This Saturday saw the commencement of the trek to Dubbo for seven Nyngan teams to play the game they love - netball. This year we have teams in tens, 12s, Interdivision one, three and four, Open B and A Reserve grades. Nyngan have come out of the blocks running with the results being solid wins for the first 5 abovementioned teams, a draw for B grade and A Reserve with a narrow loss by two goals. Div 4 gets a special mention with a resounding win of 76 goals to 11. 

A Reserve - Nyngan Cougars- is our featured team this week. This team has 7 of its original 11 players back from last year being Sonia Black, Kirsty Burley, Stacey Korn, Emma Eason, Emily Ball, Kasey Douglas, Britt Martin and has added 3 more in Alison Kennedy, Casey Hayes and Skye Douglas. This was the first foray into a higher grade from last year for this side and the game was certainly fast paced. The opposition, Narromine Hawks, got an early jump on the Cougars but the Nyngan side kept their heads up and dug in. The defence end was a highlight for the ladies with combinations of Sonia, Casey, Skye and Britt working very well.

Midcourt being Stacey, Alison, Kirsty, Emily, Kasey and our defenders, had to work very hard with the opposition proving to be very sticky on our players especially in the first half. Our shooting end of Kasey, Emma and Emily was under pressure also with Narromine's excellent defence in particular from their goal defender who we awarded their MVP to.

The opposition lead did start to stretch out by half time but in true Nyngan form the ladies fought on. Nyngan won the last two quarters convincingly with a flurry of goals over the second half to get back to even with a few minutes to go. Unfortunately Narromine scored two unanswered goals in the dying minute to see them take the win. Overall it was a fast and physical game.

It was a great encounter to cut our teeth on for the first up effort in A Reserve grade. Casey Hayes was awarded our MVP voted by the opposition. Great debut for Casey, she had a fantastic game in the defence circle and also instrumental through the midcourt. 

Attached photo from back left Emma Eason, Kirsty Burley, Emily Ball, Skye Douglas, Stacey Korn, Alison Kennedy. Front left Sonia Black, Kasey Douglas, Britt Martin, Casey Hayes

-by Jodi Douglas

Hermidale Gun Club

A good roll up of shooters made for stiff competition. Contestants coming from Cobar, Nyngan, Nevetire and Hermidale.

The finals of two events carried over from last year was an added draw card.

The events were the 30 mixed target event which was won by Button Powell with Dick Tulloh coming second.

Next the 30 target Jack Edgell handicap event which was won by Dick Tulloh with Bill Dewhurst coming in second.

On to the present day programme:

Event 1 - 10 Target Eye Opener shared by, Button Powell and Ross Morris.

Event 2 - 20 Target Double Barrel: A. Grade: Geoff Fewnamore; B. Grade: Ron Sullivan; C. Grade: Jason Mitchell.

Event 3 - 30 Target Medley: March winner Dick Tulloh, April winner Ross Morris, second Dick Tulloh.

Event 4 - 30 Target Handicap J.E Trophy: March winner Sid Kinsey, April winner Peter Rees, second Dick Tulloh.

High gun Dick Tulloh.

Next shoot May 26. Visitors and new shooters always welcome.

Wednesday, May 2 saw a very pleasing field of 20 Players attend Perry Bowl which will be played in two rounds of 18 holes Plus Judy Heckendorf kindly donated trophy. There was also one nine hole player (21 players). Fairways remain very heavy; some very heavy scores followed with the exception of some A grade long hitters!

A grade and Trophy winner was Betty Green 67 nett; B grade was won by one of our newer players Chris Samuels 71 nett. Optional Ball winners were, first Vicki Gainsford 68 nett, secondDale Harding 72 nett, third Viv Halbisch 74 nett, fourth Carole King 74 nett.

Nearest Pin winners ninth Betty Green, 17^th Vicki Gainsford. Drawn Card went to Jean Richardson. Raffle was kindly donated by Wendy Jeffery won by a very grateful Bev Woods.

May 5 a pleasant sunny afternoon with a cool southerly breeze blowing 16 players contested Medical Institute Trophy with Dale Harding Putting Trophy. Medical Institute Trophy A grade winner, Sue McCutcheon 69 nett winning on a count back from Judy Barlow also 39 nett. B grade winner Marj Kelly 74 nett winning on a count back from Wendy Jeffery also 74 nett. Optional ball winners; 1st Judy Barlow 69 nett,

Second Heather Bootle 70 nett, third and final opp ball went to Viv Halbisch 72 nett. Winner of Dale Harding’s Putting Trophy went to Heather Bootle 22 putts, following close behind her was Betty Green (Heather’s Tutor) 23 putts.

Nearest Pin ninth Judy Barlow; 17^th; Betty Green. Drawn card went to Jan Brennan. Raffle kindly donated by Dale Harding was won by Joan Collins.

Today, May 9 the second Round Perry Bowl along with Marj Kelly’s Trophy will be contested. A Committee meeting will follow presentation!

Weekly Ponder; You are free to choose whatever you like! You are not free of the consequences of your choice!

-by Granny Golfing Guru

Satruday was a par event.

A very late surge by Royden Donohue enabled him to pip Tristan Dal Forno right on the line. Royden put on a terrific effort having four plusses over the last five holes. The tearaway leader Tristian could only manage all square over the same five holes, oddly enough they both bombed out with washouts on the 11^th, 12^th and 13^th.

Visitor Tim Crichton (Oberon) was the best of the rest with -one his old man John was -four and was a bank Johnny here years ago. Mick Beetson was the sole pin winner, he bagged the jackpot on second.

Runaway winners in Sunday's American two ball were the husband and wife team of Tim and Janine Tulenew with 60.20 Nett, Tim when he get's it right can play some unbelievable shots and would probably be the longest hitter in the club. Janine gives it a good whack and is normally in the middle of the fairway. A very good combination.

Second place with 63.12 Nett was Les Dorrington and Nate Matheson. They started and finished with birdies, had an eagle on the 7th and tangled with the trees on the 3rd and 13th and came a cropper both times. David Rose was the pin winner.

Next Saturday is a 4BBB Stableford and Sunday is the keno mens and ladies 4BBB par qualifier.

Badge draw is for $800 this week. The jackputt is back to $200, Crock Read had no trouble knocking the ball into the cup and collecting $1869 for his good shot, drinks all round later on.

Sadly Betty Kourt one of our keenest golfers a few years ago passed away on Sunday, her funeral is in Nyngan on Friday.

Fixture books are available at the clubhouse thanks to Tara from compiling them and Sam on the assembly line.

High profile Scone based trainer Brett Cavanough who has hundreds of horses on his books reflected on his start in racing after Still Undaunted won the Cup at Binnaway on Saturday. “Small towns like Binnaway were where I kicked off my career and these meetings are the grassroots of racing and play a vital role in the racing industry”, commented Cavanough at the trophy presentation.

Ridden by Billy Cray,formerly from England,the lightly raced four year old Still Undaunted raced in a handy position before taking the lead at the top of the straight. Still Undaunted ( $2.50 favourite ) then held on to win the Jack O’Brien/Binnaway Newsagency Binnaway Cup ( 1300 metres ) by a half length from Star Of Legs ( Wendy Peel,$3.80 ) and Rident Home ( Jake Pracey-Holmes,$6 ).

Tamworth trainer Sue Grills and her apprentice Wendy Peel combined for a Binnaway winning double,Drawn To You ( $7 to $4 ) and Snow Sparkle ( $1.50 fav ),both mares given good runs behind the leaders before taking control in the straight. Wendy Peel ( 25 )who has now ridden 7 winners is an experienced horsewoman and has competed in eventing competitions in Germany,France and England.

One of her Binnaway winners Snow Sparkle is very well bred being by champion sire More Than Ready from Group 1 Flemington winner Hurtle Myrtle. Bon Honour,the rank outsider,won the Class 2 Handicap ( 1200 metres ) for Dubbo trainer Brian Young and jockey Rasit Yetimova who is now Dubbo based after riding in Tasmania when arriving from Turkey.

Turning for home,Bon Honour took the lead and held out Luce Non Uro ( Eleanor Webster-Hawes,$4.40 ) by a half length with a half neck to third placed Thunder Cove (Tiffany Jeffries, $7) Official starting price for Bon Honour was $26 however the on course tote dividend was $316 for a $1 unit!

The other winners at the successful Binnaway meeting were the Luke Thomas,Muswellbrook trained Leica Kite ( Tony Cavallo, $1.80 fav.) and Mr Malu ( Jodi Worley,$3.20 ) trained at Warialda by Leon Cross.

-by Colin Hodges.