Sports Archives - Page 46 of 160

Golfers Raring to Go

December 16, 2022 by Roxane Manley

The golf course is looking good and it seems that the only thing missing are the flagsticks.

After a concerted effort by the course staff we are excited to announce that golf will re-commence this week with the availability of the back-9 holes. The Forbes Vets will have first use on Thursday, 15th December with the Summer Sixes also restarting that day.

Saturday competitions will commence on 17th December and require playing the back-9 twice using a stroke play format. However, there is more than enough opportunity for social play and the Summer Sixes.

The Pro Shop will be open from this week onwards, with both Head Pro Adam and Assistant Pro Michael ensuring it is fully operational. Call the Pro Shop on 6851 1554 if you have any questions.

Having only a 9-hole layout means there will be a lot of pressure on the course. All players are reminded to repair any pitch marks on the greens, fill any divot holes on the fairway and remedy any holes made on the tees. This will help the course staff in their efforts to get the full course back as soon as possible.

Kickstart To 2023 Soccer Season

December 16, 2022 by Roxane Manley

Up and coming Goalies working on their skills at the recent Goalkeeper development course.

Lachlan United has been busy behind the scenes preparing for the 2023 soccer season.

Lachlan United Soccer Club was formed to encourage development pathways for rural kids to achieve placement in representative teams and increase the overall talent in the area. Players come from Forbes, Parkes, Cowra, Grenfell and surrounding areas. By bringing them all under the one banner, players will be able to make the most of courses and coaching opportunities not available in their hometowns.

The Forbes off season Goalkeeper development course held in November, saw promising soccer stars Nick Zannes, Indiana Kennedy and Josie McKenzie being selected in the U/14 Boys and U/13 girls NSW Country Futsal teams to play at the National Championships to be held in Melbourne in 2023.

Players who have been selected to play with the Lachlan United Soccer Club have a lot to look forward to in 2023. Several carnivals and gala days are already locked into the calendar, bringing teams from across the state to compete in our local area.

Teams will also travel to Goulburn to start the season at the Merino Cup, followed by a Mini Girls Gala Day hosted by Parkes, involving all western associated teams.

The opportunity to again start hosting these events, will see more than just the local soccer community benefit. The hosting towns can expect more than 5,000 visitors to visit the region, a boost that can’t come soon enough.

With the prospect of hosting larger tournaments in the future, the club is hopeful funding will come through for improvements to facilities such as training gyms, enhancing grounds and upgrading change rooms.

Forbes Croquet News

December 16, 2022 by Pegging Out

A splendid day had by all playing Golf Croquet

It was another nice sunny day for Golf Croquet on Tuesday, 13th December.

Big winners on the day were Noel Jolliffe 10-3 and Iren Ford 9-4. Other big winners of the day were Bruce Field, Ray Martin and Allan Jones, Barry White and Ray Martin, May Jones, Iren Ford and Lyal Strudwick, Elvy Quirk and Mal Smith.

Close games on the day were played between:

• John Farah and Sue Jolliffe with 7, defeated Alex Todd and Tony Thomson with 6.

• Lorraine Todd and John Job with 7, defeated Elvy Quirk and Sandy Hepburn with 6.

• John Job and Mal Smith with 7, defeated Alex Todd and Neville Spry with 6.

• John Browne and Merv Langfield with 7, defeated Elvy Quirk and Lyn Simmonds with 6.

• Allan Jones and Geoff Coles with 7, defeated Carolyn Neilsen and May Jones with 6.

• John Cole and Marie Spry with 7, defeated Lorraine Todd and Ray Martin with 6.

• Neville Spry and Mal Smith with 8, defeated Noel Jolliffe and Rex Toole with 5.

• John Browne and Carolyn Neilsen with 8, defeated Kevin Rubie and Geoff Coles with 5.

• Merv Langfield and John Cole with 8, deafeated Fay Picker and Marie Spry with 5.

• Kevin Rubie and John Cole 8, defeated Lorraine Todd and John Farah with 5.

• Sue Jolliffe and Fay Picker 8, defeated Sandy Hepburn and Bruce Field with 5.

• Kevin Rubie with 8, defeated Barry White with 5.

• Merv Langfield with 8, defeated Iren Ford and Lyn Simmonds with 5.

• Lyn Simmonds and Vince Roberts with 8, defeated Rex Toole and Alex Todd with 5.

• John Browne and Sherly Chamberlin with 8, defeated Noel and Sue Jolliffe with 5.

• Sandy Hepburn and Tony Thomson with 8, defeated Neville Spry and Fay Picker with 5.

By Pegging Out

Croquet News

December 9, 2022 by Pegging Out

A wonderful day was had by all 28 players who attended Aussie Croquet on Saturday, 3rd December. Everyone agreed it was a warm and pleasant morning.

On this occasion, five players won three games and they were John Browne, Elvy Quirk, John Farah, Lyn Simmonds and guess who? Robin Pols. A big congratulations to these players.

Big winners for the day were 14-8 Sandy Hepburn and Tony Thomson, Robin Pols and Lyn Simmonds; 14-9 Lorraine Todd and Barry White, John Browne and Lyne Simmonds, John Browne and Robin Pols. Well done to these players.

The weather remained for another nice warm morning for Golf Croquet, with 29 players enjoying the day’s play.

On this occasion only two players managed three games, and they were May Jones and Sandy Hepburn.

Big winners for the day were: 11-2 Ray Burridge and Mal Smith and 10-3 Ray Burridge and Tony Thomson.

There were too many close games to mention them all.

By Pegging Out

Golf Course Rising

December 9, 2022 by Short Putt

Mowing the 8th hole and surrounds.

The golf course, along with many other of our community sporting facilities, is gradually drying out under this sunny weather.

On the golf course, drying of the fairways has enabled groundsmen to start mowing with the intent to reduce the rank grass growth before the fairway mowers can work effectively. The irrigation system still needs repair, but most greens can be watered manually.

A spraying program is in action to mitigate against fungal growth. There is still quite a bit of debris around the course and some greens will need repair.

In the near future we will ask for volunteers to assist with some of the repairs. If you think you can help please call the Course Supervisor, Jack Elliott on 0478 678 804 or Club President, Tony Cogswell on 0418 220 510.

The Pro Shop will be open shortened hours during this week, and then fully operational by the weekend. Please call ahead on 02 6851 1554 to check if it is open.

We expect to get a composite 9-hole layout operational for this weekend, 10th and 11th December. The success of that will determine when we can re-commence the Summer Sixes competition.

By Short Putt

Parkes Macgregor Sisters Are Keeping It In The Family

December 9, 2022 by Roxane Manley

Pictured left is 14 year old Grace and on the right, her 16 year old sister Elizabeth.

Rugby league has a strong following in Parkes and we are fortunate to have a very healthy junior club, with a staggering amount of talented young players. For sisters Grace and Elizabeth Magregor, rugby league runs in the family. Both girls grew up watching their brothers and cousins play rugby league, motivating them to start playing football at a young age.

Fourteen year old Grace has played for an impressive number of representative teams this year, including: Parkes U14s league tag, U14s Western Rams league tag squad, Katrina Fanning School Rugby League Cup U14s team, U14s Woodbridge Rugby League team.

When asked to pick a standout memory from this season Grace said, “My Woodbridge under 14s team was undefeated throughout the competition this year. Coming into the grand final we knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game as Dubbo Goannas were our strongest competitors throughout the year. I scored three of the four tries in the grand final and got the player of the match at the end of the game.”

At sixteen years of age, Graces older sister Elizabeth Macgregor is an extremely sought after player and was involved in the following teams this season: Parkes U17s league tag, Western Rams U16s and U18s rugby league team, Catholic School Southern Rugby League country team, the inaugural NSWCCC team.

“My under 16s Woodbridge team went better than I think we all expected heading into the competition. I don’t think any of us had much faith that we would make it to the semis let alone the grand final, but we all really improved as a team throughout the year. We made it to the grand final, but Orange was just a bit hungrier for the win,” said Elizabeth.

Both girls were awarded top try scorers in their respective age groups for the season.

Grace and Elizabeth both attribute their success to putting in the hard work, keeping fit and grasping every opportunity that presents itself.

They are both extremely grateful for their parents, who have influenced their love of the sport and have been their number one supporters, driving them to every game and ensuring they have every opportunity to succeed.

Keep a keen eye out for these two talented Parkes sisters in the years to come. Considering the success both Grace and Elizabeth are achieving at such a young age, it is not a stretch to say that we may one day see the Macgregor sisters playing in the NRLW competition.

As it stands, there is some healthy competition in the Macgregor household, as Grace is an avid Roosters supporter and older sister Elizabeth supports the three time reigning NRL Premiers, the Penrith Panthers.

Come Hell Or Flood Water…

December 2, 2022 by NSW Rugby League page

Damian Price ‘drove’ his daughter Sarah down Bedgerabong Road in a tinnie to help her get to a Goannas Under 12s game during the recent flood.

There is dedication to Rugby League and then there is the Price family of Forbes.

Damian Price and his daughter Sarah were gearing up for a weekend match with the Dubbo Wiradjuri Goannas in Wellington, while keeping one eye on a swollen Lachlan River.

Sarah plays for the Goannas Under 12s tackle team and she’s also a member of the Red Bend Blues League Tag team.

So, there’s a strong commitment to the game from the Prices – even when Mother Nature comes calling.

“It was a normal Saturday game and on the Friday afternoon, the water was only ankle deep, so we thought ‘Yep, we’ll be able to drive out in the morning’.”

The Price family home on two-and-half hectares is situated 200m from the road into Forbes. But as Saturday dawned the water from the Lachlan River was above-the-knee and rising. They couldn’t get to their front gate. “So, we got the tinnie out and when we got out onto Bedgerabong Road it was over a metre deep,” said Damian.

So, Damian and Sarah ‘drove’ their boat along the bitumen road normally used by car, to rendezvous with another father Blake Goodsall and his daughter on dry land.

“Blake was able to drive them to the game as I couldn’t get my car out. We just didn’t think the river would rise that fast.”

Other players from farms further afield stayed overnight in Forbes so they could get to Wellington.

Sarah came home the same way – with her dad waiting in the tinnie at the meeting point.

“She plays League Tag too but she just loves the tackle game,” he said.

“I said to her, ‘Once we commit to the team we’ve got to support them no matter what’. That’s what she did and I did my part to make sure she didn’t miss out.”

(Story and photo: NSW Rugby League page.)

Croquet Is Back

December 2, 2022 by Pegging Out

First of all we would like to thank Forbes Shire Council for getting the croquet courts mowed and ready to play on so soon after the flood waters had gone down. It was so good to get back playing after the awful flood that we had.

AUSSIE CROQUET

We had 29 players for Aussie Croquet on a nice, pleasant morning last Saturday. Six players managed three games: Sandy Hepburn, Lorraine Todd and Tony Thomson, John Farah, Harley Stewart and Neville Spry.

BIG WINNERS: 14—10 Kevin Rubie, Colleen Liebich and Bruce Field, John Farah and Sandy Hepburn

SOME CLOSE GAMES: Sandy Hepburn and Marie Spry 14 Elvy Quirk and Robin Pols 13; Harley Stewart and Tony Thomson 14 Cheryle Toohey and Ray Burridge 13; Allan Jones and Lorraine Todd 14 Lyn Simmonds and Jeff Liebich 13; John Cole and Bruce Field 14 Merv Langfield and Jill Rubie 13; Jeff Liebich and Robin Pols 14 May Jones and John Cole 13; Lorraine Todd and Noel Jolliffe 14 Jill Rubie and Merv Langfield 13; John Browne 14 May Jones and Rex Toole 12; Harley Stewart and Geoff Coles 14 Allan Jones and Rex Toole 12.

GOLF CROQUET

It was another nice day for Golf Croquet on Tuesday 29 when we had 32 players rearing to go again. There were five players that managed to win three games: John Farah, Jill Rubie, Tony Thomson, Mal Smith and May Jones.

BIG WINNERS: 11—2 Kevin Rubie and Tony Thomson; 10—3 Bruce Field and Bill Scott, Neville Spry and Fay Picker.

CLOSE GAMES: Kevin Rubie and Sue Jolliffe 7 Sally Perry and Fay Picker 6; Allan Jones and Tony Thomson 7 Neville Spry and Robin Pols 6; May Jones and Bill Scott 7 Geoff Coles and Rex Toole 6; Carolyn Neilsen and Ray Martin 7 Lorraine and Alex Todd 6; May Jones and Robin Pols 7 Colleen Liebich and Sandy Hepburn 6; Merv Langfield and Mal Smith 7 Geoff Coles and Carolyn Neilsen 6; Neil Gilmour and Tony Thomson 7 Lorraine Todd and Rex Toole 6; Elvy Quirk and Alex Todd 7 Fay Picker and Dorelle Scott 6

By Pegging Out

Prostate Cancer Day Attracts Big Field

December 2, 2022 by Peter Bristol

The finalists in the Scratch Shootout on Sunday were Jack Elliott (left) and Myles Smith. Myles had been the quiet achiever on the day finishing off with a birdie to claim the 2022 title.

The Prostate Cancer Awareness Day welcomed a large field of 112 players on a sunny Saturday last weekend. The Parkes Prostate Cancer Group provided a lot of literature and information for participants, with one in six men being diagnosed by the time they turn 85.

In A grade Leonie Stevenson steered her team home. Peter Magill, Troy Thomson, Leonie and David Stevenson recorded a 51.875 beating Geoff Leonard, Cody Hando, R Ashton and Kailab Tyne on 52.5. Other winners: N.Ryan, Max Medlyn, Jack Dobell and Jack Creith on 55.5, Jake Hodge, Riall Harrison, Aaron Wilkie and Joe Van Opynen on 56.375, Brendan Chambers, Finne Latu, Anthony Riach and Ben Howard on 56.875 and Jake O’Brien, Aaron Gaffey, Nick Kelly and Matthew Knighton on 57.25.

In the B grade, Michael Williamson added some firing power to the team of Craig Dunn, G.Dunn and M. Stubberfield, who won with a score of 53.12. Shaun Bateson, Beau Tanswell, Torin Hando and anchor Michael Dumesny were on 54.375. Ray Maxwell, Ross Smith and Wayne Parker and Simon Hogan on 58.75. Stephen Riley, Scott Winter, Matt Swetland and Michael Dellaca shot a 58.875. Mel Matthews, Brett Slack-Smith, R.Scott and H.Steele-Park on a countback at 59.125. The last prize went to Gordon Pritchard, Rob Cheney, John Dwyer and Tony Hendry also on 59.125.

This weekend is the December Telescope Tyres & Batteries / Hankook Masters Monthly Medal with the day sponsor being Kitson Manufacturing Services.

ANNUAL SCRATCH SHOOTOUT

On Sunday the annual Scratch Shootout was held for the first time under the mantle of naming rights sponsor Peter Boschman. A very strong field was assembled under Captain Cath, but started falling from very early starting with Brendan. Tony Hendry was next to leave the event again failing on the chipoff with his 2 over saving Jake Hodge to fight another hole, then Max Keith, followed by Max Medlyn, contesting his first Scratch Shootout. On the par 5 7th Luke Clarke’d putt onto the green didn’t work out for him, while on the 17th Jake Hodge was eliminated.

On the 9th, it was Anthony Riach hit a poor drive into the trees on the left and ended up with a double bogey, on the 10th hole Peter Bristol departed and on the par 3 10th Blake Parker. On the 12th hole Joe Van Opynen had to leave, and on the par 5 13th, Robert Cheney exited. On the 14th hole Michael Thomas left, on the 15th John Green made a rare error, and on the par 5 16th Ron Hetherington was eliminated.

By the 17th Aaron Wilkie, Jack Elliot and Myles Smith remained. A par put Aaron and Jack in a chip-off that the left the pre-post favourite Aaron out of contention. It was going to be a tightly run thing with Myles able to finish off with a birdie to beat Jack’s par and claim the Big Dutch Cup Scratch Shootout for 2022.

By Peter Bristol

Bob & Geoff Freeman Shield To Parkes Bowling

December 2, 2022 by Marty Tighe

A friendly and competitive spirit prevailed between the two Parkes bowling clubs at the Frank Gersbach Cup and the Freeman Shield on Sunday.

The Parkes Bowling & Sports Club played the return matches against the Parkes Railway Bowling Club in both Major and Minor grades over seven rinks at the Railway Club.

Although the scores were very close, Parkes Bowling & Sports Club prevailed in both grades and became the holders of the inaugural Bob & Geoff Freeman shield. The club thanks the Railway Club for a great day of bowls, friendship, social catchup over a few beverages and a great meal, and looks forward to hosting the event again in April next year.

A total of 24 social bowlers enjoyed six games of social pairs last Thursday.

George Bradley and Col Mudie were too strong for Al Affleck and Marty Tighe, winning 26 shots to 17.

Maureen Baillie and George Boatswain played a great game against Col Woods and Colin Hayward. Maureen and George won by just 1 shot.

Ron Hornery and John Ward started slowly against Mike Valentine and Graham Dixon, as they were behind by 4 shots after seven ends. Ron and John picked up 5 shots on the 8th end, and they went on to win 19 shots to 10.

Picking up 9 shots over ends 6 and 7 ensured Ray Jones and Ian Simpson were never in trouble against Jim Blake and Col Miller, with team Simpson powering away to win 22 shots to 14.

The game of the day featured John Carr and Geoff Freeman playing John Niddrie and John Wright. Geoff and his wily lead partner had the game in hand, leading 15 shots to 6 after 10 ends. Niddrie and Wright found their range and consistency, winning 5 consecutive ends to lead by 3 after 15 ends, but were down by 2 shots after 18 ends. They won the last 2 ends, to win 22 shots to 20.

Dazzler McKellar and Gary McPhee tuned up for their Zone pairs match when they dished out a hiding to Graeme Barby and Rob Irving.

By Marty Tighe

AUSSIE CROQUET

GOLF CROQUET

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