Sports Shorts
AFL – Round 3 v Cranbrook
On a wet cold night Newington AFL team was up against Cranbrook at Macquarie Uni. When we started Cranbrook got goals in the first few seconds and dominated the opening. Andrew Himmelhoch hit back with six points and then a couple of ones from Simon, but still Cranbrook still proved to be too strong. The end score ended up being 9-67 to Cranbrook. Next week we will dominate against Scots. Good game boys.
Simon James
Year 6
South Harbour Invitational
Another Saturday, another beautifully crisp morning greeted the Newington faithful for take two of the Invitational Athletic Carnivals. The addition of St Patricks College to the program offered more of the competition that the boys would be facing come IPSHA.
The field events dominated the first stanza, with Carlo Ottavio giving Newington its first placing at the Carnival with a third in the Turbo Javelin. James Karabesinis got back to his flying best in the long jump as he produced a seasons best jump of 4.20m. Also jumping 4.20m was Julian Kwok, who set a personal best by 20 centimetres in the process, finishing just outside the places. Josh Bowd rounded out the field events with a fantastic throw of 33.45m in the Discus, giving him great confidence going into the IPSHA Carnival.
The track events saw the young brigade dominating with Jake Goodhand and Steffano Ottavio scorching the track in their 100m events. Jake backed this up in the 200m where he was equally impressive. Aiden Fisher was very impressive in the 100m and 200m events, with Harry Clarke showing a great turn of speed off the bend in his 200m event. Matthew Dyster then surged home in his 800m event, showing great patience and stamina.
The relays saw a lot of fill gaps as boys stayed back to help make relay teams as the team was a little short. These boys did an admirable job, with special mention going to Jake Goodhand, Steffano Ottavio, Vincent De Souza and Julian Kwok for stepping up to the challenge. The Open A relay finished off the day once more, with the team of Aiden Fisher, Harry Clarke, Jamie Karabesinis and Lachlan Watson again getting the better of Scots, and again beating the record that they set the week previous. A great effort by all the competitors!
IPSHA Athletics Carnival
Another glorious late Winters day met the hordes of young hopefuls, looking for a piece of Athletic glory. The grass was mowed, the stands full, the starts gun at the ready, and the first event called.
The brilliance of IPSHA in running the Premier events first is quite something, and sets you up for the rest of the day. The relays saw a great performance from the Junior team of Sebastian Vardavas, Daniel Nicholas, Jack Dobson and Harry Bell as they ran themselves into 2nd in their heat. Unfortunately, according to the officials the last runner received the baton outside of his lane and the boys were cruelly disqualified. The Open team did not have the same problem as they ran beautifully through every change to also finish 2nd in their heat. Unfortunately for this champion team of Harry Clarke, James Karabesinis, Aiden Fisher and Lachlan Watson, they would go on the place 8th overall, and just miss out on the CIS team.
The young chargers then took up the reigns once more in the 100m, as Jake Goodhand and Stefano Ottavio again tore up the Olympic track, finishing 4th and 6th overall respectively, and booking their place at the CIS Carnival. Sebastian Vardavas then put the disappointment of the relay behind him to finish 12th overall in the 10 years 100m. When you consider that there were over 120 boys in this age group alone, it was a mighty effort from the young Wyvernian.
Aiden Fisher also put the disappointment of the relay behind him as he ran his way into 4th overall in the 11 years 100m, which was just ahead of Jamie Karabesinis, who was cruelly given 8th position by the barest of margins. Unfortunately for Jamie, it was a similar story in the 200m, where he missed the IPSHA team by 0.02 of a second. Aiden completed the double in the 200m however, finishing 5th overall and booking his spot for both the sprint events. And young Aaron Protas ran very strongly and achieved selection in the 13 years 100m team for the CIS Carnival.
Jamie’s disappointment was short-lived however as he jumped another seasons best in the long jump, soaring 4.41m, finishing 3rd and booking his place in the team. Young Julian ‘Kwokenator’ Kwok was not to be outdone as he jumped another personal best of 4.40m in the 12 years Long Jump, and booking his place in the CIS team, finishing 5th overall. Josh Bowd was happy, but not ecstatic with his efforts in the 12 years Discus as he booked his place in the CIS team, throwing 30.83m and finishing 3rd overall.
And what of the boys in the 200m, who had to wait hour upon hour to complete their races! They delivered some excellent performances, with young Daniel Nicholas running strongly in the Junior event, rounding out a very full program for the young Linfieldian. Rhett Schlaphoff also ran very strongly, finishing 2nd in his heat, and running a personal best in the process. Marcel Chew and Patrick Fitzgerald also ran extremely well, with Oliver Sheldrick and Lorcan Kavanagh bringing it home in style in the final events.
So what to say about the IPSHA Carnival this year? Personal bests, CIS qualification, great experiences! I think it can be summed up by Julian Kwok, who after receiving the news that he had qualified for CIS in the long jump, produced a smile that would light up the darkest day, and sat their contently, smiling, cheering and absorbing what was the best sporting moment of his life to date. That is sport as far as I am concerned, going above and beyond what you think is possible of yourself. What will come next when the 12 September rolls along…….
Inter House Tennis – Roseville Park
Another day, and more glorious conditions awaited our finest athletes, as they embarked upon the Newington Classic Tennis Championships, which is a lead up to the big Newington Open on the 15 September. 48 fine young tennis players took to seven courts, eagerly looking to have their names engraved in history as the one to put either Rydal or Kingswood in histories pages.
After 6 gruelling matches on each court, we had 7 finalists. The eighth had to be decided through three round robin matches which saw Patrick Tomes, Keaghan Davey-Webb, Tom Bell, Harry Bell, Luca Russo and Hugh Holm fight it out. When it was all said and done, Luca emerged victorious and into 8th spot, with the following seven places taken by Charlie Timpson, Reuben Chippeck, Nicholas Bunis, Rory Ansell, Aston Bloom, Simon James and Harry Quinn.
With two boys eliminated each round, the matches were fiercely contested. Early final exits from Simon James and Luca Russo led to similar exits for both Rory Ansell and Nicholas Bunis. A very tough match between Reuben and Aston saw the latter advance with some deft touches and brutal back court dominance. The final was set, Aston Bloom (YEAR 2!!!) v Harry Quinn (Year 5)….
And despite losing his opening service game, the more fancied opponent came out on top in the end with Harry Quinn winning 3-1 in the final to help Rydal to yet another victory in the Tennis. A star was born in Bloom, who showed poise, balance and a maturity far exceeding his 7 years. Can’s wait for the Open in a few weeks time……
Mr Mark Caulfield
Sports Coordinator
