ENTHUSIASM and persistence from Julie was instrumental in getting John to Walcha to play his 600^th course on sandgreens which he played his first ever round on as an 11-year-old on the Clermont course in Queensland. John reckons he has only played on half-a-dozen sandgreen tracks in the past 72 years.

LAST Saturday, John competed in the Walcha Veterans Open, playing alongside another couple of “old blokes”, John Mann and Max Holstien. The trio tallied an incredible 255 years of age between them with both “Ming” and Max 86 years young, while visitor John was the spring chicken at 83 years.

LAST weekend, John played in all three opens off a handicap of 18 and has been down to single figures of three in 1955. He has played in an Australian Open at Gailes in Brisbane where he missed the halfway mark cut, and has also competed in three Queensland Opens where he survived the four rounds on each occasion.

THE Oxley Darts Club held their annual presentation night at the bowling club recently where the Apsley Arms Hotel team consisting of Chris Watts, Bernard Lynch, Neil Dark, John Bell, Jarryd Bird, Adam Dark, Glenn Olrich, Tim Baumer and Vince Costigan won both the cup and shield rounds.

THE “hole-in-one” of darts – 180 badges – were presented to Peter Demurtas and his RSL Gunners team-mate Matt Allan who picked up two badges. Chris Watts was the only other spearthrower to hit the maximum 180 during the year.

MEN’S champion was Chris Watts, runner-up Drew Bird, doubles champions Matt Allen and Michael Stackman, runners-up Charlie Brown and Andrew McGuffog, triples champions Chris Watts, Bernardo Lynch and Glenn Olrich, runners-up Charlie Brown, Matt Allen and Michael Stackman. Ladies champion was Leanne Presnell, runner-up Noni Kasch.

HIGHEST peg-out went to Tim Baumer on 120 from Glenno Olrich 117 and Michael Stackman 105. Most 100s or over was won by Chris Watts 75 from Charlie Brown 40 and Matty Allen 40.

NOT sure if it has happened in Walcha limited overs cricket, let alone in twenty/20. Last Saturday, Uralla batsman Nick Endacott and Michael Boyd put on a 200-run plus opening partnership against Colts who were a bit short on numbers at the time.

WITH just two deliveries remaining in their innings, Uralla were 0/203, with Nick on 103 and Mick on 85 before Cameron Little re-arranged Nick’s furniture and then had Cameron Wood caught by Cooper Boyd next ball.

IT all comes down to the final round of the Turton Cup to determine the winners as there is no final this season, just first past the post. If Uralla and Round Swamp both win on Saturday, percentages will be called to sort out the situation as both teams are level on competition points at the moment. If a countback is called for, let’s just say Swamp are currently in the driver’s seat.

BIG Wigs of the Week – Nick Endacott 103, Mick Boyd 85 n.o., Ben France 68 n.o., Adrian Walsh 34 n.o., Ben Cross 28 n.o., Cameron Little 26, Stephen Haslem 24, Clint Lyon 4/17, Andrew Fuller 3/9, Luke Wellings 2/7, Cam Wood 2/19, Simon Rafferty 2/5.

URALLA and Round Swamp are current co-leaders of the Walcha Cricket competition after they accounted for colts and Kentucky respectively last Saturday at the Park.

Uralla openers Nick Endacott and new recruit Michael Boyd put on an opening partnership of 203 runs before Endacott was bowled by Cameron Little with the second-last delivery of their alloted 20 overs.

Endacott made 103, Boyd finished unbeaten on 85 while Cameron Wood was caught by Cooper boyd for a golden duck on the last ball of the Uralla innings.

Left-armer Little took 2/31 and was the only Colts bowler to meet with success.

Fielding with nine players didn’t help the Colts’ cause, neither did batting two players short.

Colts were in more trouble than “Speed Gordon” at 6/28 before Little and Cooper Boyd put on a seventh wicket partnership of 36, of which Little scored 26.

Ed Blomfield was the only other Colts batsman to reach double figures with 10 while Boyd remained 8 not out.

Opener Andrew Fuller was Uralla’s most successful bowler, snaring 3/9 off his four overs. Cameron Wood took 2/17 and Rafferty 2/5.

At John Oxley Sportsground, Swamp took 14 overs to pass the assignment of 103 runs Kentucky had set them. Kentucky were in trouble 7/36 before Adrian Walsh and Stephen Haslem added a bit of starch to the total. Walsh finished unconquered on 34 runs, while Haslem contributed 24.

Clint Lyon captured 4/17, Luke Wellings 2/7, Liam Brennan 2/18.

Swamp lost two wickets in two overs before recovering from 2/17 to reach their total with the loss of another wicket.

Opener Ben France belted an unbeaten 68 runs. Openers Beau Abraham and Aaron Johnson were the only wicket-takers for Kentucky.