SOUTHERN PENINSULA NEWS scoreboard Girls set sail: Mornington Yacht Club is attracting more women into sailing with their new program ‘Girl’s Out Sailing’. Picture: Mornington Yacht Club
Girls step out Sailing MORNINGTON Yacht Club is hoping to attract more women into sailing with their new program, ‘Girl’s Out Sailing’. The program looks at the basics of sailing as well as behind-the-scenes aspects of a sailing club such as volunteering. Mornington Yacht Club board member, Michelle Pickford, said the five-session program is all about have a good time out on the water. “Girls Out Sailing was put together to get women and teenage girls to step out into an unreal program,” Pickford said. “It’s all about socialisation, meeting new people and learning the basic sailing skills to enjoy some time out on the water.” At just their third session the Girls Out Sailing group entered into the Mornington Yacht Club’s Ladies Skippers race on Sunday 25 November. “They twisted my arm,” Pickford said. “We had to change the program slightly, but they all loved it and I think it was great for them to compete against the other general members at the club. “The experience would have been great with who they have to give way to or if they get to keep going. They were all more than fine about entering the race. We’ve got the right people out there with them and they do a great job making everyone feel comfortable.”
Pickford said the program has worked really well so far because of the “friendly, relaxed atmosphere” that it has. “You don’t need any prior experience just a little bit of a want for adventure,” she said. “This was our pilot for the program and that’s allowed us to feel our way through it and everything has gone really good so far.” The program introduces the women into other aspects of the Mornington Yacht Club as well the basics of sailing. “It also introduces them to club life,” Pickford said. “There’s more to a local club than the main activity so with our next session we look at volunteering around the club and all the other jobs that go into making the club so great.” “You might find that you might absolutely love sailing, but you might find that you enjoy the volunteering aspect of the club instead.” The Girls Out Sailing group has one more session before Christmas and will finish their program with a final session at the start of February. If you’re interested in the Girls Out Social Sailing program, contact Michelle or Sarah on 5975 7001 or visit their Facebook page, ‘Girls Out Sailing’.
Edwards’ kiwi galloper ready to Rox and roll
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Simply play a round of golf at any of the below courses between now and 31st December 2018 and send in your scorecard for a chance to win. Edithvale Public Golf Course – Fraser Ave, Edithvale Mornington Golf Club – Tallis Drive, Mornington Devilbend Golf Club – Loders Road, Moorooduc Cerberus Golf Club – HMAS Cerberus, Crib Point Bay Views Golf Course – Elizabeth Drive, Rosebud Rosebud Country Club – 207 Boneo Road, Rosebud St Andrews Beach Golf Course – 209 Sandy Road, Fingal One scorecard per envelope. Include your NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER on the back of envelope.
Entries close 7/1/19 Post to: MPNG Golf, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915
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Southern Peninsula News
5 December 2018
BITTERN-based racehorse trainer Kerry Edwards may only have two horses in work at the moment, but the small-time trainer has started to reveal one that looks to have above-average ability on the racetrack. Edwards saddled up the former New Zealand galloper, Rox The Castle, for his first run back from a spell at Ballarat on Saturday 24 November, where he finished a game second in benchmark 70 class despite “not handling the conditions all too well”. Having won his first two starts in Australia in impressive style, including a 2.8-length maiden victory, the four-year-old gelding’s return has given Edwards an exciting hope for the future. “He’s got ability but we’ve just got to harness it and direct it and not get ahead of ourselves,” she said. “Mentally he wasn’t there when he arrived but I’m really happy with the progression that he’s continued to make.” Edwards, who also does casual garden work throughout the week, moved to the Mornington Peninsula just over 10 years ago to set up a boutique stable closer to the beach. The smaller sized stable and the hands-on training that Edwards provides is a key reason to why she has be given the opportunity to train horses such as Rox The Castle. “I actually trained this guy’s mum, Run Roxy Run.” Edwards said. “Over in New Zealand she showed a lot of ability but she had issues through her back. She hit the ground pretty hard, and as I do a lot of my training on the beach it helps take a little bit of the pressure off the animal in their training and also recovery-wise. So that’s why Tim [Di Mattina] (owner) sent her over to me. “He’s had a number of horses over the years and if they look like they’ll measure up over here he’s chosen to send them to me thankfully because he likes the smaller set up and provid-
Beach work: Bittern-based racehorse trainer Kerry Edwards enjoys riding beach work aboard her upand-coming galloper, Rox The Castle. Picture: Ben Erikssin Photography
ing more individual attention to his horses.” Rox The Castle fitted that profile after impressing in trails in New Zealand and while his first and only start over the ditch wasn’t a standout, it had more merit than might meet the eye. “He had one run over there and it was a bit of a disaster,” Edwards said. “He was beaten six lengths but when you see what he did, he did everything wrong. His head was up and he was over racing for basically the entire race.” “When he came to me he used to be hard on the bit and leaned on your hands but this morning down at the beach he was round and relaxed and I thought ‘wow, this horse has come a long way in the short time he’s been here mentally and even physically’. He’s learning to work with you and not against you.” Since Rox The Castle’s last run, Edwards said that she hasn’t had to do too much work with him. “He’s not a horse that you have to be hard on,” she said. “It has all been beach work since last week. He had a day off on Wednesday and he’ll have a maintenance gallop over 800m tomorrow (Saturday 1 December) at the track and the rest of it will just be beaching before we get to the races. “I don’t want to over-gallop him and take that natural gate speed away. I want to keep him a bit on the fresh side.” The Balnarring beach has played a massive role in Edwards training regime and it’s been no different with Rox The Castle. “Every day’s a holiday for the horses,” she said. “They’re always down at the beach, they’re out in their paddocks –it’s advantageous I think to the horse’s longevity.” Rox The Castle is likely to line up in another benchmark 70 race at Moonee Valley on Friday night 7 November.