In the social bowls John Watson and Keith MacRae had a comfortable win over Gordon Dickson and Trevor Harvey, Graham Barby and Greg Howlett 20 Ray Jones and Arthur Corbett 11, (Greg continued his good form from the previous weekend in the singles to help lead all the way to the win).

Bob Freeman and Colin Hayward 24 Colin Mudie Steve Mills 23.  Bob and Colin led all the way most of the match but Colin and Steve led 23 - 22 on the twentieth end then Bob and Colin picked up two shots of last end to win the game. Ian Simpson  and Geoff Freeman 29 defeated John Carr and John Ward 20.  Ian and Geoff led all the way throughout this game.

Championships: Minor Singles Greg Huggins 31 Jim Blake 20. Greg held the upper hand on the scoreboard in the early stages, but after 29 ends Jim was only behind  29 to 27. Over the next four ends Greg picked up four shots to win the game.

In the  Minor Pairs Rob Irving and Guy Ellery 25 defeated Martin Tighe and Gary McPhee 20. While Rob and Guy led all the way,  the score of the second last end was 20 to 23. Trophy winners on the day were Greg Huggins and marker  Pat Cooney with the runners up being the pairs game between Graham Barby  and Greg Howlett.

Another Singles Championship match played on Saturday resulted in Guy Ellery 31 defeating Steve "Nimo" Mills 26. Guy led early until the eleventh end when the scores were 9 all. The score fluctuated closely with Nimo leading until Guy went one in front on the  twenty-ninth end  and went on to win a close game.

There was also  four games on social bowls on Saturday. In the pairs Keith MacRae & John Ward 23 defeated Brenda Davies and Rhona Went 21 on the last end.

Martin Tighe and Mark Dwyer 24 defeated Bruce Orr and Colin Mudie 15. While Martin and Mark were behind on the score board in the early exchanges scores were level on the seventh, ninth ends.

They gradually wore the opposition down and took control of the game in the last half. Greg Huggins and Greg Howlett were defeated by John Watson and Ray Jones 21.

While John and Ray led all the way the two Greg's came home with wind in their sails and won five of the last seven ends to just fall  short. In the triples game Alan Affleck Rob Irving John Davies 23 defeated Gordon Dickson John Carr Brett Frame 18.

The winners had the better of the score board in the early stages , when the losers took control in the last half but just fell short on the scoreboard. Winners for the day were Keith MacRae and John  Ward. The runners up were the singles match of  Guy Ellery and marker Bernie Mitchell.

On Sunday, July 14  social bowlers played two games pairs and one game of triples. Brenda Davies Guy Ellery Brett Frame 19 defeated Cherie Frame John Davies Colin Hayward 14.

In the pairs Gwenda Carty Arthur Freeman Corbett 13 J Ross Greg Howlett 12 while losing the game one more end than the winners, Jim Blake Liz Byrne 27 Bob Freeman John Ward 11. Bowlers are reminded that the first round of the Major Triples Championships has to be played on or before July 29.

As well, pennant trials  are scheduled to be played at the Railway Diggers Club on the July 28,  with a return match at Parkes Bowling and Sports Club on the August 12. Both games and venues require names in by 12.30pm with 1pm start. Next Sunday is the Hunters Real Estate sponsored tournament of two bowl pairs to consisting of 3 games of 10 ends with 1pm start.

-by Jack High

This Wednesdays draw:

Meeting this Wednesday 18-7-18 at the Star Hotel 6:45pm.  At least one person per team is to attend. If you are unable to attend please contact Leah on 0455182 228.

-by Leah Roberts

Thirty-three veteran golfers, including one junior, played at Forbes Sports Club last Thursday in glorious sunshine. Parkes and Forbes members continued their contest for the Mick Miller Shield, with a runaway victory for the Forbes men, 172 to 135.

The individual winner was new member from Forbes, Vince Russell on 31points from David Williams, also from Forbes, on 29 points. The encouragement award went to Mark Toohey (Fbs). Nearest the pin on the ninth in A grade was Roy Bell and Michael Lynch in B grade, both from Parkes.

On the 18^th hole we had the evergreen Alf Davies in A grade and Geoff Drane in B grade, from Forbes. This week we play again at Forbes in the 18 Holes Lachlan Valley Competition. We return to Parkes on the 26^th which will be followed by the Parkes Annual General Meeting.

-by Mcl

The rider hit the ground fifty metres past the winning post but not before apprentice jockey Akira Kijaya had scored a remarkable win on It’s Business Time in the opening race on Saturday at the Cowra TAB meeting.

Soon after the start of the Cowra Rotary Club Benchmark 50 Handicap ( 1100 metres ) the feet of Kajiya slipped from the irons and thereafter it was a hair-raising ride for the jockey, formerly from Japan.

Sitting bolt upright and bobbing up and down in the saddle, Kajiya managed to steer It’s Business Time ( $2.50 favourite ) around the hometown and down the outside fence to win by a half neck from Kingston ( Ken Dunbar, $6.50 ) and Benno’s Boy ( Kath Bell-Pitomac, $5 ).

Tumbling off It’s Business Time after crossing the line, Kajiya escaped serious injury but was advised to relinquish his later rides at the meeting. Now aged 36, Akira Kajiya gave away race riding for many years before recently resuming an apprenticeship with Canberra trainer Matthew Dale. Replays of the incredible win have gone worldwide on social media.

It’s Business Time is trained at Yass by Allan McRae who was reared on a property at Tottenham in central New South Wales.

Bill Molloy, a former local trainer, remembers an incident when Campaign trained at Orange by Dick Van Den Bos,after winning a race at Cowra jumped the outside fence.

Billy Owen, a former leading jockey on the Picnic circuit, has been achieving plenty of success in the professional ranks since recently taking up an apprenticeship with Canberra trainer Nick Olive.

Witt classy rides,Owen landed a winning double, Chasing Waterfalls and Fraternater at Cowra on Saturday with both being trained at Canberra by Neil Osborne.

From a wide barrier Chasing Waterfalls ( $2.60 favourite ) obtained a handy position and was a one length winner over Seishin ( Jamie Gibbons, $9.50 ) and Louisiana Belle ( Simon Miller, $4 ) in the Jamieson’s Joinery Maiden Plate,1200 metres.

Fraternater ( $2.20 favourite ) settled at the tail of the field and when cut loose by Billy Owen powered home to win the Cowra Community Chest Class 2 Handicap ( 1375 metres ).

-by Colin Hodges