Skull Announced As Presidents Lunch Speaker

Forbes Platypi Rugby Club are excited to announce Mr Kerry ‘Skull’ O’Keeffe as the guest speaker for the 2022 Rugby Lunch on March 26. The Test cricket legend is synonymous for his witticisms on ABC radio so it promises to be a cracking night. For more info – rugbylunchforbes@gmail.com

Forbes Fins Champs

The Forbes Fins Swimming Championships are this Sunday March 6th from 9am at Forbes Olympic Pool. No doubt it will be a fantastic close to the season. For more info go to Forbes Fins on Facebook.

Staines Panthers Lose To Eels

Former Forbes Magpies custodian Charlie Staines had a day to forget last weekend when the Penrith Panthers, missing half their grand final side, went down to the Parramatta Eels 36-0 in their final hit-out before their Round 1 clash with Manly.

League Round Up

Forbes Magpies Junior Rugby League Rego is today March 4th from 6-8pm at the Forbes Sport and Recreation Club. Any questions email fjrl.registrar@outlook.com Western Rams U18s meanwhile defeated Monaro at the NSW Country Champs last week while the 16s lost by 24 to Monaro.

 

Forbes Shire Council formally opened the Gaggin Oval goalposts at the South-West Local Final of the Primary School Championships (PSC), last Thursday February 24. The PSC (formally Paul Kelly Cup) pitted boys and girls teams from Cowra Public, Forbes Public, Mulan Public and Canowindra Public.

Teams were made up of predominantly Year 5/6 students, with approximately 150 students participating, many playing AFL for the first time.

Forbes Public School were the eventual winners of the carnival in both the boys and girls competitions and now play the Regional Finals.

Sports equipment provider, PILA, is taking a build it and they will come approach with Forbes. The company donated a set of goalposts which were recently erected at Gaggin Oval.

Alex Milsom, President of the Forbes Swampies was full of praise for his committee, and what they have achieved in such a short time.

The Forbes club, colloquially nicknamed the Swampies, is pushing to enter the AFL Central West fold with an under-12s side. It plans to add U10s and U14s teams shortly after.

In an agreement with crosstown rival turned AFL ally, Parkes, the Swampies will gather all junior players in the region and then hand them over to the Parkes Panthers when they’re ready for seniors. The Panthers do not currently have junior representation in AFL Central West.

Forbes is confident of getting a team in the 2022 or 2023 season, having run successful Auskick programs from the town since 2018 and having seven Auskick alumni play with the Orange Tigers in 2021.

Courtesy of AFL Central West

When David Teale and Craig Bratton first got into ride-on lawnmower racing, neither could have ever envisaged where they would be now.

For Bratton, a self-confessed lover of all things with a motor and Teale, a later bloomer in the sport, the Australian Ride On Lawn Mower Racing Association (AROLMRA) championships being held in Forbes in May after the last COVID-safe run event is a big win for the Forbes Autosports Club.

“Riders come from Cairns to Christchurch to contest these events and they are always a lot of fun,” said Bratton.

“It is highly addictive and we do take safety seriously,” he said.

The mowers, which can reach speeds of up to 80-100kms/hr are lightweight unlike quad-runners.

Bratton recently finished 2nd in a Fraser Coast meet in Queensland while Teale grabbed 1st in B Grade. Both will be hoping to repeat the performances in Forbes from May 6-8th.

“It will be great to have a meeting at home as we do travel and it can be expensive,” said Teale.

“Between mower modifications and travel costs we couldn’t do it without amazing family and sponsors.”

Bratton, who built Teale’s mower echoed his sentiments citing how the industry still does a lot of racing for charity and not-for-profit which is tremendous and important however there is also a strong push to make the sport more financially viable for competitors and enthusiasts in tandem.

With the next meeting in Cobram, Victoria on March 13, Teale and Bratton will have one more hit-out before the home event in two months.

“Everyone is welcome to come and have a look and feel free to contact Forbes Autosports Club if you require more info,” said Teale.

May 6 will focus on qualifying while May 7 and 8 will feature top class racing from some of Australia’s best lawn mower riders!

Wayne Facey and John Dunkley were the standout shooters this week with both showing tremendous form leading into the busy part of the shooters calendar.

The final round of the Forbes S.S.A.A. sporting shooters .22 calibre rimfire rifle shield shoot was held on Sunday 20th February. Results were as follows:

• 25 metre Buffalo target shoot were – John Dunkley, 267/270; Steve Hindmarsh, 266/270; John Gorman, 266/270;

• 50 metre Rabbit target shoot were – Wayne Facey, 190/200; Niki Bolam, 189/200; David Carr, 185/200;

• 75 metre Mosquito target shoot were – John Dunkley, 116/120; Wayne Facey, 112/120; Niki Bolam, 112/120;

• 100 metre Fly target shoot were – David Carr, 112/120; John Dunkley, 109/120; Phil Anderson, 102/120.

• The 100 metre Rimfire Shield winner was Wayne Facey with a score of 386/480; Steve Hindmarsh came in second with a score of 378/480.

• Terry Knight won the Centre-fire shield with a score of 373/480. Second place went to Phil Anderson with a score of 236/480.

The next S.S.A.A. sporting shooters .22 calibre and other rimfire rifle (.22 magnum or .17HMR) will be on Wednesday, 2 March starting at 2pm. The next Sunday is 6 March at 10am. The Centre-fire rifle shoots start at 2pm. Junior shooters must be 12 years or over.

The next shoot for the Forbes S.S.A.A. sporting clay’s will be for the Cliff Bradley Memorial Trophy shoot on Sunday, 13 March.

Members should note the Forbes Sporting Shooters Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 9 March at the Forbes Sport and Recreation Club starting at 7:30pm. All interested parties are invited to attend.

On Thursday ,17 February Forbes Croquet Club hosted a day for Boys to the Bush.

Under the guidance of Tim West and Nathan Corliss the boys arrived at the Croquet Lawns all very enthusiastic and ready for a day of croquet!

“It was a great day and the boys were rostered with one of the male members of the Croquet Club to be shown the game of Golf Croquet,” said Elvy Quirk, President of Forbes Croquet Club.

“The boys were shown the aim of the game and many of them really excelled,” Elvy said. “The male members of the club had made the effort to make the boys very welcome. It was indeed a pleasing result and so much so that a further day is to be hosted in the future.”

The Boys to the Bush supplied morning tea in the form of fruit platters and cake that was enjoyed during the morning with the boys taking the food around.

“Well done to the boys for their respect and cooperation as it was indeed a pleasure to have them,” Elvy said.

“A special thank you to the Croquet members who supported the day and also a thank you to Tim and Nathan who made the arrangements. We can’t have days like this without your support”.

The Forbes Croquet Club meets on Tuesday’s and Saturday’s with participants asked to arrive just after 8am to ensure prompt starts.

The club regularly hosts special days such as new member days to show the community of Forbes and surrounds how to play the century old tradition of croquet!