Sports reports: Settle for Less wins straight track cup
Plus the latest in darts, horse racing, shooting and more.
This story includes contributions from Terry Hann, Michael Potts and Daniel Irvine.
Victorian raider Settle for Less has produced a brilliant, rails-hugging performance to claim the 2026 Murray Bridge Straight Cup on Sunday afternoon, overcoming early trouble before charging home to win the feature in 19.15 seconds.
In a race packed with quality speedsters, Settle for Less was checked soon after box rise and appeared to be in trouble early.
But once clear, the talented chaser quickly drove through the runners underneath, railing powerfully and staying hard against the inside of the track for the remainder of the journey to score by three quarters of a length.
- Read more: greyhoundracingsa.com.au.
Murray Bridge trainer bags three mid-week wins
Murray Bridge trainer Matt Seyers has enjoyed a top day out at the Bridge last Wednesday, producing his first treble with three different riders as local trainers won seven of the eight races contested.
Seyers brought up his first win for the day when United Legend showed a great turn of foot to win the class one over 2000 metres and won comfortably from Valued and Big Rita June.
Sayers said it was an impressive run by the horse, picked up in an online sale.
“He’s a lovely horse to have around,’’ Seyers said.
“He probably floated a bit in the straight but it was a good win for all, staff and connections – the staff do a great job.’’
Seyers and Harry Grace made it a double with different combinations when Make Me a Star finished too well in a benchmark 58 over 1400m, finishing over early leader Liselle’s Luck and Falanghina.
The day ended in style for the Seyers stable when the ultra-consistent Good Expectations came with a barnstorming run to take out a benchmark 62 over 1200m.
Ridden a patient ride by Todd Pannell, the winner brought up its second win and three seconds from five starts.
Fellow Bridge trainer Sara Rutten also enjoyed her day, finishing with a double.
Imamanzor was the first of her winners, showing great class and spirit to take out a benchmark 58 over 1400m and has now won four races with four placings from 19 starts.
Rutten’s day continued to shine when the vastly improved Head of the Herd secured the win in a benchmark 60 over 1600m.
Settling in last place, Connor Murtagh brought his mount out wide to reel in the leaders to score easily from Sassy Sophie and Flash Alice.
Murray Bridge trainers stayed in the winners’ arena when Camooweal Girl also broke its maiden for Kristi Evans, ridden a top race by Todd Pannell over 1400m to beat Think Lu Bella and Artful Maximus.
Emily Melbourne named basketball volunteer of the year
Emily Melbourne is the kind of volunteer every club dreams of.
Whether she’s scoring games, helping around the stadium or stepping up on multiple committees, she gives her time and energy without hesitation.
No job is ever too big or too small.
Melbourne is always there, always reliable and willing to help.
She’s often the first point of call in so many situations and is a constant presence around the stadium.
Her dedication and commitment make her an invaluable part of our basketball community.
Catherine Hutchings was awarded the referee of the year for her tireless support of referees and matches at all levels.
Hutchings does an incredible job training and grading the referees.
She ran the Bullets carnival in October exceptionally well and has proudly represented the Bullets at Junior Country Champs as both a ref coach and an on-court referee.
She also travelled to Melbourne to ref coach at the state champs, continuing to grow her knowledge and support others.
Right now, Hutchings is working with Jen from Basketball SA and Melbourne to create a referee training program designed to upskill and support current referees.
Murray Bridge Rifle Club holds annual championship day
The Murray Bridge Rifle Club has held its largest event of the year on Saturday, combining several major competitions into a full day of shooting at 700 metres.
With no open prize meeting held in recent years, this expanded championship day has grown into a key fixture on the club calendar, drawing strong fields across all disciplines.
The program included the club championship 700m round; stage three of the Number Two DRA Championship with Mount Barker Rifle Club; the Bruce Moulds Memorial Stool, an open F-class competition; and the popular Kuchel Challenge, where the top three shooters from each F-class discipline contested a five-shot, Bisley-style shoot-off.
Conditions were cool and overcast with a few brief misty showers, but the wind remained gentle from the right and held consistently for most of the day – ideal for steady scoring.
In the club championship, the off rifle winners were:
- Target rifle: Greg. Traeger (100.09)
- F-class standard: Gordon Harrison (114.04)
- F-class open: Adrian Conlon (120.17)
Handicap honours went to David McDonald in F-class, who also scored an impressive 120.14 off-rifle for 138.9 handicap score, and Daniel Irvine in target rifle, who shot an off-rife 97.05 for a 115.9 handicap score.
In the DRA competition, honours were shared between the clubs, with Murray Bridge’s Greg Traeger and Adrian Conlon winning TR and FO respectively, while Mount Barker’s Eddie Concannon won FS with 117.09 and Mark De Laine claimed the DRA sporting class win with a strong 100.07.
The Bruce Moulds Memorial Stool was strongly contested, with five shooters getting perfect 120s, but it was Conlon who took the overall win with 17 super-centres.
The day concluded with the Kuchel Challenge, where the top three from each F-class discipline returned to the mound for a five-shot, Bisley-style shoot-off.
The Kuchel Challenge winners were:
- F-class open: David McDonald (30.04)
- F-class target rifle: Jeff Makin (30.05)
- F-class standard: Gordon Harrison (30.01)
The club extended its thanks to visiting shooters and to the Mount Barker Rifle Club for their participation in the DRA championship round.
The Murray Bridge Rifle Club welcomes new shooters and visitors and shoots most Saturdays at the Deed Range, Monarto.
Mikara Poharama stuns with ridiculous win
It's not often a player beats his handicap by nine strokes but that's just what happened on Saturday at Murray Bridge Golf Club.
Mikara Poharama belied his D-grade handicap to perform like a B-grader and win the day's stroke competition with an incredible score of nett 61 on the par 70 course.
Keeping out of trouble for all of his round allowed the club's reigning D-grade champion to streak to an easy win on a course not exactly playing easily either.
If Poharama can maintain even close to this sort of form he is a massive chance to go back to back in this year's club championships, which are underway.
In other news, it was good to see Greg Lindeberg return to form with a win in the A grade with a solid nett 70 and the Italian Stallion, Mario Grande, take out the B grade with his nett 72.
Carefree golfer Mal McFetridge has the gall to call himself "Naga Mal" in reference to his limited ability, but he played out of his skin this time to record a brilliant nett 66 to silence his playing partners and win the C grade.
An unusual incident took place on the 13th tee block when a player lost his grip on his driver when teeing off, with the club flipping over his head and into the bushes behind him.
Laughter all round soon turned to concern when the driver couldn't be found.
Golf rules allow for a maximum of three minutes to search for a lost ball, but how long is permitted to locate a lost club?
After 15 minutes of fruitless rummaging in the bushes, the group moved on after not looking in the "Wright" place for it.
Twenty-four hours later, some of the group returned, looked a bit harder and further away and finally found the club in the nearby garden bed.
Time to wear a non-slip glove in future, eh, Deano?
Players will be relieved to see the end of a few stroke rounds lately and instead tee off in a Stableford competition this Saturday.
River Murray Football League results
- Imperials 11.12 (78) defeated Mannum 6.14 (50)
- Jervois 20.10 (140) defeated Ramblers 2.6 (18)
- Mallee 10.7 (67) defeated Southern Mallee 7.16 (58)
- Coorong 12.16 (188) defeated Tailem Bend 3.6 (24)
River Murray Netball Association results
- Mallee 45 defeated Southern Mallee 42
- Coorong 74 defeated Tailem Bend 28
- Ramblers 35 lost to Jervois 52
- Imperials 56 defeated Mannum 36
Rugby league
- MEC Black Swans 54 defeated Roosters 4
SA Amateur Soccer League division three results
Murray Bridge United 4 defeated Brothers United 3
- Goals: A Tolley 5', D Binney 10', T Christiansen 79', D August 91'
Murray Bridge United reserves 4 defeated Brothers United reserves 2
- Goals: W Suifasia 34', R Dwi jayonat0 57', E Slattery 57', J Rocky 69'
Send your sports reports to jane@murraybridge.news. To express an interest in sponsoring this regular feature, email the same address.
