with Chris Karas
TWT Club 6 Sports Stars
Touch football whiz Cameron Nicholls and national junior Spiral sailing champion Ben Lindsay received their $300 TWT Club Six/Ryde Sports Foundation Sports Star of the Month awards at Gladesville Sporties Club last Friday night.
Sporties Club president John Lucas presented the awards to 17 year old Nicholls, who helped Australia win the World Youth Cup U/18 Mixed title in Queensland and Lindsay,15, an exciting prospect from Concord-Ryde Sailing Club. Also pictured are RSF secretary Neita Matthews, North Ryde RSL Community Club president Barry Herbert, RSF chairman Jim Hull, RSF committee members Rod and Marie Youngman (Ryde Ex Services Club), RSF treasurer Beryl Ackroyd, Sporties Club CEO John Barras and RSF deputy chairman Clr Edna Wilde OAM. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
‘Oscar’ bags five in star performance
Around the Wickets with CHRIS KARAS
THEY call him ‘Oscar’ and for good reason as he continues to grab the limelight for UTS-Balmain Cricket Club in the 2004-05 Sydney first grade competition.
Just like his famous acting namesake, Richard Burton has produced the goods with bat and ball in senior company this summer despite the Tigers’ topsy-turvy form in the top grade.
Last Saturday he turned in an award-winning performance with the new ball when he bagged the impressive figures of 5-21 off 15 overs to help rout Sutherland for 138 at Caringbah Oval.
Supported by rookie paceman Craig O’Shannessy (3-46 off eleven) and Nathan Ball (2-23 off seven) a revved up ‘Oscar’ demolished the Sharks to spur his team-mates to first innings points on the opening day.
At stumps the Tigers were 5-192 with Karl Whatham (57 not out) and Craig Hankinson (3 not out) set to resume this Saturday.
Sutherland were reeling at 8-98 before Adam Fleming (24) and Shane Wallace (18) added valuable runs in a ninth wicket stand of 34. Earlier Luke Dudman (31) and Grant Roden (26) showed their batting wares for the home side before falling to Burton and O’Shannessy respectively.
Whatham figured in a second wicket union of 84 with opener Ka Ken Wong (49) and a third wicket partnership of 60 with NSW rep Jason Krejza (37) to place the Tigers in a strong position.
Meanwhile half centuries from young Tigers Jarryd Gordon (55), Toby Belfort (88), Daniel Jacob (81) and Jon Orme (62) proved the highlights in lower grade action.
SECONDS: UTS Balmain 202 (Jarryd Gordon 55, Richard Colbran 34no) v Sutherland 3-57 (Evan Dix 1-11, Simon Skinner 1-25).
THIRDS: Sutherland 95 (Patrick Little 4-25, Chris Campbell 3-20, Luke Donovan 2-20) v UTS Balmain 6-71 (Ian Burge 20, Brendan Drew 18).
FOURTHS: UTS Balmain 209 (Toby Belfort 88, Scott Palmer 40, Daniel Intili 23, George Livingston 22) v Sutherland 4-66 (Michael Chan 2-20, Speenivasan Purusothaman 1-16).
FIFTHS: UTS Balmain 229 (Daniel Jacob 81, Jon Orme 62, Nick Campbell 38) v Sutherland 2-33 (Daniel Jacob 1-3, Greg Smith 1-12).
SQUASH legend Sarah Fitz-Gerald came out of retirement last Sunday to help raise funds for WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) at Next Generation Ryde. The former world champion played exhibition matches against Wests Tigers rugby league skipper Mark O’Neill, Davis Cup tennis star and professional golfer Scott Draper and Australia’s No 1 junior Ryan Cuskelly. They are pictured with event organiser Tanya Lee and supporter Alison Small. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
Jack’s back in the swing
A DEVASTATING spell of bowling by swing merchant Jack Geraghty has propelled the Putney-Tennyson X1 into the Gladesville Cricket Association TWT A Grade Cup decider.
Geraghty snared the amazing figures of 6-19 off 13 overs and Andrew Jessop (3-7 off four) to blitz minor premiers Forest Lodge for a meagre 42 on the opening day of their semi final fixture at Bedlam Bay Reserve.
Putney’s nine wicket victory has set up a clash with either Wanderers or reigning champs Gladesville Hotel Reds.
A GRADE: (Semi Finals) Putney-Tennyson 1-52 (Andrew Jessop 20no, Glenn Stanton 12no, George Apostolides 11 retired) d Forest Lodge 42 (Jack Geraghty 6-19, A Jessop 3-7, Greg Webber 1-15); Gladesville Hotel Reds 130 (Glen Collis 22, Sepp Disch 18, David Naylor 11, Steve Webb 5-28, Travis McWhirter 3-24, Matt McCann 1-31, Ben Slade 1-35) v Wanderers 0-32 (B Slade 28no, Paul Rovere 3no).
Joey returns serve
Touch & Go with CHRIS KARAS
EMBATTLED touch footballer Joey Jarvis is a player on a mission in the Ryde Eastwood Touch Football Association.
Stung by criticism in last week’s Touch & Go column the Putney playmaker has come out firing.
When quizzed about Ron Ryan’s comment that he lags way behind in the durability department a bemused Joey roared: “Ron who?”
“Does he still run around in this competition? Is this the same person that Paul ‘Nobby’ Clarke once labelled the most capped U/23 player in the Tigers’ history” he asked.
“And he must be kidding about those legends he rated - if I can’t match their ordinary records when I’m over 50 in 20 years time then Joey is an over-rated touch technician.”
Pardon the pun but the Caskets are dead and buried and I’ll probably catch up with Ron at his usual spot on Grand Final night - on the sidelines.
Hopefully I’ll be collecting another premiership medal with the Putney Pirates while the Caskets’ head honcho is drowning his sorrows” predicted Joey.
* * *
TALKING about the Caskets who was the player seen sneaking out of the Morrison Park car park with a sling shot in hand - moments after big Paul Sironen broke down while in the clear for Ross Patten First National in a recent First Division fixture.
Big Sirro was spotted clutching his calf and cursing his luck. Should be interesting next time the Caskets and Ross Patten FN lock horns.
* * *
RUMOURS are rife of a World Series Touch rebel league in operation on Monday nights at headquarters.
Leading the charge is one very popular Putney sporting identity who is a regular participant with two of his grandsons. Our man is multi-skilled when it comes to ball sports and still looks razor sharp on the paddock.
BJ’s Rat Pack reign supreme
TIGERS rugby league stalwart Johnny Owens holds aloft the Barefoot Mufti Challenge Trophy after leading Hunters Hill Bowling Club to a history-making ‘away’ win over Putney-Tennyson last Sunday.
He is flanked by competitors from both sides after the Hunters Hill ‘Rat Pack’ chalked up a decisive 126-120 victory in balmy conditions.
BJ’s boys gained the bragging rights for Hill Top supremacy after skilful performances throughout the 15 ends.
“Victory was sweet - especially after the antics of the Putney contingent to put us off our game” revealed Owens.
The Hunters Hill skip was savage in his appraisal of the greens - taking a swipe at curator “Hock” Fahy.
“Those greens were doctored and far too slow and rougher than an Alan Beattie hair style but we persevered in true Hillies style to retain the trophy.
We’d like to thank Hock for preparing a ‘shocker’ - it only brought out the best in the boys” added BJ who teamed with the irrepressible Andrew Goggin and ex-Newtown forward powerhouse Kevin George to down Putney’s Mick McNamara, Dave Devine and John White 19-9.
The flamboyant George was one of the finds of the day along with teenage rookie Blaire Dixon. Putney’s ‘Dream Machine’ comprising Geoff Forster, Trevor Ryan and Mick Caruso maintained their unbeaten run with a 16-10 triumph over Peter Grounds (2 & 5 Club), Terry Dea and Stewart Armstrong.
In sterling fashion the Putney team of John Stanton, Glen Burgess and Irish international Phil O’Sullivan finished strongly to edge out Richard Webb, Tim Burt and Ray Lamb (18-15).
In other games: Glen Kenny, Rob Rose, James McDonald (Hunters Hill) defeated Rob Hawkins, Rick Shaw, Graham Blaydon (Putney) 26-17; Bev Gibson, Mark Topp (Hunters Hill) beat Dion Frison, Rohan Kinsky (Putney) 22-12; Ray Dixon, Blaire Dixon, Tony Clift (Hunters Hill) downed Paul McInerney, Pat Walsh, Greg ‘Duck’ Horner (18-12); Peter Unwin, Charles Phillips, Ian Ross (Hunters Hill) beat Steve Jarvis, Alan Jarvis, John Williams (16-12) while Putney hot shot Frank Borg, Ken McFarlane and Peter Sawyer rolled John Herford, Steve Donnelly and Dave Pye 11-9.
At the press conference held later on the greens, event organiser Dave ‘Dasher’ McFarlane sent the Hillies in a spin when he called for their disqualification for the non-signing of cards.
“I’ll be contacting the Lord Mufti at St Andrews Scotland for clarification” he muttered as BJ strode by with the coveted Foot Trophy.
Branighan re-signs
BALMAIN-Ryde Eastwood have re-signed goalkicking five eighth Luke Branighan for their 2005 Premier League campaign.
Branighan starred along with hooker Robbie Farah and forward Jeff Lima in the Tigers’ 50-22 trial win over North Sydney last Saturday at Leichhardt Oval.
Rising half back Rangi Chase shone for the Tigers Jersey Flegg side in a 42-14 trial win over Norths. The former Keebra Park schoolboy star was ably supported by hooker Luke Waihape and fullback Sammy Wara.
BALMAIN opened their Junior Cup campaign on a disappointing note with losses to Wests in Harold Matthews (30-24) and S.G Ball (42-14). Forwards Dean Webster, John Viiga, fullback Nathan Plummer, centre Anthony Boulos and winger Robert Henderson impressed in the U/16s while Troy Adams and Keith Eshman played strongly in U/18s.
Local Soccer clubs are back in action
FOOTBALL in TWT territory got underway last weekend with local five clubs competing in the first round of the State wide Continental Tyres Knockout Cup.
In a thrilling double header at Christie Park Marsfield last Saturday local association Premier League side Eastwood St Andrews trounced State Second Division club Prospect United 4-0 while
State First Division newcomers Gladesville Spirit put in a strong showing in a 2-1 loss to local PL team West Pennant Hills-Cherrybrook Lions.
State First Division club Ryde City Gunners whipped White City Cabramatta 8-1 while Gladesville United crashed to a 6-2 loss against Third Division team Schofields Scorpions at Mt Druitt.
Eastwood St Andrews, West Pennant Hills-Cherrybrook and Ryde City Gunners all advance to the Cup second round to be played next Wednesday night March 9.
NSW State League competitions kick off this weekend with Ryde City at home this Sunday against Schofields at Magdala Park.
Gladesville Spirit play at Christie Park against Mt Pritchard on March 12 while Gladesville United host Trasandinos at Gladesville Reserve on Sunday April 10.
In Womens Football the NSW Super League side NWS Koalas start their 2005 campaign against Macarthur Rams on Sunday March 13 at T G Millner Field Eastwood. North West Sydney Womens and Gladesville Hornsby FA games also start in early April.
Ryde RSL AGM Monday week
Ryde District RSL Sub-Branch Annual General Meeting will be held at Ryde Ex-Services Memorial Club 724 Victoria Road Ryde on Monday March 14 at 12.30 pm.
Inquiries Ryde RSL Sub-Branch President Marlon Guerin 0421 657 073.
Tees to Greens
MASSEY PARK
Invit 2B: Lawrie Zammit (11) Neil McEwen (12) 50; Indiv A: N McEwen (12) 44; B: Simon Dinopoulos (19) 43; C: William Morris (22) 42; Scr: Ron Heather 35; Women: Stableford Div 1: Bev Ashton (17) 42; Div 2: Maria Tierney (29) 38;
NORTH RYDE
CCR 67: 2B Agg: Div 1: Lyndon Polson (10) Anthony Head (17) 81; Div 2: Dave Parsons (23) Max Davis (18) 79; Indiv A: Peter Richardson (3) 43; B: Chris Jeffers (18) 43 cb; C: Wal Balak (21) 42 cb; Cup semi final: L Bates G Sherwin d B Young P O’Connor 4-2; D Roughley C Roughley d G Blundell Brett Cummerford 3-1; Open Agg Team & Indiv Stableford: Teams Div 1: Tony Minogue (16) Matt Gurdon (11) 79; Div 2: John Carnemolla (24) Jack Boyd (18) 81; Indiv: A: Wayne Abbott (10) 42; B: Colin Bell (19) 41; C: Bruce Marsh (20) 41; Mixed Teams Stableford: Mens: Peter McGregor (18) Bob Harvey (13) 49; Mixed: Michael Ward (6) Felicity Wolf (25) 48; Ladies: Angela Cafe (13) Deidre Davis (23) 47; Indiv Men: A: Freddy Wong (12) 41 cb; B: Terry Healey (15) 41cb; C: Lindsay Doherty (20) 45; Indiv Ladies: Div 1: D Davis (23) 38; Div 2: Wendy Richardson (37) 37; Nearest the Pins: 6th hole R Saghabi; 10th hole J Francis; 18th hole: M Brett; Women: Stableford: Div 1 (0-23) Alison Stubbs (10) +2; Div 2: Felicity Wolf (26) +3; Div 3: Lauree Simmons (31) c/b; Div 4: Marcia Anderson (37) +2; Nearest the Pin: Div 1: Simone Graham; Div 2: Jean Gaynon; Div 3: Trish Reilly; Open: Marion Binet; Veterans Ball Competition: F Wolf (+3); M Anderson (+2); Jung Ja Lun (+1); Jan Paemaa (+1); Sue Chin, Meg Stubbs, Adele Sloanne, Bev Boyer (c/b).
RYDE-PARRAMATTA
CCR 74: Medley 2B: Milan Jilek (21) Frank Joslin (15) 46 cb; R/Up: Chris Gough/Lyle Von Bibra 46; Agg: Dominic Jung (18) Stephen Lee (17) 77; R/Up: Byung Chung/Matthew Oh 72; Indiv: M Jilek (21) 45; R/Up: S Lee 41; 2B Aggregate: Thomas McPhie (17) Chris Gooch (13) 79; R/Up: Ernie Barbieri (14) Anan Muangjai (10) 71 cb; Scratch: Nigel Thomas, Andrew Donald 53; Indiv: T McPhie (17) 42; R/Up: Phil Fairfax (9) 40; Nearest the Pins: 4th hole Barry Wilde; 7th hole M Jilek; 12th hole C Gough; 17th hole Greg Arcus; Eagles Nest: M Jilek; Ball Competition: Nearest the Pin: 4th hole: Efren Calixto; 7th hole: Peter Carter; 12th hole: Ray Tsui; 17th hole: Phil Courtney. Eagles Nest: P Carter.
Women: 4BBB Stableford: Team: Carol Seeto (20) Cesilia Song (17) Grace Lee (20) Elizabeth Park (27) 56; R/Up: Barbara Carlson (37) Lorraine Handel (29) Kath Hutchison (38) 47.
Chris a Balmain Tiger Born & Bred!
By The Weekly Times Editor John F Booth AM
CHRIS KARAS was born and bred in Tiger Town and is Black-n-Gold through and through.
From his earliest days he learned to love and follow his beloved Balmain rugby league Tigers and also at early date the Balmain Tigers cricketers. And anything else that moved as a Tiger on land or water.
Chris has now spent most of his adult life at The Weekly Times starting as a young man 20 years ago as a cub reporter and graduating to Sporting Editor and assistant Editor.
We are proud of our long association with him and the contribution we have been able to make together to promote sport and community life in the TWT Territory over the years.
Congratulations Chris from all of us at The Weekly Times. And especially from me personally.
Honours Galore For Our Chris!
A proud moment for Chris Karas when he received the Premier’s Award for Community Service presented by then Police Minister and Ryde MP John Watkins.
Chris also has helped The Weekly Times to win multi awards for Best Community Newspaper from the Australian Suburban Newspapers Association and the Community Newspapers Association of Australia.
TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
CHRIS KARAS SPECIAL
CHRIS KARAS is the World Ice Cream Eating Champion defending his title each year at The Weekly Times Christmas Luncheon.
He is pictured in action, above, seated next to another very popular former longtime member of The Weekly Times Team Helen Sallway.
FLASHBACK 1978
Il Bolognese Italian Restaurant proprietor Celso Grati, 18, running second to a fast finishing champion Chris Karas, 17, in the Leichhardt High School 100m open sprint final at Jubilee Park Glebe in 1978.
History of the Hawks
For Chris Karas, writing the history of the Hawks for the Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club proved to be a challenge spread over many weekends and taking up much of his spare time.
“If I had a wife she would have divorced me,” said Chris of his 18 months researching and compiling interviews.
The book, ‘A history of the Hawks’, was completed in November of 2004 and was Chris’s first book.
“There was a lot of work and a lot of worries along the way. I was trying to get it done in my spare time, if you can call it spare time.
“It was very satisfying in the end,” Chris said.
The book was launched late last year at the annual dinner for the foundation members of the club, many of whom Chris interviewed for the book.
TIGER cub on the prowl: Chris was a talented centre with Balmain’s S.G Ball Cup representative team that reached the finals of the U/15 Junior Cup series in 1976.
He is pictured fifth from left in back row with Steven Thomas (brother-in-law of Australian golfer Craig Parry); Colin Bell (son of Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club director Harry Bell); John Owens (Tigers’ forward stalwart); Tony Piasevoli, Tony Swanson, Steve Flecknoe, Brett Miles, Wayne Dowsewell; middle row: Dick Quinn (former Balmain & Newtown winger) coach; Mick Buckley (selector); Peter Cassell, Craig Clarke (former Balmain & Wests lock); Jeff Leehane, John Davidson (long serving Balmain & Cronulla winger); Glenn Pearce, Mark Livingstone, Terry Simmons (selector); Graham Simmons (stalwart Balmain coach & official) manager; front: Bob Waterson (Epping RSL Club director - Balmain Junior League president); Mick Ko’cass (BJL secretary); Craig Parkes, Martin Russell, Rodney Wignell (captain - State schoolboy sprint champion tragically killed in Eastwood car accident aged 16); Craig Partridge, Martin Mulcare, Phil Lloyd (committeeman); Ray Wilson (Registrar Officer); Ball Boys: Richard Quinn, Stuart Quinn.
PREMIERSHIP HONOuRS: Chris (left) with coach Ted Goodwin - the classy St George and Kangaroo utility back of the 1970s - after helping Leichhardt Juniors slam rivals North Ryde to clinch the Balmain Junior League U/15 premiership at Birchgrove Oval in 1976.
To play, or not to play, that was the big question
CUB REPORTER: Chris conducts an early interview with Tigers’ rugby league legend Wayne Pearce - his old school colleague and team-mate in Balmain junior rep teams and with Balmain Police Boys Football Club.
When Chris Karas had to choose between playing top level sport or becoming a sports reporter, he did the opposite of what most young men would do - he chose reporting.
“It’s something a lot of people ask me about and they can’t really understand, but I just loved the writing too much,” said Chris, TWT sports editor.
“I especially love writing for a paper like the TWT which is in the community, because I just get so much enjoyment out of giving young sports people that bit of recognition.
“For me, I get a real buzz out of that.”
Chris’s love affair with writing began at the tender age of nine when his Year 3 teacher set a composition for homework.
The year before the Balmain Tigers had won the 1969 premiership and those wonderful moments were still vivid in young Chris’s mind so he wrote, and he wrote and he wrote.
“I wish I had kept that first story,” said Chris. “My teacher just couldn’t believe it. She said I must really love the Tigers.
“After that, every time she would set us a story for homework, I’d write about some sports event, it might be the Davis Cup or the cricket, anything.”
By the end of the year Chris’s teacher was confidently telling his parents George and Nia that they had a young sports journalist on their hands.
However, she could have had no idea how quickly that would come true.
Chris started to hone his interview skills and would go up to players, especially rugby league players at Leichhardt Oval, and just start asking them questions. “I remember talking to Arthur Beetson when I was 10 - what you might call my first interview - and I just kept going.
“All my friends would be thinking, ‘Chris what are you doing? You can’t just go talk to them’. But I always did.
“They would answer even though I could see they were thinking they just wanted to get away the annoying kid.”
At this time, just for his own benefit, he had also started to compile statistics of local sports personalities. It seemed like everything was heading towards a career in sports journalism.
By 15, thanks to the friendship of his English teacher, Chris was writing sports stories for his local newspaper The Leichhardt Guardian, and loving every minute.
“It was a funny feeling,” Chris said, “but I was pretty confident because I knew the sport and also because I was interviewing team members.
“I did Wayne Pearce’s very first interview, and I wrote an article on Tim Brasher when no-one knew anything about him because I knew he’d be a big name.”
For years Chris kept his dual role as player and writer, but when the training schedule of the Tigers U/23s started to interfere with his new job at News Ltd, he had to choose.
“It was a tough decision. It hurt to give up your childhood dream and especially when I saw my mates who I played with go through and make it in first grade. I’ve always wondered how far I could have gone.”
Yet there are no regrets and some memorable moments. “My most memorable interview would have been with Steve and Mark Waugh ... that was a special one.”
Chris rates other highlights as receiving the Premier’s Award for Community Service and finishing his book The History of the Hawks, a history of the Ryde Eastwood Hawks Football and Leagues Clubs 1963-2004.
“What still gives me the most enjoyment is just giving that little bit of recognition to young sports players,” said Chris. “I know they really appreciate it and it might inspire them to go even further with their sport.
“That’s what really makes me happy.”
Chris joined The Weekly Times in 1985 after a brief stint at News Limited and a nine-year association with The Leichhardt Guardian newspaper.
As sports editor he has covered a variety of sports in the Ryde district and last year received a Commonwealth Sport Achievement Award for his work with Ryde Sports Foundation.
And his eye for beauty ...
With hands that have juggled wayward cricket balls, and from bouncing off some of the biggest chests in rugby league, seasoned sports reporter Chris knows only too well you have to grab the moment when it presents itself - especially when it’s in the form of long-time TWT friend, singer/entertainer Maria Venuti. And Chris’s passion for parties, fun and dancing (below) often makes him the centre of attraction - evident from the smiles all round. TWT right-on-the-spot PHOTOS
FLASHBACK 1973: Chris (pictured left) aged 12 at the Acropolis in Athens during a family trip to Greece. He is pictured with kid brothers Andrew and Arthur and parents Nia and George. Visiting the ancient ruins heightened Chris’s interest in the Olympic Games.
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