Sport
North Coast news daily:
Shores United they stand This year promises to be a very exciting time for the Shores United Football Club, with the long-overdue Shara Boulevard sportsfield approved and out to tender in February. And every good sporting year starts with a strong sign on and this week The Echo features 14 clubs and associations that you can join to enjoy a great season of sport. From tennis to hockey, from netball to equestrian events, and including four codes of football from soccer (actual football) to rugby union, rugby league and Aussie rules – sportsters are spoiled for choice. See three pages of awesome clubs in this week’s Sign On feature from page 20.
Wooden boat regatta a huge success Val Hodgson
Last year saw three Shores United teams in semis and the under-16s in the finals against Lismore. Photo Tree Faerie.
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More than 20 wooden boats took to the water last Sunday to celebrate the third Annual Wooden Boat Regatta at Ballina. Full moon and unusually high tides conspired to hide the sandy beach in front of the Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club during the morning, forcing most of the sailing boats to rig up on the grass. This made for a spectacular display for the many spectators and wooden boat enthusiasts who came to admire the variety of boats. Some of the older boats presented were raced on the Richmond River more than 30 years ago. One VJ on dis-
play won the 1968 Australian Championship. Motor vessels were represented by a 1950s open racing boat, and a diesel-powered putt-putt. Two NS14s were present that were designed by Malcolm Eggins, renowned Grafton builder of NS14s. The overall winner of the day was the newly launched and named Storm Bird, a gaffrigged clinker sailing dinghy, built in the traditional style by Goonengerry’s Barry Kean and Meerchaum Vale’s Paul Webb. More than 100 people enjoyed the sensational sausage sandwiches, as well as beautiful weather, for the fun-filled day of wooden boats. Well done, Richmond River Sailing Club.
Ballina paving and mowing the way for disc golf?
Disc golf is a popular sport in Europe and the US and is gaining momentum in Australia. Back in November last year, Ballina Council supported a proposal by Cr Jeff Johnson to investigate the establishment of a course at Bicentennial Gardens. This week a representative from DiscGolf Australia visited Ballina to start the process of designing a professional course. US-born Byron resident Jesse Amos has been playing
disc golf most of his life and has been the driving force behind establishing the sport locally. ‘I’m thrilled to see Ballina lead the charge with the region’s first professional disc golf course,’ he said. ‘I hope this leads to more courses being established in the northern rivers. ‘With the support from Cr Jeff Johnson it didn’t take long for the proposal to be approved. It’s amazing to think we’re now out here designing a professional course.
PROFESSIONAL TENNIS COACHING GROUP AND PRIVATE LESSONS RIVERSIDE TENNIS CLUB
0403 841 241
PH. JUSTIN E. JUSTIN@REDHOTTENNIS.COM
46 January 27, 2016 The Byron Shire Echo
‘Bicentennial Gardens is one of the most beautiful locations in which I’ve had the opportunity to design a disc golf course,’ said Andrew Ferguson from DiscGolf Australia. ‘The gardens offer so many great elements that combined create a fun and challenging course for players of all abilities. ‘Thanks to the progressive thinking and fervour of Jesse Amos and Cr Jeff Johnson, disc golf has landed in the northern rivers.’ The course layout will allow disc golf clubs the ability to host regular events at the gardens. The course also has the potential to host major disc golf tournaments, attracting top touring players from all over the country competing in the Australian Disc Golf Tour Jesse says he has spoken to several principals from local schools in Ballina. ‘They were very excited about the idea and said they would love to have disc golf as an option for school sport days. ‘Disc golf is an extension of the great Aussie pastime of throwing a frisbee,’ said Cr Jeff Johnson. ‘Having played it a couple of times I’m hooked, and everyone else I know who has played can’t wait to have a permanent course set up in the northern rivers. ‘Bicentennial Gardens is the perfect place for it. We have this wonderful park that is largely underutilised. For a very low one-off cost and literally zero ongoing maintenance we will now have a new recreation/sporting option that is great for families as well as disc golf enthusiasts.
Cr Johnson says he is looking forward to the day when there are local teams who will use this course regularly and have players from across the region and beyond visiting Ballina to play disc golf. ‘Not only will the course become a great asset for the local residents of Ballina, but it will also be an attraction for visitors from all over Australia.’
Hand in glove and foot on ball
The Mullumbimby Brunswick Valley FC and Brunswick Heads Juniors FC will join forces to become the Biggest Little Football Club in the Shire.
As far as sporting club amalgamations go, Mullumbimby Brunswick Valley FC and Brunswick Heads Juniors FC seems to fit like a hand in a glove. The two senior teams joined forces in 1987, followed by Mullumbimby juniors coming on board five years ago. Now finally the last piece
of the jigsaw fits into place with the Mighty Greens joining forces with the blue and gold of Mullumbimby. The club is excited about the future at the Biggest Little Football Club in the Shire and having the players, volunteers and history of Brunswick Heads FC with the club for 2016 season makes things an even
more exciting prospect. Surely, imminent global football domination awaits! For any further info contact the club at info@mbvfc. com.au or have a look at the Sign On pages (20–22) in this week’s Echo for details on how you can sign on and be a part of the club (and the afforementioned planetary victory team).
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo