Sport
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Mullum hockey team Groms ready for big take premiership city competition
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Diego Vazquez goes at the Celtic’s defense. Story and pics by dogwhistle
The Mullumbimby men’s reserve-grade hockey team have won three grandfinals in five years. Photo supplied Nathan Robinson The Mullumbimby men’s hockey team won the Tweed Border reserve grade grandfinal last month after finishing the season as minor premiers for the fourth time in five years. In warm conditions at Murwillumbah the Mullum Mudcrabs took on Casuarina in the decider. Mullum’s defence held solid but several missed attacking opportunities resulted in the score being locked at 0–0 at 3/4 time. The Mudcrabs through
Simon Johnston were finally able to put one away early in the last quarter, with further goals to Darren Hunter and Jake Swift, taking the game away from Casuarina. Simon Johnston took out best-on-ground and Baden East received the Tweed Border Hockey Association’s award for player of the year. The 3–0 result gave the Mudcrabs their third major premiership in five years after previously winning the title in 2015 and 2016 and further reinforced the teams motto of ‘age is no barrier, training not needed’.
Young surfers (L to R) Mia Baker, Atlas Zoric and Leihani Zoric. Photo Max Perrot Crystal Cylinders Six of our talented local groms are heading down to Sydney’s northern beaches for the 14th annual ‘BL’s Blast Off’. Defending champion in the girls six and under Leilani Zoric from Suffolk Park will be the favourite in her division, while her younger brother Atlas will make his debut at the event in the boys six and under. Lennox Head’s girls Keke Brain (eight and under), Ocea Curtis (10 and under) and Mia Baker (12 and under) will also compete. Suffolk Park’s Will Harris will be challenging the field
in the boys 12 and under division. The event is the biggest of its kind in the world and was created by 1988 world champion Barton Lynch.
Pro Lennox Head’s Mikey McDonagh competed at the Sri Lanka Pro event held at Arugam Bay. McDonagh won his first heat but unfortunately scored a very difficult next round heat and just missed out on advancement. He finished in equal 33rd place overall which has moved him up 30 places on the international WSL QS ratings ladder.
Far North Coast lifesavers win NSW awards Junior six-a-side ready The contributions of four lifesavers from the Far North Coast were recognised at Surf Life Saving NSW’s Awards for Excellence in Sydney in late August. Ben Dickens from Ballina Shire won the Lifeguard of the Year Award for going above and beyond the call of duty as a professional Lifeguard for the Australian Lifeguard Service (ALS) last season. Ben has been involved in school surf-safety programs and has been a trainer and mentor to the younger lifeguards. Mikala Campbell from the Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore SLSC was named Junior Lifesaver of the Year. Mikala has been involved in Surf Life Saving since she joined the U/7s. She received her Surf Rescue Certificate earlier this year and loves competing in team events – particularly at the Country
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Mikala Campbell with her award. Photo supplied Championships. Aidan Yourell is the Evans Head Casino Surf Life Saving Club vice-captain and patrol vice-captain, and was the winner of the Youth Volunteer of the Year Award. Aidan completed an extraordinary 200 volunteer patrol hours last season, and actively gives his time to fundraising for the club, and even lends a hand with club maintenance.
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Mixed teams make up the Mullumbimby six-a-side junior comp. Photo supplied The Mullumbimby six-a-side junior soccer competition is open to new players and ready to kick off on Wednesday October 16. ‘This is a fun social mixed boys and girls comp for kids aged 7-13, or there abouts, to keep them fit and engaged with sport over the summer soccer break,’ organiser Yari McGauley said. Last year, over 200
children competed. Teams need six to 10 players. Each side plays three 18-minute games between 5-7.30pm on Wednesdays and the competition runs for eight weeks till December. There is a canteen providing proper meals for adults (curries, rice, pasta) which changes each week. See: http://mullumsoccer. weebly.com
A double granfinal showing was a fitting swan song for Byron Bay Services Club’s retiring premier coach Damon Bell. Despite a gutsy performances from the Rams premier division and reserve teams, they both fell short on grandfinal day in late September. The reserves fought a dogged battle against a tough and experienced Richmond Rovers side. The gruelling end-to-end clash remained scoreless for the full ninety minutes, plus 20 minutes of hard graft in extra time only for the Rams to go down 7–6 in the ensuing penalty shoot out. An outstanding performance from keeper, Marcus Gibbs saw the 16-year-old awarded the Man-of-theMatch trophy. The premier grandfinal was an equally intense encounter between rivals
Byron Rams and South Lismore Celtic. In previous encounters this year it was two wins apiece. The Rams hit the ground running – dominating much of the first-half with plenty of attacking moves but could not crack the Celtic defence. Souths stepped up their attack in the second-half and with 15 minutes remaining and extra-time looming, they broke the deadlock off the back of a free kick to take a 1–0 lead. Minutes later a superb free kick beat the Rams keeper and put Souths two goals in front. A penalty in the dying minutes took the scoreline to 2–1 and sparked an even more intense rally from the Rams, but to no avail. In a great stint with the Rams, coach Bell has collected four premiership and two championship trophies an Anzac Cup, as well as taking the Rams to the regional level of the FFA Cup.
Young guys from Mullumbimby ƱĶŕ ōşĈëō ƐĕŕŕĶƆ Ǖ ŕëō
Tennis winners: Summer Browning, Teddie Clapham, Finn Houghton, Ari Haslam, JacobChampion and Lenny Dowling. Photo supplied Mullumbimby’s junior teams are very strong at the moment, with the local upand-coming players doing well in tournaments around the country. In the local competition finals held in Ballina, Mullumbimby won the premierb division in the closest of battles – a draw at three sets all and 27 games all.
Mullum won the day as they were top of the table in the minor round. Other players at the club are competing in junior ranking tournaments in Rockhampton and Bundaberg. ‘Our juniors are trying to get as much match play as possible and increasing their Australian ranking,’ coach Steve Gort said.
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