Sports

NSW GOVERNMENT’S STRONGER COUNTRY COMMUNITIES FUND FUNDING FOR BYRON BAY FC A GAME CHANGER

Byron Bay Football Club will soon be able to begin a full renovation of their clubhouse thanks to $414,943 from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.

A brand new second story will be added to the Clubhouse to provide the best possible experience to members, visitors and the wider community.

The renovations will also focus on ensuring more women have the opportunity to play for the Club.

Minister for Regional Youth Ben Franklin said the renovations would be a game-changer for the Club.

“Junior, youth and men’s and women’s teams will soon have a brand new, modern and facility to enjoy and make the Byron Bay FC and even better club to be a part of,” Mr Franklin said.

“The add-on will be more accommodating to all teams and will have dedicated facilities for women to encourage more female players to get involved in the game.

“The funding will also mean the Clubhouse can be FFA & FIFA compliant to be a ‘live site’ which will allow streaming of all games in the 2023 FIFA Women’s

World Cup to be held right here in Australia.

“As Minister for Regional Youth, I am excited about the possibilities and opportunities this will openup for more young people, especially young women.”

Dedicated and modern changeroom and bathroom facilities for women helps remove the barriers women may face to getting involved in local sport and opens up the opportunity for growth at a local and higher competition level.

Byron Bay Football Club said this project supported the Club’s ethos and would make them stronger moving into the future.

“The football game we play in the Bay is all about the team, and the club we run is the same; amazing individuals coming together to create a hub for the local community to be as one. The NSW Government and this grant are now part of this great team.

“We are an inclusive club open to all and our future Clubhouse will only make us stronger.”

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Byron Bay FC also intends to make the renovated venue available to other community groups and organisations for hire to help support local events and fundraisers.

The Stronger Country Communities Fund is delivering new and upgraded facilities, infrastructure and programs that make a big difference to everyday life for people in coastal and country towns across the state.

Since 2017, the Stronger Country Communities Fund has invested over $500 million into regional NSW to support upwards of 1,900 local projects.

ROBINSON WINS HIS FOURTH AUSSIE TITLE

The V8 Dirt Championship was held on Saturday, January Speedway, Brisbane, over 35 laps where 20 the main event.

Lismore V8 Dirt Robinson was in control from the start leading throughout to claim his fourth Australian Championship, to Robinson’s achievement of four Australian Championship victories.

Coffs Harbour driver, Chris Corbett, who was awarded the Steve Robinson Silver Fox Award for Pole Position, was an early casualty along with Lismore’s Mitchell Randall who

Five-time Australian and reigning champion, Queensland’s Kevin Britten, running the highline wasn’t able to catch Robinson for his sixth title victory, Queenslander Terry Leerentveld was third after coming from position ten on the grid. Grafton drivers Andrew Firth and Joshua Rose respectively. Victorian Todd Hobson competed in the main Sam Bruggy, Queensland, completed the Championship in seventh and was a big starting from position 16. Luke Dunn, Grafton, B-Main to start in position 18, bringing home his No.83 Top Ten.

Heat winners were Brayd Stephenson, Ray Klarich, Chris Corbett, Andrew Firth, Joshua Rose, Mitchell Randall, Dale Corbett, Kevin Britten and Mark Robinson. Mark Robinson AUS1, Kevin Britten 2, Terry Leerentveld 3, Andrew Firth 4, Joshua Rose 5, Todd Hobson 6, Sam Bruggy 7, Ray Klarich 8, Luke Dunn 9, Brayd Stephenson 10.

Brock Gardiner was the the line in the Australian Championship. line-up at Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway on February 5 for another Blue Ribbon event, the NSW Championship and Round 1 of the National 5-Star Dirt Series.

CUDGEN SURF NOTES

Congratulations to Sven Loemker who was named as the Tweed Youth Achiever in

Community Service on Australia Day. In the 19-20 season he won the Club Cadet Person and most patrol hours. He was named the F.N.C. Branch Youth Volunteer. Last season as a junior he won the same award.

Congratulations also to the Evans Head – Casino Club who have celebrated their 100 year formation. The

formed is Byron Bay in February 1907, followed by Yamba on September 9th in 1908.

On day one at the Country Titles our Junior members had good results. 14 yr. Board and Iron to Isabella Tate, Board to Fletcher Burdekin and the Board Relay; 13 yr. Board and Iron Lady

to Fray Hutchinson, Male Board to Lachlan Arghyros, the Surf and Board teams. 12 yr. Female Surf to Myla Naylor, Board to Isabella Arghyros and the Surf Teams. 11 yr. Surf to Ivy Misom and the Surf Teams and Male Board Board Relay. Female Surf to Falon Tuala in

U/12 Surf Teams Gold Medal, Mula Naylor; Charli Mills; Tim Wellm; Tom Mison Jalen Beatly winning the U/12 Male Beach Flags Race

the 10 yr. plus the Surf Teams. The 9 yr. Surf by Scarlett Misom, the 8 yr. Sprint to Ester Dorr and the Wade Relay. yr. Buchanan Relay.

The Open Female Sprint and Flags double to Hayley Smith., Point Score Day 1; Cudgen 383; Warilla-Barrak Point 299; Lennox Head 157; Port Macquarie

98. At the end of Day 2 Cudgen had a 21 point lead over Warilla. Some results ere in the 15 yr. with Molly Eddy and Dean Streader winning the Flags and Sprint, Scott McCartney the 30-39 yr. Board and Ski. Team Events being the male and female Board Relays, Open Female Taplin and mixed

Double Ski. On Sunday members all made the effect to compete in the One and Two K beach runs to gain points and other events and held out to retain the Champion Club Point Score with a nine point margin over Warilla-Barrack Point.

Lachlan Arghyros winning the U/13 Male Board Race

TUCABIA HEADS TABLE AFTER THUMPING WIN

Brothers opener Beau Sevil pays the price for shouldering arms to a straight ball from Rohan Hackett. Tucabia skipper Brad Chard has lost the beard, but none of his pace and skill. His dismissal of opposite captain Jake Kroehnert was a key moment in Saturday’s game.

By Tim Howard

Tucabia Copmanhurst’s thumping of Brothers at Ellem Oval on Saturday has catapulted it to Premier League cricket competition.

In a rematch of the Tucabia routed Brothers for 96 chasing its 9-174 with left-arm speedster Rohan Hackett capturing four wickets.

In an innings notable for solid contributions right down the order, Tucabia opener Andrew Ellis top scored off the bat with 33, two runs less than the 35 extras at the bottom of the scorecard.

Youngster Keaton Stutt, 20, batting at six and Matt Dougherty at seven, scoring 19, kept the momentum going after Brothers had them 5-98.

Brothers’ run chase faltered at the outset with both openers dismissed overs. go, bizarrely shouldering arms to a straight ball from Hackett that snapped back his off stump.

Hackett trapped Kallen Lawrence in front in the next over, but it was the captain on captain confrontation between Brad Chard and Jake Kroehnert that would proved decisive.

Kroehnert, on 6, was bowled by Chard with the score at 3-25 and when Sean Walters, Jack Weatherstone and Jamie Firth went for just six more runs, the game was effectively over.

Veteran off-spinner Matt Pigg picked up three middle order wickets and Dan Cootes got two to help clean up the tail.

At McKitrrick Park South Services made it two wins in two completed games with a three-wicket win against Easts/Westawn at McKittrick Park.

Souths chased down Easts’ competitive 6-148 with two overs to spare on the back of scores of 32 each from skipper Dylan Cleaver and hard-hitting all rounder Adrian Boyd.

But the game was still overs to go and Chris Cleaver was dismissed with the score at 7-133 and 16 needed for the win.

Up stepped Josh Amos, who scored 14 of those runs, including 11 in the team home.

Easts/Westlawn looked liked setting a more formidable total on the back of a half century from opening Shannon Connor.

Conner hit 58 and combined with Chris Chamberlain for 65-run opening stand.

The wheels came off as the next three wickets fell for nine runs.

Aaron MacFadyen, 28no, dropped anchor with Connor, getting the score to 100 before left-arm fast bowler Connor. from seven overs and Chris Cleaver 2-21 from eight to head the Souths bowling effort.

MacFadyen was the best with the ball for Easts with 3-26 from eight overs. Connor and two wickets.

Tucabia is on top of the ladder on percentages ahead of South Services. Both teams are on 7points with Easts chasing on 24. Brothers languishes at the bottom on 15 points.

On Saturday the competition begins the three two-day games over the next six weekends.

Brothers play Souths at Ellem Oval and Tucabia and Easts/Westlawn meet at Ulmarra Showground.

Story and photos by Daniel Cohen / DC Sports Photography Hooker League wide open after crazy weekend

The LJ Hooker League took more twists and turns last weekend in a bizarre round of cricket, as the race for the Final 4

Yager shotmaking was sublime Yager celebrates his ton

of a unique round, Murwillumbah 112 (Brooks 31, Julius 3/19, Wilson 3/23, Weir

Yager pull shot for Six

positions tightened. All eyes were on the 5th placed Tweed Banora Colts hosting 4th placed TintenbarEast Ballina, in a match that could determine the season for several teams.

Mison piled on the runs Mison brings up 50 Mison (66 off 35) joined the captain as Alstonville In reply Casino could only manage 96, with Mulcahy top-scoring with 36. Kyle Yager 3/25), were overrun by powerhouse Cudgen by 8 wickets, with Conor McDowell scoring 100 of the teams 118, bringing up his century of the day.

At Dave Burns Field, Tintenbar-East Ballina were sent in to bat by the hosts, and were bowled out for 186 with 2 overs remaining that might have proven costly. Skipper Abe Crawford (41 from 31) got the team off to a quick start but lost partners in quick succession. When he was dismissed with the score on 52, with Warburton and Hughes following shortly after, the ‘Bar were struggling at 5/75. Callum Carmont (48 off 60) and Steven Leahy

(40 off 49) combined for 79 runs, lifting the score to a competitive 186. Ben Thoms (4/43) and 18 year old Lewis Koppel (3/27) the pick of the Colts bowlers. In reply the Colts began

steadily, recovering after losing an early wicket. Adam Rogers’ superb 88 (82 balls) was the backbone of the innings. Crawford (4/40) again dragged TintenbarEast Ballina back into the game, triggering a middle-order collapse of 4 for 9 to have the opposition at 6/165. The Colts however streadied for a 3-wicket win with 2 overs to spare. Colts President Mark Wood couldn’t have been happier with the result, given that 3

senior players were unavailable for selection. It leaves Tweed Banora 1 point behind 4th place Tintenbar on the table. The Colts win also keeps the door open for teams including Marist

Brothers Lismore, who might have ended Pottsville’s season in a commanding win at Seabreeze Oval.

Pottsville won the toss and batted, moving steadily to 45 before dismissed. A procession of wickets followed, with a Kaleb Auld (5/11 off 8 overs) doing the damage, limiting the hosts to 111. This gave Brothers the opportunity of a Bonus Point win and they didn’t hold back, taking just 10 overs to reach the

target. Ash Simes (45), Mahbood (22) and Warid (27) making light work of the total. The BP win lifts MB Lismore to 6th on the ladder, just 8 points from

At QE Park in Casino it was a battle for pride, but the Cavaliers ran into a red-hot Alstonville side intent on putting a poor season behind them. After being sent in to bat, Alstonville were on a modest 1/80 at drinks. The message was clear after the break however, with Murphy (75) and Yager (101 off 63) putting the Casino bowlers to the sword. It was an awesome display of power hitting, with captain Kyle Yager bringing up his century

topped off a memorable day taking 2 wickets from his only 2 balls to close out the Casino innings. In the weekend’s other matches, Ballina 8/175 (Norris 35, Clacher 30, B Kernaghan 3/38) were defeated by Lennox Head 4/167 (Asser 73, Lofts 59*) in a rain shortened match at Fripp Oval.

Goonellabah Workers

Sports had the Bye. The ladder currently stands at Cudgen 69,

Lennox Head 61, G’bah Sports Workers 58, Tint/East Ballina

51, Tweed/Banora 50, MB Lismore 43, Ballina 43, Pottsville 37, Alstonville 30, Murwillumbah 24, Casino 19

Casino, down at the dog track Jan 27th

Story and Images by Lisa

Vanderstok

Jimary Star did not disappoint at Casino on Thursday (27th) winning for local favourites Helen and Mal Ross of Fairy Hill. Their dogs are a part of the family often in the sprawled out in the house in the air con. Lovely to see Terry and Sharon Moth-Duncan also score a win with Naughty But Nice.