The Parkes Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) received funding for shipping containers to store equipment. Member for Orange, Phil Donato MP (right) was in Parkes last week to officially announce the funding and met with Brian Drabsch, secretary/treasurer, Parkes SSAA and David Tanks, vice-president. Brian said it was great to have a facility to lock in all their equipment at the Parkes Gun Club. “We will be painting the containers and building a veranda out front.”

Do I have some great news for bridge players! Playing bridge actually stimulates the immune system. This is due to the area of the brain which is activated in playing bridge, using memory, visualization, and sequencing. A study at the University of California, Berkeley in 2000, has found strong evidence for this claim. This is good to know in today’s health climate. I’m not saying you can scrap your booster shots… but maybe you should consider coming along to learn bridge for a mental and physical health boost!

Enhancing their health status this week were winners Kevin Robinson and Jan Freeman on Tuesday, 7th December; Bev Laing with Anne Berkeley at north, and Jenny Freeman with Barbara Hughes at south on Thursday, 9th December; and Gai and Tim Baker on Monday, 13th December.

The bridge sessions ended yesterday for Christmas and the players will return to the tables in 2022.

If you are interested in learning to play bridge in the New Year, thereby improving your health and wellbeing, we can arrange private lessons! Call Greig Ball 0429 621 712 or Kevin Robinson 0429 621 712 to arrange personal lessons at your own pace.

By Beth Thomas

The successful recipients of the latest round of the Sports Grants Program are (L-R) Sue McGrath (Parkes Touch), Mitch and Aliza Roberts (Parkes Soccer), Tiarne McCleod (Peak Hill Central School), Cr Louise O’Leary, Denise Gersbach (Parkes Kennel Club), Rachel Rice (Parkes Touch), Denise White (Parkes College for Seniors), Stuart Milne ( Parkes Junior League), Al Ryan (Parkes Rugby), Kerry Edwards (Parkes Little Athletics), Natalie Williams and Cath McQuie (Parkes School of Dance).

Christmas came early for ten local organisations who will be sharing almost $40,000 of the latest round of the Sports Grants Program.

Parkes Sports Council Chairperson Alan Gersbach said it was fantastic to see a broad range of projects with Northparkes Mines supporting the program for the past eight years.

The recipients are:

Parkes Marist Junior Rugby League Club, $8,024 to enclose carport end of long canteen, install roller doors, lighting and benches; Parkes and District Kennel Club, $4,860 to purchase two sets of agility timing gates; Parkes Rugby Union Club, $8,024 to purchase quality kitchen and canteen equipment for the new clubhouse; Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association, $1,000 to run a four-week pre-season soccer academy for girls aged 5 to 12 years, and to purchase training kits and coaching jackets; Parkes Little Athletics Inc, $3,000 to purchase a comprehensive first aid kit, 14 portable first aid kits for each age division, 4 twin pack UHF handheld radios plus various athletics equipment; Peak Hill Central School, $3,744 to purchase sporting equipment and a high jump mat for students to participate in a wider range of sports activities, uniforms for participating in representative sport as well as updating sporting storage around the school; Parkes Touch Association, $2,746 to purchase AusTouch playing shirts and CovidSafe plan products including 2-way radios, and sanitizer stations. Also update representative team training equipment, first aid kits, and transport trolleys; Parkes School of Dance Inc, $1,500 to purchase online subscription to the Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) to enable teachers to access 250+ exercises and to purchase dancing training equipment; PCYC Parkes, $5,313 to purchase a trampoline harness to support training sessions.

The next round will open in March next year with a total of $30,000 available for sports related projects within the Parkes Shire.

The Parkes students who compete at the top level in endurance riding are (L-R) Luke Chellas (16), Dylan McDonald (13), Danielle McDonald (14) and Jade Chellas (13).

Four young Parkes students are making a name for themselves on the endurance motorcycle track pocketing state titles in the championship event.

The two pairs of siblings of Luke (16) and Jade (13) Chellas, and Danielle (14) and Dylan McDonald (13) competed over six rounds in the NSW Endurance Motorcycle Championships.

Luke won the under 16 boys and overall title, while Danielle won the girls title. Dylan was the winner of the 85cc boys event, and Jade came second in the girls event on count back.

They competed at three venues at Gresford, Appin and Tarcutta that included a wide variation of terrain and conditions with the Parkes locals adapting their many talents and riding skills to come out on top.

Parkes mechanic Foodge Burrell said the team had been training hard and really stepped it up this year with hard fought battles in very trying conditions. It rained at Tarcutta and vehicles had to be towed into the venue.

“It’s a shame COVID put a stop to the Australian off-road series as I’m sure we would have had a couple of Australian champions in Parkes,” Foodge said.

Danielle, who rides for Yamaha, won the Australian title for girls 12 – 16 last year. “When she competes with the boys she usually end in the top 9,” said Foodge. “I love the adrenaline and beating the boys,” said Danielle, who has been riding motorbikes since she was 2.

Luke is looking forward to be competing in the senior event from next year.

Foodge said the sport was getting more competitive with over 200 participants at competitions. “That is why they’ve started to include separate events for the girls. They used to compete in the same races as the boys.”