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Parkes Phoenix

Parkes Jockey Club To Stage A Rich Maiden Race

May 15, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

Parkes Jockey Club will stage a super-rich Maiden race on their Cup Day that could be worth over $116,000 to winning con­nections. The Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1000m) at Parkes on Sunday 18 May is an Inglis Xtra Bonus Series race, incentivised with a $100,000 bonus to the winner.

Winning connections of designated Maidens receive the $100K bonus should the horse be an Inglis graduate from 2023 and beyond and paid up for the Inglis Race Series. Inglis Bloodstock’s CEO, Sebastian Hutch was keen to see the bonuses being won by as many sets of connections as possible.

“Through the Inglis Race Series, we wanted to create an opportunity for more people to win more prize money more of­ten and the Xtra Bonus Series allows for exactly that,” Hutch said.

“The hardest race for a horse to win is their Maiden, so we wanted to give every buyer and owner of an Inglis graduate the opportunity to win extraordinary prize mon­ey at the entry level of racing.

“There is effectively one Maiden a week on average, at different venues – around half of which were in NSW – over different distances ranging from 900m to 2000m giving many of our clients regular chances to win significant money.”

“It’s a day filled with excitement for all ages, with activities like a jumping castle and a bucking bull. Our major sponsor is the Tomingley Gold Operations-Alkane Re­sources and year after year their sponsor­ship provides critical funding that enables the event to continue and flourish.”

Gates open at 11:30am. Entry is $10 for adults, kids allowed in free. A bar, canteen, bookmakers and a TAB will be on-site.

Be Seen @ Round 3 Forbes Rugby Union Club

May 8, 2025 By Roxane Manley

It was another big weekend of footy for the Platypi! Our teams showed grit, heart, and teamwork across all grades.

 


Check out the snaps from Saturday’s games – thank you to our players, coaches, supporters, and volunteers for another great round.

 


This coming Saturday, 10 May the Platypi Travel to Bathurst to take on last year’s 2024 Blowes Cup Grand Final winners Bathurst Bulldogs.

Kross Brothers On Court At Act Open

May 8, 2025 By Roxane Manley

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.

Lachlan Valley Branch Walks Calendar

May 1, 2025 By Roxane Manley

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.

Everyone Is Welcome At Bogan Gate Golf Club

April 23, 2025 By Roxane Manley

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.

Magpies v Spacemen At Spooner Oval This Sunday

April 23, 2025 By Roxane Manley

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!

2025 Parkes Netball Carnival

April 16, 2025 By Roxane Manley

A massive effort was put in by all volunteers involved in the 2025 Parkes netball carnival held on 13 April.

 


It was a great day of Netball! A massive congratulations to all the teams on fantastic games.

 


Congratulations to all of the playes in the teams who were winners and runner-ups on the day.

 


A big thank you to all involved, without whom carnivals like this can’t run.

Be Seen @ Regional League With Forbes Netball

April 3, 2025 By Roxane Manley

The Forbes Netball Open Representative team played outstanding netball to finish runner-up to Dubbo, in the West/Central West Regional League competition at the weekend.

 


The team played rounds over Saturday and Sunday, with two wins and a draw in round one, and a much improved team finished round two with four wins and a loss.

 


This put Forbes into the semifinals against Blayney, where the Forbes team again played outstanding skilled netball to defeat Blayney 17-13 to progress to the grand final against Dubbo.

Boars Strong In Pre-season Matches

April 3, 2025 By Roxane Manley

The Parkes Boars men’s side was too strong for the other teams on the day.

Last Saturday, 29 March the Parkes Boars men’s and women’s teams travelled to Boorowa to play in the Boorowa Beer and Rugby Festival. It was a success­ful day on the paddock with the women’s team winning two out of their three games, and the men’s side taking out all three of their games. The season is certainly look­ing promising after the weekend’s perfor­mances! If you are interested in playing rugby this year, show up to training at Spicer Oval on Tuesday and Thursday’s from 6:30pm and ask for Chris Summerhayes or Chris Reyn­olds. If you would like to know more please message the Parkes Boars RUFC through Messenger.

The Parkes Boars women’s team are looking forward to a successful 2025 season.


The Parkes Boars players that travelled to Boorowa last weekend.

Funding Awarded To Local Shooting Facilities

March 27, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Shooting organisations in the Orange electorate have shared in almost $800,000 NSW Government funding after grants were awarded in the Safe Shooting Program.

The organisations were among 25 Statewide to receive grants of $10,000 – $50,000 for projects that improve storage, safety and security at shooting facilities, as well as purchase new equipment.

The Program also invests in projects which incorporate inclusive design to improve environmental sustainability and increase use of shooting facilities.

Another key objective of the Program is increasing participation in shooting by removing barriers for women and girls, people with disability, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguis­tically diverse communities, and LGBTQIA+ people.

Member for Orange Phil Donato MP said “I’m a massive sup­porter of all our shooting sports, many of which are deeply rooted in our nation’s history.

“I congratulate both the Parkes Pistol Club and the Eugowra Ri­fle Club on respectively receiving $18,000 and $21,000 in grants funding, which will enhance club equipment and infrastructure to help ensure the ongoing growth and success of shooting sports here in the Orange electorate,” Mr Donato said.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said, “This funding will play a role in supporting the next generation of Olympians and ensure Australia’s success at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.”

For information on the Safe Shooting Program and the list of grant recipients, visit: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/safe-shooting-program

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