Sparring with a welterweight champion

By Samantha Elley

The young boxers at Maddog Boxing Gym had an worthwhile visit from Australian Welterweight professional boxing champion, Joely Boy Taylor just recently.

“He is from Melbourne and he came up to stay with us at the Maddog gym,” said Maddog owner, Scott Smith.

“He has defended his title once and has another defence match on March 23 on the Gold Coast.”

JB Taylor in the middle

Meanwhile, Scott said Taylor had driven all the way from Melbourne to help prepare their boys for the Featherweight Title fight on December 2, which one of their cohort, Sunny McLean of Woodburn, will be fighting in.

“(The visit) gave all our fighters the opportunity to step in the ring with a current real champion,” said Scott.

“It’s an honour to have him here.

JB Taylor sparring in the ring

“He trains out of the world famous Shadows Boxing Gym in Eltham, Melbourne and is coached by pro boxing coach, Rick Breese, who is originally from Lennox Head and now owns the gym in Melbourne.”

Scott has been working for Breese and Taylor for eight years and was very pleased that the champion boxer could help him in his own gym.

“He drove for two days then jumped out of his car and straight into sparring everyone at Maddog,” said Scott.

For more sports news, click here.

SYDNEY SPRINTCAR DRIVERS DOMINATE AT LISMORE SPEEDWAY

By Dennis Newlyn

Sydney Sprintcar competitor Jessie Attard drove to a superb victory in the “Hoedown at the Showground” 25-lap feature race at Castrol Lismore Speedway, Saturday night, November 18.

Sydney drivers dominated the top three main event placings after Sam Walsh finished second and Daniel Sayre was placed third.

However, it was Attard’s night.

He posted his initial feature win and the emotion overflowed when he unbuckled from the driver’s seat of his high horsepower 410 Sprintcar at the start/finish line after the race.

Lismore Speedway Sprintcar main event top three: Winner Jessie Attard (centre) with runner-up Sam Walsh (left) and third-placed Daniel Sayre. Photo: Tony Powell.

“A  lot of work has gone into this win,” he said choked on words as the momentous moment overflowed with emotion.

“A lot of people made this possible and I could not have got it done it without them. It’s (the main event win) now off my shoulders.”

Attard drove a near-perfect race as he staved off Walsh’s full-on pursuit. At one point they ran close in testing lapped traffic, but Attard kept his cool and maintained his advantage. He posted the fastest lap time of the race when he clocked 11.668 seconds for an estimated speed of 110.5 mph near mid-distance.

Walsh had set up the suspension especially to handle the tight confines of the Lismore Showground bull ring, but admitted after the race, the car was not at its best.

“We got beaten by a better car tonight and congratulations to Jessie,” a gracious Walsh said.

“We were really battling tonight. We spent all night trying to keep the front wheels on the ground,” he explained in relation to the continual suspension adjustments.

Daniel Sayre made a late charge into third after following Brody Appleby for most of the race.

JESSIE ATTARD – Lismore Speedway – November 18, 2023. Photo by Tony Powell.

“The traffic was pretty hectic out there trying to get through the lapped cars,” Sayre admitted.

Local Sprintcar stars were out of luck after Tony Bridge posted the best result with a ninth in the feature race.

The only incident involved Kobi Wright who caused a red light near the end of the race when he crashed upside down into the fence, however he was uninjured.

Other main event winners were: Boyd Chaffey (Formula 500s), Charlie Brown (Formula 500 Juniors), Matt Gordon (Legend Cars), Nathan Gordon (Production Sedans), Luke Manttan (Pro Sprints), Jacob Jolley (Wingless Sprints).

V8 DIRT MODIFIED MR MODIFIED SERIES – DECEMBER 26

Next fixture at Castrol Lismore Speedway will be the annual Boxing Night spectacular featuring the Mr Modified Series opening round.

For more sports news, click here.

Centaur Primary School’s Remarkable Year: Victories in Netball and Touch Teams

Centaur Primary School‘s netball and touch teams have had an outstanding year, achieving remarkable success in various competitions, showcasing their dedication, teamwork, and determination. The girls’ outstanding achievements have not only made their school proud but have also left an indelible mark in the world of New South Wales sports.

The Centaur Primary School Netball Team made an impressive mark in the New South Wales Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) Knockout competition this year. Out of over 800 schools that entered the competition, the Centaur girls emerged as one of the top four teams in the state. Their remarkable journey led them to Wollongong on Friday, September 22nd, where they ultimately secured a well-deserved second-place finish, competing against a strong Bateau Bay school.

Their incredible success in this competition is a testament to the team’s unwavering commitment to excellence and their impressive skills on the netball court.

Centaur Primary School’s Touch Football Team.

Not stopping at their netball triumph, the same group of girls from Centaur Primary School also excelled in the NSW PSSA Touch Football Knockout competition. They secured a spot among the top eight teams in the state, a remarkable feat considering the fierce competition they faced. Their journey led them to Canterbury on October 23rd, where they competed against the highly skilled Orange Primary School team in the quarterfinals. Although they faced a tough challenge and lost 5-1, the Centaur girls displayed incredible determination and sportsmanship. Orange Primary School went on to win the competition.

In a subsequent game against Batemans Bay Primary School, the Centaur girls fought hard and came out victorious with a score of 5-4, ultimately earning them a fifth-place finish in the state. Out of 405 girls’ teams that initially entered the PSSA knockout competition, this achievement is a testament to their resilience and commitment to success.

The success story doesn’t end there. The Centaur Primary School netball team also participated in the All Schools Netball Competition organised by NSW Netball. This competition featured a diverse range of schools, including private, Catholic, public, and independent institutions. The Centaur girls were declared Far North Champions and had the opportunity to compete in the top eight at Sydney Olympic Park on November 7th.

Centaur Primary School’s Netball Team.

In a series of fiercely contested matches, the Centaur girls displayed their dominance on the court, remaining undefeated as they headed into the grand final. In a thrilling showdown, they faced off against Bateau Bay Public School, the same team that had beaten them in the PSSA knockout competition earlier in the year.

The final was an incredible match characterised by skill, sportsmanship, and determination. The Centaur girls showed remarkable strength across the entire court, ultimately securing victory with a final score of 17-14. Chantelle Zammit was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the championship, championship with an inspiring shooting percentage throughout the seven games.

Centaur Primary School’s netball and touch teams have shown that success is a product of hard work, dedication, and an unyielding spirit. Their remarkable achievements in these competitions highlight the school’s commitment to fostering talent and excellence in sports. The Centaur community and all of New South Wales should take pride in the outstanding achievements of these young athletes, who have proven that with passion and perseverance, anything is possible in the world of sports.

For more sports news, click here.