Tony Zann’s weekend fishing report
March 12, 2010
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says the Richmond River is very dirty but some nice flathead up to 3kg have been caught in the lower reaches, along with some nice bream.
Still crabs in the creeks but all you’ll encounter upstream of the ferry is forktail catfish.
Pity about the wind and swell because the mackerel had turned up at Lennox big-time.
Big tailor off the beaches with bream, whiting and trevally along the beach at Lennox.
Three FNC clubs to contest football’s Solo Cup
March 11, 2010
Byron Bay Soccer Club, Goonellabah FC and South Lismore FC have entered teams in Northern NSW Football’s Solo Cup, which was launched today in Port Macquarie.
Byron Bay will host an opening round match on March 27, taking on Port Macquarie FC.
The official draw was released by leading football commentator Andy Harper and Northern NSW Football CEO David Eland, along with representatives from Schweppes Australia and local teams.
Mr Eland is pleased with the response for the Solo Cup in its inaugural year.
State’s best lifesaving competitors converge on Swansea Belmont
February 24, 2010
The stage is set for the 2010 Allphones NSW Surf Life Saving Championships as the State’s surf stars converge on Blacksmiths Beach, Swansea Belmont this weekend.
Almost 4000 individual competitors from more than 100 clubs are expected to take part.
The State’s leading surf lifesavers will test their skills at the annual competition which attracts crowds of up to 10,000 spectators wanting to see competitors fight it out for glory in the water and on the beach.
The NSW Allphones Masters & Open Surf Life Saving Championships will commence with the Masters hitting Blacksmiths Beach on February 25 and their younger counterparts taking centre stage from Friday February 26 through to Sunday February 28.
Last weekend Manly upset Cronulla’s 12-year winning streak by taking out the overall pointscore at the 2010 NSW Age Championships, while Wanda finished second.
For the last two years the overall pointscore winners in the Open champs have been Manly, after stealing the title from Cronulla, and Manly will be frontrunners to secure another victory this year.
It won’t come easy though – Cronulla SLSC is home to some of NSW’s leading surf stars who will be looking to conquer not only the individual events but the team events as well.
Host club Swansea Belmont will be looking to better its great effort last year when it placed fourth overall.
The club has always been at the forefront of the competitive ranks in the Hunter Branch at NSW and Australian Surf Lifesaving carnivals and this weekend will be another massive effort from the club’s workforce and competitors.
This is the final year in a three-year hosting arrangement for the club.
The Open Ironman event is shaping up to be a battle royal, with a number of top competitors ready to race when the gun goes.
Chris Allum, who won in 2007, hopes to make a comeback. His brother Hayden is also a contender and both are current Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Series competitors. Mark Simpson is also in the mix.
Last year’s winner, Jono Stock, from Manly is back again, as is second placegetter, Kendrick Louis from Collaroy.
Warilla-Barrack Point’s Ali Day is on fire after finishing sixth overall in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain series at Cronulla last weekend. Hayden White will also bolster the club’s chances in his events.
Josh Blair from Swansea Belmont is sure to give these guys a nudge, after finishing ninth in last weekend’s Round 5 of the KNG series.
The big question is whether Manly’s Naomi Flood can collect a sixth successive title win in the Open Ironwoman event. Her chances are good after last weekend’s third place in the Kellogg’s Ironman series. She will come up against a tough field of competitors, including local Swansea Belmont competitor Nikki Chapman.
Freshwater’s Alisha Miller and Terrigal’s Amy Nurthen will also be hot on her heels. Last year’s second placegetter Maddison Prior from Warilla-Barrack Point will contest the U19 along with the Open Ironwoman. Tahnee Fleming from Byron Bay will also double up in the U19 and Open events.
On the beach, Queenscliff’s Laura Shorter will carve up the sand in both the Open Beach Flags and Sprint events. Jake Lynch from Newport will defend his U19 Beach Sprint and Flags titles and throw his hat in the ring for the Opens.
From the State’s north, Cudgen Headland will put forward some good competitors, including Rohan Small, Jarrad Cain and Scott McCartney in the individual and water teams events. Sawtell’s Kayla Russell and Sarah Tisdell will compete in Open water events.
Hunter club chances include Redhead’s Stewart McLachlan in the Open Board and Isaac Morgan who has moved up to the U17 events. Hannah Trypas will be hard to beat in the U15 water events. Swansea Belmont U17 chances include Kirsty Waugh in the water events and Emily Chaffey who is contesting the U17 and also taking on the Open Ironwoman event.
The South Coast push will be led by the strong Warilla-Barrack Point team. While great things are expected from Ali Day, Warilla’s Jordan White will defend her U17 Ironwoman crown and also line up for the Open Ironwoman. Bernadette Cardillo, now with Bulli, will compete in a range of U17 and Open beach events.
Central Coast star performers are likely to include: Stephanie Carey (The Lakes) who is taking a swipe at both the Open water events and the Beach Sprint and Flags. Terrigal’s Joanna Baxter moves up from the U19 to the Open events, and Ed Gourley will be interesting to watch in the U19 events. Karlee Nurthen is in form after taking home a swag of medals including U14 Ironwoman at last weekend’s junior championships. She will be back this weekend to have a go at the U15 events.
Cronulla’s Elly Graf will defend her U19 Beach Flags and Sprint titles, as well as be a good chance in the Open events, after the retirement last year of Bulli’s Cara Langendam. Kyle O’Brien from Cronulla will be back to defend medals in the U17 water events. Jessica Lauricella, competing for Wanda, is one to watch in the U17 water events. She was chosen for this year’s High Performance Squad and is in good form. Maroubra’s Tara Coleman performed well in the ski and board events last year.
The Championships will come to a dramatic close on 28 February in what will be a massive day of finals with the pageantry and colour of the March Past up first and the prestigious Ironman and Ironwoman tagged as the events to watch later in the day.
Following this year’s event, competitors will say goodbye to Swansea Belmont and head north for the next two years to Cudgen Headland SLSC at Kingscliff.
Round 1 – IRB Premiership
The first round of this year’s IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat) Premiership will also kick off on Saturday afternoon at Swansea Belmont. Water safety crews from clubs around the State will demonstrate their rescue skills in this fast-paced, action packed event.
NSW team to contest Tokyo Youth Tournament
February 19, 2010
The Tokyo Government has extended an invitation to a football team from NSW to represent Australia in the 2010 Tokyo Youth Tournament.
South Korea, China, Brazil, Germany, Russia, Egypt, Indonesia, England, France, Italy, USA and three Japanese teams have also received invitations to the tournament.
The 2010 Tokyo Youth Tournament will see Northern NSW and Football NSW combine forces in a joint squad for the first time, with eight players representing each federation which includes players from Country NSW representative sides.
The squad will travel to Japan on April 22 where the players will enjoy home-stay hospitality of the Yaizu Football Association while attending a three-day pre-tournament camp, involving matches against teams in Shizuoka Prefecture and possible attendance at the Shimizu Pulse vs Omiya J League fixture on April 24.
The squad will then travel to Tokyo for the Youth Tournament from April 27 until May 2 where all matches will be played at the Kamazawa Olympics Sports Grounds on synthetic pitches.
The full squad is as follows:
Goonellabah hosts Small Sided Football showcase
February 8, 2010
Northern NSW Football will bring a Small Sided Football showcase to the Far North Coast this weekend with a ‘Come & Try Day’ for kids interested in playing football in season 2010.
Being a FIFA World Cup year, it’s a great chance for kids new to football to experience the World’s Biggest Game and support the Socceroos on their World Cup Journey.
Scheduled for Hepburn Park, Goonellabah, this Sunday, February 14, between 9am and 12pm, there will be a host of activities and information for new footballers.
Kids and parents will be introduced to Small Sided Football, as well as have the opportunity to take part in penalty shootouts, win prizes and giveaways plus speak with Community Football representatives from both Northern NSW Football and Football Federation Australia.
Titans players visit for league’s Community Carnival
February 6, 2010
Jetstar Gold Coast Dolphins players, including Shannon Walker, David Mead and Mat Rogers, will visit regional centres for the 2010 National Rugby League Community Carnival next week.
The carnival runs from Tweed Heads to Evans Head and involves 26 schools. Free skills clinics will be among the activities.
“This year we are fortunate to have access to players and coaching staff from the Jet Star Gold Coast Titans, who will accompany development staff to school and clinic activities,”ARL development officer Kel Menchin said.
“Our theme at Schools is Eat Well, Play Well, Stay Well. We have a DVD promoting all aspects of a good lifestyle, which is narrated by Scott Prince and Nathan Hindmarsh, along with a host of other NRL players.
NRRRL gears up for pre-season Ballina RSL Charity Shield
January 29, 2010
The Men of League Foundation will be one of the beneficiaries of the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League’s 2010 pre-season competition.
The competition, known as the Ballina RSL Charity Shield, will begin on March 28. It will culminate with a presentation night at the Ballina RSL Club on April 23.
NRRRL secretary Doug Harrison said that the Men of League Foundation and breast cancer research would be the beneficiaries of the competition.
The total prize pool for the competition is $10,500, donated in part by the Ballina RSL Club.
Tony Zann’s weekend fishing report
January 29, 2010
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says there have been squire either side of legal length out at the 32-fathom reefs, along with some pearlies and nice flathead.
Out wider for some mahi mahi and small yellowfin tuna. Flathead in closer.
Off the beaches for flathead, dart, big tailor to about 5kg, plus the occasional jewfish.
The river has plenty of flathead, some whiting up to Keith Hall or Pimlico but they’ve had the hell netted out of them this week, with some nice bream and school jewfish up around the ferry.
Ben Daley to captain QR Reds in Lismore
January 20, 2010
QR Reds prop Ben Daley will captain an extended 30-man squad in Queensland’s first hit-out for 2010 against the NSW Waratahs in Lismore on Saturday (kick-off 6:40pm Queensland time – 7:40pm local time).
The squad contains 19 Reds contracted players, six QAS Reds Academy players and five players from the newly introduced Wider Training Squad (WTS), a group of elite Premier Rugby players who have been given the opportunity to train and play with the extended group during preseason.
Head coach Ewen McKenzie has selected two teams to play a half each, with four replacements set to cover both periods – hooker Heath Tessman, centre Michael Bond, and flyhalves Dallan Murphy and Jono Lance.
Four players have also been selected to start both halves: scrumhalf Richard Kingi – the newest member of the contracted Reds squad – Academy back-rower Jake Schatz, and experienced locks Adam Byrnes and Van Humphries.
Queensland Reds v Waratahs in Lismore: schedule released
January 19, 2010
Excitement is building on the Far North Coast where reserved seating has already sold out for the HSBC Waratahs’ opening match of 2010. The trial is part of a Festival of Rugby in Lismore which kicks off when the team touches down from Sydney later this week.
After the team arrives in town on Friday, they will hold their Captain’s Run training session in the afternoon at Oakes Oval, the venue for Saturday’s Super 14 trial against the Queensland Reds.
The session will be open to the public, and following training players will remain to sign autographs for local rugby enthusiasts at the ground.
On Friday evening, players will attend the Dine With the Waratahs Dinner at Southern Cross University. While they will not take part in the opening trial match of the year, captain Phil Waugh and Wallabies vice-captain Berrick Barnes will also be in Lismore to attend the dinner. Limited seats are still available – see details below for more information.
