Our very own Aussie Champion Danielle McDonald and team mate Jess Gardner recently travelled to South Australia to ride in the first Grand National Cross Country, a new series to Australia.
At the event Danielle won the junior girls division and Jess Gardner won the women’s division, making them a formidable team. In addition to winning the junior girls division, Danielle surpassed a strong field in the junior boys division, placing fourth overall.
Both Danielle and Jess have stayed in South Australia to race again this weekend on 26th August for the Australian Off Road Championship. Danielle’s parents will travel the 1,000km to SA with Danielle’s brother Dylan who will also compete.
Upon her return from South Australia, Danielle will have a break for the weekend before heading off again to Edenhope in Victoria for another Australian Offroad Championship.
If you want to help support Danielle get to the ISDE Championships in Argentina donate here https://gofund.me/1d032299

Sophie Dwyer is a rising star of the Australian Diamonds and one of the most exciting players to watch in the Suncorp Super Netball League.
The Forbes Netball committee is extremely excited to be presenting the Forbes Netball NetSetGo and Junior Mixed Gala day on this Sunday 27th August.
This day will be a regional Gala Day with teams coming from many of the associations across the area, as well as lots of Forbes players new and existing. It is the first NetSetGo Regional Gala Day organised in the West/Central West, and the day is heavily supported by Netball NSW.
Players from ages 6-9 years will play NSG rules round robin, and ages 10-12 years will be playing in the competition round robin.
The day will also host an exciting visitor, with Suncorp Super Netball League (SSN) Giants superstar Sophie Dwyer attending.
Sophie made her debut in the SSN for the Giants in 2020, with a breakout season in 2021, and was awarded the SSN Rising Star Award that same year. Sophie has also been selected into the Origin Australian Diamond 19 player squad 2023/2024, from where the final 12 players where selected to play in the World Cup in South Africia recently.
The day is starting off with a coaching session run by former Australian Diamond Susan Pettit at 9am. This coaching session will be free for all participants and is being organised and supported by NNSW.
Players do not have to register with NNSW to play on the day, and new players who would like to try the great game of netball are also all encouraged to take advantage of the free clinic.
Players must register individually into the Susan Pettit coaching clinic by Saturday scanning the QR code on FNA Facebook, and register either as a team or individually to the FNA secretary email secretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com
The Gala Day will start at 10:30am.
Attention Forbes golfing athletes! Are you looking to take the next step in your golfing journey? Nominations are now open for the 2024 WRAS Golf Program. To view the eligibility criteria and nomination forms check out the link https://wras.org.au/programs/golf-2. Please note, athletes new to WRAS will be required to attend the Talent ID day on Sunday 20th August at Duntryleague. Athlete nominations will close 9am, Monday 14th August.

Great shot caught by SM Photography of Captain Coach Chad Porter celebrating while Will Wardle was still mid flight and about to score for Parkes against Mudgee.
Parkes Spacemen faced Mudgee on 20th August in Mudgee. Club President, Tony Dwyer said, “For 65 – 75% of the game we were leading and looking good and then we got starved of the ball for the last 10-15 minutes, had a few penalties go against us, unlucky bounce of the ball and then all of a sudden they were back in it, we went for a short drop out, they got it back and only had to run five meters to score and the rest is history”. Parkes Spacemen play Wellington at home this Sunday 27th August.
Let’s get as many Magpies supporters as possible on Magpie Hill this Sunday at Pioneer Oval, Parkes, as our League Tag side and Under 18’s head into round two of finals. Can’t wait to see you all there to cheer these legends on!
The Summer Indoor Futsal registration portal is currently delayed due to Football NSW Legal processes but should be ready by the weekend. Indicative registration packages for the 12-14 week program are $75 for juniors 5-17 years and $100 for adults 18 and over. Active Kids Vouchers from 31 July 2023 can be used.
By Pegging Out
There were 26 players for Aussie Croquet on Saturday 19th August. Four players managed three games, including John Browne, John Farah, Joan Littlejohn and Elvy Quirk. The big winners on the day were:
• 14 – 8 Joan Littlejohn and Elvy Quirk, Cherlyn Toohey and John Farah.
• 14 – 9 Geoff Coles and John Cole, John Browne and Alex Todd, Neville Spry and Sandy Hepburn
There were 32 players on a nice half overcast Tuesday morning 22nd August. Five players managed three games, including Joan Littlejohn, John Farah, Phillip Moran, Kevin Rubie and Peter West. The big winners on the day were 10 – 3 John Farah and Mal Smith, John Browne and Bruce Field.
Mid winners were 9 – 4 John Job and Bruce Field, Geoff Coles and John Farah, Robin Pols and Phillip Moran, Geoff Cole and John Allegri, John Browne and Sandy Hepburn, Robin Pols and Tony Thomson, Elvy Quirk and John Cole, Rusell Anderson and Bill Scott, Rex Toole and Alex Todd.
Croquet is played weekly on Tuesday and Saturday. If you are interested, head down to Halpins Flat at 9am and you will be placed with an experienced player who will show you the idea of the game.
By Pegging Out

There was a very special occasion to celebrate at croquet on Tuesday this week, with Geoff Coles turning the magnificent age of 90! It was great to have members of his family join him for 3 games of Croquet. Congratulations Geoff from all the croquet members.
On Saturday 12th August there were 29 players who took to the courts on a beautiful sunny morning. There were five players who won three games: M. Jones, J. Browne, N. Jolliffe, C. Liebich and N. Spry. Big wins on the day went to:
• N. Spry and J. Farah 14-7
• M. Jones and R. Anderson 14-7
• E. Quirk and J. Browne 14-8
• N. Spry and B. Scott 14-9
• J. Browne and A. Todd, J. Browne and N.Jolliffe 14-9.
14-11 winners and runner-ups were:
• L. Todd, C. Liebich – A. Todd,R. Toole.
• J. Cole, N. Jolliffe – M. Spry, R. Burridge.
• S. Hepburn – V. Roberts.
• J. Littlejohn, N. Jolliffe – M. Spry, B. White.
• E. Quirk – F. Picker.
• C. Liebich, D. Scott – L. Todd, R. Pols.
• K. Rubie, S. Hepburn – J. Allegri, A. Jones.
14-12 winners and runner-ups were:
• N. Spry, J. Littlejohn – D. Scott, R. Toole.
• J. Farah – J. Allegri, B. Scott.
• C. Liebich, R. Toole – A. Jones, L. Todd.
• B. Scott, L. Simmons – R. Burridge, M.Spry.
14-13 winners and runner-ups were:
• F. Picker, M. Jones – R. Anderson, L. Simmons.
• R. Pols – R. Anderson, J. Allegri.
A total of 31 players enjoyed a great morning in the sunshine playing croquet. There were four players who won three games: J. Browne, J. Job, S. Perry and R. Pols. The big winners were 10-3 J. Job and P. West, 9-4 S.Hepburn and P. West, D. Scott andF.Picker, S. Hepburn and R. Pols, R. Tooland J. Job.
By Through The Hoop
Last Sunday four grades of footy were played at Spooner Oval Forbes, between Parkes and Forbes. Reserve Grade brought home the win for Parkes.
Centre for Parkes, Bill Simpson said, “It was a good hit out, from both ends, a real physical game that was all played through the middle”.
Coach Jimmy Clyburn was proud of the boys efforts, saying, “It was a tough effort, we did well considering we had no bench for the whole game, the boys really dug in”.
Reserve grade now sit in fourth position and play St Pats in Bathurst this weekend.
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