Sulky snippets
Not too many trots trainers would call a pacer who has won 22 races ‘’a battler’’ but that’s how Stanhope horseman Gary Pekin describes his stable star Cresco Threepeat.
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At last week’s Shepparton trots meeting Cresco Threepeat, trained and driven by Pekin, hoisted his 22nd win at his 158th start which also have produced 35 minor placings.
Pekin said Cresco Threepeat had won the most races of any pacer or trotter he had trained, but would not venture any further than saying he is “nice horse, a good earner, but no champion’’.
By Blissfull and now a nine-year-old, Cresco Threepeat is owned and bred by Pekin’s wife Jane and before last week’s win had not won for 13 starts with his previous win also on the Shepparton track in December last year.
Ten of his wins in fact have been on the Shepparton track.
Pekin said his previous most prolific winner was a pacer called Goodtime Dancer who won 19 races.
But Goodtime Dancer was a much better pacer than Cresco Threepeat according to Pekin.
· Kyabram trainer Kristy Butler has produced smart pacer Cussy Bro for another win, handling his rivals comfortably at last week’s Bendigo meeting.
The Ultimate Machette four-year-old gelding had won at his previous start at Shepparton on June 3 and has now banked six wins and seven minor placings from 26 starts with his latest win producing a PB mile rate of 1:54.0 for the 1650m trip.
He has been driven to both wins by Stanhope reinsman Mark Pitt who had another good week in the sulky culminating with a win last Saturday night at Melton on the Emma Stewart-trained pacer Sweet Bella.
Merrigum pool competition
Merrigum and district pool competition presentation day for the 2025 winter competition was held at Tongala Hotel recently.
The season’s winning teams get a cue each, along with the perpetual shield and smaller plaque for the hotel to keep.
Single and doubles cues were presented to players who won the most singles or doubles games for the season.
Results
Teams: A-grade: Tongala Green (captain Phil Blain, Adam Neumann, Brayden Maloney, Lee Turner, McKenzie Cowley, Shayne Bordignon) d GV Hotel 5-1. B-grade: GV Hotel (captain Barry Benjamin, Peter Finn, Colin Finn, Matt Sleeth, Mia Parkola, Sean Collins, Simon Anderson) d Tat Top 5-4.
Singles: A-grade men: Alan Cole (Royal Mail Hotel) and Greg Dalziel (GV Hotel), 12 wins each. A-grade women: Vanessa Sleeth (GV Hotel), eight wins. B-grade, men: Barry Benjamin (GV Hotel), 13 wins. B-grade women: Megan Young (Lagozzino's Tatura Top Hotel), nine wins.
Doubles: A-grade men: Greg Dalziel (GV Hotel), 11 wins. B-grade men: Ali Doolan (Hurley's Hotel), Frank Lagozzino (Lagozzino's Tatura Top Hotel), Garry Schubach (Hurley's Hotel), James Bicknell (Undera Hotel), Nate Schubach (Hurley's Hotel), 11 wins each. A-grade women: Vanessa Sleeth (GV Hotel), 10 wins. B-grade women: Megan Young (Lagozzino's Tatura Top Hotel), Mia Parkola (GV Hotel), six wins each.
KNA
Kyabram Netball Association results from round seven, played on Saturday, June 21.
Nine-and-under Go
Kyabram Astros 16 d Kyabram Flames 12. Best on court: Madison S; incentive: Layla McL. Best on court: Sophie F; incentive: Darcy R.
Kyabram Meteors 9 lost to Mooroopna Purple 17. Best on court: Matilda W; incentive: Zarli B.
Kyabram Lunars 4 lost to St Luke's Doves 6. Best on court: Milla P; incentive: Mia B
11-and-under
Kyabram Stars 7 d Mooroopna Orange 4. Best on court: Ruby G; incentive: Mia B.
Kyabram Rockets 17 d Orrvale Giants 4. Best on court: Yyana F; incentive: Mjay E.
Kyabram Comets 4 lost to Tatura Tsunami 12. Best on court: Zara G; incentive: Lilly S
13-and-under Primary
Kyabram Gold 23 d Euroa 5 5. Best on court: Jordyn O; incentive: Marley V.
Kyabram Green 21 lost to Tatura Blizzard 27. Best on court: Sophia C; incentive: Georgia W.
Kyabram Suns 23 d St Brendan's Lightning 20. Best on court: Sophie C; incentive: Addison H.
13-and-under Secondary
Kyabram Diamonds 36 d Mooroopna Violet 21. Best on court: Heidi McI; incentive: Luana H.
Kyabram Emeralds 40 d Bourchier Eagles 31. Best on court: Lillian B; incentive: Iris C.
Kyabram Opals 5 lost to GSSC Geckos 29. Best on court: Winter T; incentive: Taylor H.
Parkland Golf Club
Midweek
Although bitterly cold, it did not stop the field of 24 players turning up for the Stableford event played last Tuesday, June 17.
The best score of the day was achieved by Kyra Clark (32) with 39 points to convincingly win C-grade along with being named the winner of round 3 of the Roma Fraser Memorial Brooch and now qualifies for the final to be played at a later date. Di Bruhn (29) was C-grade runner-up with 34 points.
Heather Gunstone (14) took top spot in A-grade carding 33 points while Leesa Barnes (25) who continues to play good consistent golf in recent weeks won B-grade with 34 points.
Balls were awarded to each of the following: Leonie McMaster-Smith 33, Trudie PLumb 33, Beverly Howard 31 and Sue Turnbull 31.
Faye Glover won nearest the pin on the first while Trudie Plumb won the jackpot for nearest on the 18th with her second shot.
Weekend
High scores were the order of the day for the stroke event at Parkland on Saturday.
In bitterly cold conditions Lynne McLean won the women’s A-grade with 83-21-62. Helen Caldwell won B-grade with 86-27-59. C-grade was won by Bev McLay with 89-30-59. Aaron Baker won the men’s A-grade with 69-11-58. Paul McInnes was runner-up with 72-13-59. Peter Fraser collected the B-grade trophy with 71-17-54. Runner-up was Steve Piggott on 74-14-60.
Jake Tooley was the best for the event with 77-24-53. Runner-up was Cameron Willis 73-19-54. Third went to Mitchell Smith 73-18-55.
Ball winners were Rosemary Britton, Pauline Laidlaw, Bev Howard, Chris Harmer, Max Jenkins, Andrew Sierakowski, Scott McLennan, Peter Price and Steve Walsh.
Nearest the pins went to Faye Glover on the ninth, while Mick Crompton on the 18th. Sam Skilling took the nearest on the first.
It was full on for the three-man Ambrose last Wednesday.
With some of the club’s guns playing, competition was going to be spirited.
One could hear across the course as birdies were the priority.
Brenton Sheppard, Billy Ryan and Paul Newman set the pace with a 46.17 net to claim the trophies.
Not far away was Matthew Jean and Tim and Nathan Richards who finished on 46.67 for second and that was after a countback from Andrew Phillips, Luca Campanelli and Sam Attardi who were third.
Ball winners were Ken Risstrom, Bob Troy and Max Jenkins, Phil Cooper, Laurie Steward and Bill Murphy both from Mooroopna.
The last group was Geoff Coad, David Kuiper and Vin Sleeth.
Nearest the pins went to Doug Cox on the 18th sponsored by Brett Cox Electrical.
Les Mitchell was on the 15th for the Clive Coventry Funerals voucher. Paul Price took the spoils on the first. Bob Troy was nearest on the Ky Pizza and Pasta ninth. Sam Skilling claimed the voucher on the 14th.
Bingo: The rolling jackpot this week $900 in 55 calls: The bonus Jackpot is $1450 in 53 calls : The Rolling Star will be worth $750.
Coming events: Saturday men’s and women’s stableford. Eclectic No 4.12pm-12.30pm.
Tuesday: Women’s stableford 9.30am-10am.
Wednesday: Men’s stroke 9.30am-10am.
Valley View Golf Club
Midweek
Winter golf is well and truly with us.
A small field contested last Wednesday’s stroke round in cold and challenging conditions at Valley View.
Leanne Busch led the field again, taking the win and the A-grade scratch with 93-16-77. Wanda Hacon was runner-up on a countback.
Vonnie Morris won the B-grade scratch with 105 off the stick and also claimed nearest the pin.
Weekend
The wintry conditions continue to tame our golfers with another week of below par scores.
On Saturday Stephen Browne took out A-grade with 35 points, while Tony Williams was the B-grade winner with 34 points.
It was left to Von Morris to post the best score of the day, 36 points, as she took out the ladies’ event with 36 points.
The runners-up scores were tepid at best with Alex Kydd the A-grade runner up with 33 points in a countback from Pooch McHale, while Paul Dickens won a countback for B-grade with 31 points from John Burrows.
Leanne Busch was the ladies’ runner-up with 34 points.
Ball winners were Pooch McHale and Jenni Bauerle (each with 33 points) along with Mick Gallivan, John Burrows, Sean McDonell and Jan McHale all with 31 points.
Nearest the pin winners were Alex Kydd (A-grade 3rd), Corey Browne (B-grade 3rd) and Bud Thorsen who won the voucher on the 15th on his way to a regulation par on that hole.
It was a similar scenario on Tuesday with Pooch McHale the A-grade winner with 34 points from Michael Pell with 33 points.
It was big day for the number three with a three-way countback in B-grade which Lindsay Tatterson won from runner-up Kevin Wootten and ball comp winner John Burrows with all three scoring 33 points.
Mick Gallivan and Gavon Armstrong were the remaining ball comp winners, each with 32 points, while Michael Pell (3rd) and Daryl Harrison (15th) were nearest the pin trophy winners.
Next week’s comp is a stableford event with a twist.
In addition to the usual individual stableford comp, there will be a mystery four-ball best-ball stableford comp with a secret draw for partners just to add a little something to the day.
— Scoop
MERRIGUM GOLF CLUB
Saturday was a replica of the previous week, cold, foggy, but clearing into a pleasant winter day.
Those who chose to hit off early would have had a slow trip to the course as visibility was down to almost zero until later in the morning.
The event was the Cliff Pini Memorial 4BBB par, ironically par being a format of the game that Cliff hated with a passion until he had an absolute blinder of a round during the tournament that perhaps changed his mind on par as a game.
Not too many members would remember Cliff as almost 26 years have passed since his death in an accident on the way home from golf.
Cliff was a big part of the club and it is fitting that he has a day in his honour.
The event was closely contested, with a countback required after two pairs finished with +5.
James Campbell and Craig Doherty got the nod after the countback, having had a better result over the closing holes.
The unlucky runners-up were the lost soul Geoff Kirk and last-minute partner Cory Berghofer who obviously also finished with +5.
Both pairs no doubt had the chance to break the tie and avoid a countback to save the captain some work, however, couldn’t.
Cory did get the consolation of winning the two nearest the pins that went off, the ninth and the jackpot 12th.
The chook shed challenge was a tie, so jackpots to this week.
This coming Saturday’s event is stroke for the Privilege Cup and a place in the next Tiger Cup playoff.
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