SA’s festive sports spectactular
While the mainstream media was focused on east coast events, over the festive break a myriad of South Australian sporting talents displayed their skills in a number of different disciplines.
Women’s cricket
Our premier venue Adelaide Oval saw another Tim Ludeman BBL batting bonanza on New Year’s Eve, but the following day on the same pitch, a 17-year-old from the northern suburbs, Amanda Wellington, proved she is a star of the future in the Scorpions 50-over Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) match.
She collected six wickets with her leg spinners and then chasing a modest total of 144 against the Tasmania Roar – after losing four early and high profile wickets – Wellington engineered her team to victory with a unbeaten 26.
Another young talent in this up and coming group, Tahlia McGrath, held the innings together, making 32 before being run out.
The Scorpions are now finals bound in the WNCL 50-over competition under new coach Andrea McCauley.
Glenelg criterium
Back on Boxing Day, with parochial family support on the sidelines, Norwood cyclist Cameron Bayly collected the 2014 title around the Glenelg criterium circuit in the elite Les Gill street race.
He set up the win with an explosive 56-second lap a half an hour into the 50-minute, plus two lap contest.
“After being around the mark a number of times, to win this race is a special feeling,” said 24-year-old Bayly.
“I actually first raced this event when I was still a junior.
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“When you have a look at the names on the honour board – it’s a bit of a ‘who’s who’ of SA cycling – so it’s is great to have achieved this.
“While it may not be my biggest win, it is up there with the most satisfying.
“My next challenge is the national road championships in Ballarat during January. Hopefully I can perform well and win a place in the University of SA team for the Tour down Under.”
In the women’s elite race – the Mayor’s Trophy – dual cyclo-cross champion Lisa Jacobs ended Tiffany Cromwell’s reign in a thrilling three-way sprint to the line, with less than a wheel length separating this pair and Carlee Taylor.
“I’m in Melbourne now working as a lawyer, but Adelaide is my home town and I’m back for Christmas,” the 33-year-old pocket dynamo said.
“I’ve been working on my power, so to be in the mix with quality cyclists like Tiffany and Carlee was very pleasing.”
Two Jetties Fun Run
Alaskan runner Max Romey beat all comers to collect the annual 2014 Two Jetties Fun Run title in a time of 28 minutes and 59 seconds.
The 8.4km run is held between the Glenelg and Brighton jetties.
In Adelaide to visit his father Bill, who is studying at the University of SA, Romey is a 21-year-old junior (third year student) at the Washington West University.
“I just love running, although I have had an injury plagued couple of years at college,” Romey said post race.
“I really enjoyed the beach running aspect of the event.
“A great feature of being in this sport is running speaks a universal language.”
Chess championships
On the same day, Kazakhstan’s Rustam Khusnutdinov won the biggest single day chess event in the state, the Australian Allegro Chess Championships, defeating two fellow Grand Masters and the best this state had to offer.
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Aquathlon
Powerful performances by 21-year-old West Beach surf life saver Ben Zuill and triathlete Sarah Crowley earned them the 2014 Sam White Memorial elite aquathlon crowns at Glenelg in December.
Baskbetball
The 3-Ball Basketball competition attracted competitors from many cultures, with the “How High” combination defeating “Buzzas” 12-7 in overtime in the final. The competition’s Most Valuable Player award was given to Ngor Daniel.
Peddle Fest
Earlier, in perfect conditions on the Patawalonga River a number of the state’s best young talents contested the 2014 Bay Paddle Fest.
Exciting teenage talent including Sophie Pope, George Rugless and Charlie Ellis were all multiple race winners.
Open water swimming
With a mantra of fitness, friendship and fun the Proclamation open water Classic Swim was won by Josephine Varney. The event is a Masters Swimming – South Australian sanctioned event over 5km.
Surf talent Jack Tierney won the 2km distance and Mark Smedley got home in the 1km.
Bay Sheffield
At Colley Reserve the 128th Bay Sheffield foot races were run and won on the evening of December 28.
Lauren Buchanan won the 120m women’s sprint ahead of Lauren Edwards and Ali Trewartha. Second favourite in the men’s event, John Jakeman, won a photo finish over David Gross.
Basketball
Finally on Sunday, January, 4 the Adelaide Lightning halted a nine game losing streak with a 17 point win over the West Coast Waves, with Laura Hodges leading the way with 18 points and seven boards.
Over east
Just to show we didn’t disregard what happened in the east, former Trinity College student and Northern Jets all rounder Ryan Harris took home the Man of the Match award in the Third Test against India at the MCG.
Harris’ first innings effort of 4/70 off 26 overs was impressive and he followed up with 2/30 from 16 overs in the second.
His 74 (88 balls) with the willow and partnership with Steve Smith was instrumental in the Australian victory.
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