*NIPPERS returns Jan 11th 2009.

*If you have indicated you are competing at the NSW Country Championships you will need to ring through to Leanne to confirm (before entries are processed electronically this Friday.) You will need to also have your $20 entry fee with you at Nippers on the 11th Jan.

*Board Training will begin again @ Lake Cathie – this Friday 9th Jan 4:45pm all welcome.

*Sprint/Relay Fitness training at Lake Cathie Oval with ‘Buck’ will commence again Tuesday 13th Jan. 5:30 pm.

DART NEWS

Best wishes to everyone for the New Year ahead.

Our Summer comp, begins again next Monday the 12th.

A grade at L.U.S.C. and

B grade at the N.H.B.C.

A social game of singles darts is starting at the Kendall Services & Citizens Club. Anyone interested, games will be on Saturday afternoon with names in by 12-30 to start at 1.00pm. Format to be decided. Anyone wanting more info, ring Tony H. on 65599424. I’m sure you all know it’s Elvis’s birthday on the 8th January, he would have been 74, hard to believe eh?

Bonny Hills Beach Hotel Social Golf

With many players away on holidays, hosting visitors or recovering from too much Christmas cheer, only 8 players fronted for the American Foursomes event last Sunday.

Nevertheless, fantastic weather, a beautiful Wauchope course and great company made it a very enjoyable day. Despite Roger Miles hitting most of his second shots from the trees, he and his partner, David Middlebrook, played well enough to have a comfortable win on the day. Roger drove consistently down the middle of the fairway making David’s task very easy. Their nett score was 52.5 for the 15 holes.

The runners-up were Tom Scrine and visitor Ryan Hodgson, with a 54. Ryan was playing his first game after a shoulder reconstruction, while Tom “has not been well lately.” Tom and Ryan putted very well during their rounds, although some would argue that they needed some good fortune on some holes.

These two groups had a lottery ticket on the result and, as a result, there was a huge amount of “sledging” happening. Roger was asked on several occasions, after leaving a putt well short; “Does your husband play?” The lottery ticket could have gone either way as it was always very tight. However, the look on Tom’s face after a poor final hole was disappointment personified. All his sledging had come to nothing and he and his partner had to pay for the lottery ticket. His demeanor deteriorated and when his dear wife joined him for lunch and suggested; “We have a free day tomorrow, where would you like to take me?” he replied; “Back to your mothers!”

Other winners on the day were: Ladies NTP (2nd shot) on the 7th – Roger Miles and David Middlebrook. Mens NTP (2nd shot) on the 7th Carol Middlebrook and Tony Carroll. This was due to the fact that Roger wrote his name on the Ladies marker. Mens Longest Drive went to Ryan Hodgson and the Ladies Longest Drive was won by Carol Middlebrook.

The 4th pair in attendance on the day was Robert Buchanan (welcome back Rob) and Allan Jackson. While Rob hit the ball incredibly well, the same cannot be said of his partner. While Jacko’s Handicap was a generous 21, the Captain suggested that it could have been 61 and Rob would still have had trouble carrying his partner.

The next event will be at Wauchope on January 18 and will be a Stableford Multiplier. All new players are welcome, with the tee off being at 8 am.

Queens Lake Sailing Club

Despite early rain and overcast sky eight boats fronted for the first heat of the Summer Pointscore.

The light easterly breeze of five to ten knots provided some extremely close and tactical sailing with windshifts altering the positions on several occasions.

The Hobie 16 sailed by Josh and Daniel Lance was easily first home but the light conditions did not suit the catamarans on handicap results.

The second reach on the first triangle saw a windshift to the SE make it extremely difficult for the the boats with spinnakers to head directly for the mark and allowed the smaller boats to gain a handy break. Despite this Cocktail steadily made up ground and was the first mono-hull to finish.

On handicap The Shark (Chris Watt) proved to be the most consistent and carefully covered the opposition's every move, finishing one and a quarter minutes ahead of Bitza (Ian Oxenford). Then came Bumsteer, Watt Fun, Cocktail, Hobie 16, Pendragon and Anything.

Next week should see our biggest fleet of the season with several boats returning after the Christmas-New Year break.

Sunday is the popular Manning Marathon with our club vying with PMSC and Taree in the second round of the Interclub Challenge.

Kendall Fishing Club

Our December weigh-in was held on Sunday December 14, 2008 with around 20 fishers in attendance. Some were unlucky and never found the fish co-operative but there were 72 fish weighed for a combined weight of 41 kilograms.

Dylan Baldry was the successful angler in the junior Beach Rock and Estuary section and Chris Hayward won the junior Deep Sea section with some nice snapper. Jenny O’Neill won the ladies, Allan Sandersan won the men’s section just from Mark O’Neill. Barry Sandersan was the winner of the veteran men’s section.

This weekend is our first outing for 2009 with fishing beginning 3.30pm Friday afternoon and the weigh-in being held at the club at 1.30pm on Sunday.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy New Year and the best of luck with your adventures on the water.

LUSC Social Golf report

Twenty one starters for a 2 man Ambrose on a glorious morning at Royal Kew saw the pairing of Phil Sanders and Uncle Al come up trumps. Lucky for Al as he was just booted from another group and got tangled up with another bloke who flunked basic maths. Runners-up to Ray and Ben Price (word has it Ray’s ball had a picture of Dennis Fitzgeralds head on it) who would have won but beat the ball to a pulp. As usual, Kev kept swatting flies with his clubs (commonly known as air swings), Riddo kept the wildlife on their toes, Dunny kept kicking his ball from under trees and Ted Stanfead finally had a score that beat his age. Good to see you still upright Ted.

NTP’s to Mark, Dunny, Trev and John, John also peppered the girls hole. Long Drives to Riddo and Mark. Slate fared really well considering he just got home from his 50th Birthday party. Pepe’s form from Coolum didn’t last and declined the $20 offered for his driver.

NAGA’s to Len Lane and Lew. No sign of Mick Manypromises or the builders helper. “Life Membership was awarded to Steve Slater meaning he can play for free any time he comes back and has a handicap of 38.” (Tell him he’s dreamin’!)

The Northern Correspondent.

Camden Haven

Dragon Boaters

Whilst many sports are winding down for Christmas and New Year members of the Camden Haven Dragon Boat Club have been hard at work training for their next Regatta at Tacoma on the Central Coast, this event will be followed by their participation in Chinese New Year Celebrations in February.

Meanwhile the local Australia Day celebrations are the centre of activities for January. We need a raft builder URGENTLY!!

All members are reminded that we have ongoing financial commitments and we are still collecting Norco milk bottle tops – collection spots are at Camden Haven Tyre Centre and at the boat cage. We were extremely lucky to have the value of our first collection $261.14 multiplied to $1044.56 by three generous local sponsors Susan Wade of MTA Travel, SG & DC Campbell of Campbell Transport, Wayne Poll of Camden Haven Tyre Centre and special support from Tony Lievore the Norco Area Manager and Gordon “Gordo” Wiegold our local Norco Supplier. A special thank you to each.

The Rotary Club of Laurieton has been extremely generous with their donation of a $2,000 cheque but we need all of members to be involved in fund raising activities. Paddling times are now 6.30 for 7.00 on the water Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, 2.30 for 3.00 on Thursdays – Sunday and Thursday have a second session following these times.

Should you wish to join us or have any questions please ring Lyn on 6559 9977 or Molly on 6559 5890.