The first round of the Club Championship Fours start on 19th September. Kim Evans and Lorraine Baker will represent the club and district at the Taber Shield at Mudgee on 12th September. On 16th and 17th September, 14 women members are needed to play against the travelling bowlers from Cardiff. Play starts at 1pm on both days.
The Jones Trophy will be played at Condobolin on 14th September, and the Jones Shield on 28th September.
By Rosemary Mitchell
Entries for this this year’s SCT Logistics Parkes Open Golf Tournament on 16th and 17th September close today.
Although entries have not been as forthcoming as in previous years, Tournament Director Paul Thomas is happy with the standard of players who will be contesting the 27-hole championship event on Sunday, 17th September.
Paul believes Mudgee’s Mark Hale will start as the favourite ahead of the Australians James Brownlow, while defending titleholder Steve Betland of Forbes will have his followers, as will his brother John. There is also DuntryLeagues’ Robert Payne who will test the mettle of the top hopes as will the local hopes in club champion,
Mitch McGlashan, and Justin Sutton.
The Harvey Norman B Grade title should be a tight affair with players off handicaps of 10 to 16 will contest this division, and the Network Video C Grade will cater for players on handicaps in excess of 17.
The veteran golfer brigade will battle the Keith Clarke Scratch Division for a trophy donated by the Asquith Golf Club, while Mayor Ken Keith will sponsor the handicap section. The John Leister Memorial trophy is for the player who returns the best 18 hole handicap score across all grades, and D’Aquinos will sponsor the first hole in one and the nearest the pin awards.
By Paul Thomas
Now is the best time to come and try paddling with the Lachlan Dragons on Lake Forbes. It’s the start of the season so you can begin training before regatta season kicks in. If you love it you can compete, you can become involved with us in the upcoming River Arts Festival, or you can just remain a social paddler. It is also the time of season when there are a few other newbies about, so you certainly won’t feel the odd one out.
Last weekend the club’s coaching duo, Carmen Stephens and Warren Edwards, headed off to Chifley Dam Bathurst for a two-day course run by state coach, Deb Clarke. “The course made me feel confident that our club is on the right track in terms of season goals and fulfilling the needs of both social and more competitive paddlers,” said Carmen, “also informed me of so many extra tips and strategies that will help us continue in the best direction for our club.”
The Club is fortunate to have Carmen as head coach and Warren as assistant coach. “There was a great deal to absorb
and remember”, said Warren, “Deb made us feel comfortable and confident in the techniques shown.” Carmen and Warren must still complete further practical experiences and evaluations over the next few months.
“It was great to share the weekend with Warren, because we now feel well prepared and informed to make plans for a
fun and successful season for the Forbes Dragon Boat Club,” said Carmen. So come along and give paddling a try! Call Chris 0414 762 775 or Bill and Beth 0418 253 045.
By Beth Thomas
This year’s SCT Logistics Parkes Open Golf Tournament on 16th and 17th September is playing out to be one of the strongest in its history. Tournament organiser Paul Thomas believes the event will once again have a capacity field.
The club has received in excess of 80 entries already, and with entries still to come from several of the major players plus regular contingents from reciprocal clubs such as Northbridge, The Coast and Duntry League in Orange, a capacity field of 160 players is within in reach.
Defending titleholder Steve Betland has indicated he will try to preserve the title he won convincingly last year on a saturated course that saw the event cut back to 18 holes as heavy rain came close to forcing its abandonment.
Multiple winner Duntry League’s Robert Payne has indicated his intention to return and attempt to win the title he has dominated over the past decade and a half. Both Betland and Payne will have to overcome quality opposition including a host of current top line state players. These include another former champion John Betland of Forbes, Mudgee’s Mark Hale and Andrew Best, Asquith’s Dave Morgan, current Pymble Champion James Conran along with Cowra’s Peter Kirwan, Duntry Leagues’ Andy Campbell and the Dubbo duo of Ross Horrocks and Errol Toomey.
Local golfers Justin Sutton and Mitch McGlashan are also up as contenders. Nominations for the prelude event the
Atlas Copco Australia Open Four Ball Best Ball Stableford in both scratch and handicap sections are on target to give the club a field of over 200 players.
By Paul Thomas
The current dry conditions should ensure the annual show meeting of the Parkes Jockey Club is set to take place tomorrow. The event is always run on the weekend before the Parkes Show, but has been washed out for the last two years.
It is a five-race meeting; non-TAB, however there will be TAB on course with oncourse bookmakers. Parkes Farm Centre, is a new sponsor on board, with three races, while the usual sponsor Tony Miller’s Windscreens and the Parkview Motel have races too. The owners of the Parkview Motel named their race Happy Birthday Millie after their daughter who recently turned 18.
As the large grandstand/bar/kitchen area are still being repaired, the Rural Fire Service has stepped up again and will provide a scrumptious barbeque lunch. While waiting for approval for the grandstand to be resurrected, the club is in the process of refurbishing the small grandstand and jockey room with a new roof, replacement of certain structural supports and new seating and flooring.
While moving cupboards and furniture around for the builders two old cups were discovered. The big King Merino Cup and the smaller Peppin Cup. It is believed the King Merino Cup was originally sponsored by Dalgetty’s Austop
when they first opened. It was one of the first TAB meetings run on a Monday and as far as it is known it was only run three times. The last winner was in 1996, a horse called Wave Hello, trained by well-known trainer Leanne Aspros and ridden by local jockey Jamie Whitney.
By Mark Ross
SCORING MACHINE… The Parkes Boars came within two points of the lead against the Orange City Lions, but just did not pull through to cause an upset on the Lions homeground. The final score was 29-12. Best for Parkes were Joe Nash
(players player), Ash Adams, Toby Baigent and Dylan Hood. Pictured is Joe Nash scoring for the Boars with his elusive running. (Photo: Allan Ryan)
The fine conditions last Saturday resulted in high scores for the five members who competed from 500 yards.
Ian Ward recorded a double possible 100 with 10 central bulls. Jim Maloy recorded a very respectable 113 out of 120 in F Open (telescopic sights). This weekend the club championship continues from 500 yards. Shooting will commence from 1.30pm.
