Right-hander swaps to surprising left Tenpin bowler Geoff Reichstein is embracing a new experience at this year’s Games - bowling left-handed after being a right-hander for the past 32 years.
It wasn’t until he went to watch his Alice Springs mate Chris Coleman bowl in the local competition the week before the Games that a novel idea was put forward.
Geoff, who turned 65 yesterday, has been coming to the Masters since 1998. He registered for these Games in January and booked tickets on the Ghan train for himself and wife Dianne in January.
“Someone suggested that I could bowl left-handed,” Geoff said.
“I had not bowled since March because of a shoulder injury and thought I should have it fixed before the Games,” he said. “But all those years of bowling had taken their toll. “The surgeon said I had to go and have the big one - a complete reconstruction.
“I said I didn’t have my bowling gear or ball but they found a left-hand ball and shoes that had been lying around for a few years.
“Chris said I could have stayed with her and so I was a bit cheeky before the next Games and rang her up to ask if I could stay - she said yes and I’ve been staying with her ever since,” he said. “This is the fun and camaraderie of the Games and why I keep coming back. “Even if I was bowling right-handed and didn’t win a medal it would be OK as it’s all about the fun.
“The shoes fit but the ball was a bit tight on the thumb so they rebored it.
“I come up to spend time with my twoyear friends.”
“My first game was a 74 and then I had 101 and 102 which is good enough for C-grade.”
Geoff will be bowling singles, doubles and trios during the week.
“He stitched the bicep muscle back to the bone, repaired the rotator cuff, took out a spur and fixed a tear in the bursa and said I could not bowl for a year.”
Before his shoulder injury, Geoff was an A-grade bowler with an average of 165 and had won Alice Springs Masters Games medals including gold in the 2012 singles.
The possibility of pulling out of the trip and seeking a refund never crossed Geoff’s mind.
His career top score is 265, which he gained with the help of five strikes in a row.
He enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and camaraderie of the tenpin bowlers so much that he decided to come up for a holiday during Games week.
Geoff said he began staying with Chris after he had to miss the tenpin bowling dinner in 1998 to catch the Ghan train back to Adelaide.
He went bowling for his birthday, while Dianne played bingo, before having a birthday roast dinner at Gillen Club last night. Geoff is a level 1 tenpin coach at the Brahma Lodge bowl in Adelaide and gets a lot of satisfaction from helping young bowlers. He took a team of nine from the club to the junior nationals recently and they came back with 26 medals.
Issue Two
Photo of the Day
Monday October 2014
WEATHER WEATHER FOREFORECAST CAST Min Max
TUE
9
24
Sunny - Possible cloudy WED
11
28
15
29
16
31
Sunny THU Sunny FRI Sunny Warning: With the Temperatures soaring and an Extreme UV Index don’t forget to hydrate regularly and cover up to avoid heat distress.
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The Friendly Games
Shooters right on target
SPORTS HOROSCOPE Try to be more charming in the first half of October 13, 2014. Unfortunately, it won’t always be easy to find common language with strangers. You are advised to pay more attention to your friends and relatives. The morning is good for shopping; the evening calls for creativity and uniqueness.
Shooters at the Alice Springs Gun Club line up for their final shots in the 2014 Alice Springs Masters Games today. The competition has been helped after a NT Government grant resulted in the building of a new trap - the third for the club. The new trap was finished in time for the Games and has enabled the shoot to run smoothly and on time.
ARIES
The third trap is likely to be used for the NT Titles next year.
Today Aries’ need for contacts with friends is getting stronger; however, the likelihood of fundamental disagreements is growing higher, too. Objective external difficulties are possible during a picnic, party or a joint trip.
NT Chief Minister Adam Giles couldn’t resist the temptation to have a shoot when he presented medals for the clay shooting on Saturday. Clay target co-ordinator Marlene Niland said he shot exceptionally well for a novice with a score of 21 from 23 traps.
TAURUS
Meanwhile, 80-year-old Master of Masters Glenn Norris has had things too easy, being waited on hand and foot by his “apprentice” 35-year-old Jason Matthews, and has not medalled.
Taurus’ conflict side is much more prominent today than its peaceful conflict-free counterpart. Be as diplomatic as you possibly can at the very first signs of approaching storm or escalating of an old argument. Your cooperation, responsiveness and willingness to help will smooth out all corners.
GEMINI Overall the day will be favorable for Gemini, but the clouds will be gathering on its horizon from time to time. You may experience issue with connectivity, annoying problems while on the train or when traveling. Don’t create any ground for conflicts with your friends since it is your actions that may cause them.
CANCER The person you gave your heart to is still faithful to you. However, on October 13, 2014 trusting and affectionate interaction may not be possible. Perhaps, some external unusual circumstances will be the culprits hindering mutual understanding.
LEO The start of any dialogue implants a hope, but the rest is under question. As soon as you and your interlocutor get offended, tension will be hard to avoid. Don’t disturb each other’s old wounds. This advice is very important for those Lions who want to strengthen their marriage or harmonize the family relations.
VIRGO People around Virgo won’t mind taking advantage of its extraordinary talents: for example, medical knowledge or computer savviness. However, today’s tasks won’t be simple. October 13, 2014 will truly live up to its Monday status.
LIBRA Libra’s plans and hopes will not be fully realized today. Perhaps, your freedom will be impeded by obstacles of material nature or poor organization of your leisure. You should better wait for your amorous relations to become more intimate – sexual issues may spring up.
SCORPIO Scorpio’s mood is everything but festive. It easily gets irritated and critical of its family and friends. Your sense of humor may give way to grumpiness and cynicism. Your poor health, bad memories or premonitions may be the reason.
SAGITTARIUS Today’s day is similar to a horror story with a happy end. It holds approximately the same parts of good and bad for those born in the sign of Sagittarius. For example, good news will be accompanied by sad news (denials, bans, hold ups).
CAPRICORN Things are not that bad at all, but every detail may spoil your mood. Stars recommend that Capricorn stay away from making purchases: today the risk of acquiring a defective or simply unsuccessful item is quite high. Don’t take any financial or technical advice from your friends or strangers.
AQUARIUS Today the Water Bearers have specific interests and questionable behavior. Your seeming confidence may hide low self-esteem and silence may shelter a strong disapproval of what is going on around you. You may very well shock people with stories of sexual, political or financial nature.
PISCES Sociable and open-minded Fishes feel the most comfortable and free today. If you take things seriously without an exception, you should better limit your contacts. Don’t meet any people online; stay away from foreigners or people from other cities and don’t make any friends with people you barely know.
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The Friendly Games
But his partner Carol Beaver has cleaned up in the veterans group at her first Alice Springs Masters Games. There are 15 shooters from the Wood Ducks Gun Club in Victoria at the event.
Happy Birthday
Pink power set for charity re-match Anything can, and usually does, happen at the Games’ traditional Pink Night netball match. The match has become a traditional highlight of the netball program and features a game between the Spectrum netball team from WA and a group of guys who will try to show that they can do it better. The Pink Night has been a feature of the netball program since 2006. Spectrum’s Mardi Mules said it was all designed to provide players with some fun while raising funds for breast cancer awareness.
“The first game against the guys was with the X-Men touch team. Cammo, one of the original X-Men, said he will be back this year.
All players will wear something pink on the night - hair ties or shoelaces but no doubt the netballers will go all out to be in pink for the night.
“The X-Men were all in the Airforce and in recent games have not been able to come so we have had to organise guys to play against and we thank all those who have taken part.
The game is a fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation so people are asked to be generous when asked for a donation.
Joanne Van Zuylekom
The challenge game is at 8pm.
Owen Samuels
“This year the men’s team is the Hills baseballers from SA. They’ll change into our reserve body suits courtside before the game and our players will be wearing baseball mitts on court.”
“We started in the 35+ and now play in the 40+ although some of our players are 50+.
While Spectrum usually win a medal in their netball competition, the score in the Pink Night exhibition game has always been a draw with the winners being the players and spectators who have a lot of fun on the night.
“The Games are all about fun, which is why we keep coming back and don’t go to the PanPacs or other events.
The umpires for the game are Bill Adams, who played in the men’s team in 2012, and Josey Blakeley.
“Players from our club came in 2002, then came as an official club in 2004 and we have not missed a Game since,” she said.
Lynette Shaw
Raymond Ivey Narelle Sizer Jo Bartlett
In the general competition, games begin at 6pm and finish about 10pm.
Jayne Winter
The netball competition has 20 teams, three more than in 2012, with six from interstate. The age divisions are 30+, 35+, 40+, 50+, 55+ and 60+. There is a barbecue, bar and canteen being run by the charity group Butterfly Connection every night at the netball competition. Round robin games will continue tomorrow before the netballers have a night off to recoup for the finals on Thursday and Friday.
Remember that the
Games Centre
located in the Alice Plaza off the Todd Mall is open 9am-5pm today until Friday, 9am-4pm on Saturday and 10am-1pm on Sunday.
telling tales from around the Games... There are three Vixens netball teams in the 50+, 55+ and 60+ age divisions at the Games. Calls have been made for the supporters from the South Australian Vertex Vixens to be renamed the Stevedores. The group of 10 supporters includes five blokes named Steve.
broken bones in his hand and wrist. Contrary to all the rumours as to the cause, it can be revealed that it is a sporting injury. While umpiring cricket, Les, 76, was hit in the hand when the batsmen smashed a ball back down the pitch in a 20/20 game.
Les Garraway, one of the founding fathers of the Alice Springs Masters Games, has returned to the Red Centre to help radio sponsor 8HA with their coverage. He is sporting a bright blue cast on his left arm courtesy of a few
Darts player Oz Townsend drove in from Kiwirrkurra on the WA border, arriving in Alice Springs yesterday. He wanted to register before his competition began at 9am but had to compete unregistered because it was the first day of the new opening
times for the Games Centre. Oz had to go back later in the day to complete the registration. Just a reminder the Games Centre is open from 9am - 5pm for the remainder of the competition. Games champion Cristine Suffolk is back for her fourth gold medal. She arrived in Alice Springs in time for the opening ceremony but missed the halfmarathon on Saturday morning. Since winning gold at the 2012 Alice Springs Masters Games, Cristine has added to her collection with a bronze medal from the 2013 World Athletics
If you have news or want to give a shout out please SMS or CALL
Masters 8km Cross Country Championionships held in Porto Alegro, Brazil. Who would have thought table tennis was a brutal sport. Eightythree year old Thelma Wade from country NSW has hurt her hip and is in doubt for the competition. While the cause of the injury is unknown, The Sleuth can confirm that Thelma didn’t throw out her hip jiving to the Beatnix at the opening ceremony.
A swag of new games records are broken in the pool Two of the nine swimming records that have stood since the first Alice Spring Masters Games in 1986 have been broken at this year’s event. They were among 29 new records set on the first two days of this year’s meet. Bryannon Ruskin from Darwin broke the record of D Rennie in the women’s 400m freestyle on day 1. But although she was quicker than Renni’s 1986 effort in the 50m butterfly yesterday she was in turn, pipped for the record, and gold medal by Emily Procopis from Alice Springs. “I swam at national titles as a junior and when I came back to Darwin last year it was a great opportunity to come to these Games,’ Bryannon said “Growing up in Darwin and seeing our Masters swimmers going to them made the Alice Springs Masters Games an event I always wanted to do.
“I am loving it - it is a good event. “Going around to see other sports in the area and seeing the competitors is wonderful.” Bryannon’s times are not a big surprise as she recently swam in the National Masters in Rockhampton and set an NT record. The Alice Springs Masters Games is included as part of a national Masters Games series to encourage competitors to take part in different competitions. Bryannon has competed in Perth and Launceston as part of the series and will compete again on the Gold Coast in a couple of weeks. Swimming continues at the Alice Springs Aquatic Centre every afternoon until Thursday The relays are on Wednesday with the 800m being held on the final afternoon.
Women’s cricket sees new action The Mt Isa Granites team is predominantly made up of women and after playing against men since 2000, they finally have three other women’s teams in the competition. The Granites women came in 1986 to play Indoor Cricket but moved to the outdoor game when the indoor facility closed. Three of the eight originals - Lyne Grahame, Yvonne Cook and Sue Tromp have taken part in all 15 Games. This year’s team has 12 women from Queensland, including 10 from Mt Isa, and two “imported” men from Victoria who were brought into the team to
combat the men they were playing against. In the past, all games had finished in a tie. “We’ve always had the two guys in the team and I hope they are allowed to keep playing,” team organiser Lyne Grahame said. “I am not sure how we’ll go against the women’s teams. “We gradually educated all the men about playing for fun but there were a couple of new teams of young blokes who did not understand the ‘rule’. “I haven’t picked up a bat since the 2012 Games and we’ll be against players who were in the Imparja Cup.
“Maybe old age and treachery might get us through.” The other women’s teams are Alice Goannas, Hot Chicks and Zodiac Desert Chicks. There are 10 men’s teams in the competition. The Granites used their experience to defeat Alice Goannas yesterday and don’t play again until tomorrow. The Granites tradition of bringing a “virgin” player to the Games has continued with Judy Lloyd bringing her daughter Cassie, a first timer. Granites were to began their Masters campaign with a game against men’s team Wests Hasbeens
for the Neil “Mario” Richardson Memorial trophy. But the game finished early when Arnold Woithe injured a leg bowling the first ball of the fourth over. The game was cancelled while the players waited for the ambulance to take him to hospital. “Poor Arnie, but we are here for a good time and I am sure he would understand,” Lyne Grahame said. “When we called off the game, we just sat in the shade and had a quiet drink while waiting for our next game.”
Tennis proves popular with competitors...
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With almost 300 games to be played in five days, it’s time for the 109 Games tennis players to get serious. Organisers gave competitors yesterday off to recover from the opening ceremony. But matches revved up from 7.45 this morning with the start of the singles and doubles competitions. Tennis co-ordinator Matt Roberts said the 2014 Alice Springs Masters Games seemed more like a reunion than a tennis tournament. “I cannot remember a Masters that has had so many people who have come back from previous years,” he said. “This means the players have been before and enjoyed it. “It’s also great to see six players in their 80s, as this is more than ever before.
The Friendly Games
The oldest tennis player at the Games is 85-year-old Reginald Prasad from Darwin. Singles games kick off in the morning from 7.45am with doubles (men’s, women’s and mixed) from 5.45pm. There are eight courts in the Traeger Avenue complex. All have a plexi pave surface, similar to the surface at Rod Laver Arena where the Australian Open is played.
900 AM
“Does this bowl match my socks”
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“The committee has also done a good job in organising everything off court from the meals right down to the music play list.”
For Games info tune your radio to
Yesterdays Winner Robert Thorne - Cricket
“Another pleasing aspect is there have been so many of the club’s youngsters volunteer for the Games.
official broadcaster 783 ABC
Alice Springs
Media Partner 783 ABC Alice Springs abc.net.au/alicesprings
Don’t Miss the
Midweek Party
Wednesday 15th October at Double Tree Hilton
Dr Elephant with Kane Taylor
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Whats on Today 8am ABA 3 & 1 arrow rounds Alice Springs Shooting Complex
Archery Athletics R & C Country
6am 5km Walk Desert Park
Athletics Track & Field
12pm Traeger Park Oval
Badminton
2pm Teams OLSH Marian Centre
Baseball
9am Competition Lyle Kempster Park
Basketball
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10am Competition Traeger Park Stadium 9am, 11am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm CDU Oval, Jim McConville Park & Rhonda Diano Park
Cricket
9.30am Team Games Mixed Doubles Alice Springs Golf Club
Darts Eightball Equestrian Football (Soccer)
5pm Competition Club Eastside 9am & 3pm Competition Blatherskite Park 5pm Competition Ross Park 7am Competition Alice Springs Golf Club
Golf Hockey
8.30am Hockey Centre Traeger Park
Indoor Beach Volleyball
3.55pm Competition Desert Sands
Lawn Bowls
8.30am Mens & Ladies Fours & Pairs Memorial Club 6pm Competition Pat Gallagher Netball Courts
Netball Shooting Clay Target
8am Competition Gun Club
Shooting Pistol
8am Competition Pistol Club
Shooting Sporting Shooters
8.30am Competition Sporting Shooters Club
Softball
10am Competition Jim McConville Park
Squash
7pm Individuals Alice Springs Squash Centre
Swimming Table Tennis
2.30pm Competition Alice Springs Town Pooll 3.30pm Singles & Doubles OLSH Marian Centre 7.30am & 5.30pm Singles & Doubles
Tennis Tenpin Bowling
10am Competition Dustbowl
Touch
9am & 3pm Competition Flynn Park
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The Friendly Games