Healthy focus at knockout
More than 20 men’s and mixed teams competed across five divisions on Saturday and Sunday, with organisers Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (WACHS) and NSW Touch hailing it a great success.
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“We’ve certainly had a couple of thousand people through the gates,” WACHS marketing and communications manager Jodie Evans said.
“I think what we’ve proven is you can have all ages and all shapes and sizes actually playing and no one actually has any issues with that, and having mixed teams is great too, it just brings different elements into it.
“Next year we hope to build on the women’s sides and certainly bring the kids in, which will also have a different feel again.”
The competition was tight, with three of the five finals won by a single point.
In the men’s A grade final, the Castlereagh All-Blacks went try-for-try against the Top Camp Swans.
Only a try in the final moments of the game could separate the two, with the All-Blacks coming out on top.
Tony Pellow was named player of the match.
NSW Touch game development officer Stacey Parker said she was impressed by the “outstanding” quality of play on show, with players coming from as far away as Western Australia.
“We look forward to what’s going to happen in 2018,” she said. “Hopefully we can double the numbers.”
Touch football wasn’t the only focus of the weekend, with the crew from QuitBFit on hand at the smoke and alcohol-free event to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Current and former NRL stars were on hand to help spread the message, including Scott Prince (who played with the All-Blacks), Timana Tahu, Nathan Merritt, Cody Walker and Will Smith.
“We’re trying to get that communication through from a young age that smoking isn’t great for you and drinking so much soft drink,” Evans said.
“It’s all about healthy eating and living, and sport is obviously vital to that.” “Being at the inaugural National Indigenous Touch Football Knockout was something special and something I won’t forget” Prince said. “It was great to see the family coming together to promote healthy choices.”
The results: Men’s A grade: Castlereagh All-Blacks 6 defeated Top Camp Swans 5. Men’s B grade: Smooth Finish 5 defeated Kamilaroi Dreamerz 4. Men’s C grade: Euraba 5 defeated Young Guns 3. Mixed A grade: Koori Kama 7 defeated Amaroo Allstars 6. Mixed B grade: Lively Connections 3 defeated Thuroona 1
-Jennifer Hoar.
Golfing Goodness
Dean Woods had the ball on a string in Saturday’s par event. A very impressive plus eight was his score with two shots in his round.
He hit the ball as far as the best of them and the rest of of his game is pretty well spot on. A mile behind with square was Rex Vane with five shots in his round.
John Wynne was the best of the two trio. Pin winners were Woodsie and John. The younger bridge were top dogs in Sunday’s am Ambrose.
The Bennet brothers Aaron and George were a couple over par, a generous handicap gave them a well deserved 29.87 nett. Runners up were Tim and Mim with 30.75 nett.
The sight of a snake put Time of his game for the last few holes. Thank fully Mim was there to save the day. Pin winners were Matt and Mandy. Another win for Jenny Holmes in the midweek nine hole game.
She had 19 points, one better than Dolly Ryan, the come-back. Lady Rhonda Holmes was the pin winner.
Round 5 of the twilight resulted in a tie between Crack n Plumbers and Neill Earthmoving 49 points each. A count-back will determine the winner.
Badge draw is for $1400 this week Bec Smith and Don Holmes have had unsuccessful attempts at the Jack Pot which stand at $1400 for the summer months. The routine is an 18 hole game on Saturday and the two person Ambrose on Sunday morning 8.30am to 9am start.
Racing
Overcoming a significant handicap increase the Rodney Northam, Scone trained Red Knot romped to victory on Sunday in the $30,000 Qube Logistics-Cotton Cup at Warren. Red Knot carried 54.5 kg when an all the way winner of the recent Coonabarabran Cup but was burdened with 59.5kg over the same 1600 metres trip at Warren.
Riding in great form, Wyong based Serg Lisny after winning the Coonabarabran Cup on Red Knot, won the Kempsey Cup on Friday aboard Lippy And Pearls and then gave Red Knot a charmed run in the Cotton Cup. Lisny won the start before easing Red Knot to stalk the leader Cowboys Karma which was shooting for five successive wins.
Taking control in the straight, Red Knot ($2.60 favourite) was a convincing winner by over three lengths from Uncle Sugar (Claire Nutman, $12) and Shadow Affair (Chris Williams, $8). Feature sprint the Macquarie Toyota Warren Dash (1200 metres) saw a return to winning form by the nine year old gelding Shadow Force,a former Western Racing Association "Horse of the Year".
Now the winner of 11 races and placed 23 times, the Kylie Kennedy, Narromine trained Shadow Force (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $5.50) held a slender lead turning for home and fought hard to hold out Danish Lace (Daniel Northey, $5) and Joey's Destiny (Michael Hackett, $2.05 fav.).
Tuncoona which created a big impression with runaway wins at Enngonia and Dubbo before failing on a wet track was back in the winners circle after the Complete Asset Management Benchmark 54 Handicap (1000 metres) at Warren.
Trained at Dubbo by Clint Lundholm for Phillip Ridge and partners, Tuncoona ($7.50), well ridden by Parkes jockey Michael Hackett, held on gamely to beat Wide Eyed (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $31) by a short head with Dynamite Dan (Chris Williams, $10) in the 13 horse field.
-by Colin Hodges.