PODIUM FINISH: Forbes Autosports Club junior and Oceania Cup team member Sam Drane has finished second on a recent foray into superbikes having forged his early career on dirt bikes. The young charger from all accounts has a bright future in the sport. Pic courtesy of Sam Drane Racing.

In just his second ever race on this type of bike, Forbes youngster Sam Drane has pulled off a remarkable second place in the last round of the ASBK – Australian Superbikes.

Drane, who received a wild card entry, was in second when the race was halted with a lap to go and the young rider couldn’t hide his excitement in an online interview trackside.

“Mum and dad said I could ride the bike and I did and I came second,” Sam said. “It was great!”

Drane, is also an official team member next year of the Oceania Junior Cup and with form like this, will no doubt feature

prominently and has a big future in the sport.

The Forbes Autosports Club meanwhile has wrapped for the season with their AGM and Christmas party. The incoming committee is as follows:

President: Dave Hodgetts
Vice President DT: Joel Duggen
Vice President MX: Jake Redfern & Jono Colitts
Secretary: Sonia Dukes
Treasurer: Haley Hope-Hodgetts
Publicity Officer: Stevie Jackson
Canteen Manager: Lara Besgrove
The FASC would like to say a big thank you to all those who took up positions and bring on 2022!

IT’S BACK: After all the rain and floods it was good to see players out again playing croquet with big numbers last Saturday and Tuesday turning out.

It was good to be back on Saturday December 4th after all the rain. We had 28 players and we were pleased to welcome a visitor from Wagga Wagga, Adam McCullum, son-in-law of John Farah. There were only 2 winners of 3 games; Colleen Liebich and Neville Spry.

The big winners were:
• 14-9 Colleen Liebich and Alex Todd, Bruce Field and Neville Spry.
• 14-10 Dorelle Scott and Bruce Field, Harley Stewart and Geoff Coles, Anne Stewart and Neville Spry, Colleen Liebich and Jill Rubie, Robin Pols and Ray Burridge.

Close Games were:
• Marie Spry and Merv Langfield 14 John Job and Cherylin Cole 13
• Colleen Liebich and Carolyn Neilson 14 Ray Burridge and Harley Stewart 12
• John Browne and Kevin Rubie 14 Marie Spry and Bill Scott 12
• Robin Pols and Merv Langfield 14 John Job and John Cole 12
• John Browne 14 Elvy Quirk and Bruce Field 12
• Geoff Coles and Jeff Liebich 14 Merv Langfield and John Cole 11
• Elvy Quirk and Neville Spry 14 Adam McCullum and John Farah 11
• Marie Spry and Alex Todd 14 Jill Rubie and Anne Stewart 11
• Bill Scott 14 Cheryle Toohey and John Allegri 11
• Tony Thomson and Kevin Rubie 14 John Browne and Robin Pols 11
• Harley Stewart and Cheryle Toohey 14 Dorelle Scott and Tony Thomson 11
• Jill Rubie and John Allegri 14 John Farah and Adam McCullum 11
• Joan Littlejohn and Cherylin Cole 14 Elvy Quirk and Jeff Liebich 11
• Dorelle Scott and John Cole 14 John Farah and Adam McCullum 11

At the end of last week, we learnt of the passing of Mary Hodges. After Croquet on Tuesday we formed a guard of honour wearing black armbands to her funeral at the cemetery. Condolences to the Hodges family.

By Pegging Out

Forbes S.S.A.A. sporting shooters .22 calibre rimfire rifle shoot was held on Wednesday December 1st and Dave Sanderson got the chocolates taking out the 25 metre Fly and 100 metre Mosquito target shoots.

25 metre Fly target shoot results: Dave Sanderson, 200/200; Wayne Facey, 200/200; Paul Baker, 200/200.

50 metre Rabbit target shoot: Paul Baker, 246/250; Wayne Facey, 236/250; Anthony Bratton, 233/250.

75 metre Feral Cat target shoot: Wayne Facey, 113/120; Paul Baker, 113/120; Lyall Strudwick, 111/120; Anthony Bratton, 111/120.

100 metre Mosquito target shoot: Dave Sanderson, 114/120; John Dean, 104/120; Wayne Facey, 104/120.

Results of the Forbes S.S.A.A. sporting shooters .22 calibre rimfire rifle shoot held on Sunday 5th December.

25 metre Fox target shoot: Steve Hindmarsh, 279/280; Norm Brook, 270/280; Anthony Bratton, 266/280.

50 metre .22 target shoot: Anthony Bratton, 249/250; Norm Brook, 246/250; Steve Hindmarsh, 246/250.

75 metre Rabbit target shoot were: Anthony Bratton, 102/120; Norm Brook, 95/120; Barbara Brook, 95/120 and Steve Hindmarsh, 89/120.

100 metre Feral Cat target shoot: Barbara Brook, 85/120; Steve Hindmarsh, 84/120; Anthony Bratton, 79/120.

The next S.S.A.A. sporting shooters .22 calibre and other rimfire rifles (.22 magnum or.17HMR) will be held on Wednesday December 15th starting at 2pm. The next Sunday shoot will be held on Sunday December 19th, starting at 10am.

Members are reminded that Local Range rules apply. Like us on Facebook @ Forbes sporting Shooters.

In what surely must rank as one of the best local sports stories of the year, Forbes-trained greyhound Jungle Deuce will represent NSW in the million-dollar Victorian based TAB Phoenix race at The Meadows after being voted in by the public.

Voting for the People’s Pup began on November 22 with greys such as Wow, Zipping Kyrgious, Cash View, Light And Lilly and Bandit Ned among the fancies to get the nod in the $1.145m spectacle. Yet at the death, like most of his wins, the Raymond Smith charger got the nod when voting closed earlier in the week. Smith, who once had legendary Feral Franky, is no stranger to big races and will quietly be confident of bringing the $750,000 purse back over the border.

As a result of the public vote, Jungle Deuce will now line up on the big stage in one of the most anticipated greyhound races in recent memory and arguably the biggest. The Forbes Inn have also jumped on board so trot down on December 18 for all the action. If you aren’t on the Jungle Deuce now is the time!

In a real win for regional sport and the disability sports sector, a further $2.4 million will be delivered by the NSW Government to support the sports sector as it emerges from COVID restrictions, to help increase participation across the state.

Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the Organisation Support Program (OSP) is on top of the recently-announced $25 million Sport and Recreation Recovery and Community Rebuild Package – a program that has already benefited locals.

“The COVID-19 lockdown has had a major impact on everyone’s lives, including our sport and recreation sector,” Mrs Ward said.

“We want to make sure all our sports lovers are getting back to doing what they love most across all codes, from cricket to football, netball to hockey, basketball to tennis,” she said.

“As restrictions ease, this funding package will help increase participation and improve community health and wellbeing at a time when it couldn’t be needed more.”

Ninety-four eligible State Sporting Organisations (SSOs) and State Sporting Organisations with a Disability (SSODs) will share in the ongoing funding package. It will support the sector in holding competitions, activities and programs across NSW as it returns to full operation following the restrictions and builds on the Sport and Recreation Recovery and Community Rebuild Package.

“The NSW Government’s comprehensive support will ensure sports don’t just get back on the fields, courts and pitches but have sustained success into the future,” Mrs Ward said.

This is big news locally as many sports groups have had little to no activity in 18 months. For further details, see: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/organisation-support-program.