Mid North Coast Girls Surfriders regional representative surfers, from left: Jade Gaul, Eliza Hopwood, Elly Muir, Mahala Hopwood and Chelsea Green.

MID North Coast Girls Surfriders’ regional representatives Elly Muir and Chelsea Green are pumped and preparing to compete at the state surfing titles at Maroubra Beach in Sydney in July.
At the recent regional titles at Rainbow Beach, Muir finished second in the under-18 shortboard division and was first in the under-18 school surfing.
Green took honours in the under-12 shortboard division, as well as the under-16 school surfing.
Both girls competed at the Mid North Coast Girls Surfriders monthly competition on Sunday in four to five-feet offshore conditions – the perfect environment to enhance their surfing prowess.
Muir finished first in the open shortboard, while Green was a close second on a countback.
Muir and Green have an eventful time leading up to the state titles.
They will compete in the Bird Rock Memorial on Saturday and Sunday at Rainbow Beach and will back up in the Lennox Head all-girls teams event on the June long weekend.
The duo are passionate and committed to surfing and are expected to do well at the state titles.

Sam McNeill was in hot form for the Port Macquarie Pirates on Saturday. Picture: www.nashyspix.com

PORT Macquarie will go into Saturday’s cross-town clash against Hastings Valley in fine form after a big win on the weekend.
The Pirates dominated on home turf to beat Kempsey 50-0 in the Upper Mid North Coast Rugby clash at Stuart Park.
The result was never in doubt as Port Macquarie led 19-0 at half-time before finishing the job.
Jonnie Hoy put on an exhibition with three tries, while Chris Geary bagged two.
Others to cross the line were Korie Paio, Adam Greenaway and skipper Tim Farnsworth.
Sam McNeill made four conversions, while Geary put the last conversion between the posts.
Hoy was voted best afield by his peers, with McNeill and Jeremy Brigden the others to shine in a dominant team performance.
In the reserve grade, Kepsey defeated the Pirates 33-19, while Port Macquarie’s under-16 defeated the Cannonballs 50-25.
The under-18 match was deferred.
All roads now lead to the clash between Hastings Valley and Port Macquarie this Saturday.
The Vikings will be fresh from a bye, but face a big task against the in-form Pirates.

SCOREBOARD
First Grade
Port Macquarie 50 d Kempsey 0. Coffs Harbour 28 d Southern Cross University 0. Hastings Valley bye.
Reserve Grade
Kempsey 33 d Port Macquarie 19. Southern Cross University 5 d Coffs Harbour 0. Bowraville 24 d Hastings Valley 21.
Under 18
Matches deferred.
Under 16
Port Macquarie 50 d Kempsey 25. Southern Cross University 19 d Coffs Harbour 17. Hastings Valley bye.

PORT Macquarie High School’s annual cross-country was held in perfect weather conditions last Thursday at Wayne Richards Park.
With an increased number of entrants this year, competition was tough, but many of the age champions retained their crowns from last year.
New enrolment Amber Jones took out the 16-years girls’ event, while Zoe Archer and Shayden Schrader have been cross-country champion in their age groups every year since Year 7.

Girls’ age champions: Kearyn Eastwell (12), Allana Butlin (13), Chianna Rumble-Sala (14), Tia Tyler (15), Amber Jones (16), Zoe Archer (17), Talei Wilson (18).

Boys’ age champions: Samet Portakaldali (12), Jesse Taylor (13), Sam Harris (14), Shayden Schrader (15), Brodie Christensen (16), Dale Thomas (17), Aston Howard-Chen (18).

Brodie Christensen.

Zoe Archer.

Dale Thomas.

Talei Wilson.

Amber Jones and Samet Portakaldali.

Allana Butlin.

Ron Dixon is the envy of golfers nationwide after shooting his age for the 100th time. Picture: www.nashyspix.com

By MATT NICHOLLS

RON Dixon is not your average competition golfer.
The 91-year-old “shot his age” for the 100th time at Wauchope last week – more than 15 years after initially achieving the feat.
Shooting your age is regarded as a badge of honour among golfers and most spend their lifetime trying to achieve it.
But Mr Dixon, who only took up competition golf when he retired, has his peers in awe on the fairways.
“All the boys made a big fuss of it when I shot my age for the first time. It was my 75th birthday and I shot 74,” he said.
“They said it was a great achievement, so I kept a record every time I did it.”
Mr Dixon plays weekly in the Wauchope Veterans men’s competition on Tuesdays, but it took him four months to go from 99 to 100.
“It is something I’m proud of,” Mr Dixon said.
Born in Tempe, which now borders the Sydney Airport, Mr Dixon spent much of his childhood in Carlton, helping his mother look after his young siblings.
In his early teens he would wake up at 1am to work on the milk carts.
Mr Dixon also spent a short time working for the post office before joining the Army in the midst of World War II.
Between 1940 and 1942, he served overseas, spending time in Egypt, Syria and Port Moresby.
“It was an eye-opening experience,” Mr Dixon said.
When his duty was complete, Mr Dixon returned briefly to the post office before working for the government.
He married Margorie in 1946 and they are still happily married now.
“We’ve got 11 grandkids and 13 and a half great grandkids … one is on the way,” Mr Dixon said with a smile.
As for golf, there are no immediate plans to stop playing.
“I still enjoy playing. I hurt my shoulder a little while back and I’ve lost most of my strength as a result, but I’ll keep playing for a while yet,” he said.

Luke Ackroyd was in fine kicking form. Pictures: www.nashyspix.com

DEFENCE is still an issue for Port City, but the Breakers are still undefeated in the Group 3 rugby league competition.
In front of a good crowd at Regional Stadium on Saturday, the Breakers led from start to finish against a determined Taree outfit.
Port City led 28-10 at half-time and went on to win 46-30.
While the result was never in doubt, lapses in concentration hurt the Breakers’ scoreboard dominance.
With captain-coach Josh Hyde nursing a broken hand, others had to step up for the home team.
Mitch Fowler got things rolling with an early try and had plenty of support from the likes of James Ahoy, Dean Rogerson and Tristram Morris.
Luke Ackroyd had his kicking boots on, converting seven goals for the Breakers.
Port City will need to keep its form rolling, with a crunch game against rivals Wauchope on Saturday.
The Blues go into the match on the back of a strong 34-26 win against Old Bar Beach Priates.

James Ahoy in action for the Breakers.

Tony Abbott has signalled his intentions to race in next year’s Ironman Australia.

By MATT NICHOLLS

ON THE back of another successful Ironman Australia event, Port Macquarie is buzzing at the thought of having the Prime Minister compete next year.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has signalled his intentions to compete at Port Macquarie next year and, should the polls be accurate, would become the first world leader to compete in an Ironman event.
Mr Abbott, 55, drew wide criticism in 2010 when he entered the Port Macquarie race, but finished in 14 hours – three hours before the cut-off.
The Coalition leader said his participation at Port Macquarie would be subject to the demands of the prime ministerial schedule.
Meanwhile, thousands lined the streets of the city on Sunday to cheer on the athletes.
Champions Luke Bell and Rebecca Hoschke turned adversity to victory to claim breakthrough wins.
Injury forced both to pull out during the bike leg of the Ironman Asia Pacific Championship in Melbourne last month. Rather than waste all that training, both decided to front up in Port Macquarie.
It proved a fortuitous decision, as they both went on to record their maiden Ironman victories.
The top spot on the podium was the only thing missing from Bell’s trophy cabinet that contains 19 Iron Man 70.3 wins and four Ironman runner-up finishes.
“It’s been a little over 10 years, so it’s nice to be able to tick it off, but it makes it more special that it’s here at Ironman Australia,” Bell said.
“This is where it all started, so it’s only fitting that I achieved it here. I do a lot of races around the world, but it’s always nicer to win one at home with your family and friends here.”
Bell dominated his competition leading out of the water and racing solo to the finish line in a time of 8:30.22. American Patrick Evoe was second in 8:42.57 with Australian Luke Whitmore rounding out the podium in 9:03.28.
For Hoschke, the win came after a stellar 2012 saw her finish third at Ironman Western Australia.
Leanne Southwell led the pro women out of the water, and held onto the lead until she was caught by race favourite Nicole Ward and fellow Aussies Hoschke and Ange Castle.
By the end of the bike leg, Hoschke and Castle had separated themselves from the rest of the field.
Hoschke held onto a two minute lead for first half of the run.
Castle, competing in her first Ironman as a professional, battled hard all day but couldn’t reduce the gap.
Ward rounded out the podium in third place.
“Two days ago I woke up sick and didn’t think I could race today, but I’m so glad I did – the locals and the support from the crowd is amazing,” she said.
“I loved every minute of the bike today, I felt strong, and I loved that course.”
Meanwhile, the crowds were on their feet when blind athlete Nathan Johnston completed his first Ironman.
His pilot, the equally remarkable Glenn Goric, finished his 21st Ironman Australia. They completed their outstanding achievement in 14:12.21.
Sebastian Terry ticked off two items from his much-publicised 100 Bucket List. Earlier in the week he handed over a cheque for $100,000 to Camp Quality.
On Sunday he also completed an Ironman, one of the hardest things he has done. Competing in the 30-34 years category, Terry finished in 12:19.26.
Sydney’s Dave Ross celebrated his 27th finish at Ironman Australia.
The Randwick legend has completed more Ironman Australia races than anyone else.
The 63-year-old got home in 14:48.34 in an excellent effort.

PICTURES COURTESY www.nashyspix.com

Family and friends of Clint Rowlings cheer him on.

And they’re off on the opening leg.

A cyclist gives it his all.

Men’s winner Luke Bell.

Women’s winner Rebecca Hoschke.

Third place … Luke Witmore.

Support when under pressure.

Geoff Geary leads the Pirates’ second grade team to victory against Bowraville. Picture: www.nashyspix.com

By MATT NICHOLLS

HASTINGS Valley Vikings consolodated second spot on the Upper Mid North Coast rugby union table with a 27-10 win against Southern Cross University on Saturday.
Playing on their home ground for the first time this season, the Vikings were in control for most of the game.
Coach Andrew Kable said his side was still improving and would be better prepared for their next match against the Port Macquarie Pirates.
“There’s no doubt the Pirates are the benchmark of the competition, but we feel we were under prepared the first time we played them,” he said.
“I’m not saying we’ll win, but we’ll be much more competitive.”
In round two, the Pirates hammered Hastings Valley 55-6 at Stuart Park.
The Vikings will have a bye this Saturday before the Oxley Oval clash on May 18.
“It will be a good test to see how much we’ve improved,” Kable said.
The Vikings’ inexperienced backline will be relied upon for much of the drive against the Pirates and showed encouraging signs on Saturday.
“I thought Jesse Gleeson at fullback was one of our best,” Kable said.
“He has a rugby league background and is still learning, but he was good on Saturday.”
Despite more numbers across the board, the visiting Marlins never looked like beating Hastings Valley.
“I thought we were in control for most of the game,” Kable said.
Co-coach Adam McCormack was again missing in action.
He was part of the NSW Country Cockatoos side that drew 24-all with QLD Country in Townsville.
Kable said it unlikely McCormack would return play for the Vikings in the cross-town clash against the Pirates.
“While he is still playing well for NSW Country, he’ll be missing for us for another few weeks,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the Upper Mid North Coast reserve grade, the Pirates enjoyed a narrow win against Bowraville.
At Stuart Park, the home team defeated the Goannas 15-10.
The Pirates’ senior XV enjoyed a bye.

Wayne Morrison competing in the Bird Rock Memorial Surf Classic last year Picture: SAM PERCIVAL

SURFERS will next week gather to pay tribute to their past peers as part of the 33rd Bird Rock Memorial Surf Classic.
The Hastings Valley has always been involved in the beach and surf culture.
It started as early as the 1900s, with reports of some taking out surf craft and riding waves off the Port Macquarie bar.
Port Macquarie and Camden Haven boardriders have always been known as great surfers that held their own in competition and free surfing.
After well-known young surfer Mark Edwards lost his life, a contest was dedicated to him and that contest has progressed into what it is today.
The Bird Rock Memorial Surf Classic will be held next week, with the final to be held on Sunday, 19 May.
Many of the original surfers from the early days of the classic will be in town for the event.
While it’s a serious competition, it’s used as a tribute to all local surfers.
Last year’s classic was won by Port Macquarie legend Mick Campbell, who dedicated the win to his brother Glen, who died earlier that year.
Entries for this year’s Bird Rock Memorial Surf Classic close next Thursday.