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.
Tony Zann’s weekend fishing report
March 5, 2010
Solid fresh coming down the Richmond with minor flood warnings now over for Coraki and Woodburn.
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says there have been mud crabs in the creeks and the lower river (traps banned below the ferry, only dillies/witches hats) with a few bream on smelly baits like mullet gut and chicken gut.
Blackfish and a few whiting on yabbies.
Tony Zann’s weekend fishing report
February 26, 2010
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says there’s quite a bit of colour in the river, so the lower sections have been the focus for flathead, a few bream and blackfish on yabbies.
Plenty of mud crabs through the creeks and the lower river. River fishable to about Pimlico.
The walls have turned up some jew to about 15kg on lures and soft plastics.
There were some nice tailor around before the blow came through, so there’s the hope of more once things settle.
Cohen pushes Minister to ensure ‘proper’ Repco Rally review
February 25, 2010
Minister for State Development, Ian Macdonald, today conceded to pressure from the Greens’ Ian Cohen and committed in the House to a ‘proper economic review’ of the Repco Rally – in compliance with the Motor Sports (World Rally Championship) Act – with a statement in the Parliament today.
“My office was alarmed to hear that Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), the company contracted to review the Repco Rally, was not going to be undertaking an economic cost benefit analysis. Mike Cahill, the managing director of IMC, confirmed this in correspondence with a resident in the Rally area,” says Ian Cohen.
“I asked the Minister in Question Time today why IMC was not doing an economic analysis and how IMC could possibly recommend the continuation of the Rally to the Minister if such an analysis has not been done.
“The Minister’s initial response was his usual bluster about what a great event it was and how local businesses did such good trade over that weekend.
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.
Viv Richards proves a hit in Ballina
February 21, 2010
West Indian cricket legend Sir Viv Richards proved a hit with the crowd when he appeared as guest speaker at a function at the Ballina Seagulls Rugby League Club on Saturday night.
After a very funny warm-up of the crowd by co-speaker, former Australian paceman Rodney Hogg, Richards shared his thoughts on a cricket career which saw him dubbed the Master Blaster for his aggressive and entertaining batting.
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:
FNC junior rugby trial match results
February 17, 2010
Sunnybank Junior Rugby Club trial matches, 14th February 2010, at Oldmac Park Sunnybank, Brisbane
UNDER 16s
Far North Coast 34 (James Hewetson 4, Jake McIntyre, Rohan Napoli tries, Jake McIntyre 2 conversions) d Sunnybank 14.
UNDER 15s
Far North Coast 39 (Angus MacDougall, Ben Parker, Ben Ivancevic, Dylan Fitzgerald, Nick Egan, Nick Pennisi, James Pankhurst tries, Aaron Booth, Dylan Fitzgerald conversions) d Sunnybank 7
UNDER 13s
Far North Coast 45 (Will Lembke 2, Zac Condon 2, Ryan Graham 2, Vaughan Sandral, Jamie Mau’u, Aidan King tries) d Sunnybank 5.
UNDER 12s
Far North Coast 20 (Callum Mould, Steve Dressler, Lachlan Kennedy, Jacob McRae tries) d Sunnybank 15.
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.
