PREMIERS BATTLE:

| Bendigo Weekly | 31-Mar-2011 2.09

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 A huge match for country football enthusiasts tonight at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton. BFL premiers Golden Square will tackle the Goulburn Valley League champions Shepparton United under lights from 7.30pm. The match will give coach Nick Carter a great opportunity to test his side against one of the strongest sides in country football. The game will be broadcast on Fresh FM 101.5. There will also be a great clash in the Under 18 curtain raiser which starts at 5.30pm

HOT SLIPPER: Our richest race for two- year-old gallopers is on this Saturday. The local interest in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper will centre on the Gerald Ryan trained Hot Snitzel who has been backed at a few Bendigo tote houses at big odds. A prominent local business man is in the racing syndicate that parted with $30,000 for the late entry fee and will be hoping for a nice return this weekend.

BRAVES START: The South East Australian Basketball League tips off this weekend with the Braves headed to Geelong to take on the league champions. Warren Randall will captain the side and they are hopeful of being a major force again this season. Lauren King will lead the Lady Braves in to their campaign this weekend in Geelong at the Arena.

SPONSOR SOUGHT: A grand opportunity exists for the corporate sector to be actively involved in Women’s sport. The fledgling Bendigo Thunder goes into this weekend’s opening round of the statewide Victorian Women’s Football League against La Trobe University without a naming rights sponsor. During the year they will also be playing against teams from other major centres like Ballarat and Geelong. There are also opportunities to play matches against touring international teams. For the sake of the new representative team,  let us hope that a sponsor jumps on board with this exciting project to back the efforts of our local women playing our great national code. Further information: Bianca Rinaldi 0413 231 258

KERANG LINK: Been a big couple of weeks for player agent Ricky Nixon. The former Golden Square player and high profile sports agent has been under scrutiny from the Agents Accreditation Board led by Chairman Ian Prendergast. Many locals will recall Prendergast competing in middle distance events at the Flora Hill athletics track a few years ago. He was a handy footballer with Kerang Rovers before being picked up in the 1998 draft by Carlton. Nixon also started his AFL playing career with the Blues.

PENNANT GOLF: Axedale has bounced back into contention in the Bendigo District Golf Association pennant competition after downing Bendigo. It’s very even at the top with Belvoir Park and Neangar Park also in the mix. The region’s leading golfers now head to round three this weekend at Castlemaine.

SPECIAL MEMORY: The Bendigo Harness Racing Club has recognised the outstanding career of Maori Mile winner Acacia Ridge who was humanely put down last week.  A special plaque has been placed on the Maori Mile Memorial Wall at the entry to Lords Raceway. The club also conducted the Vale Acacia Ridge Trot Noterday.

MEDAL GLORY: Bendigo Madison winners Cameron Meyer and Leigh Howard have successfully defended their World Madison championship. After a slow start the brilliant duo were in great form to win gold in the Dutch city of Apeldoorn. They now have a great opportunity to win an unprecedented three world crowns at their title defence which will be held in Melbourne in April next year.
STATE CHANCE: Female youth footballers are being invited to register for the 2011 Victorian Under 16 Schools state team. School Sport Victoria is arranging a training session for Saturday April 9 at Windy Hill, Napier Street, Essendon.

SOCCER STARTS: The Football Federation Victoria championship season gets underway this Sunday. Fixtures for the Men’s Division 1 and 2, Women’s and Youth competitions can be found on the FFV website www.ffvcentral.com.au
Main interest will centre on whether the recent Lightning Cup winners Strathdale can carry their superb early season form into the championship series. They will play Golden City for the Les Tresize Foundation Shield to commemorate the first league game here in Bendigo back in 1971. Both clubs are encouraging former players and administrators to come along and enjoy a high quality match which will be contested at Shadforth Park.

NEW GROUND:
The Bendigo Football League kicks off on Saturday April 9 but it will be several weeks before we see play on the Queen Elizabeth Oval due to the major works program. One footy insider has revealed that it is time for some forward thinking. He believes the planning process should start now on a new major sporting facility south of the city that will attract elite sports in a few years time.
b.Entertained

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