Sport
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
The Moorabool News – 19 July, 2022 Page 17
John Slack Memorial winner Adelle trained and driven by Kerryn Manning.
Adelle hits high note Footy clubs band together
Photo Stuart McCormick
By Michael Howard (HRV) The plan may have been briskly thrown out the window but that didn’t stop Kerryn Manning and Adelle from storming home and scooping up the prized John Slack Memorial Trotters Cup. It was the headliner as metro racing came to Ballarat last Saturday night and it didn’t disappoint with in-form Nephew Of Sonoko valiant in the breeze, giving them all something to chase, and Inter Dominion champ Maori Law overcoming a final straight mishap to almost claim the race. However, they were undone by Manning and her promising mare Adelle, who produced a career best win in the $30,000 Cup and scored in a photo finish. “I was quietly confident, but knowing it was such a hard field it was going to be a hard task,” Manning told TrotsVision. That task was made all the harder when Adelle was slow away from the gates, which saw Manning caught outside the running line and needing to slide back to the tail of the field.
“She usually comes off the gate okay, but she kind of walked out and then Nathan (Jack on Sundons Courage) kicked through underneath me and I had to grab hold,” Manning said. “It was a very long way back and I thought ‘well, this wasn’t in the plan’. “But certainly following some nice horses up helped. She wanted to get on with the job down the back and ran out before I was ready and got Maori Law going and got a good drag into it from there.” Adelle was five-wide around the final turn but swept home in a race best 28.73-second last quarter and 56.72-second last half to pip Maori Law by a short half-head, with Nephew Of Sonoko 1.3 metres back after a valiant run in the breeze. “Her work’s been really good,” Manning said. “I’ve had no trouble with her for the last week and a half, for Adelle that’s really good news for me. And she proved tonight that she is on song.” She said Adelle would likely next target the Lightfoot Laurels Group 3 standing start trot for mares at Melton on August 6.
Two clubs across the Central Highlands Football League (CHFL), plus over 1000 football clubs across Victoria, have donned blue armbands for TAC Road Safety Round, honouring the lives lost on our roads. Beginning on Friday 15 July, the Road Safety Round is a joint effort by the Victorian Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and AFL Victoria, and serves as a reminder that we all have a reason to drive safely. The round was first played in 2019, and is a particularly important reminder for regional Victorians, who continue to be overrepresented in the road accident and death toll. In 2021, 126 people died on regional roads, compared to 85 in metropolitan areas. People driving on regional roads travel longer distances and at higher speeds, meaning when mistakes happen the consequences are often worse. Ballan and Dunnstown CHFL teams wore blue armbands at matches last weekend, to show support for those who have died on our roads, and raise awareness that no life is worth risking.
The start of the TAC Road Safety Round also coincides with the AFL’s Round 18 match between the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda, with St Kilda coach Brett Ratten again showing his support for the round as its ambassador. Ratten’s son Cooper was tragically killed on a regional Victorian road in 2015, aged 16. "That scar, pain, is still there every day and it still hurts. And it doesn't just hurt me, it hurts Cooper's brothers and sisters, his nan and pa, his cousins, his friends - that ripple effect,” Mr Ratten said. “That crash changed everything. That crash is the reason I’m banding together for the TAC Road Safety Round because I want no one to experience what my family and sadly many other families have. This is probably why I would like to contribute to this round, it leaves a bit of Cooper's legacy.” Like clubs in the CHFL, the Bulldogs and Saints wore blue armbands in their Friday night match. Over 400,000 blue armbands were distributed for Victorian footballers, officials and supporters across the state.
Bacchus Marsh Little Athletics The 2022 Western Metro Region Cross-Country Carnival was held on Saturday at Lake Dewar, Myrniong. The Carnival was the qualifying event for the State Cross-Country Championships to be held on August 6. Athletes were represented from the following Centres: Altona, Bacchus Marsh, Brimbank, Corio, Geelong, Gisborne, Melton City, South Melbourne Districts, Surf Coast, Werribee and Williamstown. Bacchus Marsh was represented by 16 athletes. The blustery winds made it very tough for racing and the athletes struggled to warm up with the wind chill temperature of just 1 degree. All competitors must be commended for battling it out in less-than-ideal conditions. The Under 9 athletes, in their first Cross Country competition at Region level, were keen but a little anxious. Bacchus Marsh was represented by Joshua Askew, Angus Norman and Mitchell Tung, all competing in the Boys event over a 1.5km course. Joshua continued his consistent season form and placed 8th with Mitchell, overtaking a number of competitors in the home straight, finished strongly to place 12th while Angus, also battling it out in the later stages, finished in 14th place. Excellent runs from all boys saw them awarded the Under 9 bronze medal for the team event. Anni Clarke was our sole representative for the girls and produced a sensational run to place 4th for the Girls Under 9 event. The Under 10s were next on the schedule. All eyes were on Iyla Robinson, after producing some outstanding performances during the season and also having an exceptional run during the week at the State Schools Championships to gain selection in the Victorian team for the National Championships. Iyla got off to a quick start, maintaining a steady pace over the first kilometre. Iyla continued to gain momentum for the remainder of the race, finishing strongly to
take the win and be declared the Under 10 Region Champion. Meanwhile, our Under 10 boys – Zeke Horne, Logan Simons, James White and Ben Wooding all produced great runs with each boy determined to gain their best placing for the team. Zeke, Logan and James were awarded the silver team medal. The Open age athletes competed over a 3km distance, which consisted of two 1.5km loops. The girls were first to take on the course. Alexis Johnstone, in her first race at this level, got off to a very quick start and led the field out. Elise Cook showed her experience and sat back in the field. Alexis found the conditions tough but should be very proud of her first regional event placing 4th for the Under 13s. Elise gained a number of placings in the later stages of the race and was awarded the silver medal for the Girls Under 16s. The boys lined up next for their 3km event. Sam White continued his consistent season form and was rewarded with the gold medal and declared the Under 15 Region Champion. Next up were the Under 11s racing over 2kms. Dushan Baniluk, also in his first race at Region level, was patient as he sat in with the leading pack through the first kilometre. Dushan and his Werribee opponent opened up a decent lead, early in the final kilometre. Both boys battled it on over the final 200 metres, but Dushan was unable to hold on and crossed the finish line in 2nd place to claim the silver medal. Meanwhile, Myah Estlick competed in the same event and ran a superb race finishing in 7th place. The Under 12s were the final event for the day. Bacchus Marsh was represented by Lachlan Simons and Patrick Lovett. Lachlan is one of our muchimproved athletes and while he found the conditions testing, finished a creditable 8th while teammate Patrick finished in 12th place. This Saturday’s Cross Country meet will be held at Lady Northcote Camp, Glenmore.
BMLAC Region Cross Country representatives.
Iyla on her way to being Under 10 Region Champion
Sam White Under 15 Region Champion. Photos – submitted