Congratulations to Henry Kross on a fantastic weekend at the ACT Open. He won the Junior Open, and managed to also make the Mens Open Final going down 3-2 to place second.
Artie Kross played some great squash, and showed some fantastic sportsmanship to come 6th in his division.
Ila Kennedy and Addi Howe playing Young in last year’s carnival for Forbes 11 Blue.
The Forbes Netball Association is kicking off the start of the winter season, with the annual All Age and Representative Carnival which will be held this Sunday. Over 500 players and officials will travel to Forbes to play some great games of netball, with a crowd of around 2,000-3,000 expected at the Stephan Field grounds during the day.
Teams from the Central West, Far West and Riverina will compete for a full day of games, in what is one of the leading carnivals in the Central West Region.
Representative and club teams will travel from Blayney, Orange, Young, Bathurst, Cowra, West Wyalong, Parkes, Yass, Warren and Forbes.
Ages will range in age divisions from 9-11 years mixed, 12 years mixed, 13 years, 14 years, 15 years and open ladies, with games starting at 8:30am and teams competing throughout the day in a round robin of games.
The FNA would like to thank Forbes Shire Council for their continued support in the preparation of the Stephan Field grounds.
The committee is looking forward to organising the carnival, with a lot of preparation to be done before the day as well as on Sunday.
Forbes teams will be represented by two teams in 11U, 12 reps, 13 reps and 14 reps, with the three representative teams preparing for the NNSW Junior State Titles to be played in July at Penrith.
It will be a massive day for Forbes netball families, the day starting at 6am, with the grounds prepared for the teams, by erecting Forbes team gazebos, final touches tothe courts and post pads, and the preparation of the food to be served from the canteen during the day.
There will be approximately 250 gamesof netball played on 12 courts during theday in a round robin of games. Head alongand catch some of the action.
New walkers are always welcome with the Lachlan Valley Branch Bushwalkers group.
The walks are generally pretty leisurely, taking time to spot birds, plants, spiders and other animals. Walkers are reminded to bring along enough food and water for the entire day as well as suitable clothing, footwear, hat and sunscreen. A pair of good binoculars and a fold up chair for the post- walk cuppa is recommended. The walks are generally pretty leisurely, taking time to spot birds, plants, spiders and other animals.
There are three grades of walks:
Easy: (5 to 10 kilometres) Mostly flat to slightly undulating topography.
Medium: (5 to 8 kilometres) May be over moderate hills or rough terrain.
Hard: (5 or more kilometres) Walk suitable for above average fitness level.
• Saturday 3 May SWWNR Coradgery 4-5km easy walk: Meet at Bushmans Dam, Kelly Reserve cnr Thomas St and Peak Hill Rd at 9am. Leader Peter Cannon 6866 1225.
• Tuesday May 27 2025 SWWNR Cookamidgera: Meet at the gate on Coonambro Way at 9.30am. Medium 6kms South end of the reserve some off track, bush bashing. Leader Liz MacRaild 0455 915 989.
• Saturday June 7 East Cookeys Plains State Forest: Meet at Bushmans Dam, Kelly Reserve cnr Thomas St and Peak Hill Rd at 9am. Easy 6kms, mostly flat. Leader Martin Bell 0429 346 586
• Thursday June 26 Moorillah Merran and Peter Cannons 345 Cooka Hills Rd Cookamidgera: Meet at the address at 9.30am Medium 3-4km scrambly, up and down, off track. Leader Peter or Merran 6866 1225.
Please contact the listed walk leader the night before the walk if you intend to come.
A $2.00 donation for each walker is appreciated.
For safety reasons those walking stay together as a group. Please consider bringing a companion if for any reason you are unsure of your ability.
The late Bruce Field receiving his Life Membership in 2017
Sadly last week we said a final goodbye to one of our very valued members. Bruce Field passed away in the Forbes Hospital last Wednesday. He was 97 years of age and lived a very full life.
Bruce joined the Croquet Club in 2009 and he quickly became an accomplished player. He and his late wife Lorna became involved in the sport and both Bruce and Lorna played an active role. Bruce could be seen marking the croquet lawns, mowing and being the general odd-job man – the very reason Bruce was awarded Life Membership of the Club in 2017. His quick sense of humour always prevailed and it was unusual to hear Bruce complain as he always valued the companionship of others at Croquet. We will miss seeing his smiling face and to the family, the Executive and members of the Croquet Club extend their deepest sympathy.
In other news, on Anzac Day a wreath was laid for and on behalf of the Croquet Club by President Elvy. We celebrated World Croquet Day on Thursday 1 May with a game and a light lunch.
By Elvy Quirk
Bogan Gate Golf Club has nine tiny black soil greens on a flat paddock with natural grass
fairways. Social players are welcome to play on weekends. Contact: 02 6864 3233.
The Bogan Gate Golf Course has a colourful history dating back to the 1920s when the original golf club was located at the western end of Bogan Gate and you had to hit over the Trundle Railway Line. One fellow claims he holds the longest drive; he hit off as a train was going past and the ball landed in a carriage and ended up in Tottenham.
The golf club were originally granted an area of 86 acres of crown land, and on the western side they also had a rifle range. Years later a Major came to the Army Camp who loved golf so much he set up a golf course and invited the locals to come and play. That lasted until the mid 1970s when a new Major arrived and it closed down.Then in 1976, the golfers obtained permission from Crown Lands to set up a golf course on the showground and the adjoiniing land over the creek, making a 9 hole course with sand greens.
Over the years, successful grant applications have enhanced the clubhouse greatly.
The club is completely run by voluntary labour, meaning all the mowing and maintenance of the greens and course is carried out by volunteers. Many players say the sand greens are the best in the central west. The club has approximately 20 members, with quite a few of them who live in Parkes or Forbes and travel out.
About four times a year the club put on a meal after golf which is a great social event.
Meeting the insurance costs is a great struggle for this tiny club, so they need your support. They play 18 holes from the end of March until the beginning of November on weekends, mostly Sundays, and over the summer they play Chicken Runs on Sunday afternoons at 5pm. The club is holding a free Family Golf Day on Saturday 3 May, so please head along and show your support. For further information contact 0457 709 829.
This Sunday will be the first time that Forbes have opened the season with an Anzac round against Parkes. Magpies Coach Cameron Greenhalgh said, “Training has been really good happy with our fitness levels and there has been plenty of high energy in our ball sessions.”
“The players are ready to play, pre-season is over I think the whole community is ready to watch some local footy.”
“Obviously our spine 1,6,7,9 will have a big influence on the outcome, as well as our forwards it will be tough, I don’t expect us to play our best footy for a while but we hoping for a solid start to the year.”
Forbes and Parkes are wearing special Anzac Day guernsey’s on Sunday. The Forbes guernsey’s will be auctioned off at the Forbes Inn after the game and the Parkes auction will take place at The Coachman Hotel. All grades will be playing with the girls kicking off at 10.30am. Head along and cheer on your local team!
Jake Banks lets rip with a drive.
The Forbes Golf men’s event played on Saturday saw a scintillating performance by Neil Duncan as he recorded one of the lowest scores this year. The event was an Individual Stroke sponsored by ‘J&J Ridley’. The field of 57 players enjoyed the sunny conditions.
The A-Grade Winner was Neil Duncan with a score of 66 nett. He managed a 39 scratch on the front-9 which included a ‘9’ on the 7th hole. His back-9 was equally impressive with a 39 scratch again. Runnerup Fons Melisi with a nett 70. This also was compiled through steadfast golf with a 4241 split.
The B-Grade went to new member Anthony Boshoff with a nett 69. He had a steady front-9 but lost concentration on the back-9. Runner-up was Brian Clarke with craftsman-like 70 nett. He also was fairly even on both halves with a better score on the back-9.
The ball sweep went to 75 nett on count back. Check in the Pro Shop to see if you were successful.
There were two visitors, being Charlie Goodsell (Condo) and Wayne Harriott (Headland GC). Charlie enjoyed his outing having played here before but Wayne had a few problems, notably starting each half with two double-bogeys.
The NTP’s went to: 9th Jarrod Hall; 18th Archie Quirk, with both converting for a ‘2’. The 3rd hole Super Pin went to Jenny Fletcher with a shot to 60 cm.
On Sunday a 3-Person Ambrose was played. The winning team comprising Glen Hooper, Cooper Byrnes and Scott Northey took the prize with a 60 nett. Scott also got the NTP on the 18th.
This Saturday, 19 April will be an 18-Hole Par event, sponsored by Forbes Tuesday Golfers. Across Easter there will be Stableford Medleys offered on Friday, Sunday and Monday.
By Short Putt
On Saturday 5 April Aussie croquet was played with 28 in attendance. It was a cool start, but a very pleasant morning.
Three games were won by Elvy Quirk, Lyn Simmonds, Marie Spry and David West. Whilst two games were won by Colleen Liebich, Robin Pols, Vince Roberts, Kevin Rubie, Cheryl Toohey, Rex Toole, Kevin Wenning and Peter West.
Golf croquet was played on Tuesday 8 April with 39 players in attendance. Three games were won by John Browne, Sally Perry, Fay Picker, Elvy Quirk, Vince Roberts, Lyn Simmonds and Rex Toole. Whilst two games winners included John Farah, Allan Jones, Noel Jolliffe, Ray Martin, Robin Pols, Mal Smith, Lyall Strudwick, Peter West and Kevin Wenning. Congratulations to all of these players.
Robin Pols is our longest serving member and still plays a great game. Well done.
On Thursday 1 May the Forbes Croquet Club will be hosting a special day of croquet to celebrate World Croquet Day. There will be some fun games on the day, along with prizes and a light lunch will be served in the shade area after play. Everyone is welcome to come along.
By Elvy Quirk
President, Forbes Croquet Club
Liam Fraser putts while Richard Smith and Paul Pymont watch on.’ Unfortunately the shady hats tend to obscure things.
On Saturday the Forbes Golf men’s event held was the Monthly Medal sponsored by ‘The Roadies’, a group composed of members Grayson, Earl, French and Haley. The field of 59 players enjoyed the comfortable conditions but were left floundering by the inspired golf played by Brett Slack-Smith.
The A-Grade winner was again a visitor, this time Jack Sharkey (Dubbo) with a nett 70. He started his round 2-under after three holes and maintained his form with only one blemish on the 4th. Runner-up and medal winner was Jacob Reid with an even par 72 nett. He did well on the back-9.
The B-Grade was won by Mark Simmonds with a nett 69 derived from steady golf throughout playing alongside Jacob Reid. Unfortunately, he was not eligible for the medal. Runner-up and medal winner was Paul Pymont with 71 nett. He was an early starter and relished the cool conditions to have 44 scratch ‘each way’.The C-Grade was where the fireworks were had. Brett Slack-Smith was ‘in the zone’ which led to his 66 nett. He turned only 4-over but showed fatigue towards the end of the back-9. The runner-up was Jake Banks with his 73 nett. He was disappointed with his front-9 but settled to finish well on his back-9.
The ball sweep went to 78 nett on count back. There were two visitors, being Jack Sharkey (Dubbo) and Andrew Bayley (The Rock). Both enjoyed their outing with Jack especially pleased.
The NTP’s went to: 9th B Thomas; 18th Jack Sharkey, with neither converting for a ‘2’. The 3rd hole Super Pin went to Jeff House with a shot to 153 cm.
This Saturday, 12 April will be an 18-Hole Stroke event, sponsored by J&J Ridley.
Sunday will have a 3-Person Ambrose.
By Short Putt
Everyone is invited to join the Forbes Croquet Club in celebrating World Croquet Day on 1 May with a special morning of Aussie Croquet followed by a light lunch in the shade area. Should there be some players who have not played Aussie Croquet and wish to play Golf Croquet on the day they will certainly be catered for.
Of course daylight savings finished on Sunday 6 April and we put our clocks back one hour but Croquet will still start at 9am with 8.45am arrival until the days get much cooler and then we will alter the time so as the members who set up certainly will not need to come as early.
Any members who feel they would like to help set up please come down at 8am, your help would be much appreciated as some of us that have been setting up for many years are getting to a mature age where we don’t bounce around like we used to.
Croquet is a game for young and old.
Age is no barrier. “Croquet players are happy people.”
By Elvy Quirk