THE Latrobe Valley Umpire Association’s 60th anniversary will be held this weekend with about 200 past and present whistleblowers set to attend.
An array of umpires of various vintages from as far as Western Australia and across New South Wales have committed to return for the special event.
“Initial replies have been really pleasing, but there is still room for a lot more” LVUA president Tim Pianta said.
“We’ve had over 1100 umpires go through our organisation over the years, so it would be good to see a few more of them help us celebrate the occasion.”
A number of the Association’s umpires who have gone on to greater heights in the AFL are also returning for the weekend.
“We’ve had quite a few members go on and reach the top,” Pianta said.
“It will be good to welcome them back and acknowledge their achievements.”
Registrations are still being accepted for the Saturday, 3 August reunion dinner and the ensuing traditional “Pleasant Sunday Morning”.
For more information or to express your interest in attending phone David Drane on 0413 997 257 or Barry Lawrence on 5134 1058.
Giddens takes the reins
Morwell Cricket Club has reappointed Craig Giddens as coach for the third consecutive year.
Eamon Fahy will again be assistant coach of the Central Gippsland Cricket Association club.
A leadership group has also been appointed with senior pre-season training scheduled to begin on 11 August and on 18 August at the Traralgon Indoor Cricket Centre from 10.30am. Anyone interested in playing should phone Giddens on 0409 755 198.
At the MCC’s recent general meeting Steve Reside was elected president for the 10th consecutive year.
Jeff Gniel was elected senior vice president, Mark Smith junior vice president, Mark Cukier treasurer, Stephen Bilic secretary and the general committee will include Giddens, Trav Willis, Peter Smith, David Clark, Brent Reside, Shane Gniel, Glen Gniel and Jack Hansford.
Prestigious tennis cup
YOUNG tennis aces will compete for top honours at the annual Frank Sedgman Cup, which will be hosted by the Traralgon Tennis Association this month.
Under 11 boys and girls from across Victoria, including metropolitan areas, will pit their skills against each other when they converge on the tennis precinct for the two-day event.
The competition is a round robin format with ties consisting of two boys singles, two girls singles and two mixed doubles rubbers.
About 16 teams are expected to participate.
TTA secretary Susie Grumley said the association welcomed the mixed aspect of the competition.
“Generally it is just doubles and singles and there is never usually a mixed segment; it is good that they learn to play mixed,” Grumley said.
She also welcomed the round robin format of the competition, as it allowed players to continue even after they lost.
The Frank Sedgman Cup is part of a series of regional team events held across Victoria each year.
The cup will be held from Saturday to Sunday.
Spectator entry to the competition is free.
Representative selections
FOLLOWING an outstanding season of over 60s cricket, the Gippsland Goannas have been rewarded with a spate of representative selections.
A total of 10 Goannas were chosen for Victorian teams to contest the national championships on the Sunshine Coast in September.
Ian Gibson, Allan Evans and Gordon Cowling made the division one side, Val Popov, Peter Dell and Ian Southall were picked in division two, while Kelvin Bond will captain the thirds.
Rick Pask and Phill Higgins made the cut for division four and Graeme Freshwater, who is set to play a series of tests for Australia’s over 70 side in the United Kingdom next month, will play for the Victorian over 70s.
All abilities football kicks off
SOUTHSIDE Junior Football Club’s all abilities under 10/12 athletes will play their first match tonight at Duncan Cameron reserve from 5pm.
The All Abilities program, which caters to disabled footballers, has been running at Southside for two years and currently has about 18 players on the books.
The modified match will include several Southside juniors from other teams to make up the numbers.
Due to the current condition of the ground the wheelchair players will not be able to take the field, but will instead captain/coach from the sideline.
Spectators are welcome.
For more information about the all abilities football program phone 0434 673 449.
