More track racing this summer will be the target of road walker Duane Cousins.
Despite missing a spot for Beijing in the 50 kilometre road race the Eaglehawk-based athlete believes there is still a window of opportunity in the 20km event for the Olympics.
Duane will spend the next couple of months increasing his speed rate with the hope of representing his country once again.
Spirit continue winning run
n The Bendigo Spirit scored a decisive win over the Canberra Capital in Ballarat to maintain their spot in the top four of the Women’s National Basketball League.
After trailing by 10 points at the halfway mark the Spirit stormed home and downed the highly-fancied Capitals by 19 points.
The Spirit girls have enjoyed their Christmas break and they play their next game at the Schweppes Centre on Saturday, January 5 when they face Perth.
Sedgewick, home of the stars
nSEDGWICK was once famous for its fire truck in the dam incident during a big bushfire.
Now the hamlet is producing some rising trotting stars and recently we saw the John Noonan-trained Will Trapper salute at Moonee Valley.
Then on the same program new acquisition
Sunana Asset from the Ross Graham stable saluted in the final event.
The big horse is raced by Bluey Old who only recently got a clearance from Castlemaine to Bertocchi.
The transfer fee must have been the easy part.
Bendigo races ahead in athletics
nBendigo is gradually establishing itself as having one of the best athletics facilities in Australia.
The La Trobe University Bendigo Athletics Complex is preparing to host the Victorian Little Athletics Championships early next year and there is now growing confidence that this city will be hosting the 2008 Victorian Primary Schools Athletics Championships in November.
Both events are to sure boost the local economy significantly.
Bombers build for top 2008
nThe Bendigo Bombers continue to gain some talented players for their 2008 season.
The Bombers will be the youngest team in the VFL by far and the latest signing is 22-year-old Brent Hartigan who has played 35 games with Richmond after being drafted in 2003 from the Calder Cannons.
Hartigan is a tough midfielder and will be a great acquisition for the club.
Coach Adrian Hickmott is gathering together a talented young squad with pace and skill being the key ingredients.
Competition cyclists take a tumble
Our cyclists take some big falls on the competition circuit.
Bendigo teenager Jamie Crass miraculously escaped serious injury after cartwheeling out of control along the perimeter fence at Vodafone Arena.
Half a dozen riders were treated for cuts and abrasions but thankfully all walked away from the incident.
Bendigo Christmas for Kristi
n World champion basketballer Kristi Harrower was thankful that the big lunch we all enjoy on December 25 is not celebrated in Russia.
She flew home to celebrate Christmas with her family here in Bendigo as the Russians do not have this joyous occasion until January 7.
By then Kristi will be back competing in the Euro league and lining up for a big game against Croatia.
Such is the life of a champion basketballer.
Carnivals aplenty for cycling fans
THERE are plenty of top cycling carnivals across Country Victoria over the holiday break.
Can we suggest you head along to the Tom Flood Sports Centre this Sunday for a fantastic track program.
Highlight will be the staging of the Lindsay Harrington Memorial Wheelrace over 2000 metres which is always a great spectacle and is always well supported by the region’s top cyclists.
