MORNINGTON NEWS scoreboard
Mornington Little Aths find new home By Ben Triandafillou THE Mornington Little Athletics Centre have completed their temporary move to the Mornington Secondary College whilst they await the construction of their new all-weather running track at Civic Reserve, Mornington. The MLAC hosted their first day of competition at their new home on January 14 after outgrowing their old location at Mace Oval, Mount Martha after 13 seasons. With the assistance of local companies such as Moorooduc Timber and Hardware and Charlton Degg, Land Development Consultants, the move to their new home was relatively smooth and without great cost to the club itself. Charlton Degg, located in Mount Eliza, provided a free line marking survey of the track at the MSC saving possibly thousands for the Little Ath’s. “I know it’s hard for them to always find funds, so I thought it wouldn’t be too big of an ask to donate our time to
help them out,” Charlton Degg’s director of surveying, Michael Degg said. Moorooduc Timber and Hardware also offered a helping hand donating sleepers for the shipping containers to rest on, free of charge. “They donated their time and expertise and we are very, very appreciative of their help,” said club Secretary, Lisa Henry. Although the conditions were overcast for the first home program at MSC, it didn’t stop the eager young athletes from participating in their events at their new 400m running track. The larger track provided much needed space for field events which the Mace Oval lacked. Now with a community of 284 junior athletes, the family-friendly MLAC are continually bringing on new members with their two week ‘Come and Try’ period, allowing youngsters to have a go and decide whether they enjoy it. The Little Ath’s runs most Saturday
mornings beginning at 8:45am for a warm-up and concluding usually around 12pm. The Mornington Secondary College have also been generous, allowing the MLAC to utilise various facilities, including the Cottage which is being used as their new clubrooms. “We’ve never had clubrooms, so it’s fantastic that they are letting us use it,” said Lisa Henry. The MLAC hosted the annual Peninsula Challenge last Saturday, an interclub meet against the Westernport and the Southern Peninsula Little Athletics Centre’s. Although a busy day, the junior athletes had a ball competing against the other local LAC’s, with an expected turnout of about 200 competitors. Awaiting confirmation, the MLAC are hopeful that their $2 million IAAF standard athletics track, being funded by the federal government, will be ready for use in October, 2018.
Up and running: (l to r) Brooke Fischer, Abbey Brady, Ella Fischer, Todd Martin (President), Mark Henry (Registrar), and Paul Davies (General Committee). Picture: supplied
“I’m absolutely rapt” - Coach John Hynes INTERLEAGUE By Toe Punt MORNINGTON Peninsula Nepean Football League coach John Hynes said he was ‘absolutely wrapped’ with the 2017 Interleague campaign after it kicked-off last Friday. The MPNFL Sharks had 38 on the track on Friday night at Frankston Park while there were players who couldn’t train that attended to support the squad. Hynes said the “level, intensity and competitive aspects were as high as I have seen them”, despite it being the first hit-out of the season. The MPNFL will take-on Geelong FL at the MCG to claim the number one title in Victorian Football in May this year. The last time the leagues met was three years ago at Kardinia Park and
the MPNFL was thrashed. Hynes said our league was under prepared and lacked commitment the last time the leagues met and he was determined to ensure history didn’t repeat itself, especially on Australia’s biggest sporting stage. “We’re happy to go with the Sydney Swans mantra of a no commitment, no interest policy,” Hynes said. “We only want players who are committed to our cause and the early signs couldn’t be more pleasing.” With an influx of former AFL and VFL talent coming into the league this season, there is expectation that the squad will be stronger. “Luke Tapscott (Sorrento) is as keen as mustard and Trent Dennis-Lane (Bonbeach) is keen too while the likes of Brayden Irving (Seaford), Jordan Pollard (Tyabb) and Ben Hughes (Red
Hill) are all really looking forward to it. “Aaron Edwards (Pines) is again leading the charge with his high level of commitment and I’m hopeful after speaking with Andreijs Everitt (Somerville) that he will get right behind his league and support the boys. Unfortunately, Chris Dawes will be away and unavailable,” Hynes said. The initial squad, which can be added to at any time, looks like this: Beau Bailey (Bonbeach), Byron Barry (YCW), Anthony Barry (YCW) - VFL, Tim Bongetti (Pines), Mitch Bosward (Bombers), Brett Bowden (Edi-Asp), Anthony Bruhn (YCW) -VFL, Corey Buchan (Bombers), Jackson Calder (Mornington), Matt Clark (Edi-Asp), Matt Clifford (Hastings), Nick Corp (Sorrento), Beau Cosson (Dromana), Brenton Credlin (YCW)
– VFL, Trent Dennis-Lane (Bonbeach), Keegan Downie (Rosebud), Ash Eames (YCW), Aaron Edwards (Pines), Andreijs Everitt (Somerville), Ricky Ferraro (Hastings), Shaun Foster (Hastings), Sam Fox (Bombers), Todd Gardiner (Chelsea), Sam Gill (Mt Eliza), Dan Gormley (Mt Eliza), James Hallihan (Sorrento), Blake Harkness (Langwarrin), Alex Harnett (Bombers) – VFL, Rhys Healy (Pearcedale), Beau Hendry (Pines), Guy Hendry (Pines), Luke Hewitt (Hastings), Rowan Hogenbirk (Somerville), Ben Hughes (Red Hill), Kyle Hutchison (YCW), Brayden Irving (Seaford), Rikki Johnston (Dromana), Dylan Jones (Bonbeach), Ryan Kitchen (Bombers), Ben Landry (Mt Eliza), Jake Lovett (YCW) - VFL, Andrew Lovett (Sorrento), Kevin Lylak (YCW), Steve Mannix (Edi-Asp), Ryan Marks-Logan
A flying start for the Moloney Stables By Ben Triandafillou CAULFIELD trainer, John Moloney, has defied the odds in the $2 Million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on 14 January, with the $101 blowout, Flying Jess. Flying Jess defeated the previously unbeaten Winning Rupert as well as dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour for a breakthrough victory. Brilliantly ridden by Tye Angland, Flying Jess swooped late to defeat Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Global Glamour ($8) by a neck and hold off the fast finishing Eckstein ($12) whose four straight wins came to an end. Unable to run the tough seven furlongs out, the odds-on favourite, Winning Rupert ($1.70), faded late to finish fourth, two lengths away. Long due for a win, Flying Jess stormed home to break her long drought after having not won since last year’s Group Three SA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville Parks. After a resilient fourth, two starts back at Sandown on 12 November last year, when held three to four wide the entire race, Flying Jess looked like a chance in the 3YO Guineas. With a perfectly mapped race and a change in gear, John Moloney felt
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confident his filly would run a good race but would have to overcome a strong field. “The blinkers have really turned around her form,” said John Moloney. “I thought she could get to the top five, so in consideration to that I thought she may have been a bit over the odds.” Flying Jess, by Hinchinbrook out of Maritess, was bought at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale for $60,000 and has now taken her career earnings to $1,296,430. Flying Jess has provided John with a million-dollar race win and one of John’s biggest victories, alongside his win in the, then Group Two, now
Mornington News 24 January 2017
Group One, Queen of the Turf Stakes with Casual in 1985. “I think it matches it, it was pretty significant because of the amount of kudos we got out of the race as well as the prize money we got, so it definitely equalled it.” The Parkdale resident is part of a well-respected family dynasty dating back to the 1930’s with horse trainer, Jerry Moloney, who made his mark in the racing industry winning the Grand Annual at Warrnambool in 1934. John’s father, the late Jim (James) Moloney, also had a remarkable career in horse racing, having outstanding success from his famous Epsom training complex in Mordialloc. The
Hall of Fame trainer led a multitude of talented thoroughbreds to Group One glory, including his star sprinter and arguably one of Australia’s greatest, Vain. Following in their father’s footsteps, John and brother Gerard Moloney, head up the Moloney Racing stables from their training base, Vain Lodge, at Caulfield. The Moloney’s utilise their 100 years of combined experience to keep their thoroughbreds in fine condition and prepare them for raceday, often taking advantage of the fresh Mordialloc Beach. “It helps them with recovery and gets there legs in order; it gives them a good feature,” said John Moloney. With an impressive start to the year the Moloney’s are hoping to keep the ball rolling and have purchased another filly by Hinchinbrook at the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale last week in hopes to replicate this year’s exceptional victory. Flying Jess will stay in Queensland for a few weeks before being sent back down to the Moloney’s stables where she’ll be targeted for a race in Sydney over the autumn carnival. John is hopeful that the filly can keep up her flying form and be competitive in some strong autumn races.
(Bombers), Kyle Matthews (Seaford), Shane McDonald (Bonbeach), Tim McGennis (Somerville), Mick Meehan (Edi-Asp), Scott McLeod (YCW), Warrick Miller (Mornington), Joel Miller (Mornington), Paul Minchington (YCW), Jake Mitchell (Red Hill), Mark Mullins (Edi-Asp), Allan Murray (Devon Meadows), Jay Neratzaglou (Mt Eliza), Brett O’Hanlon (Mt Eliza), Christian Ongarello (YCW), Jordan Pollard (Tyabb), Luke Potts (Pines), Ethan Rahilly (Tyabb), Damien Rayson (Seaford), Paul Rogasch (Hastings), Ryan Santon (YCW), Jonah Siverson (Red Hill), Dale Sutton (Bombers), Luke Tapscott (Sorrento), Shane Tennant (Mt Eliza), Robbie Turnball (Mt Eliza), Justin Van Unen (Mt Eliza), Lachy Wallace (YCW) VFL.
The Mount Martha Australia Day Swim By Ben Triandafillou THE Mount Martha Life Saving Club will be holding their annual Australia Day swim on Thursday, January 26 with all money raised being put towards safety equipment to protect beach goers. The day consists of several events catering to all levels of swimming ability, from the 200m Benton Road Vet Clinic Nipper swim to the much more intense Tackleworld 5km swim. The event which has been going for over 20 years is expecting a large turnout of over 3,500 people on the beach and over 1,000 competitors, the atmosphere is sure to be exciting. The Mount Martha Australia Day swim will be of the safest swims with over 100 lifeguards watching on. The MMAD event is the Mount Martha Life Saving club’s largest fundraising event often assisted by plenty of volunteers. The event is a great way to give back to the lifesaving club and the community. “The money raised goes to maintaining safety equipment that the lifeguards use to protect the people on the beach all year round,” MMAD Swim Organiser, Andrew Felsinger said. The 5km ‘crazy swim’ will begin the day at 8am with the final heat being the 1.2km ‘MMAD Swim’ starting at 11.30am. With the weather looking perfect, the MMAD Swim is set to be a brilliant day for all involved.