30 • Riverland Weekly – Thursday February 3, 2011
CHARLIE’S SPORTS GOSS WITH GRAHAM CHARLTON
The T Riverland’s most authoritative sports commentator ...
Bowling for a cause
■ TOTAL monies raised from the Renmark RSL Bowling Club’s special bowls day this Sunday, will be directed to the Chinchilla Bowling Club, which has been a major victim of the Queensland floods. Renmark RSL’s proposal to aid victims of the terrible tragedy in the north was first mooted after the initial flooding in Toowoomba but the destruction has since become so quickly widespread, and with so many appeals being launched, that a decision to associate directly with a club of similar size was made. In fact, Bowls Queensland has now expanded the idea, urging unaffected clubs in their state and around Australia to rally to help clubs devastated by the floods. Chinchilla, with 124 members, has been flooded twice in the past month or so and is amongst the six worst affected clubs in Queensland. Talking to members of Chinchilla, they are overwhelmed by Renmark RSL’s offer. “We do not care if you only raise $200,” one said, “it is your gesture that means so much to us”. Local organisers are, of course, aiming much higher than that. The day starts at 12.30pm. Entry fee for both regular and non bowlers is $10. There will be raffles with excellent prizes, auctions and a sausage sizzle plus, of course, plenty of bowls on some superb natural greens.
Chinchilla, rated the best greens west of the ranges and Toowoomba’s greens, are not in their best condition right now. Enquiries about the day should go to ‘Dixie’ Lee (8583 0310). Chinchilla was initially flooded just after Christmas and the club got things mostly back in order, only to cop higher levels of water in a second flooding when both the Condamine River and (would you believe it) Charley’s Creek, combined to contribute to the situation. It would be a nice touch if the Renmark RSL’s helping Chinchilla in its time of need could develop into a sister club relationship.
■ FLOODED: The Chinchilla Bowls Club is getting back on its feet after the Queensland floods. Photos: SUPPLIED
We do not care if you only raise $200. It is your gesture that means so much to us.
How much do you rate yourself? ■ HOW often have we heard that our country kids do not get the same opportunities as their city counterparts? Well, if there are hurdles in that area, there may be a way for our local young sportspeople to jump over them. The South Australian Sports Institute has introduced an online talent identification initiative. It is an extension of the Institute’s Talent Search program seeking SA youngsters aged 13 to 25 to attend development programs. Talent Search has been extended to schools and SASI is calling on teachers, as well as coaches, clubs and associations to encourage young athletes to lodge a ‘Rate Yourself’ application with the institute’s co-ordinator. ‘Rate Yourself’ opens doors to those who otherwise would not be reached, particularly in the country, to be assessed by SASI. After athletes submit their details, the information is analysed by the SASI Talent Search co-ordinator. Those considered to have the potential to go to the next level may be invited for further testing. The institute is not searching for those already achieving good results in their sport. At the same time, physical and physiological characteristics might show someone has the potential to be successful in a sport they may not have attempted previously. Already SASI is attributing the success of some of Australia’s leading athletes to the Talent Search program. Examples are kayakers Hannah Davis (2008 Beijing Olympics) and Kate Barclay (2004 Athens Olympics), Becchara Palmer (beach volleyball under 19 world championships), Rohan Dennis (2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games) and Annette Edmondson (medallist 2008 Junior
■ REVOLUTION: The SA Redbacks have been at the forefront of the T20 revolution.
T20 enthusiasm very evident
■ SASI STAR: Beijing Olympics bronze medal winner Hannah Davis has had success following SASI’s Talent Search program. Photo: SUPPLIED World Cycling Championships). ‘Rate Yourself’ applications are available on SASIs Facebook page or, for further information, go to www.recsport.sa.gov.au or telephone
Mathew Harris, the Talent Search coordinator, on (08) 7424 7642. People often frown if you start rating yourself but it seems to me you have reason to do so here, officially.
■ I INTERVIEWED Tea Tree Gully’s captain Matthew Weaver recently on Radio 5RM’s Sports program about his team’s SACA limited overs game at Berri against Prospect on Sunday. All SACA district clubs played in country areas on the day. Anyhow, during the chat I asked Matthew (pictured) his thoughts on the present discrepancy between the SA Redbacks’ performances in the shorter and longer versions of the game. While he gave no definite opinion and believed that improvement was being made right across the various competitions, you could not overlook his comment about the enthusiasm he and his team-mates shared for Twenty20 cricket. Perhaps therein was the real answer to my query and the reason why, at the majority of Test matches played around the world, stands are deserted. Okay Australia and England played to packed houses during their Ashes series but
that has been the exception and not the rule. The action and quick result and, of course, for those fortunate enough to get a share of the big loot available, the Twenty20 format will remain attractive to a whole lot of emerging players and the game’s followers of today and beyond meaning that administrators, perhaps, have an almost impossible task ahead of them to keep Test cricket as we have known it in place right across the world.