Sport dşĈëō ëſëſşş ſĕëĎƷ Īşſ ƐIJĕ ÉşſōĎ !Ɩż Local Benny Roche played with the Australian Pararoos in the recent Asia-Oceania Championships in Melbourne, and has helped the squad qualify for the World Cup next year. The tournament was played during the first weeks of November and Australia started with a draw against Thailand before losing to competition favourites Iran 3–1. In the other round games they beat Japan 7–1 and India 11–0. But in the final they came up against Iran again, and came up short losing 2–0. ‘It was a special experience playing my first tournament on home soil,’ Benny said. ‘Iran are world number three, and are definitely a challenge for us. We are slowly closing the gap. The average age of our squad is 20, so we have an exciting future.
Margaret Pierce
Benny scored a couple of goals against India in the Australian Pararoos Asia-Oceania campaign. Photo supplied ‘But we did enough to qualify for the World Cup in Spain next year,’ he said. The Pararoos are the national football team for athletes with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury
or symptoms acquired from stroke. Benny also plays in fifth grade with the Byron Bay Football Club and has been involved with the Pararoos since 2005.
Ķī ƆĕëƆşŕ ǕŕĶƆIJ Īşſ Ʒſşŕ ëƷ ĈƷĈōĶƆƐƆ Mat Johnson The Byron Bay Cycling Club (BBCC) wrapped up its competitive racing calendar for 2023 with a twilight criterium at the Cavanbah Centre on Sunday November 19. Elijah Punch finished on top of the podium followed by Rohan Fox and Louis Ryan. The veteran race was all class with Phill Finnimore flying the flag. A true legend of the club for 2023, his riding always inspiring other club members. The biggest field by far was in C grade. Irvine Evans decided Sunday was his day – winning his triathlon in Yamba in the morning and then crossing the Cavanbah’s finish line first in the afternoon. The ‘evergreen’ Rob
Marisa takes on 621km Melanoma Walk Ballina’s Marisa Worling is about to undertake a marathon walk from Merimbula on the south-east coast to Port Melbourne, a distance of 621km to raise funds for melanoma and other skin cancers. She will join the Jay’s Mission Melanoma Walk to raise $10,000 by the time the distance is completed on the first day of summer. The Byron Bay Lady Golfers started the ball rolling with a fantastic $500 donation. An avid runner, Marisa’s melanoma story began in 2017 while she was participating in the 50km Ultra Trail Australia event (UTA50). What started as an ache ended up being a tumour the size of a golf ball in her lower leg. After various surgeries, radiation treatment and immunotherapy, her body responded well. Last year Marissa
Marisa (L) receiving the donation for the Melanoma Walk from Byron Bay Lady Golfer Margaret Pierce. Photo supplied returned to the UTA50. In the meantime, Marisa decided to try her hand at a more gentle sport. She took part in a Byron Bay Ladies’ beginner golf clinic for women in February and became a member of the club in October. Marisa says it is important to raise awareness of skin cancer in the sport of golf as golfers are out in
the sun for long periods at a time. She approached the ladies’ committee seeking support and was delighted with the generous contribution. Marisa has already raised $6,000 and is confident she will reach her target. Donations can be made at www.jaymissionmelanomawalk23.raisley.com/ marisa-worling
DſşŕƐ ſƖŕŕĕſƆ ĕŔĕſīĕ Ķŕ !şëƆƐëō !ſĶĈŊĕƐ ōĕëīƖĕ
BBCC’s finest went head-to-head in the final race of the 2023 season at the Cavanbah Centre track. Photo supplied Crossley came in second making strong use of his racecraft, while 14-year-old Ethan Fitzsimmons claimed the last spot on the podium. A and B grades combined for a graded handicap. B generously giving the trio in A grade only one lap to get into the mix for the finale. That they did, close to twothirds through, but there
was a new rider in B, Lian Aucamp from Alstonville, who was not intimidated by the capture. Following an early long dash for the line by Dave Phillips, he outsprinted Matt Jones in second, while Tim Wall following closely for third. Rachel Pearson was always in the front of the bunch and was the first female home.
Byron Bay second-grade cricketers continued their winning streak last Saturday and are now just two competition points off the top spot in the Coastal Cricket league. On the back of a 66-ball 144 (14 sixes and 14 fours) by Doug Jarvis, Byron Bay were able to post 279 all out after being sent into bat by the Cudgen Hornets, playing away last Saturday. Mitch Loane added 64 off 30 balls. In reply Cudgen were bowled out for 207. The best of the Byron bowlers included Lenny Bridle (3/29) and Scott Kilpatrick (3/35). The win leaves Byron Bay in third spot (52 points)
on a congested Coastal League table. Tweed Banora are in top spot (56) ahead of Lennox Head (55), with Cudgen (38) rounding out the top four.
dĕŕŕşƶ LĕëĎ The Lennox Head Pirates also had a good win last Sunday at home on the Megan Crescent oval. Sent into bat by Murwillumbah the Lennox openers put on a stand of 124 before Adam Fisher was caught on 75. Opening partner Zac Gilmore went on to score 81 while Nick Asser (64no) and Jesse Williams (78no) took the team to 2/321. Lakhvir Singh was the best of the visiting bowlers
A blistering opening partnership of 225 between Sam Powell (139)and Jamie Bennett (82) against Bangalow has put Tweed Banora on top of the table. Photo supplied with 2/48 off his eight overs. In reply Murwillumbah were rolled for 141. Best batter was Jack Corliss with 39 runs.
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mşưĕŔćĕſ ǩǰǽ ǩǧǩǪ The Byron Shire Echo 47