Forbes sporting news | Forbes Irish bowls day, will it go ahead?

Regular player, no mater where the competition is conducted, is John O'Shannessy from Parkes who scored best with 27 points winning from Forbes' Garry Pymont next on 25 points.

Nearest the pins, 9th A grade Robert Lea (P), B grade Tom Edols (F), 18th A grade Garry Pymont (F), B grade Tom Delmenico (P). With 28 players (16 from Forbes and 12 Parkes) honours in the Mick Miller Shield were shared on 133 points each.

Ball sweep to 21 points. 24 points Niel Duncan (F), Nib Dziuba (P), 22 Allan Rees (F), Sunna Belley (P), Tom Delmenico (P), 21 Barry Shine (F), Tom Edols (F). In-house raffle winner Niel Duncan.

During presentations it was announced that a change has been made for coming weeks which is highlighted by dates in the monthly 18 competition. This starts on Thursday (March 19) with play at Cowra and not Parkes as programmed. Following 18 hole events will be, April 9 scheduled West Wyalong 18 holes at Condobolin followed by April 30 in Parkes.

On the local scene in the 12 hole Forbes/Parkes comps it will be Parkes on March 26 followed by Forbes on April 2.

It was also noted during presentations that players are not helping with course maintenance where pitch marks are not being repaired on the greens while on the fairways divots are not being filled.

Last Tuesday 'the neighbours' fought out top billings (due to their revised mid-week handicaps) with best Barry Shine on 30 points from John Smith on 27 points.

Last week 16 played while it is worth noting the social 12 holes on Tuesday is open to all, ball toss at 9.30am for playing partners.

For all information on golf in Forbes phone the Pro Shop on 6851 1554.

Barry Shine

We regrettably have to inform all womens bowls members that due to the unfolding covid-19 risks and regulations there will be no organised bowls until further notice this includes Association bowls, club championships, inter town bowls and social bowls.

We have a duty of care to our members and thank them for their continued support.

Glenys Ryan

Results golf croquet March 17

Thirty three players graced our courts for Golf Croquet. Only three players won their three games. They were John MacCullagh and Lorraine Todd and Lorraine Todd. Congratulations to Jenny Job. She has gradually improved her croquet over the last twelve months and it is good to see her win her three games for the first time.

There were a high number of close games to comment on. Some of which were:

Aussie croquet March 21

Today was our last official day for croquet due to the risks relating to the highly infectious Coronavirus.

There may still be a few members playing on the courts, maintaining social distancing recommendations.

On behalf of the President, Elvy Quirk and the committee we say stay safe and please follow government instructions. As the Prime Minister says, we will get through this catastrophe.

The winners of three games were:

Bob Murray, Roz Rennick, Kevin Rubie, Dorelle Scott, Tony Thomson and Barry White.

The closest scores on the day were:

Owners, in general, were unable to be trackside at the Orange meeting on Sunday due to the crowd restrictions brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic, however some of the connections of Happy Partner, Gobelin and Vaquero were there to cheer them home from the grandstand.

Licensed persons with direct involvement with runners at the meeting were permitted to attend and there was plenty of excitement when Happy Partner won the the feature event the 1600 metres Buckley's Carpet Court Orange Gold Cup Prelude.

Sharon Jeffries from Parkes is the trainer and part owner of Happy Partner, her daughter Tiffany Jeffries was the jockey and Tiffany's husband Alex Proust was the strapper while his father in law Dale Jeffries is the stable foreman and trackwork rider.

A $31 outsider, Happy Partner steadily made ground to be ready to challenge when heads turned for home and after reaching the lead responded to strong riding from Tiffany Jeffries to win by a head from Athena's Voice ( Tony Cavallo, $4.60 ) with the $2.80 favourite Also Cool ( Mathew Cahill ) finishing third.

Nathan Smith as a part owner of Vaquero was also present as he is the licensed strapper for the horse which is trained at Orange by his wife Alison Smith.

Given a good run behind the leaders by Tony Cavallo, Vaquero ( $26 ) wore down Larynx ( Brandon Griffiths, $9 ) to win by a head with Indiana Wolf ( Tiffany Jeffries, $41 ) a fast finishing third in the 1400 metres Towac Legends Class 2 Handicap.

Mathew Cahill, fresh from his Albury Cup win on $41 outsider Spunlago during the week, won the Central West Trailers Maiden Plate ( 1000 metres ) at Orange on Gobelin which is trained at Cowra by his sister Kathryn Cahill who is also a part owner with her mother, Margaret Cahill.

Gobelin( $4.80 ) after a good battle in the straight edged past the $1.60 favourite Little Jerry ( James Innes Jnr. ) to score by a short neck with a length to third placed Alpine Royal ( Rasit Yetimova, $41 ).

Next meeting scheduled at Towac Park is the Orange Gold Cup on Friday, April 17.

Meanwhile meetings this week are scheduled for Narromine on Thursday and Warren on Saturday.

Colin Hodges