We had 32 players for Aussie Croquet on Saturday in Forbes. We had another visit from Olivia Hunt, and the granddaughter of Robin Pols.
Seven people won 3 games: Dorelle Scott, Merv Langfield, Bruce Field, Kevin Rubie, Geoff Coles, Elvy Quirk and Noel Jolliffe. There were no very close games 14 -13, which is most unusual.
We were ready to play Golf Croquet onTuesday, but the weather turned out to be the winner. Let’s hope the weather changes for next Tuesday.
By Pegging Out
The Saturday Men’s golf Individual Stableford, sponsored by Gunns Traffic Control, had a field of 54 starters in Forbes.
The Div-1 winner was Jack Dobell with 39 points. Runner-up was Kim Herbert with 37 points.
Div-2 was won by a player in good form, Reggie Murray with 40 points, the best of the day. Runner-up was Matt Coles with 39 points.
NTPs: 9th – Matt Coles; 18th – Greg Webb; 3rd Hole Super Pin – Matt Skene with a shot to 2.46m.
The Ball Sweep went to 33 points on count back.
By Short Putt
Gary McPhee (left) with Marthy Tighe. Gary played two extraordinary bowls shots to draw the minor pairs match on the final end, and then win the match on the extra deciding end.
Last week’s washed-out minor pairs match resumed on Saturday, with Brian Townsend and John Wright re-starting the match on the 17th end leading 16 shots to 14. Brian and John were at 19 shots to 15 with 1 end to play. Gary McPhee and Marty Tighe, needing 4 shots on the last end to force the match into a ‘golden bowl’ end, managed to surround the jack with 3 bowls with a measure for the 4th. Gary, displaying nerves of steel, delivered the last bowl, sitting out his opponents’ closest bowl, picking up the 4 shots, and forcing the match into a deciding extra end. Brian and John didn’t falter and were holding 3 shots. Come the hour, come the great Gary McPhee! His last bowl, forced the jack back to the gutter. Brian just missed drawing to the jack, resulting in a remarkable win to Gary and Marty.
Both the Parkes Pirates pennants teams played at home on Sunday. Parkes defeated Forbes in Division 2, winning 2 rinks to 1, scoring an overall win of 62 shots to 51.
By Marty Tighe
Once again, bowls were cancelled on Tuesday due to the weather. The Grade 3 Pennants teams travelled to Orange City and played several ends before the snow camouflaged the white jack! Parkes led on both rinks – the finale will be be continued next week.
The Parkes 4s were soundly defeated by Canowindra last Thursday. The 3s fared a little better, with a win by Team Byrne at home vs Cowra 2, but a loss on the board by just 2 points.
By Lea Orr
Two Parkes hockey players shone at the Western Region Academy of Sport (WRAS) Presentation Evening. Meg Turner (left) was a recipient of the Strength and Conditioning Award (for the most dedicated or improved athlete in S&C sessions), while Jordan Moody (right) was named a recipient of the Coach’s Award (for the most dedicated or improved athlete).
Forbes netball is back in full swing for the popular Spring Night Competitions starting on 7th September. The committee will also be organising a 17 and under mixed and ladies competition, and a men’s grade if there is enough interest.
All teams are asked to enter as soon as possible, as there are only two grading dates before the competitions starts. Email the secretary on secretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com if you’re looking for a team or players.
Players already registered with NNSW only need to pay the FNA competition fee of $50 per player per team. New 2022 registrations can take advantage of the reduced NNSW registrations from 1st September, plus the FNA competition fees. All registrations are done online, including the FNA competition fees. Like our Facebook posts, and get all the information as soon as it breaks, on the Forbes Netball Facebook page.
Tomorrow, 27th August will see the last sessions for 2022 of Saturday NetSetGo and Junior skills and games. All players are invited to join us at 9:30am with a presentation and sausage sizzle at 10:30am, and junior skills and games at 10:30am with a presentation and sausage sizzle at 11:30am. NetSetGo ages start at 5 years, and are modified skills and games for the very young players wanting to learn basic skills.
The Forbes Netball Committee is planning a Junior Mixed Gala Day on 4th September – grades start at NetSetGo, to approximately 12/13 years. Players should email the secretary on secretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com to get into a team, or put their name down on Saturday. All the dads will receive a free sausage sandwich to celebrate Father’s Day at the gala day.
By Robyn Kenny
In changeable weather the Forbes Golfers had mixed fortunes with good scores recorded in the morning, while afternoon scores were affected by the weather.
On Saturday the golf competition was a 4BBB Stableford Medley, playing for the Bob & Daine Doolin Memorial trophy. A small field of 48 starters braved the forecast conditions, producing a wide range of scores.
The overall winners were the pairing of Jean and Warwick Judge, who scored 45 points. Jean’s handicap was very beneficial for their scoring and allowed her to contribute most of the scores. They faltered on only one hole, scoring a ‘7’ on the 4th but still managed one point.
The runners-up were Scott Kirkman and Doug Churchill with 44 points. They teamed well, sharing the scoring load, but really shone on the back-9 with 24 points. Single-pointers on the 5th and 9th holes held them back from a win.
The NTP’s went to: 9th – Ladies: Carolyn Duncan, Men: Jeff Haley; 18th – Ladies: Nil, Men: Doug Churchill. The 3rd hole super pin went to Allan Rees with a shot to 4.4 metres.
The Ball Sweep went to 40 points, with most pairings scoring under par. The visitors included: Valarie and Wane Turner from Beerwah who were passing through from Queensland.
There was no Sunday Stableford Medley due to the inclement weather.
This weekend the Men’s comp is an 18-hole Individual Stableford, sponsored by Gunns Traffic Control, with a Stableford Medley on Sunday. The Peak Hill Open is listed for Sunday, 28th August but not confirmed.
By Short Putt
We had 29 players for Aussie Croquet last Saturday. Four players managed three games: Alex Todd, Kevin Rubie and Bruce Field, a new player.
Big wins: 14—8 John Farah and Allan Jones; 14—9 Colleen Liebich and Bill Scott, John Farah and Neville Spry.
Some close games: Neville Spry and Bill Scott 14 Lorraine Todd and Robin Pols 13; Dorelle Scott and John Browne 14 Bill Scott and Neville Spry 13
There were 30 players for Golf Croquet on a bleakish morning on Tuesday. A big field of six players won three games: John Farah, Merv Langfield, Robin Pols, Jill Rubie, Neville Spry and a newer player for the 2nd time Noel Jolliffe.
Big wins: 10—3 John Browne and Barry White, Dorelle Scott and Jeff Liebich, John Browne and Merv Langfield; 9—4 Rex Toole and Neville Spry, John Farah and Rex Toole, May Jones and Robin Pols
Some close games: Neville Spry and Bill Scott 14 Lorraine Todd and Robin Pols 13; Dorelle Scott and John Browne 14 Bill Scott and Neville Spry 13; Peter West and Bruce Field 14 Rex Toole and Ray Burridge 13
By Pegging Out
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
Two Minor Pairs matches were played under very threatening dark clouds in cool conditions at the Parkes Bowling & Sports Club on Saturday. The first match featured Joanne and Mick Simpson up against the ‘Gorgeous Georges’ – Bradley and Boatswain. The two Georges started strongly against the Simpson couple and were leading 6 shots to 1 after just 3 ends. Joanne and Mick regained their composure and played steady bowls, matching their older and more experienced opponents shot for shot to regain the lead, and beat the eventual rain downpour to win by 15 shots to 10.
Defending Minor Pairs champions Gary McPhee and Marty Tighe struggled all match against the red-hot Brian Townsend and John Wright. Brian and John dominated the majority of the match, playing terrific weighted bowls. As the sky darkened Gary started to find his range and the scores began to tighten up, just as the rain, and then hail stopped the match. Team Townsend are leading 16 shots to 14 after 16 ends. The match will resume this weekend.
ZONE PENNANTS
The wet and dismal weather caused the cancellation of the Division 2 match on Sunday between Parkes Pirates and Dubbo Macquarie in Dubbo.
The Division 3 match between Parkes and Grenfell was played at Parkes on Sunday in truly atrocious conditions with rain and wind throughout the match making it miserable for all 24 bowlers. The 3 Parkes teams beat the 3 highly fancied Cowra teams the previous Sunday in the rain, and were liking their chances as wet weather specialists at home, against the 3 highly credentialed Grenfell teams. The 3 Grenfell Skips played exceptionally well and led their teams impressively against the home teams. Grenfell secured an impressive victory on the big board by 63 shots to 51, winning 2 rinks and drawing a rink on the last end.
By Marty Tighe
Left: Toby Collins in action in Hobart last week at the Schools Sports Nationals. Right: Toby with his gold medal and the trophy.
It was a glittering weekend for Parkes hockey with gold and silver medals for two players who shined on the national and international stage.
Sixteen-year-old Parkes High student Toby Collins came home with gold from Hobart where he was vice-captain of the NSW All Schools Team winning the national title. NSW beat Queensland 2 – 1.
Toby’s team won six from six round games and fought hard for the gold medal. Queensland went into the lead 1 – 0, but NSW equalised with a great field goal, and then took the lead with a successful penalty stroke. Toby played a brilliant game feeding the ball for attacking opportunities and some amazing defence moves, which caught the eye of the Australian selectors.
To cap off a massive week for Toby, he was selected in the U/16 Australian All Schools team with several of his teammates.
“I felt excited and proud of myself and our team that we had continued to work hard to achieve our ultimate goal of the gold medal,” said Toby, who started playing hockey when he was four years old.
He did not expect to be selected for the Australian side and said being named was a huge achievement. He has certainly taken a step closer to the honour of playing for Australia one day.
When he is not playing for the Central West Premier League Competition for Parkes United, and in the local A grade for the Crows, the Year 11 student will be preparing for the All Australian team’s European tour next year. “We will be playing in Holland, Germany and Belgium against other national teams in a four nations tournament.”
Toby said he was able to catch up with another Parkes hockey legend and ex-Olympian player Stephen Davies in Hobart last week. “He inspires me to strive to do my best.”
He was also following the Australian teams at the Commonwealth Games with the Kookaburras winning their seventh straight gold medal, and Parkes Hockeyroos star Mariah Williams claiming the silver medal with her team.
Forbes Shire Councillor Chris Roylance (right) presented the ‘Amazing’ Ben Hall Bullet to jockey Billy Owen on Free State after his thrilling run in the 1200m sprint!
(Photo: Forbes Jockey Club)
For most of us it was a day to stay indoors, but racegoers at the Forbes Cup braved the cold and wet on Sunday to enjoy a fantastic day out.
It was also a day of iconic and historic wins with the Forbes Jockey Club resurrecting the Ben Hall Bullet sprint race over 1200m after 40 years.
The first winner of the iconic Ben Hall Bullet trophy after all these years was Free State, trained by Brad Widdup with Billy Owen in the saddle!
The sought after Bankstown Sports Club Forbes Cup went to One Aye after a thrilling race over 1600m. At about 150m to go it was still anyone’s race, but then One Aye came through as the one and only champion. Coming in second was Toulon Brook. Both One Aye (#11) and Toulon Brook (#12) have qualified to contest the hot new $2M Big Dance at Royal Randwick in November. The third place went to #7 Intuition and fourth to #9 Reward Seeker.
The day also featured Fashions on the Field.
Cold breezy weather greeted18 brave social bowlers with John Carr, Bob Freeman and Brian Townsend playing John Niddri, Bernie Mitchell and Chris Harrison. Team Harrison defeated Brian’s boys 21 shots to 11.
The second triples game was a bit closer with Gary McPhee’s team defeating Col Mudie’s, 25 shots to 18.
Ray Jones and Marty Tighe won the first pairs game 20 shots to 10 against John Wright and John Corcoran, while Col Hayward and Wally Grant combined beautifully against Ian Simpson and John Ward winning 19 shots to 11.
On Saturday Col Mudie, John Ward and George Bradley outplayed Mal Porter, John Niddric and Bob Freeman and recorded a big win.
The second triples game featured some of the club’s big guns in a very competitive game. Gary McPhee skipped for Tom Furey and Brian Townsend against Guy Ellery’s team of Mick Simpson and Steve ‘keno’ Turner. Team Ellery recorded a solid win, 29 shots to 13.