Health & Wellbeing News

BISA SPORTS WRAP – FROM RACQUETS TO THE ROAD

The Bus Institute Sporting Association (BISA) has organised a feast of activities over recent months.

First up, Iron Cove Bay and Callan Park provided the scenic backdrop for the Leichhardt Road Race in May. TJHB was well represented in the 8.3km course by Foad Khelghati and Jack Timbs (Waverley Depot), as well as Daniel Tiyce (Port Botany).

That same month, Ken Zhang (Randwick), Jang Won Lee (Waverley) and James Fang (Randwick) flew the flag for Region 9 at the BISA Table Tennis Competition held at Burwood Depot.

Meanwhile, cricket and road race enthusiast Daniel Tiyce (Port Botany) finished in 6th place with a time of 60 minutes and 10 seconds (placings adjusted for handicaps).

BISA events can only happen thanks to the goodwill and donated time of Institute members and officials, including Pedro Kirimoglu and Spiro Lianos. A highlight of the lunch held at Matraville RSL Club after the Port Botany Road Race was the conferring of life membership of Port Botany Institute on Steve Lambert. Now retired, Steve continues his almost four decades of high-profile involvement – especially in coordinating road races and tennis competitions.

Fast forward to mid-winter, and it was the Port Botany Institute’s turn to host the road race. Port Botany, Waverley and Randwick were among eight participating depots from across Sydney.

Already a keen tennis player, Foad Khelghati (Waverley) proved his versatility with his third placing over the 8.5km course in a time of 58 minutes and 20 seconds. Jack Timbs (Waverley), a regular basketball player, also made his mark on the event, finishing in 42 minutes and 40 seconds.

Also in late July, Randwick represented Region 9 at the BISA Snooker Tournament. Other competitors hailed from host Willoughby, plus Newcastle, Ryde, Kingsgrove, Burwood and Tempe.

After a full day of eliminations, the nail-biting best-of-three final was played out between Fei ‘Ivan’ Liu from Tempe and Rolland Beltran from Randwick. Both players battled hard and with intense concentration.

However, it was Ivan who pulled away in the final few minutes, potting the coloured balls without interruption. Congratulations to Rolland on his superb effort. He only took up snooker after becoming a bus operator in 2015.

In early September, the road race moved on to Randwick. Institute Secretary Dennis Kan, President Billy Sofyan, Treasurer John Kourtis, Sports Delegate Ivan Suarez and other members were kept busy throughout the day … coordinating with Operations officials, registering the runners, verifying the course, driving the staff transfer bus, preparing maps, cooking the barbecue and liaising with Randwick Bowling Club management.

After application of handicaps, second place went to Waverley’s fit and versatile Jang Won-Lee, who sported bib number 45. Lee completed the course in 39 minutes and 42 seconds (raw time). Also representing Waverley was Prem Gurung (in bib 4), and Emma Brown, who crossed the line first in bib 43.

Randwick’s competitors included Ian Thomas (bib 42), Elijah Mugo (bib 26) and, of course, much-loved veteran Elizabeth Gillard (bib 40).

Elizabeth Gillard has run for Randwick some 40 times in her 42-year career on the buses!

BISA thanks its generous sponsors for their support, including the Australian Mutual Bank and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU).

Congratulations to Region 9 in October, with Randwick Depot winning the ten-pin bowling held at Tenpin City at Lidcombe.

Competing were teams from Randwick, Port Botany, Brookvale, Leichhardt and Ryde.

Represented by Howard Baram, Per Eklof, Denis Jozic and Chad Barrett, Randwick was the high series winner with a score of 1,866. In second place was Leichhardt with a score of 1,600, followed by Ryde in third place with 1,548 points.

Moreover, Howard Baram from Randwick came second with a high series individual score of 491 (behind Leichhardt’s Ray Hill on 545).

Chad Barrett