Hunter Sports Magazine #1 May 2016

Page 1

fr ee

HUNTER

sports may 2016

Lunch with Leisel reveals highs and lows

On your marks Runners race in to Hunter events

Stars of the ice prepare for AIHL title defence

maroon mentors in

test t u b e d h u n t e r s p o r t s m a g . c o m . a u


contents

news & views

road to rio.......................20

Award creates new pathway to

professional career Northern NSW fooballers could be highlighted as the ones to watch under a new initiative giving players a shot at the big time.

news.................................................................................. 3

8

health & fitness

Welcome to the first edition of

Hunter Sports Magazine. feature.........................................................................10 netball.........................................................................12 knights...........................................................................13 cricket......................................................................... 14

15

ice hockey

in profile.....................................................................16 jets...................................................................................17 in pictures..................................................................18 history......................................................................... 22 harness racing...................................................24 community..............................................................25 events.......................................................................... 26

kitted out

28

junior sport.......................................................... 30 on the couch.......................................................34

The Hunter has a rich sporting history and a thriving sporting culture. We’re a breeding ground for the best of the best – from Olympians and Paralympians to league legends, surfing success stories and golfing greats; producing everything from athletes who shine on the track and field or in the pool, to those who blaze their way across the finishing line on two wheels or four. The Hunter is also home to an amazing array of sporting opportunities for professionals and amateurs alike, from top quality seasonal competitions to first class annual or one‑off events. Each week, hundreds of thousands of people across the region either strap on their sporting kit or stand on the sidelines cheering on those who have. And now the Hunter is home to a free monthly magazine dedicated to the region’s vibrant community of players and punters, sports fans and followers. Hunter Sports Magazine is committed to showcasing those sports (of all sorts) being played

in the Hunter, as well as Hunter sportspeople carving out names for themselves across the region and around the world. Each month the magazine will feature everything from the latest news and product reviews to profiles of your favourite personalities (or those you’re sure to hear more about) and previews of the most exciting upcoming sporting events in the Hunter. There will also be health and fitness tips, junior sports stories, the latest news from the Jets, the Knights as well as stunning photography and even a competition or two! We’re always looking for great stories to cover as well, so drop us a line at editor@ huntersportsmag.com.au, log on to www.huntersportsmag.com. au, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We know you love your sport - and we hope you like what we’re doing at Hunter Sports Magazine too! Cheers, Michelle Meehan

Website: www.huntersportsmag.com.au Editor: Michelle Meehan, 0438 325 303, editor@huntersportsmag.com.au Advertising inquiries: advertise@ huntersportsmag.com.au Cover photography: Image courtesy of the NRL. Graphic Design: Jason Higgs 2

Contributors: Shannon Noud, Josh Sim, Valentine Sports Photography, Gleeso’s Photos, Lisa Mills, Ethos Health, Hunter Healthy Spines, Newcastle Knights, Newcastle Jets, Swimming Australia Ltd, Wulos, Mossy & Robbo. Publisher: Michelle Meehan Media, Po Box 3358 Thornton NSW 2322

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Published monthly by Michelle Meehan Media. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint or quote excerpt must be obtained by contacting the publisher. All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented however Hunter Sports Magazine and Michelle Meehan Media accept no liability for any damage or loss that has occurred or may occur as a result of any statement, information or advice contained within this magazine.

The PlayStation 4 Player Pathway Award will add another element to the fourth season of the National Premier Leagues competition.

aged 16-20 from each of the eight PS4 NPL Member Federations will be invited to a Player Pathway Award Camp later in the year.

The aim of the award is to uncover some of Australia’s hidden football talent, who could go on to become Hyundai A-League stars of tomorrow.

The players will be chosen by a 3-2-1 basis at the halfway point of the season by the technical directors of each NPL club, who will be given a list of all eligible players from within their

The top three players

Some of the Newcastle Knights players involved in the ambassador program don their allocated district club colours.

NRL players going back to their roots A co-ordinated approach to promoting rugby league in the Hunter will see Newcastle Knights players act as ambassadors for the region’s eight first grade clubs. The NRL players will work with the clubs to as part of a partnership between the Newcastle Knights and the Newcastle Rugby League, taking part in everything from club events to school visits and a training session with affiliate junior clubs. The ambassadors were revealed at Newcastle

Fox Sports presenter Adam Peacock will front a show called The Ones to Watch.

Member Federation to vote on. Representatives from all Hyundai A-League clubs will be invited to attend the camp, providing an opportunity for them to potentially scout new talent. As official spokesperson

for the award, Fox Sports presenter Adam Peacock will front a new show called The Ones to Watch, where he will follow some of the NPL stars on their journey through the Player Pathway Award. The show will air on Fox Sports as part of their broadcast of the Westfield FFA Cup.

from the Kurri Kurri to the Newcastle Knights – but he was back in his former strip at the launch after being named as one of the Bulldogs’ ambassadors.

the broader football community benefits from a more effective Newcastle RL / Newcastle Knights partnership,” he said.

Other players linking up with former clubs include Kade Snowden (Lakes United), Brock Lamb (Maitland), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Souths) and Jarrod Mullen (Wests).

Knights NSW Cup Coach and Community Rugby League Manager Matt Lantry said it was great to see a united approach to promoting the code in the area.

Newcastle Rugby League CEO Matt Harris said they were taking a more co-ordinated and collaborative approach to the Ambassador Program this year.

“This is a great opportunity for the game to have one approach of enhancing rugby league in Newcastle across the three core areas of local schools, junior and district clubs,” he said.

“This will ensure that

Rugby League’s official season launch last month, with many of the Knights players returning to familiar stomping grounds under the allocation. It’s been just over a season since utility back Nathan Ross swapped one red and blue jersey for another when he made the move huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

3


contents

news & views

road to rio.......................20

Award creates new pathway to

professional career Northern NSW fooballers could be highlighted as the ones to watch under a new initiative giving players a shot at the big time.

news.................................................................................. 3

8

health & fitness

Welcome to the first edition of

Hunter Sports Magazine. feature.........................................................................10 netball.........................................................................12 knights...........................................................................13 cricket......................................................................... 14

15

ice hockey

in profile.....................................................................16 jets...................................................................................17 in pictures..................................................................18 history......................................................................... 22 harness racing...................................................24 community..............................................................25 events.......................................................................... 26

kitted out

28

junior sport.......................................................... 30 on the couch.......................................................34

The Hunter has a rich sporting history and a thriving sporting culture. We’re a breeding ground for the best of the best – from Olympians and Paralympians to league legends, surfing success stories and golfing greats; producing everything from athletes who shine on the track and field or in the pool, to those who blaze their way across the finishing line on two wheels or four. The Hunter is also home to an amazing array of sporting opportunities for professionals and amateurs alike, from top quality seasonal competitions to first class annual or one‑off events. Each week, hundreds of thousands of people across the region either strap on their sporting kit or stand on the sidelines cheering on those who have. And now the Hunter is home to a free monthly magazine dedicated to the region’s vibrant community of players and punters, sports fans and followers. Hunter Sports Magazine is committed to showcasing those sports (of all sorts) being played

in the Hunter, as well as Hunter sportspeople carving out names for themselves across the region and around the world. Each month the magazine will feature everything from the latest news and product reviews to profiles of your favourite personalities (or those you’re sure to hear more about) and previews of the most exciting upcoming sporting events in the Hunter. There will also be health and fitness tips, junior sports stories, the latest news from the Jets, the Knights as well as stunning photography and even a competition or two! We’re always looking for great stories to cover as well, so drop us a line at editor@ huntersportsmag.com.au, log on to www.huntersportsmag.com. au, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We know you love your sport - and we hope you like what we’re doing at Hunter Sports Magazine too! Cheers, Michelle Meehan

Website: www.huntersportsmag.com.au Editor: Michelle Meehan, 0438 325 303, editor@huntersportsmag.com.au Advertising inquiries: advertise@ huntersportsmag.com.au Cover photography: Image courtesy of the NRL. Graphic Design: Jason Higgs 2

Contributors: Shannon Noud, Josh Sim, Valentine Sports Photography, Gleeso’s Photos, Lisa Mills, Ethos Health, Hunter Healthy Spines, Newcastle Knights, Newcastle Jets, Swimming Australia Ltd, Wulos, Mossy & Robbo. Publisher: Michelle Meehan Media, Po Box 3358 Thornton NSW 2322

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Published monthly by Michelle Meehan Media. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint or quote excerpt must be obtained by contacting the publisher. All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented however Hunter Sports Magazine and Michelle Meehan Media accept no liability for any damage or loss that has occurred or may occur as a result of any statement, information or advice contained within this magazine.

The PlayStation 4 Player Pathway Award will add another element to the fourth season of the National Premier Leagues competition.

aged 16-20 from each of the eight PS4 NPL Member Federations will be invited to a Player Pathway Award Camp later in the year.

The aim of the award is to uncover some of Australia’s hidden football talent, who could go on to become Hyundai A-League stars of tomorrow.

The players will be chosen by a 3-2-1 basis at the halfway point of the season by the technical directors of each NPL club, who will be given a list of all eligible players from within their

The top three players

Some of the Newcastle Knights players involved in the ambassador program don their allocated district club colours.

NRL players going back to their roots A co-ordinated approach to promoting rugby league in the Hunter will see Newcastle Knights players act as ambassadors for the region’s eight first grade clubs. The NRL players will work with the clubs to as part of a partnership between the Newcastle Knights and the Newcastle Rugby League, taking part in everything from club events to school visits and a training session with affiliate junior clubs. The ambassadors were revealed at Newcastle

Fox Sports presenter Adam Peacock will front a show called The Ones to Watch.

Member Federation to vote on. Representatives from all Hyundai A-League clubs will be invited to attend the camp, providing an opportunity for them to potentially scout new talent. As official spokesperson

for the award, Fox Sports presenter Adam Peacock will front a new show called The Ones to Watch, where he will follow some of the NPL stars on their journey through the Player Pathway Award. The show will air on Fox Sports as part of their broadcast of the Westfield FFA Cup.

from the Kurri Kurri to the Newcastle Knights – but he was back in his former strip at the launch after being named as one of the Bulldogs’ ambassadors.

the broader football community benefits from a more effective Newcastle RL / Newcastle Knights partnership,” he said.

Other players linking up with former clubs include Kade Snowden (Lakes United), Brock Lamb (Maitland), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Souths) and Jarrod Mullen (Wests).

Knights NSW Cup Coach and Community Rugby League Manager Matt Lantry said it was great to see a united approach to promoting the code in the area.

Newcastle Rugby League CEO Matt Harris said they were taking a more co-ordinated and collaborative approach to the Ambassador Program this year.

“This is a great opportunity for the game to have one approach of enhancing rugby league in Newcastle across the three core areas of local schools, junior and district clubs,” he said.

“This will ensure that

Rugby League’s official season launch last month, with many of the Knights players returning to familiar stomping grounds under the allocation. It’s been just over a season since utility back Nathan Ross swapped one red and blue jersey for another when he made the move huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

3


news & views

news & views

Former Wallabies celebrate

Former Wallaby Adam Freir.

Hunter rugby milestone

Newcastle at the one time. The April 22 event also saw the club award life memberships to stalwarts Tom Maddern, John Miner and Tim Morton.

The club was established in April 1996 by a group of rugby enthusiasts as a way of supporting and growing the sport of rugby union in Newcastle and the Hunter. Club chairman Bruce Cook said it was a fantastic coup to have so many former Australian players in

Cook said he could not think of three more deserving members to be given the club’s inaugural life memberships. “Tom, John and Tim have been with the club since it was founded in 1996 and all have been heavily

4

A series of key performance indicators have been created for

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

It is the first time a round of one of Asia’s premier motorcycle competitions will be held in Australia, with the event secured exclusively for Newcastle by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW. The 2016 FIM Asia Supermoto Championships will be a four round series consisting of the top 20 Asian Supermoto riders, combining on-and-off road elements on specially designed tracks.

“The three have served on the club committee for significant periods and made outstanding contributions.”

Helping increase the Newcastle Jets’ fan base and lifting the number of local players in national squads are among the key aims of a new strategic plan unveiled by Northern NSW Football.

NNSWF CEO David Eland said it was “imperative” that Northern NSW’s efforts “reflect and complement those of FFA at a national level”.

the first event taking off on a specially designed course to be set up around Newcastle‘s Foreshore Park during September 3 and 4.

involved in the Hawthorne Club being a major contributor to rugby in the region and raising more than $600,000 in support of various rugby programs,” he said.

kick new goals

“We will be focused on four key areas: connect more fans with the Newcastle Jets – Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League; improve the experience for all participants; build generations of successful National Teams; and lead towards a unity of purpose, with each of these reflecting the direction taken by the FFA,” he said.

He said it would likely be “one of the biggest motorsport events in Australia this year”.

The city has been named as host of the Australian round of the FIM Asia Supermoto Championships for the next three years, with

Governing body aims to

The sport’s governing body in the Hunter Region has set out its main aims for the next four years, echoing the goals contained within Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) recently released 2016-19 Strategic Plan.

The Hunter’s reputation as a hotbed for motorsport action has been confirmed with news that some of the world’s best riders will roar into Newcastle during September.

align in Newcastle

Some of Australia’s best rugby union representatives have helped one club celebrate two decades of supporting the sport in the Hunter. Former Australian hookers Adam Freier (pictured), Jeremy Paul and Tom Lawton were joined by teammate and prop, Topo Rodriquez, and the current Wallabies forward coach, Mario Ledesma in Newcastle last month to celebrate the Hawthorne Club’s 20th anniversary.

Supermoto stars

Local motorsport identity Graeme Boyd, who owns Graeme Boyd Motorcycles in Islington, had spent a long time lobbying for an event of this calibre to be held in Newcastle.

Iskandar Shahril, Andrew Ching, Sathes Mayachandran, Nuatali Nelmes, Stuart Ayres; Graeme Boyd and Warren Watson.

A ? L D A E O NE AINING G TR

bike ing your c a r , s e n ation’s sand du oss the n tacular r c c e a p s g t in s m look mo tralia’s , or swim ou, then s n y u o io A t g s e e s c r o n e g acr experie e event. ous win If runnin a great ultimat rld-fam e o e k h w t li r a s d h fo n u er throug rbour so no furth king ha r o w t s busie

each area, with the bar being set high by NNSWF. They include the aim of making at least 80 per cent of the registered players and 70 per cent of registered stakeholders in NNSW identify as Newcastle Jets fans; increasing the number of players to 70,000, with 25 per cent of those being female; and ensuring that all relevant national squads feature players who were identified and developed in NNSW.

ER

UNTD H E H T S HA U COVERE IN YO

com.au . s t n e v he

Find us

book

on Face

Y 2 91 6 M A 20

CE: NEXT RA er & Riv Levee

For

12km 8km & , m k Run: 4 itland ic Ma r o t s i e of h eshor

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

 (02) 4934 8138 5


news & views

news & views

Former Wallabies celebrate

Former Wallaby Adam Freir.

Hunter rugby milestone

Newcastle at the one time. The April 22 event also saw the club award life memberships to stalwarts Tom Maddern, John Miner and Tim Morton.

The club was established in April 1996 by a group of rugby enthusiasts as a way of supporting and growing the sport of rugby union in Newcastle and the Hunter. Club chairman Bruce Cook said it was a fantastic coup to have so many former Australian players in

Cook said he could not think of three more deserving members to be given the club’s inaugural life memberships. “Tom, John and Tim have been with the club since it was founded in 1996 and all have been heavily

4

A series of key performance indicators have been created for

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

It is the first time a round of one of Asia’s premier motorcycle competitions will be held in Australia, with the event secured exclusively for Newcastle by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW. The 2016 FIM Asia Supermoto Championships will be a four round series consisting of the top 20 Asian Supermoto riders, combining on-and-off road elements on specially designed tracks.

“The three have served on the club committee for significant periods and made outstanding contributions.”

Helping increase the Newcastle Jets’ fan base and lifting the number of local players in national squads are among the key aims of a new strategic plan unveiled by Northern NSW Football.

NNSWF CEO David Eland said it was “imperative” that Northern NSW’s efforts “reflect and complement those of FFA at a national level”.

the first event taking off on a specially designed course to be set up around Newcastle‘s Foreshore Park during September 3 and 4.

involved in the Hawthorne Club being a major contributor to rugby in the region and raising more than $600,000 in support of various rugby programs,” he said.

kick new goals

“We will be focused on four key areas: connect more fans with the Newcastle Jets – Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League; improve the experience for all participants; build generations of successful National Teams; and lead towards a unity of purpose, with each of these reflecting the direction taken by the FFA,” he said.

He said it would likely be “one of the biggest motorsport events in Australia this year”.

The city has been named as host of the Australian round of the FIM Asia Supermoto Championships for the next three years, with

Governing body aims to

The sport’s governing body in the Hunter Region has set out its main aims for the next four years, echoing the goals contained within Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) recently released 2016-19 Strategic Plan.

The Hunter’s reputation as a hotbed for motorsport action has been confirmed with news that some of the world’s best riders will roar into Newcastle during September.

align in Newcastle

Some of Australia’s best rugby union representatives have helped one club celebrate two decades of supporting the sport in the Hunter. Former Australian hookers Adam Freier (pictured), Jeremy Paul and Tom Lawton were joined by teammate and prop, Topo Rodriquez, and the current Wallabies forward coach, Mario Ledesma in Newcastle last month to celebrate the Hawthorne Club’s 20th anniversary.

Supermoto stars

Local motorsport identity Graeme Boyd, who owns Graeme Boyd Motorcycles in Islington, had spent a long time lobbying for an event of this calibre to be held in Newcastle.

Iskandar Shahril, Andrew Ching, Sathes Mayachandran, Nuatali Nelmes, Stuart Ayres; Graeme Boyd and Warren Watson.

A ? L D A E O NE AINING G TR

bike ing your c a r , s e n ation’s sand du oss the n tacular r c c e a p s g t in s m look mo tralia’s , or swim ou, then s n y u o io A t g s e e s c r o n e g acr experie e event. ous win If runnin a great ultimat rld-fam e o e k h w t li r a s d h fo n u er throug rbour so no furth king ha r o w t s busie

each area, with the bar being set high by NNSWF. They include the aim of making at least 80 per cent of the registered players and 70 per cent of registered stakeholders in NNSW identify as Newcastle Jets fans; increasing the number of players to 70,000, with 25 per cent of those being female; and ensuring that all relevant national squads feature players who were identified and developed in NNSW.

ER

UNTD H E H T S HA U COVERE IN YO

com.au . s t n e v he

Find us

book

on Face

Y 2 91 6 M A 20

CE: NEXT RA er & Riv Levee

For

12km 8km & , m k Run: 4 itland ic Ma r o t s i e of h eshor

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

 (02) 4934 8138 5


news & views

news & views

Watering to the

weather

An irrigation system that adjusts to weather conditions is performing well above par at one Hunter golf course. Since installing the new system with a $15,000 grant from Hunter Water in 2014, Merewether Golf Club has cut its annual drinking water usage from 21 million litres to zero. Merewether Golf Club General Manager David Grime said water has always been one of the club’s greatest costs because of the need to provide golfers with firm, healthy greens and fairways all year round. “Until recently we were like many other golf clubs in Australia, controlling our irrigation on

Merewether Golf Club General Manager David Grime showing the new irrigation system to Hunter Water Interim CEO Jeremy Bath.

Players on the move as Jets look ahead to next season The end of the A-League season has also signaled the start of a flurry of signings and departures for the Newcastle Jets. The team finished eighth on the ladder with just eight wins for 2015/16. But they will head towards the new season buoyed with the retention of impressive import Morten Nordstrand for another year.

Newcastle Jets import Morten Nordstrand has resigned with the club.

timers that didn’t take into account unexpected rain,” he said. “The smart irrigation technology allows us total control of how much water is used on what part of the course and under what conditions by programming through a computerised system that integrates rainfall and evapotranspiration readings. “By irrigating smarter we have been able to use only water from our dams, saving the Club tens of thousands of dollars on irrigating our 38 hectare course.” international provided a late season spark for the Jets after linking up with the team in January. He scored four goals in eight starts for Newcastle, including a 53rd minute stunner at Hunter Stadium against Wellington Phoenix – his first for the club - which earned him the Jets Goal of the Season trophy. The Jets are still in negotiations with a raft of off-season players but others such as Enver Alivodic, Leonardo, Cameron Watson, Ryan Kitto, Brandon Lundy and Josh Barresi have all been confirmed as departing the club.

The former Denmark

Lucky punters weren’t the only ones cheering when Clearly Innocent was first past the post in the final of the Country Championships. Rod Thompson nominating the charity as part of the challenge.

The windfall came courtesy of TAB, with Scone Advocate editor 6

TAB also donated $500 to each of the other charities nominated as part of the challenge, including Muswellbrook Relay for Life. A similar promotion was held in

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Expo shines light

on sport’s level

playing field

H

eld at The Forum at the University of Newcastle on March 18 and 19, the event put the focus firmly on the level playing field created by sport and the opportunities that were available for people of all abilities. Students from eight different schools in the Hunter, Central Coast and Taree regions were given the opportunity on the Friday to try their hand at 11 different disciplines and mix it with Paralympians and Australian representatives such as David Hall (wheelchair tennis), Sarah Stewart (wheelchair basketball), Rheed McCracken (track and field) and Andrew Edmondson (wheelchair rugby).

Nickel, who won gold for Australia at the UCI Para-Cycling World Cup and World Championship in Germany and Switzerland last year, said it was a fantastic event that would help raise the profile of the sports available for people with a disability. Event organiser Sean Hannaford, who is the Regional Sports Development Officer (Northern) for Wheelchair Sports NSW, said the expo had offered an unique opportunity, especially for the visiting school children. “These kids are going up to that level of elite athlete and playing some sport, their first contact in that sport is one of the best in the world in that sport,” he said.

“To be able to do that on a one-onone basis and be charged a gold coin donation (for entry) is an opportunity that isn’t available anywhere else. “It’s phenomenal that these athletes can take time out of their training schedules - that’s how willing they are to give back to their community and get more people involved in the grassroots of sport.”

The sports on show included adaptive cricket, NRL, lawn bowls, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball, boccia, archery, fencing, handcycling, track and road and wheelchair rugby.

Racing windfall for men’s shed

Victory for the Greg Bennett trained gelding also secured $5000 for the Aberdeen Men’s Shed as part of the 2016 TAB Country & Provincial Editors’ Challenge.

The inclusive nature of sport was on show in Newcastle when a host of Paralympians took time out from their training schedules to take part in the inaugural Hunter Disability Sports Expo.

conjunction with the Provincial Championships Final and while the main prize headed south to Wollongong, the Mark Hughes Foundation also received the $500 consolation donation after being nominated by the Newcastle Herald.

The event was opened up to the general public on Saturday and featured a wheelchair basketball inclusion match that saw a number of top level athletes including captain of the Australian Paralympic team and Novocastrian Kurt Fearnley compete against able-bodied representatives from some of the event’s sponsors including Ability Links, Achieve Australia and Hunter Water. Newcastle handcycler Grant huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

7


news & views

news & views

Watering to the

weather

An irrigation system that adjusts to weather conditions is performing well above par at one Hunter golf course. Since installing the new system with a $15,000 grant from Hunter Water in 2014, Merewether Golf Club has cut its annual drinking water usage from 21 million litres to zero. Merewether Golf Club General Manager David Grime said water has always been one of the club’s greatest costs because of the need to provide golfers with firm, healthy greens and fairways all year round. “Until recently we were like many other golf clubs in Australia, controlling our irrigation on

Merewether Golf Club General Manager David Grime showing the new irrigation system to Hunter Water Interim CEO Jeremy Bath.

Players on the move as Jets look ahead to next season The end of the A-League season has also signaled the start of a flurry of signings and departures for the Newcastle Jets. The team finished eighth on the ladder with just eight wins for 2015/16. But they will head towards the new season buoyed with the retention of impressive import Morten Nordstrand for another year.

Newcastle Jets import Morten Nordstrand has resigned with the club.

timers that didn’t take into account unexpected rain,” he said. “The smart irrigation technology allows us total control of how much water is used on what part of the course and under what conditions by programming through a computerised system that integrates rainfall and evapotranspiration readings. “By irrigating smarter we have been able to use only water from our dams, saving the Club tens of thousands of dollars on irrigating our 38 hectare course.” international provided a late season spark for the Jets after linking up with the team in January. He scored four goals in eight starts for Newcastle, including a 53rd minute stunner at Hunter Stadium against Wellington Phoenix – his first for the club - which earned him the Jets Goal of the Season trophy. The Jets are still in negotiations with a raft of off-season players but others such as Enver Alivodic, Leonardo, Cameron Watson, Ryan Kitto, Brandon Lundy and Josh Barresi have all been confirmed as departing the club.

The former Denmark

Lucky punters weren’t the only ones cheering when Clearly Innocent was first past the post in the final of the Country Championships. Rod Thompson nominating the charity as part of the challenge.

The windfall came courtesy of TAB, with Scone Advocate editor 6

TAB also donated $500 to each of the other charities nominated as part of the challenge, including Muswellbrook Relay for Life. A similar promotion was held in

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Expo shines light

on sport’s level

playing field

H

eld at The Forum at the University of Newcastle on March 18 and 19, the event put the focus firmly on the level playing field created by sport and the opportunities that were available for people of all abilities. Students from eight different schools in the Hunter, Central Coast and Taree regions were given the opportunity on the Friday to try their hand at 11 different disciplines and mix it with Paralympians and Australian representatives such as David Hall (wheelchair tennis), Sarah Stewart (wheelchair basketball), Rheed McCracken (track and field) and Andrew Edmondson (wheelchair rugby).

Nickel, who won gold for Australia at the UCI Para-Cycling World Cup and World Championship in Germany and Switzerland last year, said it was a fantastic event that would help raise the profile of the sports available for people with a disability. Event organiser Sean Hannaford, who is the Regional Sports Development Officer (Northern) for Wheelchair Sports NSW, said the expo had offered an unique opportunity, especially for the visiting school children. “These kids are going up to that level of elite athlete and playing some sport, their first contact in that sport is one of the best in the world in that sport,” he said.

“To be able to do that on a one-onone basis and be charged a gold coin donation (for entry) is an opportunity that isn’t available anywhere else. “It’s phenomenal that these athletes can take time out of their training schedules - that’s how willing they are to give back to their community and get more people involved in the grassroots of sport.”

The sports on show included adaptive cricket, NRL, lawn bowls, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball, boccia, archery, fencing, handcycling, track and road and wheelchair rugby.

Racing windfall for men’s shed

Victory for the Greg Bennett trained gelding also secured $5000 for the Aberdeen Men’s Shed as part of the 2016 TAB Country & Provincial Editors’ Challenge.

The inclusive nature of sport was on show in Newcastle when a host of Paralympians took time out from their training schedules to take part in the inaugural Hunter Disability Sports Expo.

conjunction with the Provincial Championships Final and while the main prize headed south to Wollongong, the Mark Hughes Foundation also received the $500 consolation donation after being nominated by the Newcastle Herald.

The event was opened up to the general public on Saturday and featured a wheelchair basketball inclusion match that saw a number of top level athletes including captain of the Australian Paralympic team and Novocastrian Kurt Fearnley compete against able-bodied representatives from some of the event’s sponsors including Ability Links, Achieve Australia and Hunter Water. Newcastle handcycler Grant huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

7


health & fitness

health & fitness

Recipe of the month:

Gluten Free Granola Looking for a way to start the day that tastes great and is good for you? Why not whip up a batch of this gluten free granola for a breakfast you can’t beat! INGREDIENTS: 200g mixed unsalted nuts (eg. almonds, brazil, macadamia) 1 cup quinoa flakes or buckwheat groats (get from health food aisle) 1/2 cup shredded coconut 1/4 cup rice syrup 1/4 coconut oil 1 tbs ground cinnamon Pinch of sea salt DIRECTIONS: 1. Heat the oven to 180 degrees. Combine the nuts, quinoa or buckwheat, coconut, cinnamon and salt in a food processor and pulse for a few seconds to chop the nuts.

2. In a small bowl, combine the rice syrup and coconut oil and heat for 30 seconds in the microwave then mix in with the nuts.

Recipe courtesy of Lisa Mills Performance Coach www.facebook.com/ LisaMillsPerformanceCoach

4. Store in an airtight container - lasts in the fridge for up to a month. Serve with fresh fruit and yoghurt. Serving size is approx. 2/3 cup.

good medicine We all know that exercise or sport make us feel better, but few people really understand how. Yes, it helps children to develop movement skills, which lay the foundation for success in organised sport.

Article courtesy of Hunter Healthy Spines, www.hunterhealthyspines.com.au

Yes, it helps adults burn off stress, reduce tension and boost endorphins, the ‘feel good’ chemicals in the brain. In western society, we are moving less overall, which spells disaster for our heart and lungs, muscles, bone density and a range of other body functions. Sedentary habits have been linked to disease such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and many cancers. 8

Exercise helps us combat these diseases of modern living and enjoy better health. We are healthier and happier when we exercise, but the benefits go further than that. Harvard University psychiatrist Dr John Ratey says in his book Spark that “exercise is simply the most powerful tool you have to optimise your brain function”. The point of exercise is to build and condition the brain, and he explains

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

2. If indicated, referral for an x-ray.

An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues are overstretched beyond their normal length. This can overstretch ligaments and tendons, or injure the bone (in the form of a bone bruise or fracture). Most commonly, the ankle twists and the foot rolls inward, tearing the ligaments on the outside of the ankle.

3. Reduce your pain and swelling, and get you moving. You may temporarily need crutches or supports like a brace or moon boot to achieve this, which can be supplied by your physiotherapist.

• Early diagnosis by a physiotherapist or medical practitioner to decide whether an X-ray is required to rule out a fracture. Treatment and timelines for return to activity will vary according to which structure is injured.

that inactivity kills our brains … physically altering them. Exercise cues the building blocks of learning. It affects mood, anxiety and attention, guards against stress, and reverses some of the effects of aging in the brain. It can also help stave off the effects of hormonal changes. The brain responds like muscles do; growing with us, withering with inactivity. The neurons in the brain connect to one another on ‘tree like branches’ and exercise makes those branches grow and bloom with new bonds; enhancing brain function at a fundamental level. But how much exercise or movement do we need? Around 150-300 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous exercise, where you are puffing hard, find it hard to speak and are sweating. This applies to people of all ages - we don’t stop exercising because we get old, we get old because we stop exercising. Prior to embarking upon any new sport or fitness regime it’s a good idea to undergo an appraisal from a Health Professional trained in conducting functional movement assessments.

1. An accurate assessment and diagnosis of your injury, including timeframes for recovery.

What is an ankle sprain?

• Ice to limit swelling

Image courtesy of Flickr, Didriks

How can physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy for ankle sprains

How do I manage an ankle sprain?

3. Line a tray with baking paper and tip the granola mix onto it. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, take out and mix around then put back in the oven for another 10 minutes. Take out and leave to cool completely.

Exercise is

• Massage that is too deep can again increase swelling.

• Protection or partial immobilisation of the foot to restrict movement and aggravation of the injury.

• An active recovery to encourage movement of the foot and ankle within pain free range. Crutches, bracing, taping or a moon boot may be required. What not to do Simply follow the principles of no HARM in the first 2-3 days post injury;

4. Mobilise the ankle joint and prescribe exercises to help you recover your movement, strength and balance. 5. Provide you with sports-specific strategies to prevent the injury happening again!

• Heat: can increase swelling.

Ethos Health offers physiotherapy, dietetic and exercise physiology services from our Newcastle and Lake Macquarie practices. Call 4962 8700 for details or see www.ethoshealth.com.au

• Alcohol: widens small blood vessels, again increasing swelling. • Rigorous activity: high risk of further injury.

An app

a day for

fitness your way Want to improve your health, fitness and wellbeing without having to join a gym or hire a personal trainer? Then it’s time to take advantage of the digital world! Here are four fitness apps I recommend to include more movement in your day. TIME POOR? Use the Johnson and Johnson 7 Minute Workout App Perfect if you are short on time, the 7 minute workout is a great way to get your heart pumping and muscles working with a full body mix of exercises. With several pre-made routines and the choice to customise your own, this app

offers a solid workout you can to anywhere, any time. LOVE A COMPETITION? Use the Strava Running and Cycling App Complete against yourself to beat your best time or connect with other Strava enthusiasts and compete online! A BURNING DESIRE TO RUN? Use the Couch to 5k App This is perfect if you have always wanted to run but don’t know where to start. In 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week over a 9-week period you can go from a non-runner to a

Article courtesy of Lisa Mills www.facebook.com/ LisaMillsPerformanceCoach

5km running powerhouse! There are also versions if you want to do 10k, 21k and even a marathon! LOVE YOGA? Use the Yoga Studio App High intensity exercise isn’t always the best option for your body if you are stressed out or run down. Yoga is your solution here and this app is perfect because the classes range from 10-60 minutes, are of varying levels and even include meditation classes.

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

9


health & fitness

health & fitness

Recipe of the month:

Gluten Free Granola Looking for a way to start the day that tastes great and is good for you? Why not whip up a batch of this gluten free granola for a breakfast you can’t beat! INGREDIENTS: 200g mixed unsalted nuts (eg. almonds, brazil, macadamia) 1 cup quinoa flakes or buckwheat groats (get from health food aisle) 1/2 cup shredded coconut 1/4 cup rice syrup 1/4 coconut oil 1 tbs ground cinnamon Pinch of sea salt DIRECTIONS: 1. Heat the oven to 180 degrees. Combine the nuts, quinoa or buckwheat, coconut, cinnamon and salt in a food processor and pulse for a few seconds to chop the nuts.

2. In a small bowl, combine the rice syrup and coconut oil and heat for 30 seconds in the microwave then mix in with the nuts.

Recipe courtesy of Lisa Mills Performance Coach www.facebook.com/ LisaMillsPerformanceCoach

4. Store in an airtight container - lasts in the fridge for up to a month. Serve with fresh fruit and yoghurt. Serving size is approx. 2/3 cup.

good medicine We all know that exercise or sport make us feel better, but few people really understand how. Yes, it helps children to develop movement skills, which lay the foundation for success in organised sport.

Article courtesy of Hunter Healthy Spines, www.hunterhealthyspines.com.au

Yes, it helps adults burn off stress, reduce tension and boost endorphins, the ‘feel good’ chemicals in the brain. In western society, we are moving less overall, which spells disaster for our heart and lungs, muscles, bone density and a range of other body functions. Sedentary habits have been linked to disease such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and many cancers. 8

Exercise helps us combat these diseases of modern living and enjoy better health. We are healthier and happier when we exercise, but the benefits go further than that. Harvard University psychiatrist Dr John Ratey says in his book Spark that “exercise is simply the most powerful tool you have to optimise your brain function”. The point of exercise is to build and condition the brain, and he explains

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

2. If indicated, referral for an x-ray.

An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues are overstretched beyond their normal length. This can overstretch ligaments and tendons, or injure the bone (in the form of a bone bruise or fracture). Most commonly, the ankle twists and the foot rolls inward, tearing the ligaments on the outside of the ankle.

3. Reduce your pain and swelling, and get you moving. You may temporarily need crutches or supports like a brace or moon boot to achieve this, which can be supplied by your physiotherapist.

• Early diagnosis by a physiotherapist or medical practitioner to decide whether an X-ray is required to rule out a fracture. Treatment and timelines for return to activity will vary according to which structure is injured.

that inactivity kills our brains … physically altering them. Exercise cues the building blocks of learning. It affects mood, anxiety and attention, guards against stress, and reverses some of the effects of aging in the brain. It can also help stave off the effects of hormonal changes. The brain responds like muscles do; growing with us, withering with inactivity. The neurons in the brain connect to one another on ‘tree like branches’ and exercise makes those branches grow and bloom with new bonds; enhancing brain function at a fundamental level. But how much exercise or movement do we need? Around 150-300 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous exercise, where you are puffing hard, find it hard to speak and are sweating. This applies to people of all ages - we don’t stop exercising because we get old, we get old because we stop exercising. Prior to embarking upon any new sport or fitness regime it’s a good idea to undergo an appraisal from a Health Professional trained in conducting functional movement assessments.

1. An accurate assessment and diagnosis of your injury, including timeframes for recovery.

What is an ankle sprain?

• Ice to limit swelling

Image courtesy of Flickr, Didriks

How can physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy for ankle sprains

How do I manage an ankle sprain?

3. Line a tray with baking paper and tip the granola mix onto it. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, take out and mix around then put back in the oven for another 10 minutes. Take out and leave to cool completely.

Exercise is

• Massage that is too deep can again increase swelling.

• Protection or partial immobilisation of the foot to restrict movement and aggravation of the injury.

• An active recovery to encourage movement of the foot and ankle within pain free range. Crutches, bracing, taping or a moon boot may be required. What not to do Simply follow the principles of no HARM in the first 2-3 days post injury;

4. Mobilise the ankle joint and prescribe exercises to help you recover your movement, strength and balance. 5. Provide you with sports-specific strategies to prevent the injury happening again!

• Heat: can increase swelling.

Ethos Health offers physiotherapy, dietetic and exercise physiology services from our Newcastle and Lake Macquarie practices. Call 4962 8700 for details or see www.ethoshealth.com.au

• Alcohol: widens small blood vessels, again increasing swelling. • Rigorous activity: high risk of further injury.

An app

a day for

fitness your way Want to improve your health, fitness and wellbeing without having to join a gym or hire a personal trainer? Then it’s time to take advantage of the digital world! Here are four fitness apps I recommend to include more movement in your day. TIME POOR? Use the Johnson and Johnson 7 Minute Workout App Perfect if you are short on time, the 7 minute workout is a great way to get your heart pumping and muscles working with a full body mix of exercises. With several pre-made routines and the choice to customise your own, this app

offers a solid workout you can to anywhere, any time. LOVE A COMPETITION? Use the Strava Running and Cycling App Complete against yourself to beat your best time or connect with other Strava enthusiasts and compete online! A BURNING DESIRE TO RUN? Use the Couch to 5k App This is perfect if you have always wanted to run but don’t know where to start. In 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week over a 9-week period you can go from a non-runner to a

Article courtesy of Lisa Mills www.facebook.com/ LisaMillsPerformanceCoach

5km running powerhouse! There are also versions if you want to do 10k, 21k and even a marathon! LOVE YOGA? Use the Yoga Studio App High intensity exercise isn’t always the best option for your body if you are stressed out or run down. Yoga is your solution here and this app is perfect because the classes range from 10-60 minutes, are of varying levels and even include meditation classes.

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

9


Cover Feature

Cover Feature

fans turned up on that occasion. It’s a real shame we haven’t filled the stadium more often in the last few years, it’s a fantastic stadium and great facilities.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga and team manager Michael Hagan check out Hunter Stadium. Images courtesy of the NRL.

Testing

time

“The fact that the Kiwis are going well will really add to the occasion and the level of performance.

By Michelle Meehan

as Maroon mentors pull on the green and gold

It would be fair to say Mal Meninga worked a miracle during his 10-year tenure with the Queensland State of Origin team.

W

hen he took the reins in 2006 the team had lost three series in a row – yet at the end of his run Queensland had notched up an almost decadelong dominance of the state vs state competition. Under his watch they lost just one series (2014) out of 10, but even then charged back the year after that loss to re-take the shield with a recordbreaking 52-6 victory in game three. So it was little wonder selectors turned in his direction when looking to find someone to succeed Tim Sheens as the coach of the Kangaroos. Australia’s national team needs its own dose of miracle magic after a string of defeats saw them slip off the top of the rugby league world rankings last year. It is the first time since the standings were introduced that Australia hasn’t occupied the No.1 spot. Meninga will have his work cut out for him – but standing alongside him to help out on the way will be his State of Origin right-hand man Michael Hagan. The former premiership-winning Newcastle Knights mentor spent six years as assistant coach at the Maroons.

10

After ruling himself out of contention to re-take the top job when Meninga left (he previously coached Queensland in 20042005), Hagan will instead continue his journey in elite level league alongside Meninga after being appointed as team manager of the Kangaroos last month. In what he labelled as a part administration, part coaching role, Hagan will help out with team logistics as well as offer Meninga some level of support in guiding the players. “I’ve worked with Mal for a long time so I’m really happy to be involved (with the Kangaroos),” he said. “I guess my role will be a bit of a footy manager type of role, a little bit of coaching, a little bit of admin, which I’m more than happy to do. I had a long career as a coach and I enjoy that part of it but I think the administrator’s side of it appeals to me as well. “It’ll be a little bit around just the support for Mal and the team with respect to logistically what we need to do and where we need to go, but also a little bit of coaching as well in the lead-up to the first game. “It’s nearly an invitation-type

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

scenario to be involved in that team, so I think it’s quite an honour to be asked to be honest. I’m looking forward to the next challenge.” That challenge will begin close to home for Hagan this month when the Kangaroos converge on the Hunter for the first Test match of the year. To be held at Hunter Stadium on Friday, May 6, it will see the Aussies clash with the team that knocked them off the top of the world rankings – New Zealand – for the traditional trans-Tasman Test. It will be tough going for the Kangaroos to turn around their recent form against the Kiwis, who have beaten them in their last three meetings. But the team might be able to draw some inspiration from the last time the two met at Hunter Stadium in October, 2011, which saw the Australians trounce their rivals in a comprehensive 42-6 victory in front of a ground-record crowd of 32,890. Hagan hopes plenty of local rugby league fans will come out in support of the Kangaroos for the clash, which heads up the NRL’s Representative Round. “I think it will be a really good occasion, I think that the Hunter rugby league fans appreciate high standard games of footy,” he said.

“I think they’ve won the last three against Australia so there’s a fair bit of work to do in getting the Kangaroos re-established. “I know Mal sees that as a bit of a longer term plan with some of the senior players getting towards the end of their careers, so there’s some decisions that have to be made with players for this game and for the Four Nations at the end of the year and World Cup next year. “But I think it’s a good opportunity and a good time to be involved in that.” Hagan said part of the challenge facing Meninga and his team is the fact that playing for Australia no longer seems to mean what it used to. But changing the culture of a team is certainly something Meninga is good at.

“I think Mal will increase the profile and try and get the Kangaroos back on the agenda a bit more,” Hagan said. “If you think back to our time when we played, and I was never good enough to play for Australia, but everyone aspired to play for Australia. “I think in the last three, four, five years that has waned. “The influence of clubs has meant players have felt that they should go and get their injuries treated and repaired and they would basically give up the opportunity or the chance to play for Australia, which I think’s a real indictment on the game. “And the scheduling of our games and the workload on players, that’s why that’s happened. We’re still subjecting the high level players to way too many collisions and too many games every year. “So Mal’s going to have to work really hard on a whole range of things to re-establish the desire to want to play for your country again.” Changing that culture and preparing the team for the more immediate challenge of the transTasman Test will begin when the Kangaroos go into camp at Wests Mayfield on May 2. It will continue later in the year with the Four Nations tour to England and then it will be on to the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, to be held in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea between October 26 and December 2 next year. And Hagan can’t wait for the

journey to begin. “To be honest I reckon I’ve been absolutely blessed to be involved in a whole range of levels of our game,” he said. “From playing 30 years ago to coaching probably 15 years ago at a first grade level, to being asked to coach Queensland by Wayne Bennett a bit over 10 years ago. I’ve been asked to work with Mal with the Origin team, so I think I’ve been really fortunate to do and be involved in and around really good teams for a long time. “I didn’t really aspire to do any of those things but I think that’s just where the game’s taken me and I’m really happy that I get the opportunity to work with the Australian team and we get to travel to England and the end of the year and it’s another exciting chapter in what I’ve been able to do. “I’m thankful for those opportunities and I’m really looking forward to adding some value to Mal and the team.” The trans-Tasman Test will kick off at Hunter Stadium at 7.55pm on May 6. The match will be preceded by a curtain-raiser between the Australian Jillaroos and the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns. The NRL Representative Round will also include a Pacific Double Header featuring Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, as well as a match between the Junior Kangaroos and Junior Kiwis at Parramatta’s Pirtek Stadium on May 7. The AAMI Country v City match will cap off the round at Tamworth’s Scully Park on May 8.

Michael hagan’s rugby league career Playing: Club Canterbury-Bankstown: 19841988 Newcastle Knights: 1989-1993 Playing: Representative Queensland: 1988-1989 Coaching: Club Newcastle Knights: 2001-2006 Parramatta Eels: 2007-2008

Coaching: Representative Queensland: 2004-05 (coach), 2010-2015 (assistant coach) Other: Newcastle Knights Director of Football: 2014-2015 Australian Kangaroos: 2016-current

“I was at the last Test, I think that was in 2011, maybe 30,000 or more huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

11


Cover Feature

Cover Feature

fans turned up on that occasion. It’s a real shame we haven’t filled the stadium more often in the last few years, it’s a fantastic stadium and great facilities.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga and team manager Michael Hagan check out Hunter Stadium. Images courtesy of the NRL.

Testing

time

“The fact that the Kiwis are going well will really add to the occasion and the level of performance.

By Michelle Meehan

as Maroon mentors pull on the green and gold

It would be fair to say Mal Meninga worked a miracle during his 10-year tenure with the Queensland State of Origin team.

W

hen he took the reins in 2006 the team had lost three series in a row – yet at the end of his run Queensland had notched up an almost decadelong dominance of the state vs state competition. Under his watch they lost just one series (2014) out of 10, but even then charged back the year after that loss to re-take the shield with a recordbreaking 52-6 victory in game three. So it was little wonder selectors turned in his direction when looking to find someone to succeed Tim Sheens as the coach of the Kangaroos. Australia’s national team needs its own dose of miracle magic after a string of defeats saw them slip off the top of the rugby league world rankings last year. It is the first time since the standings were introduced that Australia hasn’t occupied the No.1 spot. Meninga will have his work cut out for him – but standing alongside him to help out on the way will be his State of Origin right-hand man Michael Hagan. The former premiership-winning Newcastle Knights mentor spent six years as assistant coach at the Maroons.

10

After ruling himself out of contention to re-take the top job when Meninga left (he previously coached Queensland in 20042005), Hagan will instead continue his journey in elite level league alongside Meninga after being appointed as team manager of the Kangaroos last month. In what he labelled as a part administration, part coaching role, Hagan will help out with team logistics as well as offer Meninga some level of support in guiding the players. “I’ve worked with Mal for a long time so I’m really happy to be involved (with the Kangaroos),” he said. “I guess my role will be a bit of a footy manager type of role, a little bit of coaching, a little bit of admin, which I’m more than happy to do. I had a long career as a coach and I enjoy that part of it but I think the administrator’s side of it appeals to me as well. “It’ll be a little bit around just the support for Mal and the team with respect to logistically what we need to do and where we need to go, but also a little bit of coaching as well in the lead-up to the first game. “It’s nearly an invitation-type

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

scenario to be involved in that team, so I think it’s quite an honour to be asked to be honest. I’m looking forward to the next challenge.” That challenge will begin close to home for Hagan this month when the Kangaroos converge on the Hunter for the first Test match of the year. To be held at Hunter Stadium on Friday, May 6, it will see the Aussies clash with the team that knocked them off the top of the world rankings – New Zealand – for the traditional trans-Tasman Test. It will be tough going for the Kangaroos to turn around their recent form against the Kiwis, who have beaten them in their last three meetings. But the team might be able to draw some inspiration from the last time the two met at Hunter Stadium in October, 2011, which saw the Australians trounce their rivals in a comprehensive 42-6 victory in front of a ground-record crowd of 32,890. Hagan hopes plenty of local rugby league fans will come out in support of the Kangaroos for the clash, which heads up the NRL’s Representative Round. “I think it will be a really good occasion, I think that the Hunter rugby league fans appreciate high standard games of footy,” he said.

“I think they’ve won the last three against Australia so there’s a fair bit of work to do in getting the Kangaroos re-established. “I know Mal sees that as a bit of a longer term plan with some of the senior players getting towards the end of their careers, so there’s some decisions that have to be made with players for this game and for the Four Nations at the end of the year and World Cup next year. “But I think it’s a good opportunity and a good time to be involved in that.” Hagan said part of the challenge facing Meninga and his team is the fact that playing for Australia no longer seems to mean what it used to. But changing the culture of a team is certainly something Meninga is good at.

“I think Mal will increase the profile and try and get the Kangaroos back on the agenda a bit more,” Hagan said. “If you think back to our time when we played, and I was never good enough to play for Australia, but everyone aspired to play for Australia. “I think in the last three, four, five years that has waned. “The influence of clubs has meant players have felt that they should go and get their injuries treated and repaired and they would basically give up the opportunity or the chance to play for Australia, which I think’s a real indictment on the game. “And the scheduling of our games and the workload on players, that’s why that’s happened. We’re still subjecting the high level players to way too many collisions and too many games every year. “So Mal’s going to have to work really hard on a whole range of things to re-establish the desire to want to play for your country again.” Changing that culture and preparing the team for the more immediate challenge of the transTasman Test will begin when the Kangaroos go into camp at Wests Mayfield on May 2. It will continue later in the year with the Four Nations tour to England and then it will be on to the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, to be held in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea between October 26 and December 2 next year. And Hagan can’t wait for the

journey to begin. “To be honest I reckon I’ve been absolutely blessed to be involved in a whole range of levels of our game,” he said. “From playing 30 years ago to coaching probably 15 years ago at a first grade level, to being asked to coach Queensland by Wayne Bennett a bit over 10 years ago. I’ve been asked to work with Mal with the Origin team, so I think I’ve been really fortunate to do and be involved in and around really good teams for a long time. “I didn’t really aspire to do any of those things but I think that’s just where the game’s taken me and I’m really happy that I get the opportunity to work with the Australian team and we get to travel to England and the end of the year and it’s another exciting chapter in what I’ve been able to do. “I’m thankful for those opportunities and I’m really looking forward to adding some value to Mal and the team.” The trans-Tasman Test will kick off at Hunter Stadium at 7.55pm on May 6. The match will be preceded by a curtain-raiser between the Australian Jillaroos and the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns. The NRL Representative Round will also include a Pacific Double Header featuring Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, as well as a match between the Junior Kangaroos and Junior Kiwis at Parramatta’s Pirtek Stadium on May 7. The AAMI Country v City match will cap off the round at Tamworth’s Scully Park on May 8.

Michael hagan’s rugby league career Playing: Club Canterbury-Bankstown: 19841988 Newcastle Knights: 1989-1993 Playing: Representative Queensland: 1988-1989 Coaching: Club Newcastle Knights: 2001-2006 Parramatta Eels: 2007-2008

Coaching: Representative Queensland: 2004-05 (coach), 2010-2015 (assistant coach) Other: Newcastle Knights Director of Football: 2014-2015 Australian Kangaroos: 2016-current

“I was at the last Test, I think that was in 2011, maybe 30,000 or more huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

11


netball

knights

It’s not often a person gets picked to represent their state just six months after taking up a sport.

A

Kelly courts new goal after

State honours

nd it’s certainly not what Nick Kelly was expecting when he first pulled on a playing bib to join his friend’s mixed indoor netball team.

Championships, with Kelly claiming a place in the Men’s Under 20s squad (his lack of playing experience meant he was given an exemption to play in the younger age classification).

“It was very fast and pretty rough – we had three boys out (with injury) by the Wednesday, and by the last three days we were down to one sub,” he said.

But after being encouraged to try out by a friend of one of his teammates who played for NSW, the 21-year-old Bar Beach man headed to Sydney in September last year to take part in the State trials.

Following his selection Kelly spent the next few months travelling twice a week to train in Sydney as the team prepared for the championships, which were held at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne from March 27-April 2, 2016.

“Players were playing out of position, I started at goal attack but I also played wing attack as well.

A number of teams were selected to compete at the 2016 Australian Men’s and Mixed Netball

Injuries ensured Kelly didn’t have an ideal preparation – he ruptured the ligaments in both ankles, suffered shin splints and tore one of his quad muscles – although working out at F45 Training Warners Bay helped him gain 10kg of muscle and put him in top condition for the event. “This is the fittest I’ve been in a long time,” Kelly said. “Even considering I had those injuries, the training really conditioned my body for that. “Even the type of training, interval training where you work and then break, was similar to what my body would do on court.” Of course Kelly said training couldn’t truly prepare him for the experience of the national event. Netball may be a non-contact sport, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park.

“I dislocated my right thumb in the second game we had, it was so swollen and I was hurting hard but I just couldn’t give up.” The NSW team played 11 matches over six days, making it through to the semi-final round before losing by just three goals in extra time to Victoria. The NSW team finished the tournament in a creditable third place, while Victoria crumbled in the grand final, going down 42-26 to Under 20s winners Queensland. After enjoying his first taste of representative netball, Kelly is hungry for more. While he could had nominated to be considered for selection in the Australian team (the Sonix), his string of injuries meant he will instead take time out to recover properly before starting his first season of M-League, NSW’s premier men’s and mixed netball competition.

kick goals

for kids It’s not just the hopes of his team that rest on the kick halfback Trent Hodkinson lines up every time the Knights score a try.

I

t is also the spirits of a sick or injured child, whose name has been written on Hodkinson’s kicking tee and whose plight the Newcastle co-captain holds in his heart each and every game. It was a practice he started while playing for the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2014, continued while playing in the State of Origin for the NSW Blues and one he was keen to carry on when he made the trip north to link up with the Knights this season. Dedicating his conversions to a child spending time in hospital

Trent’s Kick for Kids Round 1: Tallulah Nixon, 13, from Gloucester. Round 2: Connor, 9, from Edgeworth. Round 3: Hannah, 14. Round 4: Archie, 2, from Cardiff. Round 5: Adam, 17. Round 6: Ellen from Thornton.

may not make a difference to how quickly they recover, but it certainly puts a smile on their face and provides a much-needed boost at a time they need it most. “It’s something I’ve done for a couple of years now,” Hodkinson said. “I write a kid’s name on my kicking tee and dedicate my conversion to them. “Sometimes the tee gets a little run on TV and hopefully they are

sitting at home or at the game to see that. “It just puts a little smile on their face knowing their name is on the kicking tee out there and hopefully they get a bit of a kick out of it.” But there’s more to Trent’s Kick for Kids than just a few letters written on a piece of plastic. The Newcastle Knights are working closely with the John Hunter Children’s Hospital to grant young patients a unique experience to be involved, as well as the opportunity to meet Hodkinson. Each child also receives a special gift thanks to Domayne Kotara and Adidas, as well as their personalised kicking tee and an ISC kids Knights jersey with their name on the back.

“Nationals were awesome and even though we lost like that in the semi-final it was such an awesome atmosphere in there, everyone was really encouraging,” he said.

“My goal now is just to see how far I can get with it.” May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Conversions

It is played each Sunday from June to December at Netball Central in Sydney Olympic Park, with Kelly set to line up for Baulkham Hills.

“Afterwards my body just needed some time off but I’ve had some really good feedback from my coaches and they think if I stick with it I should be able to go pretty far.

12

Trent Hodkinson with 17-year-old Adam, who is a passionate Knights fan.

Following each match Hodkinson takes time out to meet the children involved, either taking a trip to see them in hospital or in some instances, welcoming to a Knights training session or even into the sheds after the game.

Connor, 9, from Edgeworth, visited a Knights training session after he was released from hospital.

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

13


netball

knights

It’s not often a person gets picked to represent their state just six months after taking up a sport.

A

Kelly courts new goal after

State honours

nd it’s certainly not what Nick Kelly was expecting when he first pulled on a playing bib to join his friend’s mixed indoor netball team.

Championships, with Kelly claiming a place in the Men’s Under 20s squad (his lack of playing experience meant he was given an exemption to play in the younger age classification).

“It was very fast and pretty rough – we had three boys out (with injury) by the Wednesday, and by the last three days we were down to one sub,” he said.

But after being encouraged to try out by a friend of one of his teammates who played for NSW, the 21-year-old Bar Beach man headed to Sydney in September last year to take part in the State trials.

Following his selection Kelly spent the next few months travelling twice a week to train in Sydney as the team prepared for the championships, which were held at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne from March 27-April 2, 2016.

“Players were playing out of position, I started at goal attack but I also played wing attack as well.

A number of teams were selected to compete at the 2016 Australian Men’s and Mixed Netball

Injuries ensured Kelly didn’t have an ideal preparation – he ruptured the ligaments in both ankles, suffered shin splints and tore one of his quad muscles – although working out at F45 Training Warners Bay helped him gain 10kg of muscle and put him in top condition for the event. “This is the fittest I’ve been in a long time,” Kelly said. “Even considering I had those injuries, the training really conditioned my body for that. “Even the type of training, interval training where you work and then break, was similar to what my body would do on court.” Of course Kelly said training couldn’t truly prepare him for the experience of the national event. Netball may be a non-contact sport, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park.

“I dislocated my right thumb in the second game we had, it was so swollen and I was hurting hard but I just couldn’t give up.” The NSW team played 11 matches over six days, making it through to the semi-final round before losing by just three goals in extra time to Victoria. The NSW team finished the tournament in a creditable third place, while Victoria crumbled in the grand final, going down 42-26 to Under 20s winners Queensland. After enjoying his first taste of representative netball, Kelly is hungry for more. While he could had nominated to be considered for selection in the Australian team (the Sonix), his string of injuries meant he will instead take time out to recover properly before starting his first season of M-League, NSW’s premier men’s and mixed netball competition.

kick goals

for kids It’s not just the hopes of his team that rest on the kick halfback Trent Hodkinson lines up every time the Knights score a try.

I

t is also the spirits of a sick or injured child, whose name has been written on Hodkinson’s kicking tee and whose plight the Newcastle co-captain holds in his heart each and every game. It was a practice he started while playing for the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2014, continued while playing in the State of Origin for the NSW Blues and one he was keen to carry on when he made the trip north to link up with the Knights this season. Dedicating his conversions to a child spending time in hospital

Trent’s Kick for Kids Round 1: Tallulah Nixon, 13, from Gloucester. Round 2: Connor, 9, from Edgeworth. Round 3: Hannah, 14. Round 4: Archie, 2, from Cardiff. Round 5: Adam, 17. Round 6: Ellen from Thornton.

may not make a difference to how quickly they recover, but it certainly puts a smile on their face and provides a much-needed boost at a time they need it most. “It’s something I’ve done for a couple of years now,” Hodkinson said. “I write a kid’s name on my kicking tee and dedicate my conversion to them. “Sometimes the tee gets a little run on TV and hopefully they are

sitting at home or at the game to see that. “It just puts a little smile on their face knowing their name is on the kicking tee out there and hopefully they get a bit of a kick out of it.” But there’s more to Trent’s Kick for Kids than just a few letters written on a piece of plastic. The Newcastle Knights are working closely with the John Hunter Children’s Hospital to grant young patients a unique experience to be involved, as well as the opportunity to meet Hodkinson. Each child also receives a special gift thanks to Domayne Kotara and Adidas, as well as their personalised kicking tee and an ISC kids Knights jersey with their name on the back.

“Nationals were awesome and even though we lost like that in the semi-final it was such an awesome atmosphere in there, everyone was really encouraging,” he said.

“My goal now is just to see how far I can get with it.” May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Conversions

It is played each Sunday from June to December at Netball Central in Sydney Olympic Park, with Kelly set to line up for Baulkham Hills.

“Afterwards my body just needed some time off but I’ve had some really good feedback from my coaches and they think if I stick with it I should be able to go pretty far.

12

Trent Hodkinson with 17-year-old Adam, who is a passionate Knights fan.

Following each match Hodkinson takes time out to meet the children involved, either taking a trip to see them in hospital or in some instances, welcoming to a Knights training session or even into the sheds after the game.

Connor, 9, from Edgeworth, visited a Knights training session after he was released from hospital.

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

13


cricket

ice hockey

High fives as Lions continue to

By Josh Sim

John Kennedy Jnr in action for the North Stars last season. Pic by Wulos.

dominate their prey A core group of stable first grade cricketers has also been pivotal to the success of Merewether for the past five seasons, with the seaside club using just 28 players in that time. It is a remarkable feat when taking into consideration injuries, work commitments and fringe players potentially looking for other opportunities.

Merewether are eying off the chance to equal a Newcastle and District Cricket Association (NDCA) record after winning their fifth successive first grade premiership.

L

abelled the most dominant team in the history of the Newcastle competition, the Lions defeated Hamilton-Wickham in an unusual three-day final at Newcastle Number 1 Sports Ground in late March. Both teams were required to return to the venue for an additional day on Good Friday after the final 10 overs were considered unfit for play the Sunday before, with fading light and drizzling rain playing the villains in an epic finale. The return day set up an emotioncharged dash for glory, before Merewether got over the line for a 24-run victory. The win gave Merewether their third trophy for the season, having already collected the Tom Locker Cup and the Minor Premiership.

Skipper Simon Moore was also recognised as the Herald Player of the Year following his mammoth season with the bat (972 runs), which almost saw him become the first Newcastle player since Test star Jim De Courcy (1954-55) to pass the magical 1000 milestone in a single season. Merewether coach Brad Bannister was full of praise when asked about the unprecedented success the club has experience during the past five seasons and the part that has been played by the team’s inspirational captain. “It’s a special group of players, who showed just what they can do when they put plenty of pride in the jersey and put a high expectation on their performance,” he said.

It also put them one step closer to equaling the six straight titles won by Hamilton in the 1950s.

“Simon is the main reason I am here, and a lot of us are here, he’s big on the whole club culture and just puts so much into the club.

But the honours didn’t stop there for Merewether in 2015-16, with the Lions named Herald Club of the Year at the annual NDCA awards.

“The amount he works on his game … it’s no surprise with the results that he produces, he still wants to take 300 catches a week!”

14

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

One of the key squad members to come into the club one year into the ‘5-peat’ was former Australia A Representative and First Class cricketer Mark Cameron.

Stars of the ice

ready to defend title He may share the same name as one of America’s most famous presidents, but 28-year-old John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jnr has pledged his allegiance to another flag – the Newcastle North Stars.

T

he Michigan-born ice hockey player is entering his fourth season with the Newcastle team and his fifth in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL).

The right-arm quick, affectionately known as ‘Scud’, is now retiring from cricket after four fruitful seasons at the Lions, having bagged 214 scalps along the way.

And with an Australian wife, a baby on the way and now permanent residency (as of August last year), he’s not going anywhere any time soon.

Bannister said he would leave behind a lasting impression of his professionalism and determination to win at the club.

There’s also the little matter of helping his team defend its hold on the Goodall Cup, which it secured last year after a thrilling overtime penalty shot 3-2 win against the Melbourne Ice in the AIHL grand final.

“Scud had an all-new appreciation of club cricket on his return, he really bought into what we were trying to achieve, and he was a big contributing factor to our success,” he said. Despite this loss, Bannister said Merewether will welcome the return of Sam Gilmour and Dan Morton from injury next season, who will help fill the void left in their bowling ranks following Cameron’s departure. And the coach is already confident they can add to the team’s already impressive trophy cabinet. “If I were a betting man, I’d have everything I could on us to do it again!” he said.

The Norths Stars celebrating their Goodall Cup win. Pic by Wulos.

It was the North Stars’ fifth championship and Kennedy’s first since joining the Newcastle team – but he certainly hopes it won’t be his last. “It was my first one and it was absolutely phenomenal,” he said. “I guess just going through the transformation since I’ve been here, when I first got here we lost the grand final game to the Ice Dogs and the next year we had one of the most unsuccessful seasons we’ve had here in Newcastle, not even making the play-offs and then coming back the next season and winning it was pretty much phenomenal.

“It was an emotional rollercoaster ride, especially coming in to the semi-finals when we were down 3-0 to Canberra and then fighting our way back from there and being in the grand final game and winning it in the penalty shot.” The North Stars have had a less than ideal lead-up to the new season with three losses in the Wilson Cup tournament, which they won last year. But with many of their regular faces out of the line-up, including Robert Malloy and Mathew Lindsay who were in Mexico helping Australia win gold in the IIHF Division 2 Group B World Championships, Kennedy said fans shouldn’t judge them on their preseason form. “Obviously from our pre-season Wilson Cup games we know that there’s things we need to work on, we did the best we could with what we had,” he said. “We’re feeling confident but at the same time know this year we’re not going to rely purely on skill, it’s also going to be a lot of hard work and we’re going to have to win games by one goal or two goals compared to just blowing teams out. “(Coming off the grand final win)

is a motivation but you just have to realise that no matter what, every team’s going to be ready to play us.” The team will be boosted by the return of import Scott Swiston, who made a huge impression when he linked up Newcastle in June last year, scoring 17 goals and 15 assists in 17 games. He will be joined by his fellow Albert Augustana University line-mates Beau Taylor and Connor McLaughlin. The team’s imports will be rounded out by Brandon Greenside, currently the highest scoring defenceman in America’s Southern Professional Hockey League, as well as his Peoria Rivermen teammate Josh Harris. The puck dropped on Newcastle’s season with a double header in Perth against the Thunder on April 23 and 24. But they will be back in Warners Bay at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium on Sunday, May 1 in a grand final re-match against Melbourne Ice. Other home matches this month will see Newcastle line up against CBR Brave (May 8 and May 22) and the Sydney Ice Dogs on May 29.

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

15


cricket

ice hockey

High fives as Lions continue to

By Josh Sim

John Kennedy Jnr in action for the North Stars last season. Pic by Wulos.

dominate their prey A core group of stable first grade cricketers has also been pivotal to the success of Merewether for the past five seasons, with the seaside club using just 28 players in that time. It is a remarkable feat when taking into consideration injuries, work commitments and fringe players potentially looking for other opportunities.

Merewether are eying off the chance to equal a Newcastle and District Cricket Association (NDCA) record after winning their fifth successive first grade premiership.

L

abelled the most dominant team in the history of the Newcastle competition, the Lions defeated Hamilton-Wickham in an unusual three-day final at Newcastle Number 1 Sports Ground in late March. Both teams were required to return to the venue for an additional day on Good Friday after the final 10 overs were considered unfit for play the Sunday before, with fading light and drizzling rain playing the villains in an epic finale. The return day set up an emotioncharged dash for glory, before Merewether got over the line for a 24-run victory. The win gave Merewether their third trophy for the season, having already collected the Tom Locker Cup and the Minor Premiership.

Skipper Simon Moore was also recognised as the Herald Player of the Year following his mammoth season with the bat (972 runs), which almost saw him become the first Newcastle player since Test star Jim De Courcy (1954-55) to pass the magical 1000 milestone in a single season. Merewether coach Brad Bannister was full of praise when asked about the unprecedented success the club has experience during the past five seasons and the part that has been played by the team’s inspirational captain. “It’s a special group of players, who showed just what they can do when they put plenty of pride in the jersey and put a high expectation on their performance,” he said.

It also put them one step closer to equaling the six straight titles won by Hamilton in the 1950s.

“Simon is the main reason I am here, and a lot of us are here, he’s big on the whole club culture and just puts so much into the club.

But the honours didn’t stop there for Merewether in 2015-16, with the Lions named Herald Club of the Year at the annual NDCA awards.

“The amount he works on his game … it’s no surprise with the results that he produces, he still wants to take 300 catches a week!”

14

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

One of the key squad members to come into the club one year into the ‘5-peat’ was former Australia A Representative and First Class cricketer Mark Cameron.

Stars of the ice

ready to defend title He may share the same name as one of America’s most famous presidents, but 28-year-old John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jnr has pledged his allegiance to another flag – the Newcastle North Stars.

T

he Michigan-born ice hockey player is entering his fourth season with the Newcastle team and his fifth in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL).

The right-arm quick, affectionately known as ‘Scud’, is now retiring from cricket after four fruitful seasons at the Lions, having bagged 214 scalps along the way.

And with an Australian wife, a baby on the way and now permanent residency (as of August last year), he’s not going anywhere any time soon.

Bannister said he would leave behind a lasting impression of his professionalism and determination to win at the club.

There’s also the little matter of helping his team defend its hold on the Goodall Cup, which it secured last year after a thrilling overtime penalty shot 3-2 win against the Melbourne Ice in the AIHL grand final.

“Scud had an all-new appreciation of club cricket on his return, he really bought into what we were trying to achieve, and he was a big contributing factor to our success,” he said. Despite this loss, Bannister said Merewether will welcome the return of Sam Gilmour and Dan Morton from injury next season, who will help fill the void left in their bowling ranks following Cameron’s departure. And the coach is already confident they can add to the team’s already impressive trophy cabinet. “If I were a betting man, I’d have everything I could on us to do it again!” he said.

The Norths Stars celebrating their Goodall Cup win. Pic by Wulos.

It was the North Stars’ fifth championship and Kennedy’s first since joining the Newcastle team – but he certainly hopes it won’t be his last. “It was my first one and it was absolutely phenomenal,” he said. “I guess just going through the transformation since I’ve been here, when I first got here we lost the grand final game to the Ice Dogs and the next year we had one of the most unsuccessful seasons we’ve had here in Newcastle, not even making the play-offs and then coming back the next season and winning it was pretty much phenomenal.

“It was an emotional rollercoaster ride, especially coming in to the semi-finals when we were down 3-0 to Canberra and then fighting our way back from there and being in the grand final game and winning it in the penalty shot.” The North Stars have had a less than ideal lead-up to the new season with three losses in the Wilson Cup tournament, which they won last year. But with many of their regular faces out of the line-up, including Robert Malloy and Mathew Lindsay who were in Mexico helping Australia win gold in the IIHF Division 2 Group B World Championships, Kennedy said fans shouldn’t judge them on their preseason form. “Obviously from our pre-season Wilson Cup games we know that there’s things we need to work on, we did the best we could with what we had,” he said. “We’re feeling confident but at the same time know this year we’re not going to rely purely on skill, it’s also going to be a lot of hard work and we’re going to have to win games by one goal or two goals compared to just blowing teams out. “(Coming off the grand final win)

is a motivation but you just have to realise that no matter what, every team’s going to be ready to play us.” The team will be boosted by the return of import Scott Swiston, who made a huge impression when he linked up Newcastle in June last year, scoring 17 goals and 15 assists in 17 games. He will be joined by his fellow Albert Augustana University line-mates Beau Taylor and Connor McLaughlin. The team’s imports will be rounded out by Brandon Greenside, currently the highest scoring defenceman in America’s Southern Professional Hockey League, as well as his Peoria Rivermen teammate Josh Harris. The puck dropped on Newcastle’s season with a double header in Perth against the Thunder on April 23 and 24. But they will be back in Warners Bay at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium on Sunday, May 1 in a grand final re-match against Melbourne Ice. Other home matches this month will see Newcastle line up against CBR Brave (May 8 and May 22) and the Sydney Ice Dogs on May 29.

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

15


in profile

jets

Custodian

Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti cleaned up at the annual awards night.

cleans up

at annual awards It was far from a clean sheet – but that was just the way Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti wanted it after scoring big at the Newcastle Jets’ annual Player of the Year Awards.

Jones makes a splash with

raw, honest memoir Leisel Jones has experienced the highest of the highs, diving into the spotlight as a dual silver-medal winning Olympian at the age of 15.

B

ut, until recently, it was a little known secret that she had also plunged to the lowest of the lows during her glittering career in the pool, struggling with depression to the point where she almost took her own life. Jones’ battle with mental health issues was revealed in her raw and compelling autobiography Body Lengths, co-authored by Felicity McLean and released by Penguin Books Australia late last year. Revered as one of the world’s greatest female breaststrokers, Jones entered her name into the record books time and again throughout her long career before ultimately becoming the first Australian swimmer to compete in four Olympic Games, while also equaling Ian Thorpe for the most Olympic medals won by an Australian (9). But it is the details written in her own book that truly reveal the person behind the goggles – not just a swimmer but a daughter, a dreamer, a driven individual; a “fish out of water” under pressure from her coaches, the media and herself to be perfect; a young woman who loved to laugh and 16

joke but put on a mask and played it straight for reporters after being misrepresented early in her career. Jones summed it up perfectly in her own words at the end of the book: “I have spent so much of my life being something I’m not. Being guarded or self-censored or doing what someone else tells me to do … The one regret I have about my career is that people didn’t see the real me.” That regret is also one of the key factors that led Jones to finally agree, 18 months after hanging up her swimming cap once and for all, to detail her life both in and out of the pool.

because enough time had passed since retiring,” she said. “I didn’t want it to be one of those books where you retire and magically your book appears as soon as you retire. “I wanted it to be really well thought out, really well planned and have a reason why I’m writing it. “I said when I first started writing, this is not going to be a swimming book, I don’t want that, they’re not interesting and I wanted it to be one where you can be from any walk of life and be able to appreciate the stories within it because it crosses topics that probably everyone has dealt with at some time in their life. “My hope for the book is that it puts a light on mental health issues and that you’re not alone in it.

The book, written over 18 months, is filled with humour, honesty, self-depreciation and optimism (despite some of its darker themes) – the same qualities Jones brought in spades to the Hunter last month as one of the speakers at this year’s Newcastle Writers Festival.

“Yes it can be very dark but it does come out the other side. I think at the time (I had depression) I thought ‘Well this is never going to end, my life is always going to be like this’, so I think if you read about someone who has come out the other side, you think there is hope for me yet.

Speaking to Hunter Sports Magazine after the event, Jones said the book was in part about setting the record straight, as well as helping shine the light on the issue of mental health.

“If it gets people talking about mental health then that’s my job done.”

“I think (I agreed to write the book) May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

For more on the book – and your chance to win a signed copy – check out On the Couch on pages 34-35.

T

he first choice gloveman for season 2015/16 walked away from the Newcastle City Hall event last month with three from three after taking out both the Club and Members’ A-League Player of the Year awards, as well as the prestigious Men of Football’s Ray Baartz Medal.

the Jets in June last year following a spell in Italy on loan to AS Varese.

The 24-year-old may be off contract now but he hasn’t done his chances any harm with the haul, which came on the back of his return to

He recorded three clean sheets and produced a string of stunning saves in what was an impressive season by the classy custodian.

Super striker Tara Andrews claimed the Jets W-League top goalscorer gong for 2015/16. Images courtesy of the Newcastle Jets.

polished yet powerful performances in the heart of defence. A breakout season in the club’s Foxtel National Youth League had Cody Carroll on the attack for the Youth Player of the Year Award.

Birighitti played in 26 matches for Newcastle during the 2015/16 campaign, which saw the Jets finish eighth on the A-League ladder.

American import Megan Oyster was named Newcastle Jets Women’s Player of the Year for her commanding displays for Craig Deans’ side in the Westfield W-League. The 23-year-old joined the Jets Women on loan from Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States last October and impressed with

A former Emerging Jets player, he is also a member of the Clayton Zane’s 2016 National Premier League (NPL) Northern NSW squad. Eleven years of service to the Jets also saw Thornton’s Evelyn Stonham recognised with the Club Person of the Year Award for 2016. Since 2005 Stonham has dedicated many hours to support the club’s game day and event operations across both the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League.

NEWCASTLE JETS 2016 AWARD WINNERS A-League Player of the Year 2016: Mark Birighitti

Men of Football Ray Baartz Medal 2016: Mark Birighitti

W-League Player of the Year 2016: Megan Oyster

A-League Top Goalscorer 2015/16: Milos Trifunovic (9)

National Youth League Player of the Year 2016: Cody Carroll

W-League Top Goalscorer 2015/16: Tara Andrews (3)

Club Person of the Year 2016: Evelyn Stonham

National Youth League Top Goalscorer 2015/16: Brandon Lundy (4)

Members’ Player of the Year 2016: Mark Birighitti

A-League Goal of the Season 2015/16: Morten Nordstrand

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

17


in profile

jets

Custodian

Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti cleaned up at the annual awards night.

cleans up

at annual awards It was far from a clean sheet – but that was just the way Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti wanted it after scoring big at the Newcastle Jets’ annual Player of the Year Awards.

Jones makes a splash with

raw, honest memoir Leisel Jones has experienced the highest of the highs, diving into the spotlight as a dual silver-medal winning Olympian at the age of 15.

B

ut, until recently, it was a little known secret that she had also plunged to the lowest of the lows during her glittering career in the pool, struggling with depression to the point where she almost took her own life. Jones’ battle with mental health issues was revealed in her raw and compelling autobiography Body Lengths, co-authored by Felicity McLean and released by Penguin Books Australia late last year. Revered as one of the world’s greatest female breaststrokers, Jones entered her name into the record books time and again throughout her long career before ultimately becoming the first Australian swimmer to compete in four Olympic Games, while also equaling Ian Thorpe for the most Olympic medals won by an Australian (9). But it is the details written in her own book that truly reveal the person behind the goggles – not just a swimmer but a daughter, a dreamer, a driven individual; a “fish out of water” under pressure from her coaches, the media and herself to be perfect; a young woman who loved to laugh and 16

joke but put on a mask and played it straight for reporters after being misrepresented early in her career. Jones summed it up perfectly in her own words at the end of the book: “I have spent so much of my life being something I’m not. Being guarded or self-censored or doing what someone else tells me to do … The one regret I have about my career is that people didn’t see the real me.” That regret is also one of the key factors that led Jones to finally agree, 18 months after hanging up her swimming cap once and for all, to detail her life both in and out of the pool.

because enough time had passed since retiring,” she said. “I didn’t want it to be one of those books where you retire and magically your book appears as soon as you retire. “I wanted it to be really well thought out, really well planned and have a reason why I’m writing it. “I said when I first started writing, this is not going to be a swimming book, I don’t want that, they’re not interesting and I wanted it to be one where you can be from any walk of life and be able to appreciate the stories within it because it crosses topics that probably everyone has dealt with at some time in their life. “My hope for the book is that it puts a light on mental health issues and that you’re not alone in it.

The book, written over 18 months, is filled with humour, honesty, self-depreciation and optimism (despite some of its darker themes) – the same qualities Jones brought in spades to the Hunter last month as one of the speakers at this year’s Newcastle Writers Festival.

“Yes it can be very dark but it does come out the other side. I think at the time (I had depression) I thought ‘Well this is never going to end, my life is always going to be like this’, so I think if you read about someone who has come out the other side, you think there is hope for me yet.

Speaking to Hunter Sports Magazine after the event, Jones said the book was in part about setting the record straight, as well as helping shine the light on the issue of mental health.

“If it gets people talking about mental health then that’s my job done.”

“I think (I agreed to write the book) May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

For more on the book – and your chance to win a signed copy – check out On the Couch on pages 34-35.

T

he first choice gloveman for season 2015/16 walked away from the Newcastle City Hall event last month with three from three after taking out both the Club and Members’ A-League Player of the Year awards, as well as the prestigious Men of Football’s Ray Baartz Medal.

the Jets in June last year following a spell in Italy on loan to AS Varese.

The 24-year-old may be off contract now but he hasn’t done his chances any harm with the haul, which came on the back of his return to

He recorded three clean sheets and produced a string of stunning saves in what was an impressive season by the classy custodian.

Super striker Tara Andrews claimed the Jets W-League top goalscorer gong for 2015/16. Images courtesy of the Newcastle Jets.

polished yet powerful performances in the heart of defence. A breakout season in the club’s Foxtel National Youth League had Cody Carroll on the attack for the Youth Player of the Year Award.

Birighitti played in 26 matches for Newcastle during the 2015/16 campaign, which saw the Jets finish eighth on the A-League ladder.

American import Megan Oyster was named Newcastle Jets Women’s Player of the Year for her commanding displays for Craig Deans’ side in the Westfield W-League. The 23-year-old joined the Jets Women on loan from Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States last October and impressed with

A former Emerging Jets player, he is also a member of the Clayton Zane’s 2016 National Premier League (NPL) Northern NSW squad. Eleven years of service to the Jets also saw Thornton’s Evelyn Stonham recognised with the Club Person of the Year Award for 2016. Since 2005 Stonham has dedicated many hours to support the club’s game day and event operations across both the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League.

NEWCASTLE JETS 2016 AWARD WINNERS A-League Player of the Year 2016: Mark Birighitti

Men of Football Ray Baartz Medal 2016: Mark Birighitti

W-League Player of the Year 2016: Megan Oyster

A-League Top Goalscorer 2015/16: Milos Trifunovic (9)

National Youth League Player of the Year 2016: Cody Carroll

W-League Top Goalscorer 2015/16: Tara Andrews (3)

Club Person of the Year 2016: Evelyn Stonham

National Youth League Top Goalscorer 2015/16: Brandon Lundy (4)

Members’ Player of the Year 2016: Mark Birighitti

A-League Goal of the Season 2015/16: Morten Nordstrand

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

17


in pictures

in pictures

In pictures:

2 d n u Ro NHRU

They say a picture is worth a thousand words – and I don’t think any words we could write could quite capture the action happening on sporting fields around the Hunter the way these images do! 18

These great shots, courtesy of Gleeso’s Photos, show some of the action from round 2 of the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union (NHRU) Premier 1 and Premier 2 competitions. The Waratahs travelled to Passmore Oval to take on the mighty Hamilton Hawks and found the trip a little tough going

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

after being on the receiving end of a 44-17 loss in Premier 1 and an 80-0 thrashing in Premier 2. For more photos from this or other local events contact Pat Gleeson at Gleeso’s Photos via www.facebook.com/GleesosPhotos-136649483341164 or phone 0411685429.

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

19


in pictures

in pictures

In pictures:

2 d n u Ro NHRU

They say a picture is worth a thousand words – and I don’t think any words we could write could quite capture the action happening on sporting fields around the Hunter the way these images do! 18

These great shots, courtesy of Gleeso’s Photos, show some of the action from round 2 of the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union (NHRU) Premier 1 and Premier 2 competitions. The Waratahs travelled to Passmore Oval to take on the mighty Hamilton Hawks and found the trip a little tough going

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

after being on the receiving end of a 44-17 loss in Premier 1 and an 80-0 thrashing in Premier 2. For more photos from this or other local events contact Pat Gleeson at Gleeso’s Photos via www.facebook.com/GleesosPhotos-136649483341164 or phone 0411685429.

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

19


road to rio

road to rio

In the lead-up to this year’s Olympic Games in Rio, Hunter Sports Magazine will get up close and personal with some of the Hunter athletes to find out a little more about them before they compete in the world’s biggest sporting event.

Thomas Fraser-Holmes in action at the Australian Swimming Championships. Image courtesy of Swimming Australia Ltd.

Road To Rio profile:

Aaron Royle Name: Aaron Royle. Age: 26. Born: Newcastle. Lives: Wollongong / Spain. Triathlon club: Maitland Triathlon Club. Major sponsors: 2XU, Giant, ASICS, Navy Health, Endura, Shimano. How long have you been competing in triathlons? I did my first triathlon in at Maitland Triathlon Club when I was 13.

Tom right at ‘Holmes’ on another Olympic Team TOM FRASER-HOLMES (Swimming)

T

he Hunter is set to be gripped by ‘Fraser-Holmes Fever’ later this year as Merewether and Hunter Swim Club product, Thomas Fraser-Holmes, secured his place on his second Olympic Team following the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide last month. In a repeat of events four years ago, Fraser-Holmes was first to touch the wall in the 400m Individual Medley Final on the first night of the National Championships, once again becoming the first Australian swimmer booked on the plane to the Olympic Games.

Individual Medley, after posting a qualifier in the heats, to keep his busy Olympic program clearer and give the Aussie 4x200m Relay team its best chance of success.

of Grant Hackett among others), there’s every chance we could see him return from Brazil with multiple medals hanging around his neck.

At his first Olympics four years ago in London, Fraser-Holmes made the final in the 200m Freestyle (7th), 400m Individual Medley (7th) and was part of the Australian 4x200m Freestyle Relay team, which finished 5th.

Born: Newcastle Private Hospital, New Lambton Heights.

The Novocastrian should take a lot of confidence from the National Champs week in Adelaide, and given another few months of training at his Gold Coast base under coach Denis Cotterell (coach

But a big week of qualifying didn’t end there with the 24-year-old also booking his place for Rio in the 200m Freestyle (dead-heating for first with sprint sensation Cameron McEvoy), and the 4x200m Freestyle Relay. Fraser-Holmes opted against swimming the final of the 200m 20

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Primary School: St Joseph’s Primary School, The Junction. High School: St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton. Previously coached by: Shane Arnold, Hunter Swim Club, The Junction. Mum and Dad live in: Merewether.

Article courtesy of Mossy and Robbo, two Hunter-based Aussie sports lovers serving up the colour at the big sporting events. Each month they’ll give us their take on some of our finest athletes on their Road to Rio. See more at www.mossyandrobbo.com

Aaron Royle on the pace in the Men’s Triathlon at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he finished 8th overall.

What do you love about the sport? Setting yourself a goal, enduring the ups and downs along the way, working hard to achieve it and then the satisfaction of doing so. You were the first

Australian triathlete to qualify for the Rio Olympics - how does it feel? Obviously it feels good to know I will be going to the Olympics, but now the aim is about performing on the biggest stage. Goals for Rio? To get on the start line in top shape, knowing I have done everything possible to be ready to race well. Biggest competition? Great Britain athletes, Spanish, South African and French are the most dominate countries at the minute. Challenges to overcome (injury etc)? Hopefully not too many. I have had a few little niggles along the way but nothing too major. Fingers crossed I can keep it that way.

What lead-up races do you have before Rio? I will do both Leeds and Hamburg WTS (World Triathlon Series) and also a race for my French team. Potentially I will also do some local racing in my Spanish base of Vitoria. Favourite cheat food? Chocolate or lollies. Career highlight so far? There has been a couple. U/23 ITU world champion, Commonwealth Games bronze and Noosa champion in 2014 and 2015. If you could do any job / play any sport other than triathlon what would it be? I would like to work in the media post triathlon and I think I’d enjoy surfing if I weren’t in triathlon.

Journey to Rio inches closer for athletes There’s been plenty of news on the selection front for Hunter athletes vying to represent Australia at this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio. Nulkaba’s Daniel Repacholi and Bellbirdbased Blake Blackburn will be aiming high in Rio after 16 shooters were added to the Australian Olympic Team last month. This will be Repacholi’s fourth Games after qualifying for the 10m air pistol and 50m pistol events and he is ready to put on a show come August. Blackburn will make his Olympic debut at Rio in the 10m air pistol event and will be hoping to

improve on his 2014 Commonwealth Games result, where he finished 14th overall, while Repacholi brought home the gold. The two spots in the men’s trap event are awaiting an appeal over selection, with Fingal Bay’s Michael Diamond one of the athletes originally nominated. Meanwhile on the athletics field Newcastle’s Benn Harradine was one of 28 athletes given a ticket to the

Gillieston Heights swimmer Maddi Elliott (centre) won gold at the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships. Image courtesy of Swimming Australia Ltd.

Games following the four-day Australian Championships. It will be the third time the national record holder (68.20m) will represent Australia at Olympic level. In Paralympic news, Gillieston Heights swimmer Maddi Elliott booked her spot at her second Paralympics as one of 31 athletes nominated for Rio following the 2016 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

Championships last month. Elliott won gold in the 100m freestyle event and also picked up silver in the 100m backstroke, swimming in the women’s S8 category. Newcastle’s Prue Watt was also nominated on the Paralympic team after placing second in the 100m breaststroke and third in the 100m butterfly decider in the women’s S13 section. 21


road to rio

road to rio

In the lead-up to this year’s Olympic Games in Rio, Hunter Sports Magazine will get up close and personal with some of the Hunter athletes to find out a little more about them before they compete in the world’s biggest sporting event.

Thomas Fraser-Holmes in action at the Australian Swimming Championships. Image courtesy of Swimming Australia Ltd.

Road To Rio profile:

Aaron Royle Name: Aaron Royle. Age: 26. Born: Newcastle. Lives: Wollongong / Spain. Triathlon club: Maitland Triathlon Club. Major sponsors: 2XU, Giant, ASICS, Navy Health, Endura, Shimano. How long have you been competing in triathlons? I did my first triathlon in at Maitland Triathlon Club when I was 13.

Tom right at ‘Holmes’ on another Olympic Team TOM FRASER-HOLMES (Swimming)

T

he Hunter is set to be gripped by ‘Fraser-Holmes Fever’ later this year as Merewether and Hunter Swim Club product, Thomas Fraser-Holmes, secured his place on his second Olympic Team following the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide last month. In a repeat of events four years ago, Fraser-Holmes was first to touch the wall in the 400m Individual Medley Final on the first night of the National Championships, once again becoming the first Australian swimmer booked on the plane to the Olympic Games.

Individual Medley, after posting a qualifier in the heats, to keep his busy Olympic program clearer and give the Aussie 4x200m Relay team its best chance of success.

of Grant Hackett among others), there’s every chance we could see him return from Brazil with multiple medals hanging around his neck.

At his first Olympics four years ago in London, Fraser-Holmes made the final in the 200m Freestyle (7th), 400m Individual Medley (7th) and was part of the Australian 4x200m Freestyle Relay team, which finished 5th.

Born: Newcastle Private Hospital, New Lambton Heights.

The Novocastrian should take a lot of confidence from the National Champs week in Adelaide, and given another few months of training at his Gold Coast base under coach Denis Cotterell (coach

But a big week of qualifying didn’t end there with the 24-year-old also booking his place for Rio in the 200m Freestyle (dead-heating for first with sprint sensation Cameron McEvoy), and the 4x200m Freestyle Relay. Fraser-Holmes opted against swimming the final of the 200m 20

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Primary School: St Joseph’s Primary School, The Junction. High School: St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton. Previously coached by: Shane Arnold, Hunter Swim Club, The Junction. Mum and Dad live in: Merewether.

Article courtesy of Mossy and Robbo, two Hunter-based Aussie sports lovers serving up the colour at the big sporting events. Each month they’ll give us their take on some of our finest athletes on their Road to Rio. See more at www.mossyandrobbo.com

Aaron Royle on the pace in the Men’s Triathlon at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he finished 8th overall.

What do you love about the sport? Setting yourself a goal, enduring the ups and downs along the way, working hard to achieve it and then the satisfaction of doing so. You were the first

Australian triathlete to qualify for the Rio Olympics - how does it feel? Obviously it feels good to know I will be going to the Olympics, but now the aim is about performing on the biggest stage. Goals for Rio? To get on the start line in top shape, knowing I have done everything possible to be ready to race well. Biggest competition? Great Britain athletes, Spanish, South African and French are the most dominate countries at the minute. Challenges to overcome (injury etc)? Hopefully not too many. I have had a few little niggles along the way but nothing too major. Fingers crossed I can keep it that way.

What lead-up races do you have before Rio? I will do both Leeds and Hamburg WTS (World Triathlon Series) and also a race for my French team. Potentially I will also do some local racing in my Spanish base of Vitoria. Favourite cheat food? Chocolate or lollies. Career highlight so far? There has been a couple. U/23 ITU world champion, Commonwealth Games bronze and Noosa champion in 2014 and 2015. If you could do any job / play any sport other than triathlon what would it be? I would like to work in the media post triathlon and I think I’d enjoy surfing if I weren’t in triathlon.

Journey to Rio inches closer for athletes There’s been plenty of news on the selection front for Hunter athletes vying to represent Australia at this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio. Nulkaba’s Daniel Repacholi and Bellbirdbased Blake Blackburn will be aiming high in Rio after 16 shooters were added to the Australian Olympic Team last month. This will be Repacholi’s fourth Games after qualifying for the 10m air pistol and 50m pistol events and he is ready to put on a show come August. Blackburn will make his Olympic debut at Rio in the 10m air pistol event and will be hoping to

improve on his 2014 Commonwealth Games result, where he finished 14th overall, while Repacholi brought home the gold. The two spots in the men’s trap event are awaiting an appeal over selection, with Fingal Bay’s Michael Diamond one of the athletes originally nominated. Meanwhile on the athletics field Newcastle’s Benn Harradine was one of 28 athletes given a ticket to the

Gillieston Heights swimmer Maddi Elliott (centre) won gold at the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships. Image courtesy of Swimming Australia Ltd.

Games following the four-day Australian Championships. It will be the third time the national record holder (68.20m) will represent Australia at Olympic level. In Paralympic news, Gillieston Heights swimmer Maddi Elliott booked her spot at her second Paralympics as one of 31 athletes nominated for Rio following the 2016 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

Championships last month. Elliott won gold in the 100m freestyle event and also picked up silver in the 100m backstroke, swimming in the women’s S8 category. Newcastle’s Prue Watt was also nominated on the Paralympic team after placing second in the 100m breaststroke and third in the 100m butterfly decider in the women’s S13 section. 21


history

history

1920s, and he scored Australia’s first international goal, at the age of 18. How about Bill Coolahan, Westy Bluebell and Australian national team captain. Australian Football Hall of Famer. Today Westy celebrate 125 years of passion, pride and most importantly, the football. How it could have been different. They’ve been on their knees twice; 1996 and more famously two years ago. This club won’t die, this club can’t die - this is Newy football in its original and best form. The hard-working people of West Wallsend will never let their club fold.

Wallsend Red Devils and West Wallsend Bluebells in action during the 2016 derby. Images by Valentine Sports Photography.

Never say die attitude sustains derby through history

D

erby Day: the biggest game of the season.

For these clubs it’s been 125 years (of) countless derbies, stars of the biggest calibre gone by, trophies and internationals. The two oldest clubs in the competition today do battle at the famous old ground - Johnston Park … Wembley. It’s not called Wembley for fun; it was nicknamed Wembley in the 1920s when no less than eight Bluebells players were internationals. You couldn’t imagine it but in 1922, Westy beat a touring Canadian side 3-0. The days of old indeed. The name Johnston Park has an interesting back story. William G Johnston marked out the lines on turf owned by the Caledonian Coal 22

Company. Thus the ground became Johnston’s Park. William G Johnston was also the owner of the Museum Hotel, sponsor of the Bluebells in the 1890s and still sponsor to this day. The locals here support their team. This club needs no introduction, the Westy Bluebells. A proud old team with passionate local support for over a century. They’ve been playing on their patch of turf since the late 1890s. They were founded in the same year as Liverpool; arguably the most famous old club in the world. They’re not the best team in the region at the moment but history tells a different story, with 10 major premierships (1899, 1902, 1904, 1913, 1920, 1921, 1925, 1926, 1946 and 1986). Countless trophies and

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

When West Wallsend Bluebells took on the Wallsend Red Devils on March 25, 2016, it’s wasn’t just a regular NEWFM First Division match, it was a game 125 years in the making according to Newcastle football writer Ty Stedman.

And the opponents and rivals since it all began, the Wallsend Red Devils. One of the most famous old teams in Northern NSW and one of the most successful clubs in the country during the 1930s and ‘40s. Twelve major premierships, countless grand finals, including four against the Bluebells. Their gripping grand final win last year broke a 50-year drought without a win in the biggest game of the season. Another club that have been to the brink of folding and have never quit. A club that has always stood proud. Founded in 1887 as the Wallsend Rovers, this famous club have been to 78 Cup finals, winning 65 of them. They’re a year older than Manchester United, the world’s most recognisable football team. Fitting that they’re both now known as the Red Devils. How about the players, they need

no introduction. Les Burnett, George Arthur, Alf Quill and the most famous of them all, Reg Date. Reggie Date was born in Wallsend, played for Wallsend and is their most famous name. Date played for his school side Plattsburg Primary, he played for the Red Devils and he not only played for Australia, he was voted into the Team of the Century. Date played under coach Alf Quill, the greatest goal-scorer in the history of the game on these shores; 868 goals in 22 years. He played for Australia, he played for Wallsend and he coached the mighty Red Devils. One of the club’s greatest. And how about George Arthur. He holds the club record for most games played; 420 matches in the red and white. 100 goals. Olympian. Like the Bluebells, Wallsend Red Devils have come close to folding before. The days of their famous old ground Crystal Palace (now the Wallsend Shopping Centre) are long gone. It took years for the club

to claw their way back and now they’re one of the strongest clubs in the league. This is a club that loves its history and they love beating their rivals. This is like no derby in Newcastle. These teams have been doing battle for over a century. There was no Broadmeadow Magic, no Hamilton Olympic and definitely no Newcastle Jets. Rugby league wasn’t a sport in this country and this country didn’t even exist as a Commonwealth nation. World War I hadn’t taken place. The entire world as you know it was different. The only thing that stayed the same. Westy, Wallsend, Johnston Park. Today celebrates 125 years of the greatest derby in the region. For these two clubs, today, nothing else matters. This is an edited transcript of a video produced by Ty Stedman for Newy Sports www.newysports.com

countless memories. They were originally the West Wallsend Wanderers, founded by Scottish miners. Then came West Wallsend Athletic and in 1896 they became the Bluebells, the name they still use today. A club was blossoming and it became one of the best this side of Sydney. There’s too many names to mention, famous old names. William ‘Podge’ Maunder. He played for Westy in the club’s best era, the huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

23


history

history

1920s, and he scored Australia’s first international goal, at the age of 18. How about Bill Coolahan, Westy Bluebell and Australian national team captain. Australian Football Hall of Famer. Today Westy celebrate 125 years of passion, pride and most importantly, the football. How it could have been different. They’ve been on their knees twice; 1996 and more famously two years ago. This club won’t die, this club can’t die - this is Newy football in its original and best form. The hard-working people of West Wallsend will never let their club fold.

Wallsend Red Devils and West Wallsend Bluebells in action during the 2016 derby. Images by Valentine Sports Photography.

Never say die attitude sustains derby through history

D

erby Day: the biggest game of the season.

For these clubs it’s been 125 years (of) countless derbies, stars of the biggest calibre gone by, trophies and internationals. The two oldest clubs in the competition today do battle at the famous old ground - Johnston Park … Wembley. It’s not called Wembley for fun; it was nicknamed Wembley in the 1920s when no less than eight Bluebells players were internationals. You couldn’t imagine it but in 1922, Westy beat a touring Canadian side 3-0. The days of old indeed. The name Johnston Park has an interesting back story. William G Johnston marked out the lines on turf owned by the Caledonian Coal 22

Company. Thus the ground became Johnston’s Park. William G Johnston was also the owner of the Museum Hotel, sponsor of the Bluebells in the 1890s and still sponsor to this day. The locals here support their team. This club needs no introduction, the Westy Bluebells. A proud old team with passionate local support for over a century. They’ve been playing on their patch of turf since the late 1890s. They were founded in the same year as Liverpool; arguably the most famous old club in the world. They’re not the best team in the region at the moment but history tells a different story, with 10 major premierships (1899, 1902, 1904, 1913, 1920, 1921, 1925, 1926, 1946 and 1986). Countless trophies and

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

When West Wallsend Bluebells took on the Wallsend Red Devils on March 25, 2016, it’s wasn’t just a regular NEWFM First Division match, it was a game 125 years in the making according to Newcastle football writer Ty Stedman.

And the opponents and rivals since it all began, the Wallsend Red Devils. One of the most famous old teams in Northern NSW and one of the most successful clubs in the country during the 1930s and ‘40s. Twelve major premierships, countless grand finals, including four against the Bluebells. Their gripping grand final win last year broke a 50-year drought without a win in the biggest game of the season. Another club that have been to the brink of folding and have never quit. A club that has always stood proud. Founded in 1887 as the Wallsend Rovers, this famous club have been to 78 Cup finals, winning 65 of them. They’re a year older than Manchester United, the world’s most recognisable football team. Fitting that they’re both now known as the Red Devils. How about the players, they need

no introduction. Les Burnett, George Arthur, Alf Quill and the most famous of them all, Reg Date. Reggie Date was born in Wallsend, played for Wallsend and is their most famous name. Date played for his school side Plattsburg Primary, he played for the Red Devils and he not only played for Australia, he was voted into the Team of the Century. Date played under coach Alf Quill, the greatest goal-scorer in the history of the game on these shores; 868 goals in 22 years. He played for Australia, he played for Wallsend and he coached the mighty Red Devils. One of the club’s greatest. And how about George Arthur. He holds the club record for most games played; 420 matches in the red and white. 100 goals. Olympian. Like the Bluebells, Wallsend Red Devils have come close to folding before. The days of their famous old ground Crystal Palace (now the Wallsend Shopping Centre) are long gone. It took years for the club

to claw their way back and now they’re one of the strongest clubs in the league. This is a club that loves its history and they love beating their rivals. This is like no derby in Newcastle. These teams have been doing battle for over a century. There was no Broadmeadow Magic, no Hamilton Olympic and definitely no Newcastle Jets. Rugby league wasn’t a sport in this country and this country didn’t even exist as a Commonwealth nation. World War I hadn’t taken place. The entire world as you know it was different. The only thing that stayed the same. Westy, Wallsend, Johnston Park. Today celebrates 125 years of the greatest derby in the region. For these two clubs, today, nothing else matters. This is an edited transcript of a video produced by Ty Stedman for Newy Sports www.newysports.com

countless memories. They were originally the West Wallsend Wanderers, founded by Scottish miners. Then came West Wallsend Athletic and in 1896 they became the Bluebells, the name they still use today. A club was blossoming and it became one of the best this side of Sydney. There’s too many names to mention, famous old names. William ‘Podge’ Maunder. He played for Westy in the club’s best era, the huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

23


harness racing

community

A walk fit for a super hero

Change of gait chance to prolong career A former Group 1 winning pacer is following in the footsteps of a string of successful horses by making the switch to the trotting track. After 131 starts and three Group 1 victories, former Keinbah trainer Shane Tritton is hoping a change of gait may help to put some extra spring into the step of his pacing veteran Gaius Caesar. A string of horses in recent years have

successfully made the switch including On Thunder Road and Mister Zion. While Gaius Caesar needs to trial as a trotter on two occasions before he can start racing, the nine-year-old gelding made a promising start last month.

The horse won its trial in two minutes and covered his final 400m in 27.5 seconds. Tritton, who relocated from the Hunter to Menangle earlier this year, said he is happy with Gaius Caesar’s progress. “Trotting has always made up a large part of his training program even when Darren Binskin was training him,

Feature race named in honour of

industry stalwart The Newcastle Mile has been named in honour of former Newcastle Harness Racing Club CEO Ross Gigg, who died two years ago.

Ross Gigg was synonymous with harness racing in Newcastle. The passionate sports administrator spent 22 years at the helm of the Newcastle Harness Racing Club before being struck down by a heart attack on May 8, 2014, at the age of 58. This month, almost two years to the day since he died, Gigg’s legacy will live on with the inaugural running of the Ross Gigg Newcastle Mile. Previously known just as the Newcastle Mile and run as a Group 2 event, it has been the showpiece of the Newcastle racing calendar since its creation in 1989. But in 2015 the race

24

A run

Gauis Caeser takes out the Group 1 Bohemia FFA. Image courtesy of Harness Racing NSW.

was cancelled after scheduling changes for the Miracle Mile at Menangle meant the Newcastle event was no longer an automatic qualifier for the prestigious Group 1 race. Newcastle Harness Racing Club General Manager Tony Drew said when it came time to rebrand the event and get it back on track this year, there was little debate as to what it

should be called. “With the changes to the Miracle Mile we lost the incentive for trainers to come up here,” he said.

“So we looked at revamping the Newcastle Mile and in doing so we wanted to do it in Ross’s memory. “He was synonymous with the Newcastle Mile, he was the CEO here for 22 years prior to his passing in 2014 and was instrumental in getting this race to the level it was; it was seen as one of the feature events in harness racing in NSW. “He left a great legacy.” This is not the first time Gigg’s memory has been honoured at the club since his untimely death – the public bar is now known as the Ross Gigg Lounge while a Mini Trot Driver’s Challenge

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

so he is a very fluent trotter,” he said. “His racing style would be better suited to trotting rather than pacing because he is so dour and just keeps on grinding away, so races over further than a mile would be right up his alley. “If he keeps on trotting and doesn’t want to naturally switch back to a pace I think he’ll make a good go of it.” run at the track last year also bore the former CEO’s name. Drew said he hoped a large crowd would come out in support of the Ross Gigg Newcastle Mile when it is held as part of the twilight Carnival of Cups race meeting at the Newcastle International Paceway on May 7. Apart from the $30,000 Group 3 race, the meeting will also include the Somerset Meats Newcastle Derby, with Drew expecting top fields for both of the feature races. He said it would be a great night for all the family, with up to 10 races included on the program, as well as children’s entertainment to keep the kids happy. Gates will open around 4.30pm, with the first race expected to jump at around 5.30pm.

Ever wanted to be a superhero for a day? Well now you have your chance!

for Iva Most of us wouldn’t think about our ability to walk and run. But while we may take it for granted, there are people who dream about taking a single step. Iva Harris is a fouryear-old girl from Newcastle who is unable to walk, talk or crawl because she suffers from global development delay. The only option for treatment is TheraSuit therapy sessions at The OT Clinic in Sydney, where she has started to make progress and can now sit up on her own and roll over. However these sessions are expensive and because Iva’s condition is not officially recognised, her family does not receive any government funding. That’s why Planet Fitness will be raising funds for Iva through this year’s Run with a Story event in Newcastle on Sunday, May 1. Planet Fitness Marketing Co-ordinator Fallon Beesley said the goal is to reach at least $30,000 to help with Iva’s treatment.

“Iva’s TheraSuit sessions go for three weeks and cost around $7000. That doesn’t count her parents’ lost wages, living expenses, and costs for travel and accommodation while staying in Sydney,” she said. Run with a Story was launched in 2013 by Planet Fitness member Peter Story, whose son Matthew was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and required an expensive experimental drug. “The initiative took off from there and Planet Fitness decided to keep it going and help other people,” Ms Beesley said. The 2016 event kicks off at the Fernleigh track in Belmont and incorporates 5km, 10km, 15km, 30km and 60km courses. There will also be a black tie dinner and auction on Friday, May 13 at the Beach Hotel Merewether. Tickets are $85 per person or $750 for a table of 10, which can be purchased at any Planet Fitness club.

Hunter residents are invited to dress up as their favourite superhero for a unique charity walk that supports one of the region’s own heroes; the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. The Superhero Stride is a 3km charity walk that will be held in Newcastle on Sunday, May 22. Kicking off at 9.30am, participants will travel along the Newcastle Foreshore to Nobby’s Beach Reserve where there will be food and entertainment to ensure the heroes are ready for their next mission. There are prizes on offer for the best dressed male, female, team and kids, while some of the biggest fundraisers will also be acknowledged

with an opportunity to win a ride in the rescue helicopter like a true superhero. Service General Manager Richard Jones said the Superhero Stride is a great event for people who enjoy walking, as well as for kids and big kids at heart who enjoy having a good time. “Many of our Rescue Club members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters asked us to provide a fun way that they could also get their friends and family involved with the Service,” he said. “We think the people who support the work of the Rescue Helicopters are ‘super’ and we know that the people of this region love to get active around our beautiful harbour.”

Entry is $15 for adults, $10 for children aged 16 years and under or $50 for a team of five. For more information or to register visit www.rescuehelicopter.com.au or www. superherostride.com Superhero Stride is supported by Westfield Kotara, Endota Spa and Lollipops.

For more information, to register or make a donation visit www.planetfitness.com.au/run-with-a-story

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

25


harness racing

community

A walk fit for a super hero

Change of gait chance to prolong career A former Group 1 winning pacer is following in the footsteps of a string of successful horses by making the switch to the trotting track. After 131 starts and three Group 1 victories, former Keinbah trainer Shane Tritton is hoping a change of gait may help to put some extra spring into the step of his pacing veteran Gaius Caesar. A string of horses in recent years have

successfully made the switch including On Thunder Road and Mister Zion. While Gaius Caesar needs to trial as a trotter on two occasions before he can start racing, the nine-year-old gelding made a promising start last month.

The horse won its trial in two minutes and covered his final 400m in 27.5 seconds. Tritton, who relocated from the Hunter to Menangle earlier this year, said he is happy with Gaius Caesar’s progress. “Trotting has always made up a large part of his training program even when Darren Binskin was training him,

Feature race named in honour of

industry stalwart The Newcastle Mile has been named in honour of former Newcastle Harness Racing Club CEO Ross Gigg, who died two years ago.

Ross Gigg was synonymous with harness racing in Newcastle. The passionate sports administrator spent 22 years at the helm of the Newcastle Harness Racing Club before being struck down by a heart attack on May 8, 2014, at the age of 58. This month, almost two years to the day since he died, Gigg’s legacy will live on with the inaugural running of the Ross Gigg Newcastle Mile. Previously known just as the Newcastle Mile and run as a Group 2 event, it has been the showpiece of the Newcastle racing calendar since its creation in 1989. But in 2015 the race

24

A run

Gauis Caeser takes out the Group 1 Bohemia FFA. Image courtesy of Harness Racing NSW.

was cancelled after scheduling changes for the Miracle Mile at Menangle meant the Newcastle event was no longer an automatic qualifier for the prestigious Group 1 race. Newcastle Harness Racing Club General Manager Tony Drew said when it came time to rebrand the event and get it back on track this year, there was little debate as to what it

should be called. “With the changes to the Miracle Mile we lost the incentive for trainers to come up here,” he said.

“So we looked at revamping the Newcastle Mile and in doing so we wanted to do it in Ross’s memory. “He was synonymous with the Newcastle Mile, he was the CEO here for 22 years prior to his passing in 2014 and was instrumental in getting this race to the level it was; it was seen as one of the feature events in harness racing in NSW. “He left a great legacy.” This is not the first time Gigg’s memory has been honoured at the club since his untimely death – the public bar is now known as the Ross Gigg Lounge while a Mini Trot Driver’s Challenge

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

so he is a very fluent trotter,” he said. “His racing style would be better suited to trotting rather than pacing because he is so dour and just keeps on grinding away, so races over further than a mile would be right up his alley. “If he keeps on trotting and doesn’t want to naturally switch back to a pace I think he’ll make a good go of it.” run at the track last year also bore the former CEO’s name. Drew said he hoped a large crowd would come out in support of the Ross Gigg Newcastle Mile when it is held as part of the twilight Carnival of Cups race meeting at the Newcastle International Paceway on May 7. Apart from the $30,000 Group 3 race, the meeting will also include the Somerset Meats Newcastle Derby, with Drew expecting top fields for both of the feature races. He said it would be a great night for all the family, with up to 10 races included on the program, as well as children’s entertainment to keep the kids happy. Gates will open around 4.30pm, with the first race expected to jump at around 5.30pm.

Ever wanted to be a superhero for a day? Well now you have your chance!

for Iva Most of us wouldn’t think about our ability to walk and run. But while we may take it for granted, there are people who dream about taking a single step. Iva Harris is a fouryear-old girl from Newcastle who is unable to walk, talk or crawl because she suffers from global development delay. The only option for treatment is TheraSuit therapy sessions at The OT Clinic in Sydney, where she has started to make progress and can now sit up on her own and roll over. However these sessions are expensive and because Iva’s condition is not officially recognised, her family does not receive any government funding. That’s why Planet Fitness will be raising funds for Iva through this year’s Run with a Story event in Newcastle on Sunday, May 1. Planet Fitness Marketing Co-ordinator Fallon Beesley said the goal is to reach at least $30,000 to help with Iva’s treatment.

“Iva’s TheraSuit sessions go for three weeks and cost around $7000. That doesn’t count her parents’ lost wages, living expenses, and costs for travel and accommodation while staying in Sydney,” she said. Run with a Story was launched in 2013 by Planet Fitness member Peter Story, whose son Matthew was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and required an expensive experimental drug. “The initiative took off from there and Planet Fitness decided to keep it going and help other people,” Ms Beesley said. The 2016 event kicks off at the Fernleigh track in Belmont and incorporates 5km, 10km, 15km, 30km and 60km courses. There will also be a black tie dinner and auction on Friday, May 13 at the Beach Hotel Merewether. Tickets are $85 per person or $750 for a table of 10, which can be purchased at any Planet Fitness club.

Hunter residents are invited to dress up as their favourite superhero for a unique charity walk that supports one of the region’s own heroes; the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. The Superhero Stride is a 3km charity walk that will be held in Newcastle on Sunday, May 22. Kicking off at 9.30am, participants will travel along the Newcastle Foreshore to Nobby’s Beach Reserve where there will be food and entertainment to ensure the heroes are ready for their next mission. There are prizes on offer for the best dressed male, female, team and kids, while some of the biggest fundraisers will also be acknowledged

with an opportunity to win a ride in the rescue helicopter like a true superhero. Service General Manager Richard Jones said the Superhero Stride is a great event for people who enjoy walking, as well as for kids and big kids at heart who enjoy having a good time. “Many of our Rescue Club members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters asked us to provide a fun way that they could also get their friends and family involved with the Service,” he said. “We think the people who support the work of the Rescue Helicopters are ‘super’ and we know that the people of this region love to get active around our beautiful harbour.”

Entry is $15 for adults, $10 for children aged 16 years and under or $50 for a team of five. For more information or to register visit www.rescuehelicopter.com.au or www. superherostride.com Superhero Stride is supported by Westfield Kotara, Endota Spa and Lollipops.

For more information, to register or make a donation visit www.planetfitness.com.au/run-with-a-story

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

25


event preview

already embraces us,” he said.

Colourful new event splashes into the Hunter

The Hunter’s sporting calendar just got a little more colourful with the launch of an exciting new family fun run. Joining the long list of outdoor recreational events to burst onto the scene in recent years, Colour Ya World is a new family-friendly experience that combines fitness, fun and food dye, where participants are showered in all the colours of the rainbow as they make their way through a five kilometre course. After first hitting the streets of Forster in April,

Colour Ya World will make its way to the King Park Sporting Complex in Raymond Terrace on Sunday May 22. Colour Ya World is organised by Elite Energy, a multi-sport events company who are also behind this month’s popular Port Stephens Triathlon Festival (May 21). According to a spokesperson for Elite Energy, the

success of the Port Stephens Triathlon Festival has created a solid foundation for launching a new event in the region. “Through the triathlon festival that we hold in Port Stephens we know the area well and thought it was the perfect opportunity to bring this event to a region that

Presale tickets start at $25 for kids and $35 for adults, while tickets can also be purchased on the day. Organisers are anticipating around 1000 participants to take part in this inaugural event.

colouryaworld.com.au/location-raymond-terrace

Runners will be lining up to take on the Levee this month when the 7th annual Maitland River Run returns to the CDB.

26

“The event is for everyone, from small to tall, young to old, participants can walk, run, roll and dance their way across the 5km course as the get doused in colourful gels and powders.”

For more information visit

Sprinters set to take to the streets

More than 1000 runners from across the Hunter and around the state are expected to descend on Maitland for the May 29 event, which will take in a 4km circuit along the banks of the Hunter River and the freshly-laid pavers of the revitalised Levee precinct

“Colour Ya World was created to bring a fun event for the whole family that incorporates fitness, family and entertainment.

Visit www.maitlandriverrun.net For more details.

(formerly the Maitland Heritage Mall). The feature race – the Maitland Mile – offers runners something special; the chance to take part in one of the few competitively run “street

mile” events in Australia. The 1609m course will see entrants battle it out in a fast and furious sprint down High Street, through the Levee and back along the top walkway overlooking the

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Hunter River in a race to crown the fastest male and female runner. The Maitland River Run also includes a 4km run, 7.75km run (two laps of the course) and 11.55km distance, with male and female age categories ranging from children six years and upwards through to those aged 70+. Organiser Paul Humphreys, from local sports event management company H Events, said interest in running events had risen significantly during the past few years. “Participants are now looking for more than a flat tarred road to challenge their development. Interesting locations and a unique course design are integral to attracting runners,” he said.

event calendar

May 2016 May 1: Run With a Story, charity fun run, Lambton, www.planetfitness. com.au/run-with-a-story May 1: Diamond Surf and Turf Obstacle Race, Newcastle Beach, www.newcastlesurfnturf. com.au

info/regional-event-locations/ new-south-wales/newcastle

Club night meeting, Newcastle International Paceway.

May 13: Divas on the Green charity golf day, Merewether Golf Club, www.divasonthegreen.com.au

May 21: Newcastle Herald Race Day, Newcastle Jockey Club.

May 2-13: Grand Masters Hockey World Cup, Newcastle International Hockey Centre, www.wgmaworldcup2016. com

May 21: Port Stephens Triathlon Festival (pictured), One Mile Beach, www.eliteenergy.com. au/event/port-stephenstriathlon-festival May 22: Colour Ya World fun run, Raymond Terrace, www. colouryaworld.com.au/ location-raymond-terrace

May 6: Trans-Tasman Test Match Australia v New Zealand, Hunter Stadium, www.tickets.nrl.com May 6: RIDBC Hunter Kick 4 a Cause, Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, www.ridbc.org.au/charitysoccer May 7: Carnival of Cups at Newcastle Harness Racing Club, Newcastle International Paceway, www.newcastleharness.com.au May 7: Newcastle Pro Wrestling, Charlestown Bowling Club, www. newcastleprowrestling.com.au May 7: AHA NSW Race Day / Canadian Club Marquee Party, Newcastle Jockey Club, www.njc.com.au May 8: Mother’s Day Classic charity walk / run, Newcastle, www. mothersdayclassic.com.au/event-

May 22: Superhero Stride, Newcastle Foreshore, www. superherostrikde.com May 26: NJC Race Day (free entry), Newcastle Jockey Club. May 13: Newcastle Harness Racing Club night meeting, Newcastle International Paceway.

May 27: Newcastle Harness Racing Club night meeting, Newcastle International Paceway.

May 13-14: Emirates Park Scone Cup Carnival, Scone Race Club, www.sconeraceclub.com.au May 14-15: Dungog Duathlon, Dungog, www.mtbdungog.com.au

May 28: Men of League Foundation Newcastle / Hunter Golf Challenge, www.menofleague.com/ news/1051-newcastle-hunter-golfchallenge-and-dinner

May 15: NRL Round 10 Knights v Cronulla, Hunter Stadium, www.newcastleknights.com.au

May 29: Maitland River Run, The Levee at Maitland, www.maitlandriverrun.net

May 19: Ronald McDonald House Northern NSW charity Golf Classic, The Vintage, phone Darren on 0477 001 714

May 30: Cessnock Race Day, Cessnock Racecourse, www.njc.com.au

May 20: Newcastle Harness Racing

May 30: NRL round 12 Knights v Eels, Hunter Stadium.

Riders go off road for MTB challenge

Lambton rider Chris Chapman is looking forward to his first Port to Port MTB experience.

Weekend warriors and elite riders alike will converge on the Hunter this month for a full-on four-day mountain bike event. Described as the east coast’s number one multi-stage mountain bike event and designed to be fun and challenging for riders of all levels, Port to Port MTB is now in its third year in the Hunter.

on May 29.

Riders will cover more than 197km during May 26-29 as they journey from Port Stephens to the Hunter Valley vineyards, out to Lake Macquarie and back into Newcastle.

More than 500 riders took part in the 2015 version, which was broadcast via a documentary to 132 countries around the world, attracting 500 million viewers.

For the first time this year the completion of the event will also be celebrated with Drop In Newcastle: Eats, Beats and Bikes, a new finish line festival to be held at Dixon Park

Lambton rider Chris Chapman is saddling up for the first time this year and the 18-year-old said he can’t wait to tackle the challenge offered by Port to Port.

Event Director Chris Heverin said Port to Port attracts riders from all over Australia and the Asia Pacific Region. “I’m absolutely looking forward to it,” he said. “I’m hoping for a top 25 place and the mindset that I can do four days straight full gas and have fun.” To register for the 2016 Port to Port MTB or to find out more information visit www.porttoportmtb.com

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

27


event preview

already embraces us,” he said.

Colourful new event splashes into the Hunter

The Hunter’s sporting calendar just got a little more colourful with the launch of an exciting new family fun run. Joining the long list of outdoor recreational events to burst onto the scene in recent years, Colour Ya World is a new family-friendly experience that combines fitness, fun and food dye, where participants are showered in all the colours of the rainbow as they make their way through a five kilometre course. After first hitting the streets of Forster in April,

Colour Ya World will make its way to the King Park Sporting Complex in Raymond Terrace on Sunday May 22. Colour Ya World is organised by Elite Energy, a multi-sport events company who are also behind this month’s popular Port Stephens Triathlon Festival (May 21). According to a spokesperson for Elite Energy, the

success of the Port Stephens Triathlon Festival has created a solid foundation for launching a new event in the region. “Through the triathlon festival that we hold in Port Stephens we know the area well and thought it was the perfect opportunity to bring this event to a region that

Presale tickets start at $25 for kids and $35 for adults, while tickets can also be purchased on the day. Organisers are anticipating around 1000 participants to take part in this inaugural event.

colouryaworld.com.au/location-raymond-terrace

Runners will be lining up to take on the Levee this month when the 7th annual Maitland River Run returns to the CDB.

26

“The event is for everyone, from small to tall, young to old, participants can walk, run, roll and dance their way across the 5km course as the get doused in colourful gels and powders.”

For more information visit

Sprinters set to take to the streets

More than 1000 runners from across the Hunter and around the state are expected to descend on Maitland for the May 29 event, which will take in a 4km circuit along the banks of the Hunter River and the freshly-laid pavers of the revitalised Levee precinct

“Colour Ya World was created to bring a fun event for the whole family that incorporates fitness, family and entertainment.

Visit www.maitlandriverrun.net For more details.

(formerly the Maitland Heritage Mall). The feature race – the Maitland Mile – offers runners something special; the chance to take part in one of the few competitively run “street

mile” events in Australia. The 1609m course will see entrants battle it out in a fast and furious sprint down High Street, through the Levee and back along the top walkway overlooking the

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Hunter River in a race to crown the fastest male and female runner. The Maitland River Run also includes a 4km run, 7.75km run (two laps of the course) and 11.55km distance, with male and female age categories ranging from children six years and upwards through to those aged 70+. Organiser Paul Humphreys, from local sports event management company H Events, said interest in running events had risen significantly during the past few years. “Participants are now looking for more than a flat tarred road to challenge their development. Interesting locations and a unique course design are integral to attracting runners,” he said.

event calendar

May 2016 May 1: Run With a Story, charity fun run, Lambton, www.planetfitness. com.au/run-with-a-story May 1: Diamond Surf and Turf Obstacle Race, Newcastle Beach, www.newcastlesurfnturf. com.au

info/regional-event-locations/ new-south-wales/newcastle

Club night meeting, Newcastle International Paceway.

May 13: Divas on the Green charity golf day, Merewether Golf Club, www.divasonthegreen.com.au

May 21: Newcastle Herald Race Day, Newcastle Jockey Club.

May 2-13: Grand Masters Hockey World Cup, Newcastle International Hockey Centre, www.wgmaworldcup2016. com

May 21: Port Stephens Triathlon Festival (pictured), One Mile Beach, www.eliteenergy.com. au/event/port-stephenstriathlon-festival May 22: Colour Ya World fun run, Raymond Terrace, www. colouryaworld.com.au/ location-raymond-terrace

May 6: Trans-Tasman Test Match Australia v New Zealand, Hunter Stadium, www.tickets.nrl.com May 6: RIDBC Hunter Kick 4 a Cause, Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, www.ridbc.org.au/charitysoccer May 7: Carnival of Cups at Newcastle Harness Racing Club, Newcastle International Paceway, www.newcastleharness.com.au May 7: Newcastle Pro Wrestling, Charlestown Bowling Club, www. newcastleprowrestling.com.au May 7: AHA NSW Race Day / Canadian Club Marquee Party, Newcastle Jockey Club, www.njc.com.au May 8: Mother’s Day Classic charity walk / run, Newcastle, www. mothersdayclassic.com.au/event-

May 22: Superhero Stride, Newcastle Foreshore, www. superherostrikde.com May 26: NJC Race Day (free entry), Newcastle Jockey Club. May 13: Newcastle Harness Racing Club night meeting, Newcastle International Paceway.

May 27: Newcastle Harness Racing Club night meeting, Newcastle International Paceway.

May 13-14: Emirates Park Scone Cup Carnival, Scone Race Club, www.sconeraceclub.com.au May 14-15: Dungog Duathlon, Dungog, www.mtbdungog.com.au

May 28: Men of League Foundation Newcastle / Hunter Golf Challenge, www.menofleague.com/ news/1051-newcastle-hunter-golfchallenge-and-dinner

May 15: NRL Round 10 Knights v Cronulla, Hunter Stadium, www.newcastleknights.com.au

May 29: Maitland River Run, The Levee at Maitland, www.maitlandriverrun.net

May 19: Ronald McDonald House Northern NSW charity Golf Classic, The Vintage, phone Darren on 0477 001 714

May 30: Cessnock Race Day, Cessnock Racecourse, www.njc.com.au

May 20: Newcastle Harness Racing

May 30: NRL round 12 Knights v Eels, Hunter Stadium.

Riders go off road for MTB challenge

Lambton rider Chris Chapman is looking forward to his first Port to Port MTB experience.

Weekend warriors and elite riders alike will converge on the Hunter this month for a full-on four-day mountain bike event. Described as the east coast’s number one multi-stage mountain bike event and designed to be fun and challenging for riders of all levels, Port to Port MTB is now in its third year in the Hunter.

on May 29.

Riders will cover more than 197km during May 26-29 as they journey from Port Stephens to the Hunter Valley vineyards, out to Lake Macquarie and back into Newcastle.

More than 500 riders took part in the 2015 version, which was broadcast via a documentary to 132 countries around the world, attracting 500 million viewers.

For the first time this year the completion of the event will also be celebrated with Drop In Newcastle: Eats, Beats and Bikes, a new finish line festival to be held at Dixon Park

Lambton rider Chris Chapman is saddling up for the first time this year and the 18-year-old said he can’t wait to tackle the challenge offered by Port to Port.

Event Director Chris Heverin said Port to Port attracts riders from all over Australia and the Asia Pacific Region. “I’m absolutely looking forward to it,” he said. “I’m hoping for a top 25 place and the mindset that I can do four days straight full gas and have fun.” To register for the 2016 Port to Port MTB or to find out more information visit www.porttoportmtb.com

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

27


kitted out

Turn night into bright

Style and safety for a

smooth ride Be ready for all riding conditions with the latest Ixon PitRace sports motorbike jacket. A slick, versatile and durable sports jacket, it features vented mesh panels on the front, back and sleeves to keep you cool when it’s hot, as well as a waterproof and windproof removable insert hidden in the back of the jacket to keep you warm and dry when the weather takes a turn for the worse. But the jacket offers more than just a comfortable clothing option, with safety features including CE protectors on elbows and shoulders, reflective piping throughout and a zip to connect it to the matching pants. There’s also six

Transform a blind spot into a bright spot when you’re cruising the highway at night with the world’s first dynamically adaptive motorcycle headlight. Designed by JW Speaker, the Adaptive Series low beam LED headlight solves night-time visibility issues by filling in the dark spot created to the left or right of the motorcycle when cornering.

pockets for plenty of storage options. Suitable for riders of every shape and size, it is available in XS through to 4XL in the classic Black/ White, Black/White/Red and Black/White/Yellow colour combinations and retails for $199.95 (RRP). To find out more about the Ixon PitRace or to find your nearest stockist, head to www.ficeda.com.au

Traverse the great outdoors on time Stay on track when you’re on the go with Suunto Australia’s latest timepiece. More than just a way to tell the time, Suunto Traverse combines traditional

outdoor functions with GPS/GLONASS navigation in a robust, modern construction.

The unit’s advanced electronics and embedded sensors calculate bank angles on a real-time basis to know when you’re cornering, automatically directing the light up or down in the foreground as the motorcycle leans.

aluminum housing, state-of-the-art LEDs and sleek design for premium performance and a unique look. Visit www.aps-supply. com or email sales.apsa@ aps-supply.com for more details.

Tell your old backpack to take a hike and discover all new heights in bag engineering with the latest range from Osprey. Built upon Osprey’s ground breaking AntiGravity framework, the Manta AG for men and the women’s Mira AG packs use ultra-lightweight mesh back panels to separate the contents of the pack from the hiker for a smoother carry.

frame is designed to transfer the load from the Biostretch harness to the hip-belt, while the pack’s Airspeed back panel conforms to the hiker’s hip and lower back, simultaneously reducing resistance when moving and increasing airflow for a seamless trek. The packs also offer a

2.5L hydraulics reservoir with a handy Osprey Mira in Cherry Red. magnetic sternum strap Visit www.outdooragencies.com.au for the bite valve, to find your nearest stockist. a Stow-On-TheGo trekking pole Available in a range of attachment, integrated sizes (18L to 36L) and rain cover system and colours, the Manta AG dual-zippered hipbelt Series and Mira AG packs pockets for easy access to are priced from $199.95. trail-mix.

Every sportsperson knows the importance of staying hydrated. But when space is at a premium when you’re stowing your kit bag, lugging around a big bulky bottle just isn’t practical.

Traverse can be activated in an extra bright flashlight mode.

Altitude, vertical speed and total ascent are measured accurately with FusedAlti, where barometric pressure information is combined with satellite altitude.

And for the fitness enthusiasts, Traverse comes with activity tracking to provide daily step and calorie counts, while it is also compatible with Suunto Movescount App for iOS and Android, enabling you to stay up-to-date with incoming calls, texts and push notifications.

Alerts, such as storm alarm, are made noticeable by vibration, keeping noise disturbance to a minimum.

Available in black, white and amber, the Suunto Traverse retails for $549.99 and can be found in store at Paddy Pallin and Mountain Designs.

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Hit the trail with Osprey

H2O on the go

Available as a 7-inch and 5.75-inch round headlight, it features heavy-duty, die-cast

Follow your progress en-route with key statistics such as altitude and distance, while the automatic breadcrumb trail ensures you can re-trace your steps when needed.

Osprey Manta in Fossil Grey.

A paper-thin, 3mm Lightwire suspension

The headlight can also intelligently “tune” low beam and banking optics to maximise visibility in corners.

To find your essentials or check a map in the dark, the backlight of Suunto 28

kitted out

Visit www.suunto.com.au

That’s where the collapsible Stash Bottle comes in. The latest groundbreaking product from Hydrapak, the Stash will dynamically change the way you drink, store, and carry water, backed with a lifetime guarantee. A wide mouth top makes drinking on the go easier and filling up a breeze, while the sturdy bottom retains the same functionality of your average bottle without the bulk. But it is the Stash bottle’s soft TPU walls and innovative molded top and bottom, which

snap together for easy storage and transport that really make this product stand out from the crowd. The bottle is available in a range of colours and costs $33.95 for the 750ml version and $44.95 for the 1L Stash.

Safe and secure on rocky roads

Visit www.osabrands.com for your nearest stockist.

For cyclists, the ability to easily load and unload your bike from your car is an integral element to a convenient ride. So why not check out the new Rocky Mounts Bike Carrier from Rhino-Rack, which helps transport your bike with ease and is suitable for a wide range of different bike styles. Made with a premium aluminium tray, casting and a non-corrosive construction, the carrier is built strong and is suitable for bikes from 20” to 29ers to fat tire bikes. It features a universal fit design, compatible with most popular roof racks on the market, while the

innovative three locking points on the cover plate, the handle and the security cable are all master key compatible. The sophisticated design also ensures the carrier frame won’t make contact with your bike frame, while the easily adjustable swing arm doesn’t require front wheel removal and allows you to position your bike on either the driver or passenger side of the car. The Rocky Mounts Bike Carrier retails for $319 (RRP).

Visit www.rhinorack.com.au to find your nearest stockist. huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

29


kitted out

Turn night into bright

Style and safety for a

smooth ride Be ready for all riding conditions with the latest Ixon PitRace sports motorbike jacket. A slick, versatile and durable sports jacket, it features vented mesh panels on the front, back and sleeves to keep you cool when it’s hot, as well as a waterproof and windproof removable insert hidden in the back of the jacket to keep you warm and dry when the weather takes a turn for the worse. But the jacket offers more than just a comfortable clothing option, with safety features including CE protectors on elbows and shoulders, reflective piping throughout and a zip to connect it to the matching pants. There’s also six

Transform a blind spot into a bright spot when you’re cruising the highway at night with the world’s first dynamically adaptive motorcycle headlight. Designed by JW Speaker, the Adaptive Series low beam LED headlight solves night-time visibility issues by filling in the dark spot created to the left or right of the motorcycle when cornering.

pockets for plenty of storage options. Suitable for riders of every shape and size, it is available in XS through to 4XL in the classic Black/ White, Black/White/Red and Black/White/Yellow colour combinations and retails for $199.95 (RRP). To find out more about the Ixon PitRace or to find your nearest stockist, head to www.ficeda.com.au

Traverse the great outdoors on time Stay on track when you’re on the go with Suunto Australia’s latest timepiece. More than just a way to tell the time, Suunto Traverse combines traditional

outdoor functions with GPS/GLONASS navigation in a robust, modern construction.

The unit’s advanced electronics and embedded sensors calculate bank angles on a real-time basis to know when you’re cornering, automatically directing the light up or down in the foreground as the motorcycle leans.

aluminum housing, state-of-the-art LEDs and sleek design for premium performance and a unique look. Visit www.aps-supply. com or email sales.apsa@ aps-supply.com for more details.

Tell your old backpack to take a hike and discover all new heights in bag engineering with the latest range from Osprey. Built upon Osprey’s ground breaking AntiGravity framework, the Manta AG for men and the women’s Mira AG packs use ultra-lightweight mesh back panels to separate the contents of the pack from the hiker for a smoother carry.

frame is designed to transfer the load from the Biostretch harness to the hip-belt, while the pack’s Airspeed back panel conforms to the hiker’s hip and lower back, simultaneously reducing resistance when moving and increasing airflow for a seamless trek. The packs also offer a

2.5L hydraulics reservoir with a handy Osprey Mira in Cherry Red. magnetic sternum strap Visit www.outdooragencies.com.au for the bite valve, to find your nearest stockist. a Stow-On-TheGo trekking pole Available in a range of attachment, integrated sizes (18L to 36L) and rain cover system and colours, the Manta AG dual-zippered hipbelt Series and Mira AG packs pockets for easy access to are priced from $199.95. trail-mix.

Every sportsperson knows the importance of staying hydrated. But when space is at a premium when you’re stowing your kit bag, lugging around a big bulky bottle just isn’t practical.

Traverse can be activated in an extra bright flashlight mode.

Altitude, vertical speed and total ascent are measured accurately with FusedAlti, where barometric pressure information is combined with satellite altitude.

And for the fitness enthusiasts, Traverse comes with activity tracking to provide daily step and calorie counts, while it is also compatible with Suunto Movescount App for iOS and Android, enabling you to stay up-to-date with incoming calls, texts and push notifications.

Alerts, such as storm alarm, are made noticeable by vibration, keeping noise disturbance to a minimum.

Available in black, white and amber, the Suunto Traverse retails for $549.99 and can be found in store at Paddy Pallin and Mountain Designs.

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

Hit the trail with Osprey

H2O on the go

Available as a 7-inch and 5.75-inch round headlight, it features heavy-duty, die-cast

Follow your progress en-route with key statistics such as altitude and distance, while the automatic breadcrumb trail ensures you can re-trace your steps when needed.

Osprey Manta in Fossil Grey.

A paper-thin, 3mm Lightwire suspension

The headlight can also intelligently “tune” low beam and banking optics to maximise visibility in corners.

To find your essentials or check a map in the dark, the backlight of Suunto 28

kitted out

Visit www.suunto.com.au

That’s where the collapsible Stash Bottle comes in. The latest groundbreaking product from Hydrapak, the Stash will dynamically change the way you drink, store, and carry water, backed with a lifetime guarantee. A wide mouth top makes drinking on the go easier and filling up a breeze, while the sturdy bottom retains the same functionality of your average bottle without the bulk. But it is the Stash bottle’s soft TPU walls and innovative molded top and bottom, which

snap together for easy storage and transport that really make this product stand out from the crowd. The bottle is available in a range of colours and costs $33.95 for the 750ml version and $44.95 for the 1L Stash.

Safe and secure on rocky roads

Visit www.osabrands.com for your nearest stockist.

For cyclists, the ability to easily load and unload your bike from your car is an integral element to a convenient ride. So why not check out the new Rocky Mounts Bike Carrier from Rhino-Rack, which helps transport your bike with ease and is suitable for a wide range of different bike styles. Made with a premium aluminium tray, casting and a non-corrosive construction, the carrier is built strong and is suitable for bikes from 20” to 29ers to fat tire bikes. It features a universal fit design, compatible with most popular roof racks on the market, while the

innovative three locking points on the cover plate, the handle and the security cable are all master key compatible. The sophisticated design also ensures the carrier frame won’t make contact with your bike frame, while the easily adjustable swing arm doesn’t require front wheel removal and allows you to position your bike on either the driver or passenger side of the car. The Rocky Mounts Bike Carrier retails for $319 (RRP).

Visit www.rhinorack.com.au to find your nearest stockist. huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

29


junior sport

JUNIOR SPORT

Hoop dreams

&hard work You only have to take one look at Ryan Rowe to know this kid was made to play basketball.

A

t the age of 14, the towering Fishing Point teen already measures in at an impressive 187cm.

rewarded with

junior basketballers in Australia and New Zealand during the Pacific Rim Championships, held from March 2528 at Tauranga on the North Island of New Zealand.

And each day he slips his feet into size 17 basketball boots – brought in from overseas because he can no longer source shoes that fit within Australia. Of course it takes more than just the right physical attributes to make a great basketball player – so it’s a good thing Ryan also possesses a healthy dose of natural ability and a strong desire to succeed in the sport he has been playing since he was in Kindergarten. Now in Year 9 at Macquarie College, the LA Clippers fan lives and breathes basketball, training twice a week with Basketball Australia’s National Intensive Training Program, as well as once a week with the Hunter Academy of Sport. Last month the seven-hour schedule stepped up another notch when the new season kicked off and he resumed training and playing with his Newcastle Hunters teammates. And just before the season resumed he took his game overseas to test his skills against some of the best

Ryan Rowe and Hayden Davies weren’t the only member of the 2015-2016 Hunter Academy of Sport Basketball Program who took to the court at the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup. A total of 11 HAS players represented NSW Country in various under-14 and under-16 teams, including Tenzin Pickles,

skills and drills

Ryan was chosen to represent Country Australia in the under 16s team after impressing selectors at the Australian Country Junior Basketball Championships held in Albury during January. Fellow Hunter Academy of Sport basketballer Hayden Davies was also among those chosen for the New Zealand tour. Ryan said he was surprised but pleased when his name was read out at the closing ceremony. “I knew I was playing well but you can never expect anything in basketball, you’ve got to just keep working towards it,” he said. “It’s my first time in an Australian team and I was pretty happy and overwhelmed to be selected. “It was one of my goals that I set at the beginning of August last year.” Clearly the long hours of practice have paid off for the versatile teenager, who plays centre or power forward and loves getting in the thick

Hunter academy of Sport Basketball Report

30

School’s support

Michael Walker, Chyra Evans, Josie Robson, Holly Keeble, Tom Tracey, Connor Lentfer, Ryan Stace and Selina McClosky. Academy coaches Brett Murphy and Chloe Mullaney were also selected to take the reins two of the under-14 teams at the event. Brett’s NSW Kookaburras squad, which included Tenzin and

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

A group of Cessnock primary school kids were given the chance to learn from their football heroes after winning a competition to have the Newcastle Jets visit their school.

of the action. They also paid off for his Aussie team, which were runner’s up in their division of the New Zealand competition. His next goal is to make the NSW Country Under 16 team, after taking part in a selection camp last month alongside a host of other Hunter hopefuls.While he has his sights set firmly on his immediate goals, Ryan is also aiming high for the future, hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Newcastle Hunters such as Ben Simmons and Hannah Young. “My dream is to go to college (in America),” Ryan said. “That’s obviously a long way off, but to play professionally would be pretty amazing.”

C

essnock Pubic School impressed the judges of the competition, run in conjunction with the Greater Building Society and NXFM, after decking out their front gate with a host of Jets jerseys, signs, caps, posters and footballs.

Jets Learn is supported by the club’s major community partner, the Greater Building Society as part of a broader program to help the Jets connect with the local community.

As a result the kids were treated to an hour-long session of coaching and football fun with Cameron Watson, Jason Hoffman and Mitch Cooper when the Jets players and Greater branch manager Renee Hudson visited the school on March 29.

SubScribe now at www.huntersportsmag.com.au and follow us

Michael, came home with the gold medal final, with Michael then taking part in the under-14s Country Australia team to tour New Zealand. Josie also scored a selection in the national under-14s women’s team for the tour, while Selina returned to the Hunter with a goal medal after her NSW Country team took out the under 16 women’s division.

The visit formed part of the Jets Learn program, which has seen the club travel to around 30 schools in the region during the 2015/16 season, with more sessions planned this month.

/HunterSports1

in print

|

online

|

@HunterSports1

direct to your inbox

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

31


junior sport

JUNIOR SPORT

Hoop dreams

&hard work You only have to take one look at Ryan Rowe to know this kid was made to play basketball.

A

t the age of 14, the towering Fishing Point teen already measures in at an impressive 187cm.

rewarded with

junior basketballers in Australia and New Zealand during the Pacific Rim Championships, held from March 2528 at Tauranga on the North Island of New Zealand.

And each day he slips his feet into size 17 basketball boots – brought in from overseas because he can no longer source shoes that fit within Australia. Of course it takes more than just the right physical attributes to make a great basketball player – so it’s a good thing Ryan also possesses a healthy dose of natural ability and a strong desire to succeed in the sport he has been playing since he was in Kindergarten. Now in Year 9 at Macquarie College, the LA Clippers fan lives and breathes basketball, training twice a week with Basketball Australia’s National Intensive Training Program, as well as once a week with the Hunter Academy of Sport. Last month the seven-hour schedule stepped up another notch when the new season kicked off and he resumed training and playing with his Newcastle Hunters teammates. And just before the season resumed he took his game overseas to test his skills against some of the best

Ryan Rowe and Hayden Davies weren’t the only member of the 2015-2016 Hunter Academy of Sport Basketball Program who took to the court at the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup. A total of 11 HAS players represented NSW Country in various under-14 and under-16 teams, including Tenzin Pickles,

skills and drills

Ryan was chosen to represent Country Australia in the under 16s team after impressing selectors at the Australian Country Junior Basketball Championships held in Albury during January. Fellow Hunter Academy of Sport basketballer Hayden Davies was also among those chosen for the New Zealand tour. Ryan said he was surprised but pleased when his name was read out at the closing ceremony. “I knew I was playing well but you can never expect anything in basketball, you’ve got to just keep working towards it,” he said. “It’s my first time in an Australian team and I was pretty happy and overwhelmed to be selected. “It was one of my goals that I set at the beginning of August last year.” Clearly the long hours of practice have paid off for the versatile teenager, who plays centre or power forward and loves getting in the thick

Hunter academy of Sport Basketball Report

30

School’s support

Michael Walker, Chyra Evans, Josie Robson, Holly Keeble, Tom Tracey, Connor Lentfer, Ryan Stace and Selina McClosky. Academy coaches Brett Murphy and Chloe Mullaney were also selected to take the reins two of the under-14 teams at the event. Brett’s NSW Kookaburras squad, which included Tenzin and

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

A group of Cessnock primary school kids were given the chance to learn from their football heroes after winning a competition to have the Newcastle Jets visit their school.

of the action. They also paid off for his Aussie team, which were runner’s up in their division of the New Zealand competition. His next goal is to make the NSW Country Under 16 team, after taking part in a selection camp last month alongside a host of other Hunter hopefuls.While he has his sights set firmly on his immediate goals, Ryan is also aiming high for the future, hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Newcastle Hunters such as Ben Simmons and Hannah Young. “My dream is to go to college (in America),” Ryan said. “That’s obviously a long way off, but to play professionally would be pretty amazing.”

C

essnock Pubic School impressed the judges of the competition, run in conjunction with the Greater Building Society and NXFM, after decking out their front gate with a host of Jets jerseys, signs, caps, posters and footballs.

Jets Learn is supported by the club’s major community partner, the Greater Building Society as part of a broader program to help the Jets connect with the local community.

As a result the kids were treated to an hour-long session of coaching and football fun with Cameron Watson, Jason Hoffman and Mitch Cooper when the Jets players and Greater branch manager Renee Hudson visited the school on March 29.

SubScribe now at www.huntersportsmag.com.au and follow us

Michael, came home with the gold medal final, with Michael then taking part in the under-14s Country Australia team to tour New Zealand. Josie also scored a selection in the national under-14s women’s team for the tour, while Selina returned to the Hunter with a goal medal after her NSW Country team took out the under 16 women’s division.

The visit formed part of the Jets Learn program, which has seen the club travel to around 30 schools in the region during the 2015/16 season, with more sessions planned this month.

/HunterSports1

in print

|

online

|

@HunterSports1

direct to your inbox

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

31


junior sport

junior sport

kicking goals for

Girls of all ages ed to are being encourag d get an pull on some boots rt of a out on the field as pa number push to increase the otball. of females playing fo

female s r e ll a b foot I

perfect n what was a case of ration de Fe timing, Football male Fe ed rat eb Australia cel rch Ma m fro ek Football We er the 8 to 14 – just days aft ticket ir the red sco as Matild th a wi to the Rio Olympics ance rm rfo table topping pe up gro in their Asian ment. qualification tourna across Activities were held in the ing lud inc , the country le Jets ast wc Ne ere wh Hunter players Westfield W-League na Jen Cassidy Davis and coaching a in rt Kingsley took pa n in sio ses g nin clinic and sig invar ch Lo the th wi n conjunctio Rovers Football Club. t the Of course, it wasn’t jus vantage ad e tak to t go o girls wh m fro e of some expert advic t en ev the Jets duo, after the eet “M rs ve Ro the coincided with y. da the Coaches” Duhig Rovers secretary Lisa e a strong lik g kin said it was loo old ar-ye 41 the season for player th wi ks, ran ior club’s jun pe 35 r cent numbers already up on 2015. roster This included a good likely ers of girls, with numb ar by ye t las to triple those of d rte sta son the time the sea last month.

32

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

33


junior sport

junior sport

kicking goals for

Girls of all ages ed to are being encourag d get an pull on some boots rt of a out on the field as pa number push to increase the otball. of females playing fo

female s r e ll a b foot I

perfect n what was a case of ration de Fe timing, Football male Fe ed rat eb Australia cel rch Ma m fro ek Football We er the 8 to 14 – just days aft ticket ir the red sco as Matild th a wi to the Rio Olympics ance rm rfo table topping pe up gro in their Asian ment. qualification tourna across Activities were held in the ing lud inc , the country le Jets ast wc Ne ere wh Hunter players Westfield W-League na Jen Cassidy Davis and coaching a in rt Kingsley took pa n in sio ses g nin clinic and sig invar ch Lo the th wi n conjunctio Rovers Football Club. t the Of course, it wasn’t jus vantage ad e tak to t go o girls wh m fro e of some expert advic t en ev the Jets duo, after the eet “M rs ve Ro the coincided with y. da the Coaches” Duhig Rovers secretary Lisa e a strong lik g kin said it was loo old ar-ye 41 the season for player th wi ks, ran ior club’s jun pe 35 r cent numbers already up on 2015. roster This included a good likely ers of girls, with numb ar by ye t las to triple those of d rte sta son the time the sea last month.

32

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

33


on the couch

on the couch

Born to Fight

by Mark Hunt and Ben Mckevey

You may have watched him put his skills to the test at the UFC Fight Night in March – now read the story of how Mark Hunt first made his way into the Octagon.

“Rugby has both the physical fear of the contest and the psychological tightrope players walk between humiliation and hero. Both fears must be conquered before engaging your opponent and the theatre is watching this play out live, in unrehearsed action.” - John Eales AM. by Lance Peatey

Every four years rugby union teams go headto head for global supremacy to claim The Webb Ellis Cup, the winners’ trophy

affectionately known as ‘Bill’. From an amateur festival of rugby in 1987 to the record-breaking tournament hosted by England in 2015, the Rugby World Cup is

After being plucked from an Auckland street fight and dropped into his first kickboxing bout, Mark went on to achieve unprecedented success in Australian and New Zealand combat sports. In an ongoing career that has spanned the

This third edition captures all the drama and excitement across the eight tournaments played from 1987 to 2015.

34

For the first time, Leisel candidly describes what

She reveals the constant pressure she was under - from coaches, from the media and from herself to be perfect. Despite the highs of her swimming stardom, she suffered depression, and at one time planned to

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

by Ray Chesterton

A Complete History of the Rugby World Cup, New Holland Publishers, $29.99 (hardback)

by Leisel Jones and Felicity McLean

it’s like to be thrust into the limelight so young.

In Eat Less, Live Long Bennett explains his beliefs on how eating less food and better quality food can transform your health and vitality; why the world’s oldest people are the world’s healthiest; what the world’s healthiest populations do to avoid

obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, skin problems, heart disease and cancers and how a plant-based wholefood diet, combined with Regular Intelligent Fasting can make a difference to your health, vitality and weight. He also offers his “golden health tid-bits” gleaned from 20 years of research.

“The most universally popular piece of rugby league memorabilia is a T-shirt boasting a simple, terse message on the front saying, ‘I support my team and any team that’s playing Manly’”.

A Complete History of the Rugby World Cup touches on the history of rugby union, and its evolution to professionalism, while also recounting the heated boardroom politics that played out before the pinnacle event was first established.

Leisel Jones is rightly regarded as one of the greatest breaststrokers ever.

Body Lengths, published by Penguin Book Australia, $29.99 (paperback).

Today we live in a world where we never stop eating and we consume the worst kinds of food, resulting in extreme numbers of sick people suffering health issues ranging from obesity, diabetes, high

blood pressure, asthma, skin problems, heart disease and cancers.

Eat Less, Live Long, The Exceptional Health Company, $34.99 ($NZ).

Manly Sea Eagles – the team they love to beat

now the third largest sporting event in the world and a lifeblood for the growth of the game internationally.

Body Lengths At 15, she won two silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games; she went on to win gold at Athens and Beijing, and at London 2012 became the first Australian swimmer to compete at four Olympics.

As fearless with his opinions as he is in the Octagon, Mark pulls no punches in revealing the highs and lows of his extraordinary life.

Eat Less, Live Long is a guide for people who are willing to change and want to get healthy, but don’t know how.

take her own life.

Manly Sea Eagles – the team they love to beat, New Holland Publishers, $29.99

The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are the most-maligned rugby league club in Australia. Situated on Sydney’s trendy North Shore, the Sea Eagles, as they are generally known, have been publically

derided for decades for apparent ‘chequebook’ recruitment in search of premiership success. The undisputed ‘Team of the 1970s’, with premiership titles in 1972, 1973, 1976 and 1978, Manly have gone on to win titles in every decade since, but the

Sporting stories to inspire

In London, criticised in the media for her weight, and appalled by the bullying and dysfunction in the Australian swim team, Leisel nevertheless handled herself with great composure.

Winter is coming up and while wet weather may make overseeing the action from the sidelines less than appealing, it’s the perfect time to indulge your sporting passions on the couch.

She has emerged with maturity and good humour, having finally learnt how to be herself and live with confidence.

We’ve also got one copy of Body Lengths, signed by Leisel Jones during her recent trip to the

And luckily for Hunter Sports Magazine readers, we’ve got all of the amazing books on these two pages to give away! Thanks to New Holland Publishers, Hachette

club still has its critics and detractors. Respected Sydney journalist Ray Chesterton chronicles the controversies, the intrigue and the jealousies that have plagued the club over its long history, highlighting all the great names and laying bare the challenges the now privately owned club has faced in recent years. One thing is clear ... the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are still the team they love to beat!

book competitions

!

A Complete History of the Rugby World Cup

apparent future.

by Jason Shon Bennett

If you could do a few simple things each day that would make a massive difference to how you age, how long you live, how healthy you are, how much energy you have and how you look… would you?

WIN

Born to Fight, published by Hachette Australia, $32.99 (paperback).

Raw, confronting and honest, UFC champion Mark Hunt’s inspiring autobiography shows it is possible to defy the odds and carve a better life. Born into a Mormon Samoan family, Hunt details his harrowing early life, his troubled teen years, and his angry youth with no

globe, Mark Hunt has been in some of the UFC, Pride and K-1’s most memorable battles. But in some ways those fights pale in comparison to that which he has overcome out of the ring and cage.

Eat Less Live Long

Australia and The Exceptional Health Company, we’ve got three book packs up for grabs, which each include a copy of Eat Less, Live Long, as well as either Born to Fight,

A Complete History of the Rugby World Cup or Manly Sea Eagles – the Team the Love to Beat.

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

Newcastle Writer’s Festival, to give away. TO ENTER: Simply email your name, phone number, suburb and the book prize you’d prefer (UFC, Rugby, Manly or Leisel) to editor@ huntersportsmag. com.au by Friday, May 27. The winners will be contacted and their names published at www.huntersportsmag. com.au 35


on the couch

on the couch

Born to Fight

by Mark Hunt and Ben Mckevey

You may have watched him put his skills to the test at the UFC Fight Night in March – now read the story of how Mark Hunt first made his way into the Octagon.

“Rugby has both the physical fear of the contest and the psychological tightrope players walk between humiliation and hero. Both fears must be conquered before engaging your opponent and the theatre is watching this play out live, in unrehearsed action.” - John Eales AM. by Lance Peatey

Every four years rugby union teams go headto head for global supremacy to claim The Webb Ellis Cup, the winners’ trophy

affectionately known as ‘Bill’. From an amateur festival of rugby in 1987 to the record-breaking tournament hosted by England in 2015, the Rugby World Cup is

After being plucked from an Auckland street fight and dropped into his first kickboxing bout, Mark went on to achieve unprecedented success in Australian and New Zealand combat sports. In an ongoing career that has spanned the

This third edition captures all the drama and excitement across the eight tournaments played from 1987 to 2015.

34

For the first time, Leisel candidly describes what

She reveals the constant pressure she was under - from coaches, from the media and from herself to be perfect. Despite the highs of her swimming stardom, she suffered depression, and at one time planned to

May 2016 | huntersportsmag.com.au

by Ray Chesterton

A Complete History of the Rugby World Cup, New Holland Publishers, $29.99 (hardback)

by Leisel Jones and Felicity McLean

it’s like to be thrust into the limelight so young.

In Eat Less, Live Long Bennett explains his beliefs on how eating less food and better quality food can transform your health and vitality; why the world’s oldest people are the world’s healthiest; what the world’s healthiest populations do to avoid

obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, skin problems, heart disease and cancers and how a plant-based wholefood diet, combined with Regular Intelligent Fasting can make a difference to your health, vitality and weight. He also offers his “golden health tid-bits” gleaned from 20 years of research.

“The most universally popular piece of rugby league memorabilia is a T-shirt boasting a simple, terse message on the front saying, ‘I support my team and any team that’s playing Manly’”.

A Complete History of the Rugby World Cup touches on the history of rugby union, and its evolution to professionalism, while also recounting the heated boardroom politics that played out before the pinnacle event was first established.

Leisel Jones is rightly regarded as one of the greatest breaststrokers ever.

Body Lengths, published by Penguin Book Australia, $29.99 (paperback).

Today we live in a world where we never stop eating and we consume the worst kinds of food, resulting in extreme numbers of sick people suffering health issues ranging from obesity, diabetes, high

blood pressure, asthma, skin problems, heart disease and cancers.

Eat Less, Live Long, The Exceptional Health Company, $34.99 ($NZ).

Manly Sea Eagles – the team they love to beat

now the third largest sporting event in the world and a lifeblood for the growth of the game internationally.

Body Lengths At 15, she won two silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games; she went on to win gold at Athens and Beijing, and at London 2012 became the first Australian swimmer to compete at four Olympics.

As fearless with his opinions as he is in the Octagon, Mark pulls no punches in revealing the highs and lows of his extraordinary life.

Eat Less, Live Long is a guide for people who are willing to change and want to get healthy, but don’t know how.

take her own life.

Manly Sea Eagles – the team they love to beat, New Holland Publishers, $29.99

The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are the most-maligned rugby league club in Australia. Situated on Sydney’s trendy North Shore, the Sea Eagles, as they are generally known, have been publically

derided for decades for apparent ‘chequebook’ recruitment in search of premiership success. The undisputed ‘Team of the 1970s’, with premiership titles in 1972, 1973, 1976 and 1978, Manly have gone on to win titles in every decade since, but the

Sporting stories to inspire

In London, criticised in the media for her weight, and appalled by the bullying and dysfunction in the Australian swim team, Leisel nevertheless handled herself with great composure.

Winter is coming up and while wet weather may make overseeing the action from the sidelines less than appealing, it’s the perfect time to indulge your sporting passions on the couch.

She has emerged with maturity and good humour, having finally learnt how to be herself and live with confidence.

We’ve also got one copy of Body Lengths, signed by Leisel Jones during her recent trip to the

And luckily for Hunter Sports Magazine readers, we’ve got all of the amazing books on these two pages to give away! Thanks to New Holland Publishers, Hachette

club still has its critics and detractors. Respected Sydney journalist Ray Chesterton chronicles the controversies, the intrigue and the jealousies that have plagued the club over its long history, highlighting all the great names and laying bare the challenges the now privately owned club has faced in recent years. One thing is clear ... the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are still the team they love to beat!

book competitions

!

A Complete History of the Rugby World Cup

apparent future.

by Jason Shon Bennett

If you could do a few simple things each day that would make a massive difference to how you age, how long you live, how healthy you are, how much energy you have and how you look… would you?

WIN

Born to Fight, published by Hachette Australia, $32.99 (paperback).

Raw, confronting and honest, UFC champion Mark Hunt’s inspiring autobiography shows it is possible to defy the odds and carve a better life. Born into a Mormon Samoan family, Hunt details his harrowing early life, his troubled teen years, and his angry youth with no

globe, Mark Hunt has been in some of the UFC, Pride and K-1’s most memorable battles. But in some ways those fights pale in comparison to that which he has overcome out of the ring and cage.

Eat Less Live Long

Australia and The Exceptional Health Company, we’ve got three book packs up for grabs, which each include a copy of Eat Less, Live Long, as well as either Born to Fight,

A Complete History of the Rugby World Cup or Manly Sea Eagles – the Team the Love to Beat.

huntersportsmag.com.au | May 2016

Newcastle Writer’s Festival, to give away. TO ENTER: Simply email your name, phone number, suburb and the book prize you’d prefer (UFC, Rugby, Manly or Leisel) to editor@ huntersportsmag. com.au by Friday, May 27. The winners will be contacted and their names published at www.huntersportsmag. com.au 35


MEN OF LEAGUE FOUNDATION

Newcastle/Hunter Committee Golf Challenge and Dinner Saturday 28 May 2016 Sunday 29 May 2016

LAD LU N C HI EE S ON 11:3 0AM

B LU EWA - 1:3 0PM TE R G R I LL

MEET MICHAEL HAGAN AND JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL MEN OF LEAGUE GOLF CHALLENGE AND HAND-IN-HAND DINNER. HAND-IN-HAND DINNER GOLF CHALLENGE WHEN TIME WHERE COST

SATURDAY 28 MAY 2016 6PM FOR 6:30PM NELSON BAY BOWLING CLUB $50PP INCLUDES 2 COURSES, AND MUSIC BY THE HUMMINGBIRDS MC ABC ANNOUNCER GERRY COLLINS GUESTS STUART RAPER OTHER MEMORABILIA AND RAFFLES RSVP

WHEN TIME

SUNDAY 29 MAY 2016 9AM - REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST 10AM - SHOTGUN START WHERE NELSON BAY GOLF CLUB FORMAT 4 PERSON AMBROSE COST $90PP INCLUDES 18 HOLES, BREAKFAST, SAUSAGE SIZZLE, CAP, SHIRT AND BALL. MENS, LADIES AND MIXED TEAMS AVAILABLE

ENTRIES CLOSE 10 MAY UNLESS FULL PRIOR P 02 4981 1132 M 0428 612 736 E GOLFCLUB@NELSONBAYGOLF.COM.AU

www.menofleague.com

In lieu of attendance donations are greatly appreciated and can be made at www.menofleague.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.