The washed out game was to be played at Young on Saturday,  however, after a simple question, who is winning and what are the scores? players received a  big surprise,  Young’s Cherry Blossoms had won and couldn’t be beaten. Well thank you for keeping all informed. After some discussion it was decided a forfeit was the best result for Saturday, good one.

The meeting on Saturday was well attended,  thanks to those who came along and took part. New shirts were sized and ordered. President Kathy pointed out that Thursdays are social days for those who wish to play bowls, but our play day is Saturday.

Saturday evening saw six men and six women enjoy two games of triples. Very nice to have Sharon and Barry Bradtke join us, and thanks to Dave Hancock for evening the numbers.

This Saturday, December 15, is our Christmas /Presentation evening. We are combining with the men for the event. Cost is $10 pp which includes a sausage sizzle after bowls.

The bowls will commence at 6pm, please put your name on the nomination sheet on the men’s board and help make this a successful night. This is now also the women’s board and is where you will find all relevant information. Entries close today so please don't miss out.  R.D.

RACING with COL HODGES

Nictock has been announced as the “Horse Of The Year” for the 2017/2018 season at tracks covered by the Central Districts Racing Association ( CDRA ).The announcement and trophy presentation took place before a massive crowd at the Mudgee Cup meeting on Friday.

Trained at Mudgee by Cameron Crockett and owned by Ken Hardy, Ian Hardy and Denise Hardy from Sydney, Nictock, a five year old chestnut gelding by Nicconi from Ready To Rumba, has the impressive record of 7 wins and 4 placings from 16 starts.

In a spectacular start to the career Nictock won 7 races from the first 8 starts, the only defeat being when third at Royal Randwick.

Over the 2017/2018 season, Nictock had wins on metropolitan tracks at Canterbury and  Warwick Farm and finished second in a big field at a Saturday meeting at Rosehill.

Along with Nictock, finalists considered for the CDRA “Horse Of The Year” were the 2016/2017 winner Lake Lugarno trained at Forbes by Barry Molloy, Sharpe Hussler ( Cameron Crockett, Mudgee ), Schedule ( Mack Griffith, Mudgee ) and Our Dasha ( Derek Piper ( Mudgee ).

Greg Ryan from Dubbo has again won the CDRA Jockeys Premiership, Warwick Farm based Bjorn Baker is the CDRA Trainers Premiership winner for the second year in succession while Chris Williams formerly from Dubbo won the Apprentice Jockeys Premiership.

It was an emotional day for trainer Cameron Crockett as apart from accepting the 

CDRA “Horse Of The Year” trophy for Nictock he earlier won a race with The Warlord and later watched as the jockeys wore black armbands in the Mudgee Cup to honour his father the legendary horsebreaker and trainer Max Crockett who recently passed away at Mudgee.

In the final event at Mudgee, the 1200 metres Wild Oats Cup Day Showcase Sprint, Nictock ( Chad Lever,$3.80 ) humped the 62.5kg top weight when a gallant second to the Derek Piper, Mudgee trained Our Dasha ( Greg Ryan,$4.60 ) with Choice Larga ( Travis Wolfgram,$11 ) third, in a three way photo finish.

The Joe Pride, Warwick Farm trained Tahsin has now won the $50,000 Robert Oatley Vineyards Mudgee Cup ( 1600 metres ) twice in succession, ridden last year by Jeff Penza and in 2018 by Irish born apprentice Robbie Dolan.

After enjoying a nice run midfield on the rails, Tahsin ( $11 ) down the centre of the track finished best to account for the leader Appoint Percy ( Courtney Gravener,$5 ) and Missybeel ( Jean Van Overmeire,$9 )

First leg of a winning treble at Mudgee for Cowra jockey Mathew Cahill was Mornay, a debut maker in the 1100 metres Robert Oatley 3YO Maiden Showcase Plate.

Mornay is trained at Gosford by Luke Hilton the grandson of legendary Cowra trainer the late Viv Miller while Luke’s father is Bob Hilton from Cowra, a well known sports commentator and himself a former outstanding sportsman.

Raced by a syndicate from Cowra including several first time owners, the well named Mornay ( from the mare Lobster ) was bred and is part owned by the Pullen family, owners of Balance Accountants & Advisers, a prominent sponsor of Cowra Jockey Club. Matt Pullen and Luke Hilton went to school together.

Mornay ( $3.10 ) was given a good run behind the leaders by Mathew Cahill, and wore down Perigord ( Greg Ryan,$1.70 favourite ) to win by a half length with Moinda ( Jake Pracey-Holmes,$21 ) over three lengths away in third place.

What better way to spend a warm December Sunday, than competing at swimming carnival! That’s exactly what 39 of our local swimmers did on Sunday 9 December, taking part in the Grenfell Amateur Swimming Club Development Carnival. Our swimmers collectively swam 53 PB’s. There is nothing like a bit of extra competition in the water.

Congratulations to Wyatt Bruce, Maddison Martin, Noah Griffin, Savannah Bruce, Frank McMahon, Blaine Miles, Penny Hughes, Lucy Power, Jethro Fenton, Harry Robinson, Hamish Gibson, Ella Mitton, Genevieve McClelland, Daisy McMahon, Mikayla Hughes, Linda Hucker, Xanthe Johnson, Riley Aspin, Jaxon Greenaway, Cobie Griffin, Lily Holmes, Hugo Fenton, Henry Best, Chrystal Hucker, Skye McClelland and Niamh Mitton who all posted one or more PB’s. 

Keen to find out just how fast you swam? Head to grenfell.swimming.org.au and click on the purple “results” tab next to where you enter for club nights. You can search for yourself and check out all your times not just from our carnival, but from all of our club nights this season.

Our podium finishes were just as impressive. Congratulations to Wyatt Bruce, Layla White, Darcy Griffin, Maddison Martin, Noah Griffin, Savannah Bruce, Penny Hughes, Jethro Fenton, Skye McClelland, Genevieve McClelland, Mikayla Hughes, Linda Hucker, Sophie Berry, Sophie Hughes, Riley Aspin, Jaxon Greenaway, Brayden Hucker, Niamh Mitton, Lily Holmes, Tom Robinson, George Mitton, Chrystal Hucker, Ella Mitton, Cobie Griffin and Harry Robinson who all finished in the top three in one or more races. Well done to you all.

Our thanks to the parents and swimmers from surrounding clubs for joining us at our carnival. Thank you to our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who willingly helped out today as well as Darren and Lea Smith from Cowra Club and official Colin Touzell. Finally to our committee, well done. It was a terrific carnival, thoroughly enjoyed by all.

We have a bit of a break now until our next carnival which will be held at Bathurst on January 20, 2019. This is always a great carnival with some great racing. Entries close on January 11. Don’t forget about Mountains and Plains Championships which will be held at Lithgow on February 9 and 10, 2019. Details on this carnival as well as Brophy and Speedo carnival teams can be found at mountainsandplainsnsw.swimming.org.au

The last competition round of netball mixed spring competition was played last Thursday December 6 with the following results:

Goal Diggers 41 def  Wild Hogs 14

Sweaty Netty 28  def  T’s and B’s 6

NWA  21 def  Noice Garry 12

The point-score at the end of the competition is:

Goal   Diggers – 18

Last Minute – 16

Wild Hogs  – 16

Sweaty Netty – 12

Noice Garry  –  4

NWA  – 4

T’s and B’s  – 0

Semifinals draw for Thursday December 13: 

6.30pm Last Minute  v  Wild Hogs

7.30pm Goal Diggers v  Sweaty Netty

Everyone is welcome to come and watch the games. A second attempt to hold the AGM will be held on Wednesday December 19 at 7pm at the Bowling Club.  Your attendance is required for netball to continue next year.