SPORT

Local powerlifter Jess McCallum at a recent competition

Paul McIntyre drives one to centre field, playing for White Sox A in a recent game against Nipaluna Pirates. Photo: David Searle Finals spots up for grabs

THE 2021-22 Hobart Baseball regular season is nearly over, with finals starting in the first week of March – but which teams will qualify for the playoffs is still up in the air.

With two rounds to go in the Division One season, reigning premiers Banjos Orioles sit atop the ladder with 18 points, followed closely by the Visionary Carpentry Blue Jays (16 points), the Eastern Athletics (16 points) and the Pirates (14 points). Only the top three teams qualify for the finals.

Orioles allrounder Jason Baurycza continues to dominate with both the bat and the ball, and he is expected to make his presence felt during the last few rounds.

The Athletics have been putting together more consistent performances with Sam Morrison on the mound, but they may come to regret a recent loss to the Pirates.

The Blue Jays have been hardest hit by the loss of players to injury and COVID restrictions, but can never be discounted.

The first-year Pirates are making a late run for the finals, but will need to win their two remaining games against the Orioles and Athletics and also hope other results go their way.

In Division Two, the undefeated White Sox A (28 points) lead from the Visionary Carpentry Grey Jays (24), White Sox B (20), Eastern Athletics (14), Pirates (13), Nipaluna Pirates (11), Banjos Orioles Orange (10) and Visionary Carpentry Blue Jays (18). The top five will play finals, with the first finals scheduled for 9-10 March.

The second-placed Grey Jays appear to have the easiest run home, with games against Nipaluna and Orioles to come, so could still be in the running for the minor premiership if White Sox A slip up.

The Athletics enjoyed impressive late-season victories over the Grey Jays and White Sox B, but their recent loss to Nipaluna Pirates leaves them in a battle for fourth spot and home-ground advantage in the finals.

Nipaulna Pirates are now an outside chance for the finals but have a tough game against the Grey Jays in the next round. If they lose, their finals aspirations will hinge on the result of the Pirates vs Orioles Orange game.

Grand Finals are scheduled for Sunday 27 March.

Local powerlifter on track to break raw world record

A LOCAL female powerlifter has her sights set on smashing a world record this year, as she prepares for a series of big competitions on the mainland.

Jess McCallum, of New Norfolk, currently holds the Australian deadlift record for women at a whopping 272.5kg.

But she hopes to go to the next level this year and break the world record, which sits at 289kg – about the same weight as four full kegs of beer.

The 41-year old is a relative newcomer to the sport of powerlifting, only starting seriously five years ago after a get-fit campaign saw her lose an incredible 140kg.

“I started going to the gym as often as I could and really enjoyed the ‘body pump’ classes which involved weights,” she said.

“I became fit and toned and someone at the gym suggested I might like to try powerlifting. I found I loved the buzz and it went from there.”

As well as dealing with a COVID-related red meat shortage at her local supermarket, Jess must also manage Epilepsy, which presents challenges for all athletes - especially those whose sport involves lifting dangerously heavy weights.

“I have to be careful because having a seizure during training or competition can lead to serious injury,” she said.

“If I were to have a seizure just before a competition, it could literally ruin my chances, no matter how many months I might have trained.”

Jess is aiming to attempt to break the world record at the World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Nationals 2022, to be held in Devonport in September.

She recently travelled to Werribee for the ‘Raising the Dead’ Whiskey and Deadlifts event; and also plans to compete at ‘ProRaw’ in Melbourne in April and at the CAPO State Titles in Western Australia in May.

But her ability to compete in these lead-up competitions and train at the level needed to crack a world record will depend on her ability to raise money to cover her travel costs.

A village for people living with all stages of dementia

Nisha, the lifestyle companion, deserves an individual accolade for her holistic and comprehensive approach, and for her ability to offer me unsolicited updates on how Mum is functioning, each time I visit. This, to me, is what “ the village is about!

VERONIQUE, THE DAUGHTER OF A RESIDENT

Korongee is a purpose-built dementia care village that provides increased social engagement opportunities and enhanced wellbeing. It’s unique atmosphere helps residents to feel safe, and their visitors welcome.

Contact Belinda Chapman for a tour on 03 6277 2890 enquiries@glenview.org.au

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From left, Sorell footballer Jeremiah Perkins, RAW Beyond the Sidelines coordinator Darryn Perry, RAW chief executive officer Barb Walters, SFL president Russell Young and Sorell footballer Mark Johnson, at Sorell's Pembroke Park. Photo credit: Connor Munnings

Specky for mental health

THE Southern Football League (SFL) has gone beyond the sidelines for mental health, partnering with Rural Alive and Well (RAW) to challenge and change the status quo culture of mental health and wellbeing in its clubs.

Headed by former William Leitch medallist Darryn Perry and former Hawthorn player Shayne Stevenson, the Beyond the Sidelines program will be delivered across all SFL clubs this year.

Developed by RAW over the past 12 months to meet an identified need in community sporting clubs, the Beyond the Sidelines program will offer clubs ongoing practical help to build protective factors aimed at improving people’s mental health and wellbeing.

All RAW programs are evidence-based and delivered within the Prevention First Framework model.

RAW chief executive officer Barb Walters said sessions would be hands-on and would help reduce stigma around mental health and help those that were struggling.

“Suicide is a public issue that requires a coordinated and combined effort, and RAW is proud to be partnering with the SFL to deliver our secondary prevention and early intervention program Beyond the Sidelines in footy clubs across the league,” she said.

“People are ready to start the conversation, but more than that, they’re ready to actually find ways of building those protection factors and getting their hands dirty and working out what to do.”

Ms Walters said football clubs were the heart and soul of most communities, and that the program would benefit everyone around the football club.

“We also know that everyone needs to belong to somewhere and have that connection, and footy clubs are able to do that,” she said.

“Whether you’re a volunteer, an administrator or a player, your welfare is really important.

“RAW’s support goes beyond the sidelines. We have qualified staff who can provide individually tailored support to individuals, to improve their mental health and wellbeing and to navigate the pathway to specialist support services.

“RAW is there for long-term and can be contacted 24/7 by phoning 1800 RAW TAS.”

With an increased focus in recent years on suicide awareness and reducing stigmas, the SFL is leading the way in ensuring that its clubs have the opportunity to build a strong club culture around mental health and wellbeing.

“Mental health and player welfare are the biggest issues facing our game and clubs need help to ensure they have the best practices available to help their players,” SFL president Russell Young said.

“By partnering with RAW, we hope to be able to assist in this process.

“The SFL is a strong community-focused football competition, and the RAW team will assist the SFL in delivering strategies to our players in trying times.”

Sorell Football Club is one of the clubs that has got behind the initiative. Senior coach Fabian Ackroyd said mental health and wellbeing were important issues to raise within clubs.

“We look at football clubs as fundamentally playing footy, but there’s so much more than that,” he said.

“There is a connection to families and footy and this particular program doesn’t just offer support for the footy players, but also offers it for the partners, parents, supporters, everyone that comes to the football club – it’s not just about the 22 guys playing on the ground.”

Skate dreams on thin ice

GLENORCHY’S ice rink has been a local icon for more than 40 years, but is up for sale and facing possible closure – putting the sporting dreams of the state’s figure skaters and ice hockey players at risk.

Tasmania’s only remaining rink has welcomed generations of Tasmanian skaters since opening in 1980. But the family who owns the rink is retiring, and a new owner may choose to repurpose the site.

Ice Sports Tasmania (IST) - a newly formed peak body created to support, promote and advance ice-based sports and recreation in the state – say closure of the rink would mean hundreds of social and competitive ice-hockey and figure skating athletes could no longer take part in their sport.

Elite athletes and coaches would have to relocate interstate to pursue their careers, and the community would lose a much-loved place for recreation and community connection.

Committed to securing a fit-for-purpose facility in Tasmania to serve the needs of athletes and the wider community, IST has been campaigning the state and federal governments to help secure a new rink so local athletes can maintain their sports and compete on level playing field with their interstate opposition.

Ice Sports Tasmania launched its ‘Save Our Ice Sports’ campaign recently at Wrest Point.

The event also featured the premiere of local film-maker Sophia Bender’s short film ‘Little Rink, Big Dreams’, which shares insights from athletes affected by the potential loss of the rink.

Independent MP for Clark Andrew Wilkie said if the Glenorchy ice rink was lost, Tasmania would be the only state in Australia without one.

“The loss of the state’s only ice-skating rink will leave about 200 athletes out in the cold, not to mention the many recreational visitors to the long-running sports facility,” he said.

“It would be a tragedy if aspiring and established figure skaters and ice hockey players were forced to move interstate to pursue their dreams for want of adequate facilities in their home state.”

For more information and to provide your support, go to www. icesportstasmania.com.au

OLYMPIC RUNNERS BRIDGE THE GAP

Rose Davies and Brett Robinson break the tape at the end of the 2022 Run The Bridge

MORE than 3000 people of all ages, including six former Olympians and one Paralympian, strapped on their sneakers and hit the road for the 2022 Run The Bridge event on 27 February.

While thousands of fitness fanatics, weekend warriors and keen kids pounded the pavement at various speeds, it was two Olympians – Victorian-based distance runners Brett Robinson and Rose Davies – who took out the major races.

Australian half marathon record holder and two-time previous winner Robinson racked up his third Run The Bridge title in the prestigious 10km event, after back-to-back victories in 2019 and 2020.

Robinson won in a time of 28m 37s. Two-time Australian cross country champion Andy Buchanan (29m 05s) finished second, just ahead of fellow Victorian runner Joel Tobin-White in third.

Robinson, who was an Olympic 5000m finalist at the Rio 2016 Games and ran the marathon in Tokyo last year, now has his sights set on the Commonwealth Games in July.

Davies stunned the women’s field with a five-second victory over British athlete Charlotte Purdy, breaking the tape in a time of 32m 32s. Natalie Rule was third, just 14 seconds behind Davies.

The elite women’s field started the course nearly four minutes ahead of their male counterparts, setting up a thrilling finish in the Battle of the Sexes event.

Robinson narrowly beat Davies to the line to claim the $6000 prize.

Marc Iseli won the Epic 5km Run in a time of 15m 53s, ahead of Callum Stevens and Darcy Carless; while Noah Sargent easily won the Positive Salary Packaging 5km Walk event from Ron Waters and Melanie Poole.

More than 80 corporate, social and school teams tackled the bridge together for the Clubs Tasmania team challenge, with prize winners including teams representing Collins SBA, Hydro Tasmania, Harcourts Kingborough, Tasmanian Road Runners, Lansdowne Primary, Bayview Secondary College and The Friends School.

Run The Bridge 2022 was the world’s first mass-participation event to give participants non-fungible token (NFT) digital medals to all finishers.

Medals were sent digitally to athletes as they cross the finish line, personalised with their name, distance and time.

Event organisers are already busy planning next year’s Run The Bridge for Sunday 26 February.