Sports – Page 2

So Good To Be Back!

September 24, 2021 By editor

Fourteen brave gals of the ‘Beanie Brigade’ braved the single-figure temperatures and icy winds in an impressive show of dedication to return to sport on Tuesday. Several girls went incognito with only their eyes showing through beanies, scarves, hoods and masks.

I think Fran Dixon and Eileen Bradley were vying against Kay Craft and Joan Simpson, but went down by a few shots on Rink 3.

Elaine Miller tripped on Betsy Johnstone’s scarf, handicapping her action, resulting in a loss against Jan McPhee and Marja Iffland in a low-scoring game on Rink 5.

Merilyn Rodgers used the unfair advantage of double hand-warmers and teamed up with Gwenda Carty, who wore her whole wardrobe, and Maureen Miller to thoroughly defeat Brenda Davies/Lea Orr/Lynn Ryan in an enjoyable stoush on Rink 4.

So good to return to the warm clubhouse for a catch up and bonus cream cake thanks to President Maureen!

We adopted the new idea of just marking one card in social games, with the 2nd skip keeping track on the scoreboard – great addition.

The draw for the Club Championship Fours is:
• B Davies/B Johnstone/L Byrne/R Went vs F Dixon/H Harvey/J Simpson/M Miller
• M Rodgers/K Evans/R Mitchell/J McPhee vs M Iffland/M Willcockson/G Carty/C Frame
• D Howell/L Ryan/L Orr/M Grant vs K Craft/C Curteis/L Baker/E Miller
• Bye: J Green/L Keane/E Bradley/C Reed

First round to be played next Tuesday, 28th September at 10am.

Nominations are now open for Club Minor Singles and Minor Pairs. Our next Trading Table, with “floral” gift theme, will be held on 19th October.

Thanks Baldy and Ground Control for your dedication to keeping the greens alive!

By Lea Orr

Tennis Is Back!

September 17, 2021 By editor

Did you know tennis is allowed to be played under lockdown? The Parkes Tennis Club is offering one-on-one lessons.

The smiles on the faces of the Hot Shots kids were priceless when they were allowed to return this week. They were so excited to be on court enjoying some physical activity while some of the mums used the time to go for a quiet walk around the oval.

Some of the Hot Shot players who returned to the tennis court this week.

Why You Need To Keep Exercising

September 17, 2021 By editor

Working out at home or going for a run around the park might not be your idea of getting great fitness results, but it is an important step in normality.

There are still some sports allowed under lockdown and these include: running, golf, cycling, shooting hoops, strength training, pilates, yoga, dance, and kicking a soccer ball with one other person. Keeping a daily activity routine this lockdown is just one way you can maintain some control over your everyday life. And it’s more important than you may think.

Regular exercise is good for both our physical and mental health. Start by setting achievable goals, such as being active most days, or every day if you can. It doesn’t have to be a whole-body workout that pushes you to your physical limited, but getting the body moving and the heart rate up is a simple way to ensure you use it, before you lose it.

Here are some simple things that might help you keep on track:
• finding things you enjoy doing
• varying your activities to keep them interesting
• setting achievable goals
• setting a routine and planning your day to include time for activity
• monitoring your activity and progress
• getting the support of your family and friends

The benefits of regular exercise include:
• reducing the risk of health conditions like stroke and heart dis-ease
• controlling weight
• reducing stress and anxiety
• improving sleep

Henry Back In National Court

September 3, 2021 By editor

Henry Kross at last year’s Australian Junior Championships where he won the national title.

Parkes junior squash star Henry Kross has been selected to represent NSW at the Australian Junior Championships in December at Woden, ACT.

While Henry has a string of achievements under his belt, this championship will see him compete in the Under 13 category for the first time, which will be a new challenge for him.

“I am so excited and really hope it goes ahead,” said Henry this week. “I was pretty surprised to get selected. This is my first year in the Under 13’s, so I thought some of the older boys might get selected before me.”

Henry said he looked forward to playing in the teams event. “My Under 13 boys team has Kasper Cheung and Kieran Willathagamuwa – they are both from Sydney and really good players. I think Queensland will be the hardest, but we will do our best.

Last year Henry won the NSW Under 11’s Junior State Squash titles and then represented NSW at the Australian Junior Championships, the highest ranked junior tournament in Australia, claiming the boys under 11 division. He was named Junior Sportsperson of the Year at this year’s Australia Day Award ceremony.

“I would also like to win another Australian title, but if I can make the quarters in my first year up an age would be awesome,” he said.

Henry is currently ranked #1 in NSW and #2 in Australia for Under 13 Boys, and won the ACT Under 13 State title.

Henry has a good support team locally with coach Geoff Leonard, and players Matt Swindle, Richard King, Geoff Wyatt, Damo Ewin and Stuart Dearden who are always more than willing to jump on the court and hit with Henry.

Parkes Juniors Win Three Squash Titles

August 13, 2021 By editor

The Parkes Junior Open 2021 competition was held last weekend with almost 50 competitors from around the western region taking part. The local juniors did the Parkes club proud with three title wins and four placed as runners-up in the NSW Squash sanctioned bronze event. Here are the full results:

Under 11 Girls: Winner – Claire Bayley (Forbes); runner-up – Lillah Smith (Parkes)

Under 11 Boys: Winner – Max Jones (Parkes); r/u – Lewis Matthews (Yass)

Under 13 Girls: Winner – Ella Matthews (Yass); r/u – Clara Rice (Parkes)

Under 13 Boys: Winner – Max Thurtell (Molong); r/u – Riley Jones (Parkes)

Under 15 Girls: Winner – Amber Taylor (Grenfell); r/u – Jade Reynolds (Dubbo)

Under 15 Boys: Winner – Henry Kross (Parkes); r/u – Alexander McFarland (Cowra)

Under 17 Girls: Winner – Sophie Simpson (Geurie); r/u – Hayley Taylor (Grenfell)

Under 17 Boys: Winner – Hayden Smith (Yass): r/u – Riley Aspin (Grenfell)

Under 23 Girls: Winner – Shanna Nock (Parkes): r/u – Bronte O’Shannessy (Parkes)

Under 23 Boys: Winner – Tom Morrison (Forbes); r/u – Alister Carlisle (Forbes)

Under 23 Boys winner Tom Morrison from Forbes with the Under 23 Girls winner Shanna Nock from Parkes and runner-up Bronte O’Shannessy also from Parkes.

Under 11 Girls winner Claire Bayley from Forbes and runner-up Lillah Smith from Parkes.

Under 13 Girls winner Ella Matthews from Yass with runner-up Clara Rice from Parkes.

Under 13 Boys winner Max Thurtell from Molong with runner-up Riley Jones from Parkes.

Under 15 Boys winner Henry Kross from Parkes with runner-up Alexander McFarland from Cowra.

Parkes Bowlers Win Jones Challenge Trophy

August 13, 2021 By editor

The triumphant teams of triples back from Condobolin with the Jones Challenge Trophy.

Three teams of triples travelled to Condobolin to contest the Jones Challenge Trophy. The teams had two wins and a draw on a miserably cold day to bring the trophy back to the Parkes Bowling Club. Forbes will now challenge the Parkes Club for the trophy in the next few weeks.

A bit of Aussie slang echoed around the greens on Tuesday as 20 true blue women went out to play bowls in wind that would blow a dog off his chain!

With a ‘no worries mate’ attitude, Brenda Davies and Laurie Keane defeated Lorraine Baker and Valmai Wescott in a close game of pairs.

A cry of ‘have a go you mug’ saw Kim Evans and Eileen Bradly come out on top in another close game of pairs against Hil-da McPherson and Kate Keogh (welcome back Kate).

Rhona Went, Chris Curteis and Marja Iffland played Joan Simpson, Carol Reed and Gwenda Carty in a game of triples, even though Joan put grippo on both hands it wasn’t enough to win a ripsnorter of a game.

Fran Dixon, Heather Harvey and Julie Green went walkabout to let Maureen Miller, Jan McPhee and Di Howell take advantage and prove to be too strong on the day.

A reminder that the club 4s close next Tuesday, 17th August. The 24th of August will be a big day with trading table (anything floral theme) and Rhona has generously offered to make soup which all bowlers will be able to buy for lunch on the day. Money raised will be going to the Pennant teams competing at state in October. To play social bowls on Tuesday please ring 6862 1446, between 9 and 9:30am.

By Maureen Miller

Random Olympic Trivia

August 6, 2021 By editor

The 1904 marathon was one of the most bizarre events in a thoroughly bizarre Olympic Games. A total of 32 participants from four nations took part with only 14 finishing.

• The marathon distance was 39.99km instead of the standard 42.2km of today.

• The race in St Louis was run at 3:03pm in 32 degrees Celsius heat.

• The route was five laps around the stadium and then exit the stadium and run on dusty, untarred roads. Race officials drove ahead of and in between the racers, stirring up the dust.

• There were only two drinks stations, which meant all participants were severely dehydrated.

• Fred Lorz dropped out after nine miles, suffering from cramps. He caught a lift back in a car and rejoined the race when the car broke down. He crossed the finish line first and was almost awarded the medal when his deceit was pointed out.

• Thomas Hicks ended up winning but he needed assistance. He received strychnine mixed with brandy and his support team had to carry him, with Hicks moving his legs as if running in the air.

• Cuban postman Andarín Carvajal gambled his money away and had to hitchhike to St Louis. He ran in street clothes, cutting his trousers to make them look like shorts. Having not eaten for 40 hours, he went into an orchard to eat some apples. They were rotten and he got severe stomach cramps. He took a nap to sleep off the pain, and still managed to finish fourth!

• The first two black Africans to compete at the Olympics were South African runners Len Tau and Jan Mashiani who were in St Louis as part of the South African exhibit at the 1904 World’s Fair. Len Tau finished ninth, which many were disappointed in, as he and Mashiani were long distance message runners during the Boer War. However Tau had been chased off course by a pack of feral dogs, and he ran barefoot!

By Dan Fredericks

Great To See A Local Excel At Tokyo Games!

July 30, 2021 By editor

Mariah Williams posted this photo when she arrived at the Olympic Village in Tokyo last week. (Photo: Facebook)

Hockey fans in Parkes have been glued to their screens to watch local hero Mariah Williams play for the Hockeyroos at the Tokyo Olympics.

The team beat Spain 3-1 in their opening match on Sunday, and continued their winning streak on Monday defeating China 6-0. The result of their third game against host nation Japan was not yet available at the time of going to press.

Mariah played a major part in the game against China helping to set up two of the goals with the commentator praising her skill and athleticism.

At Parkes East Public School some keen junior hockey players spent their lunch in the library on Monday to support Mariah and see her in action at the Games. The school posted some photos of the students following their hero’s Olympic journey, and Mariah responded in the comments: “Aww thanks for the support guys!”

While local hockey games had to be cancelled last weekend because of wet conditions, Parkes Hockey Inc encouraged its members to support the Hockeyroos instead. After the win over China Parkes Hockey Inc wrote in a Facebook post: “It was so good to see our girl back out on the pitch today, and what a game she played!”

The Hockeyroos are aiming for their first Olympic medal since Sydney 2000.

Some of the Parkes East hockey players who eagerly watched Mariah Williams play for the Hockeyroos on Monday.

Gold For Team Miller

July 30, 2021 By editor

The bowls event of the day took place in Lane 4. After a warm-up to calm their nerves, Team Byrne (Carol Reed, Maria Willcockson and Liz Byrne) and Team Miller (Chris Curteis, Cherie Frame and Elaine Miller) settled in to contest the Club Championship Triples title for 2021. It was an ex-citing, close match, with the lead changing several times. Team Miller won the final end, taking the title 23 – 20, and head off to the podium to accept their gold medal!

Still Rolling After 70 Years!

July 23, 2021 By editor

GREAT MILESTONE… The Parkes Women’s Bowling Club celebrated its 70th birthday on Tuesday with a symbolic number 70 on the green. The number seven was packed with old style bowls, and the zero with modern day colourful ones.

Women were allowed to play bowls for the very first time in Parkes in 1951.

On Tuesday the Parkes Women’s Bowling Club celebrated its 70th birthday with some members dressed all in white as the custom use to be.

It all started on the 6th of February 1951 when Gwyneth Rice and Ethel Mitchell called a meeting at the CWA rooms to form a women’s bowling club.

Permission was granted by the men’s club for the use of their greens on Tuesday afternoons with membership pegged at 32. The annual subscription was set at one guinea. The club was affiliated with NSW-WBA on 3rd July 1951 and paid a fee of three pounds ten shillings, plus a levy of nine shillings and three pence per member.

Seventy years later the current president Maureen Miller thinks it’s wonderful that the club is still going. She is also very relieved that they do not have to get permission from the men for all decisions anymore. “We still play on Tuesdays, although in the mornings, with a lot more relaxed vibe than in 1951.”

Parkes Women’s Bowling Club members enjoying a game on the club’s 70th anniversary on Tuesday.

The club has 44 affiliated bowlers and social bowlers and still hold president days and trading table days. “We are now a sea of colour instead of all white, and have become a competitive club with our pennants team qualifying for the state championships in September, and a pairs team going to the state champs in August.”

In a further move forward bowling became the last sport in Australia to unify men’s and women’s clubs when Bowls NSW voted on unification in May this year. Maureen said this move would hopefully bring positive changes for the future of the sport as numbers had been declining over recent years across the state.

The Parkes members enjoyed a celebra-tory lunch on Tuesday after play with the tables covered in lace cloths as a further nod to the past, as well as white China and silver service. Maureen thanked the Parkes Bowling & Sports Club for all the support over the years, and welcomed any new members to join.

Local Member for the Riverina Michael McCormack met the Year 5 and 6 students at Parliament House and answered their questions.