Sports

Photo: MATTHEW PAUL PHOTOGRAPHY

FOLLOWING a busy off season that has seen numerous track improvements undertaken, Hessions Auto Parts Grafton Speedway is going to blast into action with this Saturday night’s 2022-23 season opener.

During the off season, Grafton Speedway promoter Mick Corbett and his team were hard at work making a range of big track improvements, such as new track lighting.

“It’s been a massive off season and although we have had to delay last month’s season opener, the track is looking great and we are all ready for what we hope is going to be a huge season,” enthused Corbett.

“We are heading into our fourth season as Grafton Speedway promoters, and we are very proud of the fact that we have grown with every passing season, so hopefully we can continue that this coming season and be able to help take the race fans’ experience to another level.”

For Saturday night’s season opener, the popular V8 Dirt Modifeds headline the program with a strong 15-car feld – including fve-time Australian Champion Kevin Britten from Brisbane in Queensland. The likes of locals Andrew and Taylah Firth, along with Brock Gardiner and Scott Quirk, are also likely to be front-running contenders around the 400-metre track.

Joining the V8 Dirt Modifed on the season opener program as headlining acts are the hotly contested Wingless Sprint class. Regarded as one of the most competitive classes in Australian speedway, the Wingless Sprints always put on a show and likes of Jacob Jolley and David Eggins.

The support program is going to consist of the RSA Street Stockers, Production Sedans, RSA Four Cylinder Sedans, Legend Cars and SSA Junior Sedans.

This Saturday night’s season opener at Grafton Speedway is the last event on the frst annual Coffs Coast Festival of Motor Sport.

Grafton Speedway would like to thank Hessions Auto Parts for their support throughout the 2022-23 season, which is their fourth season in a row as the track’s naming-right’s sponsor. Based in both Grafton and Coffs Harbour, Hessions Auto Parts stock a wide range of parts and accessories at competitive prices. To fnd out more, contact them on 0266 423 085 (Grafton) and 0256 456 361 (Coffs Harbour) or visit their website at www. hessionsautoparts.com.au.

The Coraki Memorial Bowls Club welcomed a cheque-bearing Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis on Friday. Mr Gulaptis dropped in with the good news that the Club has won a $200,000 Nationals in NSW Government grant for synthetic turf, courtesy of a program that reinvests proceeds of pokie taxes back into local community assets. “This year’s food’s wreaked havoc on the Coraki Bowls Club greens, so the Club decided to future-proof their assets by laying out synthetic greens,” Mr Gulaptis said. “This is exactly the type of project the Government is keen to fund and we were happy to chip in. “It is really great to catch up with all the good people here. This so much more than a venue to play lawn bowls, it is the beating heart of the Coraki community.” Club President Neil Ryan said the board of directors and members of the Coraki memorial Bowling Club wished to thank the Government for the approval of funding for the replacement of our synthetic green. “The synthetic green is a great asset for the Coraki Memorial Bowling Club and the Community of Coraki,” President Ryan said. He said the synthetic green would be used for activities including: • Bowling events for all the community as well as the full-time bowlers. • Bowling events for charity purposes. (Fire and Flood victims.) • Social bowls for retired and aged pensioners with the added bonus of having light exercise in the game of Lawn bowls. • Gatherings for birthday or anniversary celebrations including a game of bowls The Nationals in NSW Government’s ClubGRANTS program helps community groups and socially minded organisations by funding new or upgraded facilities across sport and recreation, arts and culture, disaster readiness and community infrastructure. To fnd out more about this

grants program, please visit responsiblegambling.nsw.gov.au.

SPORTS RESULTS

Ballina Mahjong 25th November 2022

Shirley Coleman 1, Ronda Taylor 2, Shirley Atkinson 3, Pam Farrell 4, Bev Lasater, 5, Lisa Wong, Val Heinritz 6, Coral Lavelle, Jan Small, Pauline Kearney 8, Jeanette Henwood 11, Sally Lowry 12, Diana Auret, Gladys D’Anna 13, Deborah Green 15, Carol Meyer, Janene Jarvis, Valda McLerie 16, June Greenaway 19, Pauline Bolte, Susan Scott 20, Gail McDonagh, Lynda Lovett 22, Barbara Ellan 24, Cindy Smith 25, Jan Henley 26, Lornaq Simpsin 27, Kath Hubbard 28. Mahjong is played on Friday at 12:30pm at the Ballina Bridge Club North Creek Road. Enquiries for new players phone Vanessa on 66874181.

Casino RSM Womens Bowls results

Results from Wednesday 23/11/22 T. Maxwell, J. Dwyer & K. Jonsson def T Maxwell, J. Carthew & M. Hellyar N. Moran & H. Lavelle def J. Creighton & A. James C. Doyle & I. Watson def D. Grice & D. Skinner All the games today ended up close games. Ladies start getting a team together for our Club Fours Championship, entries close on the 25/1/23 & the 1st round matches will be played on the 1/2/23. Our Xmas party is approaching fast, we will still bowl on the 7/12/22 but fnish earlier for the party. Cherry Street Croquet Club Sports Results

ASSOCIATION CROQUET

L.Hardy S.Hume 16 d G.Drew B.Hardy 16 P.Hume L.Sampson 22 d S.Hume G.Drew 9

RICOCHET CROQUET

J.Doust P.Waters 14 d B.Waters 9 N.Barnes P.Doyle 11 d R.Allen G.Kerr 9 P.Scott 10 d G.Drew 8

TOURNAMENTS

NSW Golf Croquet Champion of Club Champions. 1st T.Woodley, 2nd S.Burns, 3rd D.Woods, 4th P.Markwell, 5th M.Sawers. Under 21 Golf Croquet Bronze Medal QLD. Addison Mathews 1st, Tim Wright 2nd, Francis Wright 3rd, Ethan Chilton 4th

Cherry Street Croquet Club Friendship Day & Northern Rivers Area Presentation Day Sunday 4th December. All welcome.

David Scott & Ray Chapman Cherry Street Selected in NSW Golf Croquet Squad 2023. Congratulations

Ray Chapman & David Scott

CORAKI VETERANS GOLF RESULTS THURSDAY 24/11/22

Well today we only played nine holes with a very large feld of 55 players contesting a stableford be fore our Presentation day and Christmas party. Club handicap ham winner B mCdonald, vets ham winner D Bullock luckey card draw ham K Osborne 2nd, K Rogers, 3rd N Cuppitt, free game T Foster, chicken/ ball winners T Beemster, G Gibson, J Perkins, L Clark, R Webber, K Lloyd, J Sauer, P Brophy, S Toms, B Micheal, K Avery, P Smith. Nearest pins 3rd/12th S Toms, 6th/15th R Webber table draw for golf balls P Muldoon. This Thursday will be the December monthly medal golfers are reminded that hit off time has now reverted back to 8.00am for the summer months PLEASE don’t be LATE AS USUAL TILL THEN GOOD GOLFING. Max

EVANS HEAD WOMENS BOWLS

Our Springtime Fours Competition continued 23-11-22 Round 3 - Skips only - B. Montague defeated S. Downs. J. Fernance defeated V. Hart. T. Cselka defeated K. Keevers. Round 4 - B. Montague defeated K. Keevers. V. Hart defeated S. Downs. T. Cselka defeated J. Fernance.

SPEEDWAY GRAFTON Results from Grafton Speedway, November 26, 2022.

RSA 4 Cylinders. Heat 1: Nathan Harper 1, Sam Mooney 2, Brody Putsey 3. Heat 2: Sam Mooney 1, Car 14 2, Brodie Putsey 3. Heat 3: Shanae Smith 1, Sam Mooney 2, Wally Rudder 3. Feature: Sam Mooney 1, Nathan Harper 2, Brody

Putsey 3.SSA Juniors Top

Stars. Heat 1: Jaiden Santin 1, Sophie Santin 2, Harry Fowler 3. Heat 2: Jaiden Santin 1, Harry Fowler 2, Jeremy Wade 3. Heat 3: Jaiden Santin 1, Indi Butcher 2, Jorja Woolfe 3. Feature: Jaiden Santin 1, Jeremy Wade 2, Alisha Payne 3.

SSA Juniors New Stars.

Heat 1: Luke McNabb 1, Aida Miller 2, Poppy Airey 3, Heat 2: Aida Miller 1, Luke McNabb 2, Poppy Airey 3. Heat 3: Luke McNabb 1, Lawson Clarke 2, Aida Miller 3. Feature: Luke McNabb 1, Aida Miller 2, Poppy Airey 3. Wingless Sprints. Heat 1: Jason Davis 1, Jacob Jolley 2, Jamie Dicker 3. Heat 2: Bailey Goodwin 2, Darryl Marshall 3. Heat 3: Jacob Jolley 1, Andrew Van Damme 2, Matthew Nikiforoff 3. Heat 4: Jaidyn Boulding 1, Andrew Seery 2, Tyson Williams 3. Feature: Jamie Dicker 1, Andrew Seery 2, Brayden Shute 3. Legend Cars. Heat 1: Jackson Tomkins 1, Adam Fisher 2, Matt Gordon 3. Heat 2: Matt Gordon 1, Craig Turvey 2, Tim Maguire 3. Heat 3: Rieley Fisher 1, Matt Gordon 2, Colin Crepin 3. Feature: Matt Gordon 1, Rieley Fisher 2, Jackson Tomkins 3.

RSA Street Stockers.

Heat 1: Wayne Arthur 1, Brenden Hayes 2, Connor Reeves 3. Heat 2: David Putsey 1, Greg Dickinson 2, Tayler Lofthouse 3. Heat 3: Greg Dickinson 1, Adrian Williams 2, David Putsey 3. Heat 4: Brenden Hayes 1, Toby Hunter 2, Trent Morgan 3. Heat 5: David Putsey 1, Connor Reeves 2, Tayler Lofthouse 3. Heat 6: Adrian Williams 1, Trent Morgan 2, Brenden Hayes 3. Feature: David Putsey 1, Brenden Hayes 2, Greg Dickinson 3. AMCA Nationals. Heat 1: Paul Reeves 1, Graham Holland 2, Tony Blanch 3, Heat 2: Paul Reeves 1, Brett Robotham 2, Darren Miller 3. Heat 3: Darren Miller 1, Graham Holland 2, Lindsay Cornwall 3. Feature: Paul Reeves 1, Darren Miller 2, Brett Robotham 3. V8 Dirt Modifeds. Heat 1: Seiton Young 1, Luke Dunn 2, Scott Quirk 3. Heat 2: Taylah Firth 1, Seiton Young 2, Daryl Armfeld 3. Kevin Britten 1, Andrew Firth 2, Taylah Firth 3. Feature: Seiton Young 1, Taylah Firth 2, Luke Dunn 3. Winner of the V8 Dirt Modifeds Sportsman class was Brock Armstrong.

By GARY NICHOLS

THE Grafton Redmen frst grade rugby union team has received a massive boost next season with the return of one of their favourite sons, Ed McGrath.

The 30-year-old has spent the last two seasons playing for Bangalow in the Far North Coast competition and was a standout performer earning himself the club’s best forward award alongside teammate Matt Drew.

The decision to leave the Rebels was not one McGrath took lightly, but he felt it was time to return home, back to where his rugby career began.

“I was always going to come back and play for the Redmen. Playing for Bangalow gave me a great opportunity to play representative footy and I achieved that making the NSW Country team, “McGrath said.

“I loved my time playing for the Rebels, they’re a great club and a fantastic bunch of blokes.”

Another reason the rangy back-rower decided to don the blood and bandages of the Redmen in 2023 had a lot to do with a former player, a player McGrath knows all too well.

“My brother Bart said if I sign-up with the Redmen he would also get involved and help the club out,” McGrath revealed.

“As it turns out, he was recently elected as president. I don’t think he intended jumping straight into the role but that’s where he has ended up.

“He was a very good rugby player, and he is a very good administrator, so the club will beneft from his leadership skills and experience.”

A major goal for McGrath last season was to gain selection in the NSW Country Cockatoos team, a goal he eventually achieved after strong performances playing for Far North Coast at the NSW Country Championships in Tamworth earlier this year.

“Running out for the Cockatoos is something I will never forget, “he said.

“The whole experience was fantastic, and I recommend it for any rugby player out there who wants to play representative footy.”

The hardrunning number-eight is considered somewhat of a cult hero at the Redmen with the catchcry of “Ooh aah, Ed McGrath” resonating from the stands each time he touches the ball.

A new frst grade coach in Gary Powell, the possibility of felding two senior sides, and with McGrath leading the forwards, the Redmen are hoping to make an impact in the Mid North Coast competition in 2023.

“All looks good for the Redmen. I like where the club is heading and there are plenty of positive signs for the future of the club,” he said.

“Hopefully we will be a force again especially if we can feld a frst and second grade side,”

“And maybe one day we can return to the Far North Coast which is something I would like to see down the track.”

McGrath, who is already in training after a rigorous 2022 season, added he would like to take on a more senior role at the club and a mentoring role with the juniors.

“I’m back in training after a month’s break which I enjoyed…maybe too much,” he laughed.

By TIM HOWARD

GDSC Easts tightened its grip on the CRCA premier league cricket competition lead with a solid fve-wicket win over Brothers at Ellem Oval on Saturday.

Easts chased down a below par tally of 111 from Brothers in just 18 overs, with Aaron Macfadyen leading the way with 47.

They young all-rounder who scored the premier league’s frst century of the season two games ago, was in a similar vein of form, stroking nine fours in his innings.

Skipper Shane Connor with 16 and opener Chris Chamberlain 10 and Patrick Brophy, 11 also made double fgures.

Left arm quick Ethan Lucas took two wickets, but conceded 56 runs from just six overs as Easts raced to victory.

Batting frst Brothers failed to support to support Jake Kroehnert, 35 and Eli Fahey, 25 and ?? Billy Weatherstone 16 not out.

Four batters registered ducks and four others failed to reach double fgures.

Brothers bowlers need to work on their discipline as the season enters the one-day phase.

The Brethren conceded 23 extras, including 17 wides and four no-balls while Easts conceded just 14.

At Ulmarra Showground Tucabia were untroubled by a below-strength Souths/Westlawn team to record a six-wicket win.

South’s best, Anthony Dickson, 27 and Mick Fletcher, 25, showed it was possible to score runs from a tight Tucabia bowling attack.

But the rest of the batting lineup struggled, crawling to 98 from 31.3 overs.

Opener Andrew Ellis anchored the Tucabia run chase with 42 from 62 balls including fve fours and two sixes.

First drop Jay Hardy provided a solid partner, scoring 31 from 64 balls.

Souths’ opening bowlers Nathan Blanch 1/25 and Matt Dalton 2/17 tried hard, but couldn’t make enough early inroads and ultimately did not have enough runs to work with.

Next week GDSC Easts plays Souths/Westlawn on the Lower Fisher Park Turf and Brothers and Tucabia face off at Ellem Oval. Brothers top scorer Jake Kroehnert blasts a ball to the offside boundary during his innings of 35 at Ellem Oval on Saturday. Photo: Gary Nichols

GDSC Easts opening bowler Shannon Connor troubled the Brothers’ top-order with perfect line and length. Photo: Gary Nichols

Photos by LISA VANDERSTOK What a magnifcent day held at Casino Greyhound Racing Club. Featured here in the photo is the winner of the Charcoal Inn Casino Cup - Trainer John Thomas and his partner Glenda Rob Macaulay - GRNSW and race sponsor Michael Smith - Charcoal Inn. A huge crowd cheered the winner home with Respectability trained by Michael Patterson hot on Take Two’s heals and Louis Rumble not far behind.