FRANKSTON TIMES scoreboard
Hockey players pick up silvers at nationals MORNINGTON Peninsula Hockey Club had five players represent Victoria at the Women’s Masters Championships in Bunbury, Western Australia on Thursday 27 September. Four of the women, Emma Brown, Kim Trezise, Julia Ashmore and Margaret Nettleship, returned home with silver medals from the national competition while Rebecca Gipp finished just shy of a bronze. Mornington Peninsula Hockey Club goalkeeper Julia Ashmore said “it was a great result from everyone”. Ashmore, who usually plays in the over-45s, competed in the over-40s Victorian team which had to merge with the over-45s due to the lack of numbers. Ashmore said the side had their
Keep it up: Mornington Peninsula Hockey Club goalkeeper Julia Ashmore (right) competes at the Women’s Masters Championships. Picture: Supplied
chances in the gold medal game against Western Australia in which they were narrowly beaten 3-2. “It was anyone’s game, it could have gone either way,” Ashmore said. “We had about six from the over40s and six from the over-45s merged into the team and we were playing against women in their low 40s. I think we did really well to come away with a silver medal.” Emma Brown and Kim Trezise represented the Victorian over-35s side which faced an undefeated Queensland team in the gold medal game. Queensland showed their dominance by claiming the gold medal 4-0 and ending the championships seven wins from seven matches, but Brown and Trezise still walked away with a silver medal from the nationals and comfortably held the other states at bay. Margaret Nettleship represented the Victorian over-65s and just missed out on claiming a gold medal. Nettle-
ship came up against an undefeated New South Wales side in the grand final and forced the match into a shootout after ending normal time tied at 1-1. Unfortunately for Nettleship the NSW side got the better of the Victorians in the shootout, claiming the win 3-1. Rebecca Gipp competed in the over-50s competition and finished fourth overall, however the Victorians didn’t go down without a fight. The Victorians ended the bronze medal game tied 1-1 after the final whistle against NSW, but were eventually defeated 2-0 in the final shoot-out. Following the Women’s Masters Championships, Kim Trezise and Julia Ashmore were announced as part of the over-40s and over-45s Australian teams which will compete in the Trans-Tasman Masters Hockey Challenge on the Gold Coast in April next year.
Mornington juniors ace table tennis nationals MORNINGTON Peninsula Table Tennis Association had four representatives compete at the National Junior Table Tennis Championships in Townsville, Queensland on Saturday 29 September. Georgia Hollow, Charlie Hollow, Joshua Cheung and Matt Hookey put in outstanding performances to compete at the top level, and returned home with seven top-10 finishes. Georgia, 7, and her older brother Charlie, 10, were the youngest competitors to join the Victorian squadron which competed at the championships. Despite being only seven-years-old and only picking competitive table tennis up three months ago, Georgia competed in the under-11s team’s competition and finished seventh overall.
Georgia went on to win three matches at nationals and enjoyed the experience of representing her state. Charlie, who was ranked 17th in Australia prior to the tournament, competed in both the under-11s and under-13s team and singles events. He finished ninth in the under-11s teams competition and 10th in the under-13s team event, while in the singles he finished 16th overall in both the under-11s and under-13s competitions. Charlie and Georgia’s father, Scott Hollow, said it was a great experience for them to have their first time competing at the nationals. “They’ve definitely learnt a lot watching how the other players play,” he said. “It’s different playing at this level for
them. All they want to do is attack the first ball instead of having rallies. I’m sure they’ll learn a thing or two. “It’s probably a little daunting to them but you’ve got to lose to win and they’ve been great through the whole competition.” Joshua, 15, competed in both the under15s and under-18s categories. He finished in sixth position in the under15s teams event, equal-ninth in the under15s individuals event and equal-fifth in the under-15s doubles. In the under-18s, Joshua finished equal33rd. Matt, who turned 17-years-old during the championships, competed in the under-18s singles and the under-19s teams competition in which he finished equal-33rd and 10th respectively.
Young talent: Matt Hookey, Charlie Hollow, Georgia Hollow and Joshua Cheung enjoy competing at the National Junior Table Tennis Championships. Picture: Supplied.
Laurie hoping to strike gold with Rainbow MORNINGTON-based trainer Matt Laurie has Stakes ambitions with his smart filly Rainbow Girl after she kicked clear for a comfortable fourlength win at Bairnsdale on Sunday 7 October. The daughter of Pierro had to overcome the second-widest barrier (9) to take up the lead, but once she crossed there was nothing able take ground off her in the straight. Trainer Matt Laurie was more than happy with the performance. “I thought it was very good,” he said. “She had to jump from the wide barrier and cross them but she still managed to kick clear very strongly she did it tough at both ends.”
Following Rainbow Girl’s victory in benchmark 64 class, Laurie pointed out the Listed $120,000 Harrolds Crockett Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday 27 October as her next target. “After her win at Cranbourne her rating just stayed at 62 so we had to place her as best we could to try and get her rating up and she won accordingly,” he said. “She’s now rated at 67 and she’s only had the four starts so that should be enough. “It looks a suitable race on paper and the Moonee Valley circuit should suit her well.” Despite showing exceptional early speed, Laurie believes his filly could
also take a sit if need be in the threeyear-old fillies contest. “I think she would come back underneath you if we wanted but we made sure she was up there last start to take away any bad luck and with just the way the track was playing you needed to be up there,” he said. Jockey Michael Dee also shared positive comments following Rainbow Girl’s Bairnsdale win. “[The most impressive part was how she was] doing the work at both ends when we were being so aggressive out of the gates and then just the way she put them away at the finish as well,” he said. “She was definitely a class above.” Ben Triandafillou
Clay target shooter fires at World Championships FRANKSTON Australia Clay Target Club shooter Michael Buttigieg has made a brilliant World Championships debut at the World Skeet Championships in Texas, USA on Friday 28 September. Buttigieg finished third overall in the 12 Gauge World Championships before taking out the World Zone Five Man Team event alongside David O’Sullivan (FACTC), Sam Agostino (Cecil Park, NSW), Jack Stockdale (Korumburra) and Adrian Cousens (Bairnsdale).
Buttigieg was one of 28 competitors, out of a field of over 700, to shoot 150 out of 150 in qualifying for the 12 Gauge World Championships. Fellow FACTC shooters Glenn Clarke and David O’Sullivan also managed to shoot 150/150, with Glenn taking 8th place overall. Further to Buttigieg’s successful start, he also went on to shoot 100/100 in qualifying for the 20 gauge event and finished fifth overall. That placing allowed him to be victorious in his AA grade.
Frankston Australia Clay Target Club secretary Jane Vella said it was an outstanding result for Michael. “It was Michaels first World Championships, and as one of Australia’s most decorated Skeet Shooters, I’m sure it won’t be his last,” she said.
Hot shot: Frankston Australia Clay Target Club shooter Michael Buttigieg makes the most of his World Skeet Championships debut. Picture: Supplied. Frankston Times
16 October 2018
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