Sports reports: Record prize money announced for 2026 Murray Bridge Gold Cup
Plus the latest in rifle shooting, golf, basketball and more.
This story includes contributions from Daniel Irvine and Michael Potts.
Murray Bridge Racing Club has welcomed a series of prize money increases to several feature races that were announced by Racing SA on Friday.
This year’s listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup, which will be run on Saturday, October 3, will rise to a record $150,000, ensuring its position as the state’s richest country cup.
The Reg Nolan Flying and the Andrew Mills Gifford Hill Guineas, both run on the Gold Cup undercard, will also receive a boost under a new prize money structure that will reward connections of the state’s premier three-year-olds and higher rated open-class horses.
The Moorundi Two-Year-Old Classic has also received a boost, rising from $65,000 to $110,000.
It will move from its traditional position as SA’s first two-year-old race in October and now be run as the feature race on Saturday, December 19.
Murray Bridge Racing Club general manager James Tzaferis said the prize money increases would help ensure large, deep fields for the club’s showpiece races.
“This is great news for the club and a real vote of confidence from the industry about the quality of our track and the horses it can attract,” he said.
“The Murray Bridge Gold Cup has consistently been one of the state’s premier spring races and this boost to $150,000 will ensure it continues to attract South Australia’s best milers as well as talented interstate contenders.”
- More information: racingsa.com.au.
Andrew Heard fires off another win
A cold but dry winter’s afternoon awaited shooters this past Saturday as the Murray Bridge Rifle Club competed from 600 metres.
The wind was moderate from the left with some subtle variations over the afternoon.
But none of that was enough to bother Andrew Heard, who shot the top TR score of the season so far, bagging a double possible to finish with 100.13.
Needless to say, Heard’s score was more than enough to claim top off-rifle and the TR handicap award ahead of Robert Paech, who finished with a 98.11 for the day.
In F-class, David McDonald in F-open had the highest score, with 113.08, while
Gordon Harrison topped standard with 101.01.
McDonald also claimed the handicap for the day, finishing a point ahead of Frank Marshall.
Marshall did not end the day empty-handed, as he and Daniel Irvine took home the magpie awards for their respective classes.
Next week championship shooting will continue from 800m.
James Lipp heads tightly contested field
On a day where many golfers were no doubt put off by the weather forecast those who did venture out were treated to okay conditions and a dry day on course.
Quiet achiever James Lipp won the Stableford competition with 39 Stableford points on a countback in a field of 56 hardy golfers.
A modest type, Lipp was happy just to play well and the win was icing on the cake and some dollars in his club account.
With insufficient numbers – fewer than 60 – the competition reverted to an ungraded format.
Chirpy ex-car salesman Wayne Duthie found himself in second spot on the dais after a quality 39-point round, but without enough points on the back nine to overhaul Lipp on countback.
He suggested the countback system be changed in future to favour him if he is involved again.
Outspoken veteran Barry Preston was back in form, coming in third with a more than handy 38-point effort and a near hole-in-one on the long second, where he claimed his tee shot had rattled the pin before refusing to drop in.
Apparently he has always been an unlucky golfer, although on this occasion his tremendous front nine of 23 points won him the day's pro comp and deservedly so.
Jovial A-grader Matt Kowald had a rare day when he wasn't on call with his job and so he could relax a bit more during his round.
This obviously helped when he arrived at the par three 17th as he proceeded to play a gorgeous iron shot to be nearest to the pin for the day and a profitable yabby win.
Club barman Nick Williams smashed a 250m drive down the middle on the wind assisted eighth before then guiding a three wood to within 10 feet of the hole for an eagle chance.
Never looking like missing, his uphill putt he made the most of this chance and cleaned out the eagle's nest for a handy collect.
Some of the club's more mature members tested out the options of playing off the red or white tees in an effort to make life a bit easier for them on certain holes, albeit for the loss of a few strokes off their handicap.
Mixed reviews have been reported but at least players have the option now.
Basketball Clinics at North School a big success
For the past three Mondays, some of the Bullets coaches have had the pleasure of heading out to Murray Bridge North School to run basketball training sessions with the students.
Across the three sessions, roughly half of the school’s students participated.
The students did an amazing job and were eager to learn, gave everything a go and behaved brilliantly.
The basketballers said was an absolute joy to be welcomed into the school over the three days and to be surrounded by such a fantastic group of students and teachers.
They would love to see some of these students continue their basketball journey and take the next step by joining one of the local basketball clubs.
Season 26-27 will kick off in the first week of term four.
- More information: admin@mbba.com.
River Murray Football League results
- Ramblers 12.9 (81) defeated Southern Mallee 9.13 (67)
- Mypolonga 7.5 (47) lost to Coorong 12.13 (139)
- Tailem Bend 10.6 (66) lost to Mallee Districts 13.22 (100)
- Jervois 13.21 (99) defeated Mannum 6.4 (40)
River Murray Netball Association results
- Mannum 46 lost to Jervois 55
- Mallee 44 defeated Tailem Bend 33
- Mypolonga 43 lost to Coorong 63
- Southern Mallee 63 defeated Ramblers 46
Murray Bridge United Soccer Club results
- Brothers United 5-1 Murray Bridge United
T Christiansen 38' - Brothers United reserves 2-0 Murray Bridge United reserves
Murray Bridge Darts
A-grade
301 double start, double finish round robin
- Winner: James Little
- Runner-up: Colin Wilson
B-grade
- Bulrushes 11 defeated Force Darts 2
- We’re Sexy and We Throw It 10 defeated Cod Kickers 3
- Mud Skippers 10 defeated Dart Addicts 3
- Average Joes 9 defeated Avengers 4
Send your sports reports to, or express an interest in sponsoring this weekly feature by contacting, jane@murraybridge.news.
