GOLF
KEN DANCEY & MARION COWLAND
PENOLA’S Trevor Williams is the 2022 Merv Williams (no relation!) Veteran’s Trophy winner – his prize named in honour of his late and dear, long-time friend.
The trophy is sponsored by Shirley Williams, in honour of her late husband and club supporter, Mark Davis.
Merv Williams was a dedicated Casterton clubman, greens committee chairman and arguably the greatest supporter of veterans competition golf.
A sunny day and impeccable fairways saw 47 players from across the district and two cross-border neighbours hit the Casterton Golf Course to contest this year’s event.
Penola’s Williams won in countback from Parklands’ (Hamilton) Bruce Taylor, 41 points.
The A Grade trophy also went to countback, with Tony O’Connor taking the win on 40 points, from Shane Heaps.
Bruce Taylor took out the B Grade prize on 41 points, with runner-up Ann Dickenson on 38 points.
Nearest to the pins went to Trevor Williams on the 2nd, John Raymond on the 8th, Chris Marchant on the 13th and Peter Richards (who also let everyone know that he got the birdie) on the 17th; second shot on the 9th was won by Steve Hindson.
“The course was once again presented in the best condition, thanks to greens chairman, Jesse Smith and greenskeeper, Darren Hulm,” Casterton captain, Ken Dancey said.
“And our ladies again provided a splendid feed after the game.
“We thank Shirley and Mark for their continued support of this day, which has now been running for seven years.
Women’s Summer Cup
THE women played the final two rounds of the Summer Cup on February 2 and 9, with Dot Norris and Marion Cowland taking out the rounds.
The cup is played over six rounds with points accumulated over the summer season.
The person with the most points wins the Jill Crozier Memorial Trophy at the end of the competition.
There are three very close contenders, so the final two weeks will determine the winner – to be announced next week.
On February 2, Dot Norris took out the trophy round with nett 41 2/3, second was Marg Martin with 42 and third was Marion Cowland with 42 1/3.
The winner of the putting competition was Sharon McGrath with 15 putts
Norris also took out the 18-holes competition, with 103-32-72, on a countback from Marg Martin with 99-27-72.
Nearest the pins: 2nd - Marg Martin, 8th - Sharon McGrath, 13th - Denise Gill, 17th - Denise Gill.
Longest putt on the 9th - Sharon McGrath.
After running third the week before, Marion Cowland’s three-point gain earned her the trophy win with nett 39 1/3, with runner-up Fran Malone on 43 and equal-third Shirley Koch and Michele Radford, with 44 1/3.
The winner of the putting competition was Michele Radford with 15 putts, while Fran Malone took out the 18-holes on 110-45-65 and runner-up Marion Cowland with 93-25-68.
Nearest the pins: 2nd - Marg Martin, 8th - Marg Ferguson, 13th - Fran Malone, 17th - Marg Ferguson.
Longest putt on the 9th - Shirley Koch.
Wednesday men’s competition
THE day started with 14 players on Wednesday, but we lost a couple on the way as they had to attend a funeral during the afternoon.
Winner was Roy McCallum with 39 points from Neville Wombwell (also on 39) in a countback.
Nearest the pins: Neville Lee - 2nd, Bandu - 8th, Ken Bibby – 13th, with Peter Kilpatrick winning the second shot on the 9th.
LITTLE ATHS
CLEO HEADED FOR STATES
CLEO Longhurst is heading to the Victorian State Track and Field Championships, after a gold-medal performance at the Little Athletics Western Country Region Track and Field Carnival.
Longhurst and three of her teammates from Casterton Little Athletics Centre competed in the weekend’s carnival over two days in Ballarat, bringing home a swag of personal best performance and medals, between them.
The centre’s Jo Patton said the carnivals were held in each of the state’s seven Little Athletics regions and open to all registered athletes in the Under 9 to Under 16 age groups.
“The athletes can choose up to five events in which to compete spread over two days of competition,” Patton said.
“Fifteen centres were in attendance from our region, which included towns from Swan Hill to Portland and across to host centre Ballarat - a huge number of athletes involved.”
She said the Casterton athletes’ preparation was less than ideal, as the centre’s return to competition following the Christmas holiday break had been delayed by two weeks, so far, due to issues outside of its control.
“Needless to say, the girls were a little nervous in attending such a large event, having no preparation in our weekly competition in the lead-up and relied on their spirit and determination to get them through,” Patton said.
“Coming away with a huge haul of eight medals is a testament to their abilities.”
In her last year competing as a Little Athlete in the Under 16 girls age group, Madeline Patton made the most of her final appearance at junior regional competition level, running a personal best 3:07.30 in the final of the 800 metres – her only event of the carnival – to take out the silver medal.
Cleo’s big sister, Indi Longhurst, also hit the records trail, making personal bests and taking home medals in three of her four events in the Under 15 girls’ competition.
Indi came out firing with her very first attempt in the long jump final, her 3.99 metres keeping her securely in the silver medal position.
That medal was joined by another silver in the 400 metres final where she crossed the line in 69.36 seconds and a bronze in the 200 metres, where only the top three runners recorded times under the 30-second mark.
In the Under 14 girls, Jess Mibus took on a massive workload of five events over two days and carried her consistent results from home to the regional arena, recording personal bests in four of her five events.
Mibus secured the silver medal with her first throw in the discus – a massive 16.58 metres – while her 1.3-metre leap in the high jump and impressive dash in the 80 metre hurdles, saw her take home bronze in those events.
As Casterton’s youngest athlete, competing in the Under 10 age group, Cleo Longhurst showed great resilience in the 70 and 100 metre track events, lining up against some extremely quick competition, but it was in her final event for the weekend where her skills truly shone.
Cleo jumped clear rounds in the high jump to be one of just three athletes remaining in the final after the 1.0-metre mark.
At 1.02 metres, Swan Hill’s Eve Murray bowed out with three unsuccessful attempts, while both Cleo and Warrnambool’s Miranda Jansz jumped clear at that height and again at 1.04 metres.
The girls provided a nail-biter at 1.06 metres, with both making two unsuccessful attempts, before Cleo’s third run saw her clear the bar, earning the gold medal and a place at the State Track and Field Championships in Melbourne.
“Congratulations Cleo on an outstanding effort!” Jo Patton said.
“As always, all our athletes showed amazing courage knowing that they are competing against athletes who often have personal coaches, training schedules, eating plans and first-class facilities.
“Yet despite this, they put themselves out there to simply ‘have a go’ and we applaud them for that attitude. “We thank them and their families for representing us so well on such a big stage and encourage every single athlete to consider having a go when the next opportunity comes around - the experience is well worth the effort.”
TENNIS
Carapook takes another two scalps to claim top of the table
SUZIE NIEWAND
CARAPOOK’S on-court success continued in rounds nine and 10 of Casterton and District Tennis, with 11 and 14-game wins, respectively.
Coleraine took a round nine hit, however, with no answers for third-placed Nareen seeing the team drop from the top of the ladder, on percentage.
ROUND 9: Carapook def Sandford Red 35 games to 24: O. Edge-M. Cowland d A. O'Connell-J. Carlin 6-2, J. McArlein-R. Newell d H. Gill-S. Niewand 7-6, O. Edge-J. McArlein lt A. O'Connell-H. Gill 4-6, M. Cowland-R. Newell d J. Carlin-S. Niewand 6-1, O. Edge-R. Newell d A. O'Connell-S. Niewand 6-2, M. Cowland-J. McArlein lt J. Carlin-H. Gill 6-7. Catholic def Gritjurk 29-22: M. Crowle-G. Johnson lt O. McClure-A. Williamson 2-6, P. Kelly-l. Beauglehall d K. Humphries-R. Paton 6-2, M. Crowle-P. Kelly d O. McClure-K. Humphries 7-5, G. Johnson-L. Beauglehall d A. Williamson-R. Paton 6-2, M- Crowle-L. Beauglehall lt O. McClure-R. Paton 2-6, G. Johnson-P. Kelly d A. Williamson-K. Humphries 6-1. Konong def Sandford White 27-22: A. Munro-R. Iredell d A. Rees-R. Brown 6-2, B. Munro-J. McKenry lt T. Matthews-L. Matthews 2-6, A. Munr0-B. Munro d A. Rees-T. Matthews 6-2, R. Iredell-J. McKenry d R. Brown-L. Matthews 6-4, A. Munro-J. McKenry d A. Rees-L. Matthews 6-2, R. Iredell-B. Munro lt R. Brown-T. Matthews 1-6. Coleraine lost to Nareen 21-39: H. Robertson-C. Robinson lt A. Waters-A. Harvey 6-7, E. Warnock-S. Armstrong lt J. Staude-M. Leeming 5-7, H. Robertson-S. Warnock lt A. Waters-J. Staude 3-6, C. Robinson-E. Warnock lt A. Harvey-M. Leeming 0-6, H. Robertson-E. Warnock lt A. Waters-M. Leeming 1-6, C. Robinson-S. Armstrong lt A. Harvey-J. Staude 6-7.
ROUND 10 : Nareen def Catholic 33 games to 16: A. Waters-A. Harvey d M. Crowle-P. Kelly 6-2, N. Schembri-P. Waters d J. Hausler-L. Beauglehall 6-4, A. Waters-N. Schembri d M. Crowle-J. Hausler 6-3, A. Harvey-P. Waters d P. Kelly-L. Beauglehall 6-0, A. Waters-P. Waters d M. Crowle-L. Beauglehall 6-1, A. Harvey-N. Schenbri lt P. Kelly-J. Hausler 3-6. Sandford Red lost to Coleraine 11-36: A. O'Connell-T. Knight lt R. Currie-H. Robertson 1-6, H. Gill-S. Niewand lt E. Warnock-S. Armstrong 0-6, A. O'Connell-H. Gill lt R. Currie-E. Warnock 2-6, T. Knight-S. Niewand lt H. Robertson-S. Armstrong 3-6, A. O'Connell-S. Niewand lt R. Currie-S. Armstrong 3-6, T. Knight-H. Gill lt H. Robertson-E. Warnock 2-6. Gritjurk lost to Sandford White 24-32: O. McClure-A. Lambert d A. Rees-R. Brown 6-4, K. Humphries-R. Paton lt T. Matthews-L. Matthews 1-6, O. McClure-K. Humphries lt A. Rees-T. Matthews 1-6, A. Lambert-R. Paton lt R. Brown-L. Matthews 2-6, O. McClure-R. Paton d A. Rees-L. Matthews 7-5, A. Lambert-K. Humphries d R. Brown-T. Matthews 7-5. Konong lost to Carapook 19-33: A. Munro-B. Munro lt O. Edge-M. Cowland 4-6, J. McKenry-M. Munro lt B. Tierney-J. McArlein 3-6, A. Munro-J. McKenry lt O. Edge-B. Tierney 3-6, B. Munro-M. Munro lt M. Cowland-J. McArlein 1-6, A. Munro-M. Munro d O. Edge-J. McArlein 6-3, B. Munro-J. McKenry lt M. Cowland-B. Tierney 2-6.
LADDER: Carapook 32 (138%), Coleraine 32 (129%), Nareen 24, Sandford White 20 (101%), Catholic 20 (98%), Konong 20 (91%), Gritjurk 8, Sandford Red 4.
CRICKET - HDCA
Maroons maul Pumas
C GRADE: THE Pumas’ tough season continued with a loss to Casterton District at Dunkeld Turf. The home side won the toss and bowled first, as Chris Hutchins (41) anchored the innings from the outset. Pierce Kelly (18) and Wayne Kerr (28) also contributed, helping the Maroons to 9-141 after 40 overs. Hayden Phillips was the best of the Grampians bowlers, finishing with three wickets. It was a tough outing for the home side in the run chase, as only Mick Alderman (10) reached double digits. The innings also included six ducks, as the Pumas were bowled out for 32 inside 24 overs. Sam Craig and Kerr each finished with three wickets, as the Maroons recorded a comfortable victory.
Batting sets up big win
D GRADE: IT was another comfortable win for Pigeon Ponds over St Andrew’s in HDCA D Grade action. Ponds batted first after losing the toss and despite the early wicket of skipper, Alex Hodgson (10), Josh Grant and Andrew Colgan combined to put on 84 runs for the second wicket before Colgan fell for 41 to Karl Dwyer, taking the catch off his own bowling. Grant eventually fell for a well-made 82, but the runs continued to flow late in the innings, as the visitors reached 4-236 after 40 overs. Batting has been the Drews’ biggest weakness and a score that big was always going to be tough to chase against a strong bowling attack. Troy Chisholm and Matt Galloway were both back in the sheds without scoring, as Ponds grabbed the early momentum. Dwyer impressed at number three with 36, while Cody Glenn chipped in with 22. Ponds were well in control of the game, but David Simpson’s knock of 20 tried to see the home team through to stumps. Jack Dwyer finished with 24-not-out from 66 balls, as the Drews were eventually bowled out for 152 with seven balls remaining in the innings. Colgan claimed three wickets for the visitors.
Tarrington d. Casterton District
THE Maroons travelled to Tarrington Recreation Reserve and were sent to the crease after losing the toss. Dave Humphries (15) and Mark Penny (12) both fell cheaply, as Josh Jones tried to take a more patient approach at number three. He faced 48 balls for his 18, while Oliver Foster also managed 18, which proved to be the highest score of the innings. The Maroons struggled to grab the momentum back for the rest of the innings, as regular wickets proved too much to overcome for the visitors. Casterton District eventually reached 8-103 after its 40 overs. Thomas Boots grabbed three wickets for the Tigers to be the standout bowler. The target looked to be relatively straightforward for the home side, as Dylan Bensch looked positive at the crease and almost single-handedly helped the team pass the target. The opener was eventually brought undone for 72, while fellow opening batsman, Ashton Kearney, added 19. An even contribution from the middle order saw the Tigers pass the total and go on to reach 5-128 at stumps. Jones was the pick of the Casterton District bowlers, grabbing two wickets.
Dartmoor d. Byaduk on forfeit
**CASTERTON District had the bye in both A Grade Women’s and Men’s Competitions.
