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500 compete in little athletics carnival
Ballina rugby knock-out Lennox Head
As many as 500 primary students aged eight to 13 from across the region competed in the Far North Coast Zone Primary School Sports Association Athletics Championships held at the Byron’s Cavanbah Centre last week. Schools from as far north as Tweed Heads to Evans River in the south were in attendance, carnival convener and Goonengerry School principal Tracey Barnes said. Young athletes competed in a full range of events including high jump, long jump, sprints and distance runs as well as discus. Plenty of parents and siblings were also attended to the event, soaking up the carnival atmosphere and excitement. Athletics is taught and encouraged as part of the regular sport and physical education programs within all schools and their success was dependent on the enthusiasm of teachers and students, Tracey said. The carnival coincided with the Olympics and, while
Ballina Rugby beat coastal rivals Lennox Head 26 to 19 in the minor semifinal to keep their grand final hopes alive. The Ballina Seahorses posted first-half penalties and a try to go to the break 13–0, and proved to be an uncatchable lead in last Saturday’s game. The Lennox Trojans did mount a fightback scoring three tries late in the second half but it was not enough. The loss ended the season for Lennox, but key player Billy Goldsmith was named as the Far North Coast Rugby Zone’s Best and Fairest for 2016. This Saturday the minor premiers Byron Bay take on the Wollongbar-Alstonville Pioneers for a place in the grand final. The game is set to be hotly contested with only one point separating the teams in each of their previous two encounters this year. Byron Bay beat the Pioneers in both fixtures, a 17–16 victory at home in round three and then a 32–31 win at
Evie Porter representing Brunswick Valley missed this high jump attempt at 1.26 metres, but clearing 1.24m got her to the regionals. Photo Ross Kendall
this gave the competitors some focus, it was just one motivator for the children. ‘As soon as medals and ribbons are involved kids really get into it.’ Tracey said. ‘I have still got my blue ribbons from school,’ she said. The first four athletes in track events and the first three in field events progress to the FNC Zone team and
will compete at the regional carnival to be held at Coffs Harbour on September 3. ‘Students at this level have progressed through school and district qualifying carnivals to be eligible to compete,’ Tracey said. If successfuly at this level the young athletes can then head down to the state carnival in Sydney later in the year.
Mullumbimby Giants Junior Rugby League
2016 MAJOR FUNDRAISER
Lennox got the better of this line-out, but lost the preliminary final. Photo Vicky and Mick Kerry
Lyle Park in round 10. ‘Hard work is the key,’ head coach Paul Jeffery said. ‘We are thrilled to host the major semi as it is a reflection of our performance so far. We now have to focus on our number one goal and play positive and constructive rugby to put us into a position to keep moving toward the grand final.’ The game will be played at Red Devil Park on Bangalow
Road from 3pm. ‘It’s a big day in the club’s history. We’ve won the minor premiership and now we’ve got to play the best teams this season to win the Premiership. It will be the club’s first ever,’ club president Tim Ahern said. The loser of the game will go on to play Ballina the following week, playing once again for a spot in the grand final.
Local tennis trio earn place in major development tournament
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46 August 24, 2016 The Byron Shire Echo
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JRLFC
Timothy Yeung-Packer, Amadeus O’Connor and Lachlan Tuckwell with coach and former Inverell winner Steve Gort. Photo Jeff Dawson
The Mullumbimby Tennis Club has congratulated and rewarded three young tennis players who have qualified for this weekend’s PDS tournament in Inverell. Timothy Yeung-Packer (u/12), Amadeus O’Connor (u/10) and Lachlan Tuckwell (u/8) have all qualified in the top eight for their age groups to give them a crack at the Inverell tournament. At the Grafton PDS tournament played earlier this
year, Timothy won his age group while Amadeus and Lachlan were runners-up. If the young players can make the top four in this weekend’s contest they will qualify for the state finals later this year. The Player Development Series is all about improving young players and giving them ongoing tournament experience, but it is also about recognition, according to Mullumbimby Tennis
Club president Steve Gort. ‘It is a really good stepping stone for a future in tennis. A lot of people watch this tournament,’ he said. Steve won the tournament himself when he was 16, and has toured Australia on the circuit and is now a professional coach. Last week the Mullumbimby Tennis Club awarded each of the three local boys a $100 cheque acknowledging their achievement.
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