breathing down his neck with each scoring 119 with possibles in their second rounds.
There was no such trouble in F-Standard where the top off-rifle award was convincingly won by Dave Hindmarsh, who kept up with the Open
shooters, scoring 119.08, also including a possible in his second round.
Nicole Edwards was the top shooter in FTR, also scoring a possible in her second round but slightly further adrift in her first with a 56.
The handicap award for F-Class, however, went once more to David McDonald, whose handicap of 7.2 gave him the edge over Adrian Conlon and Mark Nesti, whose handicaps are only 3.9 when added together, a point that was not overlooked on the day, and narrowly ahead of Standard shooter Dave Hindmarsh.
David’s continued success means his handicap will continue to plummet as he finds his new home in the Open discipline.
On another note of newfound success, father and son combination of David and Oscar Neumann shot their first championship scores this week uncoached, both with notable results.
Oscar registered an impressive 112.01, narrowly behind David who managed a 113.01.
New shooter Mark Bracken in FTR also scored a very respectable 108.04, while club stalwart Gordon Harrison completed his first full round since returning from surgery with a convincing 110.03.
In other, less sought-after awards, Daniel Irvine and Peter Byass continued their winning ways claiming the Magpie Prizes in their respective disciplines, with Daniel registering three birds and Peter just the one.
Next week there will be no competition shoot to avoid clashing with the South Australian Rifle Association Invitational Shoot at the State Range in Lower Light.
The range will be open for practice for those who can’t make it to Lower Light and a distance will be agreed upon Saturday morning.
Competition resumes the following week.
It's five out of five for local trainers at home on Friday
This weeks racing featured several standout performances, including a memorable retirement race day for one of Murray Bridge’s most respected racing identities.
Friday’s meeting at Murray Bridge was a special occasion, with the club celebrating a 'Thanks for the Memories' race day in honour of the retirement of long-time race caller John Buhagiar, whose voice has been synonymous with racing in South Australia for decades.
Race Five showcased the incredible depth of the Murray Bridge training ranks when Easy Beast, prepared by Sophie Logan and ridden by Ashvin Goindasamy, claimed victory by 0.4 lengths ahead of Kristi Evans’ Unwind, partnered by Kayla Crowther.
Murray Bridge trainers completely dominated the race, filling the first five placings, with Hannah Bryce finishing third, Sue & Jason Jaensch fourth, and Sarah Rutten fifth.
At Balaklava on Wednesday, Grant Young took out race one with Celeman Zor, ridden by Jason Holder, producing an impressive performance to win by 2.52 lengths.
Garret Lynch added another winner in Race Five when Costless, partnered by Stacey Metcalfe, proved too strong to score by 0.91 lengths from Grant Young’s Kushan Khanivale, also ridden by Jason Holder, who chased home well for second.
Nicole Irwin also scored a quinella on Saturday at Morphettville Parks when Real Deluxe, ridden by Stacey Metcalfe, took the win by 0.3lengths over stablemate Vexatious Dancer, partnered by Connor Murtagh.
River Murray Football League results
- Mannum 19-17-131 defeated Mypolonga 4-9-33
- Imperial 14-16-100 defeated Tailem Bend 2-8-20
- Coorong 13-15-93 defeated Rambler 5-5-35
- Southern Mallee 11-8-74 lost to Jervois 16-11-107
River Murray Netball Association results
- Southern Mallee 61 defeated Jervois 47
- Coorong 75 defeated Rambler 45
- Imperial 67 defeated Tailem Bend 39
- Mannum 35 lost to Mypolonga 53
Bye - Mallee Storm
Murray Bridge Darts Association results
A-grade
- Launchers 14 defeated Raukkan 5
- Mannum Club 13 defeated Mozzies 6
- Tungsten Tossers 11 defeated Vikings 8
B-grade
- Average Joe's 10 defeated Mad Hatters 3
- Bulrushes 8 defeated Cod Kickers 5
- Mud Skippers 8 defeated We’re sexy & we throw it 5
- Dart Addicts 8 defeated Force Darts 5
Avengers BYE
Congratulations to David Varacalli on his first club 180.
Send your sports reports to jane@murraybridge.news.
