There were only six bowlers on Thursday, which is still plenty of laughs. 

The first game was between Jean and Shirley up against Dorothy and Olive. 

Jean and Shirley who haven't who haven't for sometime, won 10 to five. 

The second game was won by Dawn and Maureen over Dorothy and Olive in a much close win; six to five.

The final four ends were between Shirley and Jean who won seven to one over Maureen and Dawn who thought they would win hands down over Shirley and Jean. 

Perhaps they were over confident.

"Riverside Van Park" with 45 points were this week's winners of round 18 in the Twilight competition this team is Brendan Smith, Adi Spicer, James Stanton and Luke Matheson.

This last week seems sure to be rain affected, the contenders for for the title are "Aussie Hotel" and  "Kev Martin Plumbing" on 24 points and "Neill Earthmoving" and "Macquarie Electrics" with 23 points.

Good luck to all. 

While on Twilight, closing day is this Sunday with a shotgun start at 2.30pm you can nominate at the club. 

Saturday's par event was won by the steady Rex Vane with + three a really good back nine and a just a couple of washouts was the key to his game, on the other hand Dave Buggy (+2) was up and down like a yo-yo with seven washouts which undid all his other good holes.

Kurt Whaley (square) and Tim Tulenew (-1) were ball winners.

A putt from the very edge of the nineth green propelled Tara McDermott and Pat Walsh  into number one possie with 31.37nett. 

Tara cleared the water over the Cowal with ease and hit a lot of good drives.

Dave Bartley and Grant Webster were long odds to win until that putt went they had 32.25nett and nutted Steve Peterson and Tex Tomek on countback. 

Pin winners, Tex and Dave Buggy on Saturday and Dave Bartley and Dorro on Sunday, next Saturday is the March monthly medal.

Sunday morning is the last of AM ambroses, Sunday afternoon Twilight closes.

Badge draw is $600 for this week.

Jenny Holmes putted for $603 last week and dipped out.

Also next Thursday at 7pm we have a special guest speaker in Michael Milton, a world/Australian record holder in Olympics and Paraolympics. He is a part of a group of cyclists riding to Bourke in aid of Macquarie Stay. 

Everyone is invited to attend. 

SPLASHERS SWIIMING CLUB

Sunday March 19 results:

50 metre final

1st Penny Bomber Hoy

2nd Michelle Finn

30 metre Final

1st Victoria Nemo Cleaver

2nd Brian Skeeter Field

3rd Rollin Ron Lovett

50 metre Final

1st Curly Col Cluderay

2nd Vicki Chicken Queen Cluderay

3rd   Victoria Nemo Cleaver

Brace Relay

1st Wal Where’s Wally Simpson & Brian Skeeter Field (0.32 out)

2nd Nigel Swivelneck Tyack & Reece NT Tyack  (0.75 out)

3rd Vicki Chicken Queen Cluderay & Curly Col Cluderay   (1.75 out)

100 metre

1st Wal Where’s Wally Simpson

2nd Vicki Chicken Queen Cluderay

3rd Curly Col Cluderay

Splashers meet at the pool at 8.45 on Sunday mornings followed by a delicious breakfast at the RSL Club afterwards, then chancing our luck in the meat & chicken draws.

Next Sunday 26th March is our final swim for the season and the final Championship swim - anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to join next season commencing early October.

with Colin Hodges

A round trip of 1170 kilometres payed off for Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb when How Will I Know won the Ibis Styles & McDonalds Class 3 Handicap (1200 metres)at Broken Hill on Saturday.

Robb has been taking horses to the famous St Pats meeting since 1975 and holds the event in high regard .

Well ridden by Rodney Robb's apprentice Clayton Gallagher,How Will I Know ($3.60 favourite) raced in fifth position before sprinting to a convincing win over Invincible Magic (Stacey Metcalfe,$11) and Blacklisted (Chris Nicoll,$5.50) in track record time.

A last start winner at Tottenham Picnics,How Will I Know is owned by Hunter Valley publican Wayne Brown.

Justin Huxtable,an apprentice from South Australia,had a memorable day at Broken Hill,kicking home 4 winners including It's Fred in the $35,000 Clubs NSW & Keno 1600 metres Outback Cup.

It's Fred ($6) led throughout to beat the second place dead heaters Alpha Auriga (Chris Nicoll,$4.40) and Honor The Moment (Stacey Metcalf,$8),the latter pair having finished first and second respectively in the 2016 Outback Cup.

Paula Trenwith who trains It's Fred at Morphettville (S.A),established a record when Nozi won the Outback Cup in 2007,2008,2009.

The other winners for Justin Huxtable were the Grant Young ,Murray Bridge,SA trained pair Motocade ($3) and Snip Of Magic ($4 fav.) and Electric Sky ($2.50) trained by Brenton Jones at Jamestown in South Australia.

Trainer Heather Lehmann and jockey Kayla Cross who made history in 2016 when becoming the first female combination to win the famous Birdsville Cup in Queensland,with Moore Alpha,had a winning double at Broken Hill,Alphabetic ($5) and Alpha Romeo ($3.40 fav.)

Heather Lehmann trains at Murray Bridge SA while Kayla Cross after stints at Goulburn and Darwin is now based in Melbourne.

Highway Hornet ,a giveaway horse to Balranald trainer Emma Scott ,started at $3.20 and ridden by Stacey Metcalfe led most of the way to win the Ausgold Maiden Plate (1200 metres)from Invincible Halo (Clayton Gallagher,$2.40 fav.) and Always Red (Tamara Zanker,$5).

Racing at Tullibigeal Picnics on Saturday and Coonamble (TAB) on Monday.

WESTERN RAMS

There’s an age old saying in rugby league – “who’d be a referee?”

But with the Group 11 season now just around the corner the call has come out for more people around the region to take up the whistle.

The Group 11 Referees Association, enjoying its 10th season of sponsorship from Astley’s Plumbing and Hardware, is dealing with the problem of low numbers, something common through country footy.

“We don’t have enough numbers again this year, we’re struggling,” NRL Referee Development Officer and Group 11 referee Willy Barnes said.

“It’s a good ting for fitness and its good to put something back into the game that we all played and enjoyed, its a way of putting something back and you make a few bucks on the side as well.

“We need more of the junior referees to come on board and start running lines to blood them for when the times comes when they step into the centre.”

As well as the chance to remain involved with the game, taking up a role locally can help any aspiring referees to the big time.

Barnes works closely with promising whistle-blowers and said there is the chance to go from out west to the city.

“The pathway is now no different to a player’s. If you’ve got the ability you’ll be spotted,” he said.

“We have coaches everywhere, coaches and mentors of referees and they have access to the NRL and we can get people like (former NRL referees) Shayne Hayne or Steve Clark to come and look at them. I’ve got my development squad that they can join and from there they can get spotted and if they’ve got the ability they can go to Sydney and into the big stuff.”

The action really ramps up for the referees at the Parkes Nines on March 25 and 26 and with games now so close, Barnes made a point of saying it wouldn't be possible without the support of the valued sponsor.

“This is their (Astley’s) tenth year supporting us and without their support we’d be lost, money-wise,” he said.

“Obviously with Stuart (Astley) here at Astley’s he’s got ties to league connection through Luke Priddis, his nephew, he played at the Panthers. It’s always good to have local support.”