Results Round 6 March 18

Albion Warriors 6 defeated 69ers 0

Makcrete 5 defeated Albatross 1

Royal 4 defeated Critters 3

Cricket Club 6 defeated Criterion Heroes 0

Congratulations to The Henry Lawson High School swimmers who competed at Western Region swimming trials last Thursday.

Cheered on by their supporters, the swimmers had a lot of top ten finishes and there is now a large group who have qualified to compete at the Combined High Schools Swimming Championships from 1-3 April in Sydney.

Well done to our individual swimmers Mikayla Hughes, Niamh Mitton and Tom Robinson on their selection in individual events.

Mikayla Hughes - 2nd 100m freestyle and breaststroke and 3rd 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle.

Niamh Mitton - 2nd 100m breaststroke.

Tom Robinson - 1st 50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle and 200m freestyle.

Congratulations to our relay teams on their results:

1st Girls 13 years 200m freestyle relay - Mikayka Hughes, Xanthe Johnson, Sophie Berry and Sophie Hughes.

2nd Boys 16 years 200m freestyle relay - Jaxon Greenaway, Riley Aspin, Angus Troth and Oscar Schaefer.

2nd Boys 17-19 years 200m freestyle and medley relays - Tom Robinson, George Mitton, Hugo Fenton and Angus Kelly.

Well done and best of luck to everyone heading to state.

The Grenfell Tennis Club held a meeting on Monday night March 23 and it was decided to cancel all tennis activities until further notice.

Due to the government guidelines and the safety of our members we thought this was the best action.

We would like to thank all members for their understanding and hope to be back to normal in a few months.

Please follow the government guidelines and stay safe.

Regards,

Tennis Club committee

Australia has pulled out of this year's Tokyo Olympics as the NRL and the A-League begrudgingly suspended its seasons amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Monday, the NRL, rugby union and netball became the latest Australian sports to cease as the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said this year's Tokyo Games are untenable.

Australia joined Canada in deciding not to send a team to an Olympics this year.

The AOC said it was impossible to assemble a team for the Tokyo Games scheduled to start on July 24.

"It's clear the Games can't be held in July," Australia's team chef de mission Ian Chesterman said.

Instead, the AOC told its athletes to prepare for a 2021 Games, believing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has no choice but to postpone the sporting showpiece.

The IOC is forming contingency plans and will make a decision within a month, though cancelling the Games entirely is not being considered.

Meanwhile, the NRL reluctantly suspended its season indefinitely in a move which threatens the competition's financial future.

"Our pandemic expert ... has said due to the rapid rate of infection, we can no longer guarantee the safety of our players to continue to play," Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys said.

"Accordingly we are suspending the season.

"We will and always consider the health of our players before anything else and we had no other option."

Soccer's governing body, FFA, is yet to scrap its season despite new travel restrictions in Queensland effectively closing the state's borders and fresh travel and social edicts in New Zealand which essentially shut down the country.

The FFA cancelled an A-League game scheduled for Monday night ahead of Tuesday's announcement which appears an inevitable halting of the A-League season.

Wellington Phoenix, in a 14-day isolation period in Sydney, remain the tipping point - the club reportedly fearing it would be locked out of NZ if they did not return by mid-Wednesday, when the nation's stricter lockdown commences.

Also on Monday, Rugby Australia (RA) postponed a planned domestic competition and the Super Netball season was put off until at least July.

RA delayed the start of its planned domestic competition featuring the four Australian Super Rugby clubs plus the Western Force until at least May.

The makeshift competition had been proposed to start on April 3 but RA chief executive Raelene Castle said that was now unattainable.

And Netball Australia announced the start of the Super Netball season would be postponed until at least June 30 - it had been due to begin on May 2.

The developments came as the AFL told 80 per cent of the organisation's staff they would be stood down from next Monday until at least May 31 when their season was hoped to resume.

Casual staff would be released from their roles, AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said.

"Our clubs are facing the same challenges as head office," he said in a statement.

"We will continue to work with them on finalising an operating model during this temporary suspension period."

Pony Club Association NSW State Executive has been closely monitoring the situation with respect to COVID-19 and has worked to support the measures implemented by the government and health authorities to keep the community healthy at this time. National Cabinet restrictions now include social sporting activities, an update was received today from the Acting Sports Minister Dr Geoff Lee MP who advised that the public health orders should now be applied to our sport.

Pony Club NSW therefore directs clubs and zones to cancel or postpone all Pony Club activity/events until further notice effective immediately, this includes competitions, camps, rallies, schools, committee meetings or meetings of any type that require face to face contact.

We strongly encourage clubs to seek online ways to continue certificate work, lessons or competitions with members during this suspension of activity by using online conference calling or video posting to private social media groups.

Online video conferencing options include products such as Microsoft Teams (free version), Google Hangout, Zoom (some free options currently available) and SLACK, further information and options will be provided to clubs and zones shortly.

Members are encouraged to continue to ride their horses at home and Pony Club Australia and Pony Club NSW is working to develop some online videos and tools for our members to add to the Government initiatives which will become available shortly.

Pony Club NSW State Executive and Staff thank you for your understanding in this difficult time, please all stay safe.

On behalf of the State Executive Committee

Following the announcement of further restrictions by the Prime Minister overnight concerning the containment of the COVID-19 virus which will come into effect at midnight tonight, Golf NSW after discussion the Office of Sport - NSW Government, can confirm NSW golf clubs can continue golfing operations provided spatial/social distancing regulations are met.

Professional shops are also able to service members and their golfing needs, provided spatial/social distancing regulations are adhered to in regard to both staff and customers.

Clubhouse operations are to remain closed; However, club amenities such as toilets/restrooms may be accessed, provided spatial/social distancing regulations are adhered to.

The regulations allowing clubs to offer takeaway food and drinks remain unchanged, as long as they are consumed off-premise, and in line with spatial/social distancing regulations.

In light of the above, let's work together to ensure the play of golf continues through these tough times.