Bart – We will not see his like again. The death of Cups King Bart Cummings marks the end of an era in Australian racing. While the sport of kings is littered with famous names, there is probably not another who has had a more profound effect on racing, the Australian public and of course the race that stops a nation, the Melbourne Cup. He is as synonymous with the Cup as the Roses and Flemington itself.
Tributes for the man that has helped shaped the legend that surrounds the Melbourne Cup continue to flow and rightly so.
I am sure all Australians whether once-a-year punters, serious punters or somewhere in between have their own memory of a Bart Cummings moment. Among others, one that will stay with me was the win of So You Think in the Cox Plate. Such a magnificent horse so magnificently presented and to watch the Cummins team go about their business as the media and public caravan carried on around them was a scene to behold. I guess also the news that the same thoroughbred had been sold to overseas connections on the eve of the Melbourne Cup just weeks later was to me a blow the great man did not deserve. But that is business and racing is after all a business.
What we have lost with the death of Cummings is the demise of another of the real characters of racing. People who had done it really tough (remarkably Cummings took two years to train his first winner). There was a measure of scaly and cunning wisdom in them- there had to be for them to survive and thrive early in their careers when racing was an industry not for the faint hearted. The characters whose essence was shaped by racing or racing shaped by their essence. Those people who could instinctively tell a good horse by merely looking at it and watching it walk. Who could say more in one line that most of us in a conversation.
Cummings was the master of the one-line quip, able to shoot down a stupid question with merely a glance from under those famous eyebrows. He has left the Australian racing industry and Australian public an immeasurable legacy.
And, of course, for the mug punters among us, we will not just be able to throw Bart’s horse into our multis just because.
If there is a great racecourse in the sky, there will be some tales told when the likes of Bart, T.J. Smith, George Hanlon and Colin Hayes sit down to chew the fat.
Thanks for the memories Bart. The first Tuesday in November will never be the same.
– Casey
TRIVIA TIME
THINK you are pretty good at Trivia and Sport’s Trivia, then come along to the Ballandean Hall on Saturday 12 September and see if you can beat the Rotary Quizz Master who is hard at work.
The Stanthorpe Rotary Club is holding a fund-raising Trivia night for Samantha Blaxland the Rotary A & G Ambassador. It is sure to be a great night with meals ($15) available from 6pm, and it is eyes down for quizzing from 7.30pm. There will be prizes for the winning team and pick a box prizes for all round winners, a lucky door and multi draw raffle and a bar operating. To nominate your team of six ($10pp) contact Samantha on 0431 427 201 or Casey 0438 813 942.
TRAGEDY FOR FORMER STANTHORPE CRICKETER
MANY in Warwick and Stanthorpe will remember Howard Manning as an extremely talented cricketer and a great bloke. I received the tragic news recently that Mathew Manning son of Howard and wife Judy had been drowned in a tragic accident in Darwin. The 33-year-old career soldier is believed to have slipped from a balcony into a swimming pool at his home in Darwin last week. We join Howard’s many former Stanthorpe team-mates and family in extending our sincere sympathy for their loss.
CATCHING – BILLY-CART FEVER
Have you caught it yet – the latest epidemic to hit the Granite Belt – Billy cart fever? It will be a case of back to the future in coming weeks as fathers and some mothers even some grandparents reconnect with their childhood and introduce their sons and daughters to that wonderful tradition of Billy cart racing. If you have been wondering about those strange noises coming from your neighbour’s garage late at night, put it down to “Billy cart fever”!
They are probably busily putting the finishing touches on the fastest, most original, ugliest or just plain best billycart on the Granite Belt.
“Billy cart fever” is alive and well and there are plenty of devotees convinced they can blitz the rest of the field in the two premier billy-cart events ready to roll in the southern Granite Belt in the coming weeks.
There is still time to tweak the performance of your prototype before the “Ballandean Billy Cart Bash” on Sunday 13 September. This event will be hotly contested and will be followed by “Billy carts on the Border” at Wallangarra on Saturday 17 October. The fun in Wallangarra will get underway about 8.30am. The race site is visible and easily accessible from the New England Highway adjacent to Lion’s Park which will be used for parking and a wide range of other activities on the day.
Refreshments and a barbecue will be available. There will also be a very appropriate display of vintage peddle cars provided by a local collector.
There are almost unlimited opportunities coming the way of any billycart tragic to “feed their fever”.
If you haven’t already done so, start building now, get your application/registration in, and join the fun and mayhem in Ballandean and Wallangarra. Further details are available from Brian: 07 4684 3079 or by emailing billycartsontheborder@gmail.com .
Let the fun begin as a whole new generation of kids get to enjoy the age-old thrill of Billy cart racing. For some of us, it will be an opportunity to indulge in memories of a childhood long gone; those gravel-rashed knees and elbows, mercurochrome and iodine and almighty busters in Ballandean.
BARRACLOUGH AND HINZE WRAP UP AUGUST
MEMBERS of the Stanthorpe golf club wrapped up August with an end-of-month medley 4BBB Stableford. The popular event sponsored by Howard and Sons was once again highly contested and there were some close scores returned by the big field. Dylan Barraclough and Ken Hinze combined for a best score of 50 points to win the event. Both players had a good round, contributing equally to the good score – mostly three pointers topped off by a massive five points from Hinze following a birdie at the seventh hole.
Also scoring well to take the runners-up spot was the father and daughter combination of Rob and Hannah Reeves. The pair both contributed to their overall score of 49 points but just couldn’t nail that elusive five pointer.
Minor prizes were awarded to Kev Rowling for his pin shot at 3/12 and Rob Reeves pin shot at 17. No ladies hit the green at 3/12 but Hannah Reeves held best approach at the ladies’ 17. Pro-pins were claimed by Aaron Simmers at 1/10, Fred Wharton at 5/14 and Rob Reeves at 9/18.
In the run down those with scores of 43 and better collected a ball each. The day wrapped up with a barbecue lunch and players would like to thank Margaret for her work.
Along with the start of spring and the new month comes the monthly medal and putting competition sponsored by Ian Pickering. Keith Barnett is in the starter’s box and players are reminded that tee off is now from the later time of 11.30am.
The men’s and ladies foursomes will be played on Sunday 13 September so now is the time to get a partner organised. The next round of the match play is due to be completed by 19 September. Also looming on the horizon is the Inglewood Open on Sunday 20 September and Richard’s bus is already full.
The roster for the starter’s box is looking a bit thin – organisers are hoping to have the next month filled, so if you are able to help, put up your hand.
SOUTHERN STARS BRING HOME ASHES
AUSTRALIA’S all-conquering Ladies Cricket team, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars earlier this week delivered what their male counterparts could not when they regained the Ashes with a match to spare. In the second of the T20 games played in Hove, the Aussie girls were restricted to a low total of 7/107 but some outstanding bowling with the new ball from Renee Farrell (3-17) and Ellyse Perry (2-13) cleaned up England’s top order. The hosts were bowled out for that magic Australian cricket figure of 87 in the final over.
The win wrapped up the Ashes for the girls which is played in an ODI, test and T20 format. The Southern Stars won the ODI series 2-1 ODI series win and followed that with a comprehensive victory in the one-off Test match. They needed just one win from the three T20 games to reclaim the Ashes for the first time since 2013. Young Australian captain Meg Lanning once again led the team magnificently. The public is warming to the ladies game and the success of this talented group. The game was televised live on free to air TV prior to the T20 Australia England men’s game which resulted in a five-run win for the Poms.
‘GARRA BOOK THEIR PLACE IN BRL GF
THE Stanthorpe Gremlins will host the Wallangarra Rams in the 2015 BR grand final this weekend after Wallangarra scored a gutsy win over their more-fancied rivals Tenterfield last weekend. Tenterfield have been notorious this season for their slow starts, but last weekend at Rugby League Park, they started the game well and had a handy 20-12 lead at half time despite losing their hooker Jake Kelly in the 20th minute with a dislocated knee.
In an exciting second half, Wallangarra hit back shortly after the break to narrow the score to 20-18. As play shifted from end to end, both sides scored tries and supporters were out of their seats on their feet.
Tenterfield clung to a 26-22 lead but with 20 minutes still on the clock, Wallangarra scored to draw level at 26 all and with the conversion led for the first time in the game. The Rams extended their lead to 34-26 but the Tigers were not going away and scored again to narrow the margin to 34-32. Despite their strong finish, the Tigers were not able to bridge the gap and Wallangarra on the back of some great play from the elusive Coedie Tandy and Matt Rouen booked their place in the grand final. It is a job well done for the Rams club who last year were a football basket case. The players and officials have done a fantastic job to turn the club around, and I would like to personally congratulate them on a job well done. Of course there is one more mountain to climb this weekend when they take on the Gremlins at Sullivan Oval. The Rams met and beat the Gremlins in their final fixture game two weeks ago and that win will give them confidence going into Saturday’s game. The Gremlins however will start short- priced favourites after a stellar season that has seen them take all before them. The Gremlins have all three teams in the grand final action this weekend.
The reserve grade will take on Tenterfield after the semi final was abandoned at half time due to lighting problems. The Tigers were leading at half time.
The action gets underway at 12.30pm with the Reserve Grade grand final to be followed by the Ladies League Tag final. The A Grade grand final is due to kick off at 3pm
GREMLINETTES HOME IN A NAILBITER
THE Stanthorpe ladies, the Gremlinettes stepped up last Saturday in Tenterfield to secure a last-minute win over the Ramettes and their place in the 2015 league tag grand final. It was a blow to the Wallangarra girls who led for most of the game, however, all honours are with the Stanthorpe girls who have really improved in the past few months. Some early mistakes from the Gremlinettes allowed the Wallangarra girls to skip away to a nice lead but the Stanthorpe players showed plenty of composure to fight back and grab a 14-12 lead. The tough match last Saturday is just the hit out the Stanthorpe girls needed to take on the undefeated Tigerettes in the grand final this weekend where they will be playing for the Casey O’Connor Cup. The Tigerettes have produced outstanding form again this season and will be tough to beat as they strive for back-to-back premierships.
HARRIS SCORES IN RRR
JESSE Harris did best of the 26 players in last week’s Red Rooster Rumble. A score of 22 gave Harris a two-point win over eventual runner-up Sean Morrison (20) who had to survive a count from quite a few players. Balls down the line went to Dale Derrick, Brett Donovan, Judy Lester, Ross Kingston and Phil Economidis also with 20 points and finally Leon Stickland with 19.
The pins went the way of Ross Kingston and Leon Strickland with no one on the 16th. A reminder that the Red Rooster Rumble will be on the front nine this week.
McKEEN IN GOOD FORM
A GROUP of 50 men turned out for the single stableford competition in Warwick on Saturday. Showing some good form, Gordon McKeen’s score of 43 was good enough to land him a win over runner-up Bill McKillop (41).
The rundowns went the way of Laurence King (40), Brendon Jones, David Craggs and Ross Kingston (38), Greg Sellick (37), Len Williams, Mick Payne and Peter Morrison (36). The pins went to Laurie King, Dion Phillips, Laurie King, Mal Galloway, Keith Farrell and Geoff Hinze.
Sunday saw another good field competing in the four-ball competition on the Warwick golf club’s patron Rodney MacDonald’s Day. Dion Phillips and Trish Roberts emerged as the winning combination with a score of 47 points. The winning combination finished a handy three points ahead of runners-up Don Warrener and Joely Singleton.
The ball rundown went to Pete Boney and Patsy McIntosh 43, Kath and Peter Morrison 43 and Tony and Majella Kahler with 42. Mr Fishing Eddie Kemp landed a score of 36 to win the single event.
Pins went to Stanthorpe golfer Hannah Reeves, Eddie Kemp, Michelle Wright and Tony Kahler.
This Saturday members will play for the Monthly Medal, and Sunday of course is Father’s Day. A reminder that all bookings can be made through the pro shop (4661 3664).
DUDGEON ON SONG
THE action out Inglewood way on the SSAA range was here and there – the fifth weekend of the month meant it was a free for all day however there was an Action Pistol competition with the Peter Jones Mark11 modified running target.
Stephanie Dudgeon was on song. Her scores good enough to force Peter Jones and Tom Donald into the minor placings.
There was one other positive result – in the ongoing building department – there are now two end walls on the pistol bays. Shotting the construction site out of the park
Things will return to normal this weekend – Sunday is a clay target day and the club is expecting a group of guest shooters from the USA which should make for an interesting competition.
BUSY WEEK FOR MALLET PLAYERS
ONLY a small group of association croquet players took advantage of the good conditions last week. Par Schnoor certainly made the most of the conditions, winning her game against Margaret Dickenson 26-13. Joy Newman and Heather Widderick teamed up to defeat Andrea Denkewitz and Jenny Tunbridge in a closely fought game. The final score 23 – 20. Denkewitz played well and had a break of three. Although beaten in the game, Turnbridge had one break of four.
With the return of some good weather, there was a good roll up at hoop runners golf croquet.
Eight players split into two groups of four playing doubles. All games were hotly contested with all players pulling out their best performances for some time.
In game one, the first group score was 13 – 12. Liz Ellway top-scored with seven hoops. The second group score was another close one final score 13 – 11. For the second consecutive week, Val Fancourt was the high achiever, top scoring and striking two “hole in one”.
In the second round of games, the first team scored 10 – 9. Bill Golding top scored. Judy Locke took the honours in the second team’s game top scoring with eight hoops. The result another close one 12-11.
Nine players contested gateball on Friday, and the results were very close with two drawn games. Whites won one game by a single point while Reds won the last game 16-8. The player of the day was Grace Howard who was in great form.
Plenty of major tournaments happening at the moment. The Australian Gateball Championships are being held at Wynnum this weekend. The championships are held every four years and 17 teams are competing. Three teams from China, one from New Zealand, will meet players from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
COWBOYS GALLOP AWAY WITH TITLE
THE Warwick Cowboys showed plenty of grit and determination when they upset Highfields at Fr Ranger Oval on Sunday. The win not only assured the A Grade side of a top-five finish and a place in the finals but handed them the club championship title for 2015.
The win comes on the back of captain coach Matt Gainey’s announcement that he will be hanging up his boots at the end of the season. It will be a fitting end to Gainey’s career if he can guide the Cowboys to what many would have seen at the start of the season as an unlikely win.
Gainey’s “A” grade charges had to do things the hard way on Sunday. They got off to a flyer, scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes and scooting out to a 10-nil lead. Highfields hit back after Warwick’s sizzling start and at half time led 20-18. The visitors extended their lead in the second half and with 15 minutes remaining looked to have a commanding lead with the scores at 34-18.
In sensational turn around, Warwick showed plenty of determination to reel in Highfields. Centre Joe Fuimaono was outstanding. He scored three tries in pressure cooker situation to hand the Cowboys a win, their top-five spot and the club championship. His performance drew nothing but praise. “Joey Fuimaono was just outstanding today. He scored four tries,“ Warwick captain-coach Matt Gainey said.
Warwick will now go into Saturday’s elimination semi-final against Dalby full of confidence. They have beaten all but one of the top five teams, minor premiers Wattles.
Warwick also had a win in the Under 18 and Reserve grade. Warwick C Grade will meet Gatton this weekend in a sudden death match.
WIN FOR PAGE
JULIE Page had a great win on Sunday at Stanthorpe Sporters to defeat runner-up Angelo Doorley. Run-downs went to Dominic Doorley and John Rawlings. Hannah Reeves had the Best Gross and took the Pin Shot on the 12th. Phil Zikan picked up the Pin shot at the 17 and a meat tray to boot. The Pro Pin went begging. Marg Locke was also seen exiting in the company of a meat tray.
Great to see some new blood joining the crew last Sunday morning. Tee off this weekend remains at the normal time of 8am-8.30am. A date for your golfing black book is 22 November – Lions A & G ambassador Amanda McCosker is holding a three ball 18 hole Ambrose golf day.
TOUR WRAP
THE Wanderers Cricket Tour wrapped recently and another Central Queensland tour is done and dusted. The cricket squad a balance of youth and experience completed their tour undefeated in the six games played and showcased some outstanding young talent on the fringes of representative careers.
The tour was an opportunity for several young players to state their case for higher honours, and there are several who have come under close scrutiny. Left hand opening bat Aryan Jain, who plays for Brisbane Souths, impressed throughout the tour and won the award Player of the Tour. Do not be surprised if you hear the name of this young bloke, who is of Indian heritage, bandied around in Bulls circles in the near future.
For several of the tourists, including the very experienced former Australian coach John Buchanan, there were several new experiences including the Blacall clay pan pitch.
Two of the talented young players Jack Beath and Grayson Jones taking part in the tour were sponsored by Queensland Cricket.
“This tour is a great opportunity to meet new people and receive some mentoring from experienced players. Before the Brisbane Grade Cricket competition starts, I’d like to score plenty of runs and improve my game,” Grayson said.
The Wanderers played for a special trophy in memory of Doug Gesch when they hit Barcaldine. ‘Geschy’ supported and co-ordinated the Wanderers games in Barcaldine for over 20 years. He was very passionate about all levels of cricket and tirelessly supported many local groups within his community.
