Sports reports: Jack Bell rings in new speedway track record

This story includes contributions from Michael Potts, Terry Hann, Daniel Irvine and Angel Budarick.

Murray Bridge Speedway has held its opening race night of the 2025-26 season with 70 competitors taking to the track.

Jack Bell flew to a new track record in heat two of the formula 500s, clocking 2:09.296 for the 10-lap journey before also claiming the feature race win ahead of James MacDonald and Harrison Pftizner.

The wingless sprints section was hotly contested, with 34 entries for the opening event.

Joel Chadwick didn’t miss a beat, debuting for the Andrew May Racing team to take out the 25-lap feature ahead of Rylan Furler and Jordon Bolitho.

Bolitho picked up two heat wins, with the other heats going to Chadwick, Furler, Robert Heard and Lachlan Evans. 

Despite being a late entry to the night’s field, Drew Flatman claimed the feature win in the street stocks ahead of Nigel Reichstein and Neville Nitschke.

Terry Brown topped the field in the modified sedans, while Henry Brumfield started off his season strongly to take out the junior sedans event.

Rifle competition results

Windy conditions have made for a challenging day at the range on Saturday as the Murray Bridge Rifle Club competed from 700 metres.

Shining early was Greg Traeger in TR, who shot a possible 50.04 in his first round, followed by a 47.04 to win top off-rifle and handicap.

Also starting well was Mark Nesti, who shot a 57.03 in his first round but was pipped at the post for top off-rifle and the handicap award by David McDonald, whose 111.06 was a single centre ahead of Nesti’s 111.05.

Peter Casley and Daniel Irvine had less of a good day out, winning their discipline’s Magpie Awards with one and four birds, respectively.

Next week shooters will be tested from the ultimate range of 1000 yards, with a “last shot” ceremony to take place after the shoot for club patron Larry Caspers, who passed away suddenly in July.

Local trainers win at Morphettville and Murray Bridge

Murray Bridge trainers have taken home wins in three of seven races at Murray Bridge last Wednesday, along with three of nine at Morphettville on Saturday.

The winning trainers included:

• Sarah Rutten with Easy Campese, ridden by Alysha Warren in the Sportsbet More Places Handicap
• Justin Pickering with Free Beer, ridden by Connor Murtagh in the Vale Max Basheer AM Handicap
• Michael Hickmott with Wine Barron, ridden by Todd Pannell in the Sportsbet Blackbook Handicap
• Garret Lynch with Blue Special ridden, by Connor Murtagh in the Sportsbet Same Race Multi Rating 0-56 Handicap
• Grant Young with Refreshing, ridden by Rochelle Milnes in the Thomas Farms Benchmark 56 Handicap
• Karen Byrnes with Startide, ridden by Jacob Opperman in the Carlton Draught Benchmark 56 Handicap

Murray Bridge men's open is well attended

Sunday's Murray Bridge men’s 27-hole open featured 80 players battling it out, with Sandy Creek Golf Club visitor Jaxson Jones outlasting local superstar Jared Thoman to win by two strokes.

Jones' score of 109 was only three shots over par and an excellent effort in the  breezy conditions.

Runner-up Thoman was two shots away with a total of 111.

Local Craig Owens took out the B grade with 127 strokes, a nailbiting one-stroke ahead of a gallant Jacob Speed, of Echunga, on 128.

Oakbank's Julian Kubisz was too good in the C grade, winning with a stunning 64 Stableford points over the 27 holes from local Patrick Evans, who still had a darn good day with his 59 points.

It was a great day overall – the club thanked all players for competing and the sponsors and volunteers who helped put the day together.

Meanwhile, it was a closely contested par competition at the Bridge on Saturday, when three players were locked together on five-up at day's end.

The best back nine tiebreaker decreed that Echunga Golf Club member Jeff Reuter was the winner, narrowly edging out locals Ryan Beinke and "Fiery" Freddy Carter.

Par competitions often see the higher handicappers to the fore as the tee blocks are usually well forward, giving the shorter hitters more of a chance of reaching greens in regulation.

Such was the case on Saturday as these three C-graders fought it out to the wire.

Good scoring was the order of the day with back-in-form club champion Aaron Zrim edging out Jason Bormann in the A grade, with both players returning plus-one scores.

Ray Fetherstonhaugh had Graeme Munt's measure by a lizard's lip in B grade, with each player having good days with returns of plus-two. 

Freddy Carter and Ryan Beinke had to settle with a C grade win and runner-up, respectively, after failing to dislodge Jeff Reuter from the day's top spot but can still be quite excited with their blistering plus-five scores.

Murray Bridge Darts Club holds doubles championship

The Murray Bridge Darts Club has hosted its doubles championship for the A and B grades.

A-grade winners were Kevin and Michael Young, with runners-up Anthony Clark and Paul Elphick.

Paul Elphick managed to score two 180s and Anthony Clark scored the highest peg-out with a score of 114.

B-grade winners were Robby Tyas and James Little, with runners-up Shae Norton and Mark Clasohm.

James Little scored the highest peg-out with a score of 117 and also scored one 180.

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