North West Sport

The festive season was in full swing at Gunnedah Jockey Club on Saturday, with a massive crowd turning out trackside. The club’s Christmas Hams meeting, undoubtedly their social event of the year – race winners all scoring a Christmas ham.

From the United Arab Emirates last weekend, to Cape Town in South Africa this weekend – life at the top doesn’t get much better, and it’s a lifestyle Tamworth’s John Porch is relishing. The rugby star will be back in the green and gold later tonight, as the second round of the World Sevens Series gets underway. Drawn in Pool D – the Aussies face Wales first-up, before taking on Canada and Scotland. (VISION ONLY)

Bespoke beers, fine food, and sensational music, Armidale’s Forage Festival brings together all three. A showcase for the New England, this year’s event has drawn tourists from across the country.  

While the men’s domestic Big Bash League still remains a week or so away, those in North West have just one more sleep before the abbreviated form begins. The Tamworth Twenty-20 season getting into full-swing tomorrow afternoon at Riverside. First match of the round will see Old Boys begin their title defence by taking on South Tamworth. PLEASE NOTE: AUDIO UNAVAILABLE

There’s no questioning the Tamworth Pirates status in Central North Rugby, however on this occasion, it’s the girls making the headlines. Rugby trio, Miah O’Sullivan, Phoebe McLoughlin and Jada Taylor, will represent the Youth New South Wales team this weekend. The squad will play at Ballymore in the Youth National Championships. PLEASE NOTE: AUDIO UNAVAILABLE.  

Hundreds of horses and their riders are arriving in Gunnedah, ready to show their skills. This weekend the Show Society hosts the National Show of the Australian Hunter Horse Association, in a major coup for the region.  

For many businesses in the North West, it’s the ideal way to celebrate the silly season. For others, it’s all about the action on the track, as the Gunnedah Jockey Club hosts its annual Christmas hams race meeting this Saturday.  

There’s a new world number one in the North West, in a sport you wouldn’t expect. Tony Mumford has reached the top of his field, now ranked the world’s number one OzTag referee.  

The region’s junior rugby league stars will soon have the chance to train with the pros. The University of New England is hosting a State of Origin Clinic next month, to be run by Blues coach Brad Fittler. Details are not yet confirmed, but it’s expected both boys and girls will take part – getting some tips from one of the greats. “Not long ago, UNE hosted national sports camps. It already hosts a rugby camp, a soccer camp as such, so the rugby league camp Brad Fittler was extremely keen to bring that back to Armidale and the region.” The New South Wales Origin Squad is also set to take part in a camp of its own, to strengthen teamwork ahead of the upcoming season.

For sportspeople in regional areas, opportunities to compete at a national level are few and far between. But the University of New England’s Sports Academy is working to change this, with applications for 2019 now open.