Sports

EVANS SURFER WINS GOLD COAST PRO

Callum Robson celebrating. Photo: Dunbar/WSL

MAX PERROT

Evans Head’s Callum Robson has won the Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast.

The Challenger all-Australian matchup between Callum Robson and Sheldon Simkus.

Robson, representing Evans Head, is a current rookie on the 2022 CT and carried over his recent success into today’s Challenger Series Final to claim a win over Gold Coast local Simkus.

The win marks Series victory, following his breakthrough secondplace result on the CT at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach last month.

“It’s been a big day for me and an amazing event with fantastic surf and to win is incredible for me,” said Robson.

“The year to date has been better than I could have imagined. I’ve had enormous support from the entire community from my hometown at Evans Head to surf this tour and I’m stoked to repay them and put Evans Head on the map.”

Callum is running a fundraiser for those ravaged Northern Rivers.

All proceeds raised will be given to the GIVIT charity and the Mid-Richmond Neighbourhood centre to get supplies to those who need it most.

Prizes include a signed surfboard by all WSL 2022 tour surfers, full day of surf coaching Australia HPC and more.

Go to www. callumrobson.com.au to buy tickets.

Ghosts not crowing after downing Roosters

TIM HOWARD

The Grafton Ghosts are happy to bank the Group 2 Rugby League competition points, but the 24-12 win over Nambucca Roosters, has given captain coach Todd Cameron plenty to work on.

Walking off a swampy Frank McGuren Field on Sunday, Cameron was clearly not happy with his team’s performance.

“Before we start thinking about winning competitions or playing to learn to be there for the full 80 minutes,” he said.

Cameron said giving up back to back penalties several times during a game, as the Ghosts did on Sunday, won’t always go unpunished.

His team also played 10 minutes of the second half a player short when prop forward Oliver Percy was binned for a high shot that left a Roosters players for several minutes.

“We don’t have anyone to blame but ourselves,” Cameron said. “It’s something we have to work on.”

But he said the wet weather that has stopped the team training outdoors for weeks, hasn’t helped the team develop cohesion.

“I think we’ve got the football in us, but we have a lot to do based on today’s showing,” he said.

The way the game played out backed Cameron’s description of the Ghosts playing well in patches.

The captain scored of the match when the Ghosts were attacking the Hoof St end of the ground.

Cameron ran onto an to score about 15m from the touchline. Five-eighth Matt Muller converted.

But for the next 20 minutes the Ghosts squandered a number of attacking opportunities and then the Roosters drew level with a scrambling wet-weather try.

Defending their line, the Ghosts couldn’t control a grubber into the in-goal which Jason Jarrat got his hands on to score.

But the Ghosts had just enough time to take a 10-6 half-time lead when hard running centre Jake Martin crossed.

He wrong footed the defence close to the line just a couple of minutes before the break.

The Ghosts had one of their good patches of football early in the second half. half, the Ghosts opened the scoring when centre Aaron Taylor spun out of a tackle and planted the ball in the left corner. Muller nailed the sideline conversion to make the score 16-6.

Wicks scored the try of the game soon after when Cody Walker made a 40 metre break, brushing off tackles. later Wicks crashed over. Muller missed the conversion, giving the Ghosts a 20-6 lead.

Percy was binned soon after and the Roosters exploited the numbers advantage to score their second try.

Hard working back rower Owen Harris twisted out of an attempted tackle close to the line and was able to crash over near the posts. The conversion made it 20-12 and there was a hint of a Roosters come back in the wind.

But the Ghosts snuffed it with an attacking raid that ended in a try when winger Merrick Skinner dived onto a grubber kick in the in-goal to

For the Ghosts Cameron never stopped working in the middle of

Prop forward Adam Slater made some massive hits, but gave away a few careless penalties.

Percy, on his 30th birthday, also had a strong game in a hard working Ghosts forward pack.

The Ghosts are at home again on Sunday against Woolgoolga

The South Grafton Rebels were again denied a game when their match against Macksville, at Macksville, was called off due to the state of the ground.

The Rebels face a tough ask on Sunday, travelling to Coffs Harbour for a game against the Comets, not have played 40-14 at the start of the month.

Hessions Auto Parts Grafton Speedway is set to farewell the 2021-22 season this Saturday afternoon and headlining the action is going to be two NSW Titles held for both Production Sedans. Sedans, their NSW Title has attracted an impressive list of drivers from the host state, as well as interstate visitors from Queensland and Victoria.

The defending NSW Title holder is Queenslander Aidan Raymont, but the 2013 Australian Champion is unfortunately unable to compete due to race car damage, so fellow exAustralian Champions Victorians Kye Walters (2019) and Mark Carlin (2009, 2014 and 2015) and local Max Clarke (2011) head in as the main favourites.

For the majority of the nominated drivers, this Saturday afternoon the 440-metre Grafton Speedway track. The NSW Title for the Production Sedans is a late addition to the Grafton Speedway the recent cancellation of the event earlier this month at Dubbo’s Morris Park Speedway due to the wet weather.

This is going to be the second season in a row that Grafton Speedway has hosted the class’s NSW Title event. Due to the late addition of the NSW Production Sedan Title, the $3,000 Race of Champions event for the class has been rescheduled to next season.

Last season’s NSW Title winner Joel Berkley is back to try and make it backto-back NSW Title successes up against Joining the Queenslandbased Berkley as frontrunning contenders will be the likes of current Queensland Champion Daniel Henshaw, three-time Queensland Champion Chris Pagel (Qld), Stuart Fawcett (NSW), youngster Jaiden Healey (NSW) and local hard chargers Jordan Biviano and Daniel Bridge.

Aside from the two NSW Titles, making up the afternoon’s action will be the RSA Street Northern Rivers Rumble Series round, as well as RSA Four Cylinder Sedans, RSA Junior Sedans and the return of the Legend Cars.

Grafton Speedway would like to thank Hessions Auto Parts for their 2021-22 season support, which is their third season in a row as the track’s naming-right’s sponsor. Based in Grafton, along with their second store location in nearby Coffs Harbour, Hessions Auto Parts stock parts and accessories at competitive prices.

For more on Hessions Auto Parts, contact them on 02 6642 3085 (Grafton) and 02 5645 6361 (Coffs Harbour) or visit their website, www.hessionsautoparts. com.au. EVENT INFO: Adults: $30 Pensioners (age and TPI): $25 High School Children (with student card): $20 Children (Under 12): $10 Children (Under 5): FREE Family (two adults and two children): $70

The racing is set to begin at 3pm and the gates will open at 1pm. Grafton Speedway, which is part of the Grafton Showground, is at 208 Prince Street, Grafton. For more, contact Grafton Speedway promoter Mick Corbett on 0427 310 009. You can also visit their website at www. graftonspeedway.com. au or LIKE them on Facebook by searching Grafton Speedway.

July racing carnival to launch

TIM HOWARD

With a little over six weeks to go before the 2022 Grafton July Racing Carnival kicks off on July 3, the time has come to award the naming rights for the signature race of the event, the Grafton Cup.

Since 2006 naming rights have come from the members of the Kensei Club, named after the 1987 Grafton Cup winner, who went on to win the Melbourne Cup in the same year.

On Saturday the seven members of the club, local business people and race club backers, will gather at the Grafton Racecourse for the 2022 Kensei Club Dinner Draw and launch of the 2022 July Racing Carnival.

Clarence River Jockey Michael Beattie will host the event.

Beattie said racing in the area has come through the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in relatively good shape.

He admitted that club membership falling to seven was not ideal, but all were longterm members who had maintained their involvement over many years.

“It’s become a more exclusive club,” Beattie said. “Whereas in years where you might have a one in chance of winning the naming rights to the Grafton Cup, this year the odds are a lot better.”

He said it was important for local racing that the Kensei Club stayed viable.

“The simple fact the seven local businesses have maintained their membership during the had over the past couple of years tells you it’s something people value,” he said.

He said keeping it going kept a sense of normality in local racing despite the recent tough times.

Beattie said the Kensei Club’s attraction was not limited to the major prize, awarding the winner naming rights to that year’s Grafton Cup.

“There are a lot of other minor prizes that offer hospitality opportunities for business through the year,” he said.

These included included a race sponsorships for weekend races and hospitality marquees for major racing events.

“Membership of the Kensei Club has proved to be a good value vehicle for members to offer hospitality sponsorships,” Beattie said.

The Kensei Club Dinner has another attraction, Beattie said.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “The actual draw is an event we call The Kensei Cup.

“It’s done using Uno cards and based on an old racing game called Race the Ace.

“Instead of just drawing a name out of a hat, there’s a bit more enjoyment and suspense.”

Sports results

Ballina Mahjong 20th May 2022

Shirley Atkinson 1, Jan Rhodes 2,Joy Lowien 3, Shirley Coleman 4, Lorna Simpson 5, Jan Small 6, Ronda Taylor 7, Coral Lavelle 8, Lisa Wong 9, Sally Lowry 10, Kath Hubbard 11, Margaret Cusack 12, Diana Auret 13, Jan Boardman 14, Shirley Henry 15, Gladys D’Anna 16, Margaret Bryant, Pauline Kearney 17, June Grebert 19, Pauline Bolte 20, Pam Farrell 21, Bev Lasater 22.

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 Women’s Bowls

D. Skinner, J. Creighton (sub), J. Cooke, N. Moran & A. James

Fours Club Champions for 2022

couldn’t be played this week, it will be played next Wednesday 25/5/22.

Results from Wednesday Social Bowls 18/5: Winners for the day were: C. Doyle, J. Creighton & K. Jonsson def C. Doyle, R. Skirrey & I. Watson

The other rink winner was: A. Williams & D. Skinner def J. Carthew & C. Haynes

Results of Friday 20/5: Winners for the day were: J. Dwyer & A. McLean def A. Williams & N. Moran

The other rink winner was: C. Haynes & D. Skinner def J. Carthew & A. James June.

Cherry Street Bowls Club

Ballina 2022 Singles Championships

27/4 Qtr Finals L. Morton d S. Gordon, J.Rhodes d E.Bosworth, S.Skennar d K.Albany, H.McDonnell d P.Johns. 30/4 Semi- Finals H.McDonnell d S.Skennar 10/5/22 L.Morton d J.Rhodes 21-22/5/22 Final - Congratulations to the Winner Hayley McDonnell and to the Runner-up Lyn Morton 25-22.

Evans Head Women’s Bowls Club

Major Singles - First Round played 11-05-22

J. Fernance defeated K. Townsend.

Quarter Finals played 18-05-22 - J. Fernance defeated S. Smith. G. Marczan defeated V. Hart. S. Downs defeated P. Freeman. T. Cselka defeated K. Hickey.

Ladies Social Day - 04-05-22 - Highest Score - Winners - K. Townsend, K. Hickey, A. Peel. 11-05-22 - Closest Margin - Winners - B. Parkes, K. Hickey.