Which singer has been announced as the headline act for this NFL season’s Super Bowl half time entertainment?

Locals making their mark

Footballers from the region in the spotlight on the AFL stage

Former Dartmoor local Jeremy Cameron (pictured right) has added more silverware to his 2022 AFL premiership medal, being jointly awarded the Geelong Football Club’s 2022 best & fairest - sharing the honour with midfielder Cam Guthrie. In football circles, taking out the club’s highest honour, which at Geelong is the Carji Greeves Medal, in a premiership year is considered even more impressive.

The other South East connected news saw Keith’s Jack Redden (pictured below) call time on his 14 season career, despite having a trigger in his contract to play in 2023 for a 15th season.

The 31 year old took the AFL world by surprise when he announced he was walking away last week after 263 games, and with a premiership medal in his collection as well when he was part of the dramatic 2018 decider. In that season, Redden was also crowned the Eagles player of the finals., finishing runner up to Elliott Yeo in the JOhn Worsforld Medal that same year.

Redden finished sixth in the Eagles’ best and fairest this season and was among their most consistent performers in a challenging campaign, averaging 21.7 disposals in 21 games.

Redden started his career at the Brisbane LIons after being drafted in the 2008 Nartional Draft at pick 25, playing 129 of his games with the Lions before playing out his career in the West.

Girls just having fun

Mount Gambier Golf Club ladies play a Gentsomes

A fun team event in the form of a Gentsomes was played at the Mount Gambier Golf Club last Wednesday in perfect conditions.

Playing members Janina Morrison and Carol Smith sponsored the popular three person event which saw the team of Mary Kentish, Anne Headlam and Heather Barry claim the prizes with a score of 91 points from the runner up team of Betty McKechnie, Bernie Jennings and Janina Morrison with 86 points.

Ball rundown winners were Lizzie Clements, Helen Gregory and Jan Shanahan with 83 points and Faye Mainwaring, Vicki Clark and Jess Parsons with 82 points on a countback. Lady president,Mary Kentish played the par three holes in regulation and on the eighth hole, claimed the pro shot with her drive. Nearest the pin for their second shot on the sixth hole was Anne Headlam – A grade, Vicki Clark – B grade and Mary Kentish in C grade.

The first event for this year’s Spring Tournament was held last Thursday when 13 pairs of ladies including visitors from Portland and Hamilton contested the four ball better ball against par event. The course was in good condition with the fairways producing some run and perfect weather prevailed.

Each year, players have a chance to win a pair of golf shoes each and the winning combination of Helen Gregory and Rose Hunt combined very well to claim the shoes with a top score of 9 up. Runners up were long hitters Carol Davis and Helen McIntyre finishing with 6 up just nudging out Jess Parsons and Camilla Knowles on a countback. The second day of the tournament on Saturday was a stableford event and 18 ladies played their round in perfect spring conditions.

Janina Morrison, who has been consistently in the placegetters lately, added another trophy to her collection when she won with 37 points. Morrison’s card had a bit of everything including a birdie on the 16th hole. Jess Parsons, another consistent placegetter was two shots behind finishing with 35 points claiming the runner up prize.

GENTSOMES PODIUM: Sponsor Janina Morrison, who was also in runner up team with Bernie Jennings & Betty McKechnie with winners,Mary Kentish and Anne Headlam. Absent: Heather Barry

Tense grand finals in table tennis

The Mount Gambier Table Tennis Winter Season drew to a dramatic conclusion this week, with some enthralling contests in all grades.

Tom Horrigan played a lone hand in preventing his Hard Knox team for succumbing to an embarrassing whitewash at the hands of Deakin Lofthouse’s powerful Tricksters side in the C Grade decider. Horrigan got his team off to a promising start with a thrilling five game win over Tricksters’ strong number one player Allan Withers. After Horrigan had raced out of the blocks to a 2-0 lead Withers inevitatwo games to send their battle to a decider. Nothing separated the combatants in the fifth as they engaged in mesmerizing lengthy rallies, both preferring to simply ensure the ball landed in play rather than take unnecessary risks. With scores locked at 10-all, Horrigan went for broke, pouncing on a tentative Withers return with one of his trademark forehand smashes, forcing his opponent to lunge helplessly and unsuccessfully as the ball sailed passed. Horrigan was then left to wrap up the encounter on his serve. He did so with ease, Withers handing Horrigan the win with an errant return that sailed long past the back of the table. Unfortunately for Hard Knox Horrigan’s efforts were the only positive on an otherwise gloomy night. Deakin Lofthouse starred for the victors with an undefeated individual singles performance, ably supported by solid efforts from Withers and Heather McGregor, inspiring Tricksters to a dominant 9-2 victory to claim the C Grade title.

The B Grade final served up a more even contest, Harry Childs and Alex McGregor giving the Smart Alecs team the perfect start against Andrew Telford’s Rose Between Thorns, with victories in their respective opening singles rubbers. Stuart Telford pulled one back for his team, but even contributions from Childs, McGregor and Alex Laube ensured Smart Alecs kept their opponents at bay throughout the night. Laube staged an unbelievable comeback from two games down to post a memorable five game victory over Hailee Barnes in their encounter, whilst a healthy crowd of spectators were treated to a pulsating 5th game between McGregor and Andrew Telford to close out the night, after McGregor was made to claw his way back into the contest from 2 games down. An enthralling display of power and skill from both players culminated in a dramatic conclusion at 13 points all, McGregor finally buckling under the pressure with an uncharacteristic errant forehand that narrowly missed the side of the playing surface. Telford’s victory was of little consolation however, Smart Alecs ultimately claiming the B-Grade title with a comfortable 7-4 win.

The A-Grade decider was the one everyone had been waiting for, pitting Sirinat Sweet’s Knight Owls against her son Travis’ team, Sweet Enough. The younger Sweet got his side off to the perfect start, posting a victory over his Owls opponent, Robin Pellen. The other Sweet, Sirinat, then levelled things up for her team by claiming honours in her first singles outing against Felix Owusu. Pellen and Justin Hutchesson engaged in one of the clashes of the season late in the evening, the Owls player stepping up knowing that he needed to beat Hutchesson to keep the match alive. A crowd of onlookers who had finished their matches began to gather as Pellen drew first blood, claiming the first game. Hutchesson hit back to level the rubber by claiming the second game. Pellen upped the tempo in the third, winning it to maintain the ascendancy. As he looked to close out the contest in the fourth, Hutchesson doggedly refused to go away. The adversaries traded blows toe-to-toe, with neither player able to gain the ascendancy until finally fatigue appeared to get the better of Pellen, he sent a regulation forehand return into the net, letting out a cry of anguish as Hutchesson claimed the 16-14 result to send the rubber to a gripping decider. After a brief pause to rehydrate and regain their composure, the combatants resumed hostilities for one last tilt at claiming the honours. After an even start, unforced errors began to creep into Hutchesson’s game, compounding the pressure and allowing Pellen to take complete control. The Knight Owls player streaked away to post a resounding 11-3 win, setting up the perfect script for mother and son, Sirinat and Travis Sweet, to square off in the final rubber of the night to decide whose team would claim ultimate glory. Junior Sweet claimed the first game for his Sweet Enough team, recent history between the two suggesting he may once again have the better of his mother. Sirinat had other ideas though, grinding out a determined win in the second game to level the encounter. Travis shook off the disappointment of dropping a game, regaining his focus to once again use his high-octane groundstrokes and fleet footwork to claim the third game and the upper hand. He carried his momentum through to the fourth game, Sirinat unable to maintain the high energy needed to stay with her younger opponent, Travis closing out the rubber and in doing so guiding Sweet Enough to a 6-5 win for the title. The two rivals met for a gracious post-match embrace as the crowd cheered in appreciation of a high-quality clash, the perfect end to another hotly contested season.

Mount Gambier Table Tennis Club is always welcoming of new players of all ages, experience, and capability. Registrations of interest for the Spring season, commencing on Wednesday, October 26, are now open. Anyone interested in having a go, please contact the club at mtgtabletennis@gmail.com or find the club’s Facebook page. Practice is held at 7pm on Monday nights and competition is at 7pm on Wednesday nights at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds Hall.

3-rubber winners:

• A Grade: Travis Sweet (Sweet Enough) • B Grade: Nil. • C Grade: Deakin Lofthouse (Tricksters)