Sport
North Coast news daily:
Byron Bay Milli wins the world They know all about Milli McCourt in California since the Byron Bay lass left there with a world title under her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) belt. As she is just 15 years of age, what makes Milli’s win even more impressive is the fact that BJJ is the biggest growing sport in the world. The IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) world title is the highest achievement in the sport, with competitors from all over the planet coming to test their skills against the best of the best. The event was held at Walter Pyramid, at Long Beach State University, from 2 till 5 June, and Milli is the first person to represent Australia at this level, so bringing home the gold is almost unbelievable. McCourt started training to compete in this event 12 months ago and it was a long and hard path of training at least twice for up to six days a week. Milli’s training includes running, crossfit, drills, BJJ sparring, grappling, and working on the specific techniques she would use at this event. Milli says that when she first started training she was
Sunday’s Brunswick Valley Bulldogs v Ballina Bombers clash was footy at its glorious best. Parents huddled in tight packs under marquees and goal umpires shivered as thirty Under-11s looking like drowned rats chased a slippery pigskin in the driving rain and howling wind. It was classic old-school footy with the Bombers adapting best, dominating centre clearances, kicking direct and getting numbers when the ball hit the deck. For the Bulldogs Joel Liljeqvist was simply out-
just 12 years old. ‘I had the dream of becoming the IBJJF Champion of the World,’ she says. ‘I worked so hard and made so many sacrifices to achieve this goal. Standing there with the referee holding my arm in the air was the most amazing feeling I have ever experienced.’
The Sunday hit-around in the name of Shand Brian Mollet
Nick Shand started The Echo as a protest against the heavyhanded policing methods used locally in the so-called war on drugs. At some point he must have realised that the scope of the little pamphlet scrapped
Young Doggies get a taste of old-school footy Dean Trevaskis
Milli McCourt on the winners podium above and the mats below in Long Beach, California.
together by him and his compatriots went far beyond its original intentions, and thus publishing history and a livelihood for many was made. It is no secret, however, that he fantasised relentlessly about being a cricket champ, despite what time and redeyed deadlines had done to
46 June 15, 2016 The Byron Shire Echo
his level of skill. With his untimely passing, various of his friends decided that a social cricket competition would be a good way to remember the articulate larrikin who did so much for the Shire. The Sunday hit-around that still bears his name is now in its 19th year and still caters to the many who, faced with a week of drudgery in support of themselves and their families, can get through it all so long as they know they can still have a hit on the weekend. Game one for 2016 kicked off on Sunday with Lomath Oval dank and greasy as a discarded kebab and the drizzle swirling in from the southeast dampening everything but the enthusiasm of the hardy sons of the soil from Left Bank and the gogetting sophisticates of Byron, the Full-Tossers. Jamie from Byron won the toss and gamely led his charges into the murk of the field, trusting the new ball to John, whose inner fires are more than sufficient to overcome anything local conditions might serve up. In the first over, Gaz clipped a stinging
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standing, inspiring his teammates with desperate chases, crunching tackles and hard ball gets through four quarters of total commitment. Jimmy Trevaskis marshalled the Doggies’ defence, manning up and playing tight. Charlie McAllister burrowed under packs and Ethan Johnston contested strongly against the Bombers tall timber. Ballina had too much polish on the day but the Doggies continue to show improvement in their skills, link-up play and defensive structure. This Sunday they are on the road to tackle the Lismore Swans. Go, Doggies!
Alana and Alex rep the far north coast Gymnastics Australia recently staged the 2016 Australian Championships at Hisense Arena in Melbourne. The event was billed as two weeks of superhuman feats, as the top gymnasts from each state and territory compete for the title of 2016 Australian Champion with hundreds of athletes competing.
Locals Alana Rojo of Federal and Alex Fraser of Nashua competed as a duo in the event. Alana and Alex competed at Level 6 in the Acrobatics division and with their amazing routines finished fourth overall. This is a terrific result for all the hard work they put in for months at North Coast Gymnastics.
off-drive and called an automatic ‘yes’, only to see the ball plug hopelessly in the grass six feet from the bowler’s wicket, leaving opening partner Russell stranded hopelessly, run out for a diamond duck. Wickets fell to Jebez, Kyle and Jamie as the Bankers struggled to pierce the slushy outfield, the only exception being Rob (17 n/o) who made light of the heavy conditions. The invisible committee in the persons of Merlin the mysterious and the unseen adjudicator called stumps when Blake’s bat slipped from his hands and nearly decapitated Russell umpiring at square leg, but some of the cobwebs of a long off-season were worked off and, if enthusiasm is a measure of the state of the Shand series, then our sporting legacy is in good hands. If the rain lets up next week the grizzled veterans of the Main Arm autonomous cricket collective take on the sand-encrusted surf dudes the Suffolk Swingers, a prospect that has local sports aficionados twitching with anticipation. Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo