Sports shorts: Hurricanes to head north on victory tour
Get the latest news from across the state in our Sports Shorts column, including the Hurricanes’ northern trophy tour, Sunday’s big Launceston race meeting, CTPL cricket and a local hockey star’s triumph in India.
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Tasmanians are continuing to make their mark on the sporting world.
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HURRICANES TAKE TROPHY NORTH
Northern-based Hurricanes fans will get a chance to celebrate with the squad who finally broke their BBL drought early this week.
The Hurricanes will bring the trophy to Devonport’s Meercroft Park from 3.30-5pm on Monday, and Launceston’s Invermay Park from 10am-11.30am on Tuesday.
Hobart won its maiden title after a memorable Mitch Owen century set up an easy home win over Sydney Thunder in Monday’s final.
It’s a similar tour the JackJumpers embarked on when they won last season’s NBL championship.
“Winning BBL14 was something very special for all of Tasmania, and while only 15,709 people had the chance to attend the game at Ninja Stadium on Monday, we knew that there was an entire state behind us,” Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker said.
“The Hurricanes Fan Days will give our players and organisation a chance to thank everyone for their support of the Hurricanes throughout this summer.”
Tasmania’s men also play a one day cup match against NSW at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium on Wednesday.
Mitch Owen won’t be a part of the Tigers’ line up after he made his debut for South African T20 side Paarl Royals.
Fresh from his devastating 108 off 42 balls against the Thunder, he was dismissed for just seven on Saturday night as the Royals lost by 48 runs to Sunrisers East Cape.
He also claimed 2-36 off three overs with the ball.
BELTZ PLAYS BIG ROLE IN HOCKEY INDIA LEAGUE TITLE
- Adam Clifford
Tasmanian Hayden Beltz is celebrating after playing a leading role in the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers claiming the Hockey India League title, defeating the Hyderabad Toofans 4-3.
Beltz, recently elevated into the Kookaburras senior squad, capped an impressive tournament after being picked up for $21,000 AUD in the player auction.
A hat-trick from Indian star Jugraj Singh and 54th minute winner from New Zealand international Sam Lane capped victory in front of over 25,000 screaming fans, with Beltz struggling to put the experience into words.
“The HIL experience has been incredible, with the final a sell out and people literally sitting on the stairways to fit into the ground,” Beltz said.
“We had a well-rounded team of Indian players with a good combination of eight internationals with different strengths and I think that got us over the line.
“The final was crazy, with lots of lead changes and while field goals outnumbered penalty corners through the tournament, that was reversed in the final.
“It was such a surreal moment in the last minute of the final, as I couldn’t believe we were so close to victory, then it was such a good feeling when time ran out an we won.”
The Tigers claimed a $550,000 AUD prize money for clinching the title, but Beltz says it has raised some eyebrows with the team owner currently only splitting 17 per cent of the kitty with the playing group.
“The second placed team are chasing one hundred per cent with their players, so the international players might review whether they sign on for next season unless that increases but we’ll have to wait and see.
“I believe the salary cap is also increasing next year and the international players only have one-year deals, so there’s a few contract conversations that still need to happen.
“But in terms of developing my game, it’s been a career highlight and I’ve definitely improved my confidence on the ball and it’s been the best I’ve ever felt carrying the ball and making plays.”
Beltz will return to Perth for a light training week and before linking up with the Kookaburras squad in Sydney as they prepare for FIH Pro League matches against the Netherlands and Spain in Sydney from February 4-9.
Tassie Tigers pair Jack Welch and Josh Beltz will feature in those matches, before an Australian side is selected for further matches in Argentina later this month.
TASSIE TEAMS FINISH SIXTH, BRONZE AT NATIONALS
Tasmania’s men’s and women’s basketball teams both finished sixth after last day defeats at the under-20 national championships in Ballarat on Sunday.
Despite another monster game from Launceston’s Logan Gibson (21 points off 7-11 shooting, 15 rebounds) Tasmania fell just short in the fifth place playoff against WA 72-68.
Scores were level at halftime and three quarter time, but WA found just enough down the stretch to prevail.
Although teammates Jacob Furphy and Nash Walker are Australia representatives, Gibson was a standout all tournament.
He also racked up 25 points and 15 rebounds in Saturday’s 65-59 win over NSW Blue.
Furphy had 23 points and six rebounds against WA, while Emig French (nine point, seven assists, three rebounds, two steals) was a strong all round contributor off the bench.
The women also played WA in the fifth place playoff, but their rivals set up a 67-57 win by outscoring Tasmania by 19 points across the first and third quarters.
Meanwhile, Tasmania’s Ivor Burge men picked up the bronze medal after defeating NSW 94-77.
Incredibly four of Tasmania’s starting five - Deegan Campbell (18 points, ten rebounds), Brayden Cowell (15 points, 17 rebounds), Dylan Pace (24 points, ten rebounds) and Jeremiah Rickard (23 points, 14 rebounds) picked up double-doubles.
DALE GOES DOWN IN BURNIE FINAL
Emerging Tasmania tennis ace Alicia Dale has started a big few weeks in style by making the final of the Burnie Junior International.
Hobart’s Dale, who became the first Tasmanian in 44 years to win the Australia Cup in her home town in May, fell to highly rated no.1 seed Sarah Mildren 6-1 6-0.
Dale advanced to the decider after outlasting West Australian Sara Nikolic 6-1 4-6 6-4 on Saturday in a near two-and-a-half hour triumph.
The Burnie International begins a hectic schedule for Tasmanian tennis, with the Launceston Junior International to take place on the upgraded Launceston Regional Tennis Centre from Monday.
The schedule then moves on to senior action highlighted by the return of the Launceston International from February 24, which is preceded by the Tasmanian Championships at Devonport from February 10 and the Burnie International from February 17.
CTPL: TEAMS DIG IN TO AVOID OUTRIGHT TWO-DAY DEFEATS
Four teams all managed to avoid costly outright defeats on day two of CTPL matches on Saturday.
Greater Northern Raiders still find themselves just inside the top four after their batters did enough to stave off a Kingborough attack searching for maximum points at Kingston Oval.
Behind by 110 runs on the first innings after being dismissed for 133, the Raiders were 6-170 in their second dig when play was ended.
Knights seamer Cameron Walter capped a strong game with a miserly 2-20 off 14 overs, but the visitors dug deep after a top order collapse put them in grave danger.
Opener Thomas Dwyer’s dismissal for 21 saw the Raiders lose 3-0 to slump to 3-26.
But a defiant knock from fellow opener Oliver Knowles (37 off 110 balls) and solid middle order contributions from Alastair Taylor (34), Sam Omahony (39 not out) and Dravid Rao (21 not out) ensure the Raiders avoided outright defeat.
North Hobart also did enough to avoid conceding maximum points against University at TCA Ground.
Trailing by 107 runs after the first innings, the Demons ended the match at 7-190 in their second innings.
Aiden Bariol made 60 for the Demons and Sanjay Anandarajah (38 not out) and Robb Macmillan (24 not out) put on an unbeaten 36 runs for the eighth wicket.
Zac Phair was the standout bowler for University with 4-37 off 14 overs.
New Town’s clash with Glenorchy was never in danger of ending in an outright result after the Magpies finished on 4-172 in their second innings.
The Bucks declared their first innings at 7-251 with a 79-run lead, but Glenorchy’s top six held firm to see out the day.
Captain Josh Hartill held down one end with an unbeaten 73 off 183 balls, while Alex Rolle (29 off 78) and Zac Pfitzner (21 off 111) also frustrated the visitors’ attack.
In the other game Clarence declared at 8-183 with a lead of 240 runs against Lindisfarne, but Lightning openers Mac Wright (20 not out) and Tom McGann (26 not out) negotiated the last ten overs of the game.
A two day round will be held over the next two Saturdays.
ENDURANCE STAR CHASES 32-YEAR FIRST
Tasmanian endurance athlete Alex Hunt has his sights set on making history next weekend.
The 33-year-old civil engineer from Hobart is set to compete in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast endurance race in New Zealand.
Travelling 243km from the South Island’s west to east coast, Hunt will be involved in three main disciplines including cycling, running and kayaking.
The event is older the famous Hawaiian Ironman with Hunt aiming to become the first Australian since Victoria’s John Jacoby in 1993 to win the event.
To help his preparation, the Tasmanian relocated to New Zealand at the start of January.
He finished third in 2023 and has competed five times before.
“It wasn’t an immediate decision to come back, that’s for sure,” Hunt said,
“I’d told myself and my family that it was going to be the last one, but Maggie my partner was supportive and keen for me to go again.”
Heading into the race on February 8, Hunt believes he can improve his kayaking skills with a 30.5km mountain run his biggest strength.
“I think my performance on the river let me down last year so that’s where we’ve been focusing the most of our attention,” he said.
“Race strategy has been a huge part of it for me in recent years. Just hanging in there when you’re not feeling good- when it’s just not working for you.”
SHELTON’S HOT START TO 2025
Rising Tasmanian athletics star Liam Shelton has continued his impressive start to 2025.
On Sunday, the 23-year-old took out the men’s javelin at the World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger meet in Brisbane which was a special throws event.
The Launceston based school teacher threw 69.60m to finish ahead of Queensland’s Neil Janse (68.48m) and Oscar Sullivan (68.47m).
It continued a remarkable start to the year for Shelton who threw 72.10m at a recent Athletic South’s interclub competition, which was the second longest throw in Tasmanian history.
Only his coach, Olympian Hamish Peacock, has thrown further.
Shelton will now turn his attention to the world ranking meet in Hobart on February 8.
In other athletics achievements in recent days, Sam Lindsay became the Tasmanian 10,000m race walk champion while competing in his first supernova in Canberra.
The 16-year-old finished in a time of 44:07.20 to become the fifth fastest Tasmanian of all-time over the distance.
Milly Clark won her seventh open state title after winning the Tasmanian 3000m championships while Sam Maurer was also successful.
Earlier this month, Jacob Gardner took out the men’s 5000m state title with Beth Allen claiming the women’s event.
RISING STAR SHINES AT SURF EVENT
A young surfing rising star from Victoria has taken the Red Herring Pro-Am by storm on the weekend.
Sophie Wilkinson, from the Peninsula Boardriders Club, made it a clean sweep after winning the under-18s girls and open women’s titles.
In the under-18 girls final, Wilkinson narrowly beat rising Tasmanian Ava Carlton before getting the better of NSW’s Leila Salt in the women’s decider.
Oscar Salt claimed the men’s final in a replay of last year’s competition against Taj Air, who won the under-18 boys.
DESPARD FIRES
Tasmanian sprinter Jacob Despard has made an impressive start to his 2025.
The 28-year-old secured his World Indoor Championship qualifying time in the 60m sprint at the Capital Athletics Open and Under 20 Championships across the weekend.
Despard’s race saw Lachie Kennedy steal the show with his 6.43 (+1.6) time the equal 10th fastest of all time.
On Sunday night, Despard took out the 100m section two final in a time of 10.58s.
EXCITING GALLOPER JUSTIFIES FAVOURITISM AT LAUNCESTON
— Duncan Dornauf
Durazzo ($1.40 fav) continued on his feature race success when claiming the Three and Four-Year-Olds Magic Millions (1400m) in Launceston on Sunday.
Jockey Kelvin Sanderson took the four-year-old gelded son of Needs Further to the lead after the first 200m and the tempo until Sanderson asked the gelding to go at the 200m, where he raced away from his rivals for an easy four-length win over Perola ($6.00) and Stardarmus ($8.50)
“He is a lovely no fuss horse. He is the real deal,” winning trainer Barry Campbell said.
“He only let him go the last furlong, and he put four lengths on them, and they came home in just over 33.8s (his last 600m), so it’s a good gallop.
Campbell confirmed that the horse will now head to the $125,000 Thomas Lyons Stakes at Listed level on Hobart Cup, with the race set to feature The Inevitable.
“If he pulls up (he will go to the Thomas Lyons), we won’t go there if he isn’t right,” Campbell said.
“I thought it was going to be stinking hot, but it is bearable today, and we will take him to the beach on Monday, and the chiropractor will go over him, and we’ll tick all the boxes and see how we will go.
Sanderson confirmed post-race that he was concerned with the gelding having his first try at 1400m.
“I was concerned stepping out to the 1400m for the first time after all those sprint races,” Sanderson said.
“He found the front and relaxed really well. He let me know when they were coming to him, he picked the bit up, and I was along for the ride.
Minor upset in 2YO Magic Millions
Sanniya ($12) caused a minor upset when ending the winning run of Zany Girl ($1.40 fav) in the 2YO Magic Millions Classic (1200m).
Rider Craig Newitt took Sanniya to the lead after the first 200m, and the daughter of Stratosphere responded when challenged by Zany Girl near the 300m, with three quarters of a length between the pair at the finish.
“We came here fairly confident, not knocking Zany Girl, but she had only won three maidens, and when she jumped and led, I thought she would be hard to beat,” trainer Campbell said.
“She has been good in her work and has educated really well. She had two trials and wasn’t knocked about in either of them.
“She is probably not our best two-year-old, either. We should have a bit of fun this year.
“If we have got to go to the paddock, we will, but she is fit, and well, she will definitely go to the Gold Sovereign,” said Campbell.
The filly was purchased at last year’s Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $67,500 by Star Thoroughbreds.
The Launceston meeting was brought forward to start at 10:43am and concluded at 3:22pm to avoid racing in the hottest part of the day.
* Duncan Dornauf is also a race caller for Sky Racing.
BOWLS TOP FOUR LOOKS SET
— Peter Kirby
With four roster games to play, the top four is all but settled in Bowls South’s Saturday Premier Division Pennant with Sandy Bay clear leaders, Kingborough solid in second and fourth-placed Rosny Park seventeen points clear of fifth-placed Glenorchy Rodman.
Sandy Bay defeated visitors Claremont on three rinks 94-69, the win set up early by Josh Lording’s 35-16 defeat of Michael Taylor.
Keghan Booth defeated Claremont’s John McDonald 25-13 and Andrew Norris won 19-18 against Claremont’s Paul Hart. Dean Shaw secured a rink win for the visitors by beating Justin Plummer 22-15.
Kingborough’s three-rink 86-69 win at home to Glenorchy Rodman consolidated second
place on the ladder with Nathan Dinning the standout, defeating Rodman’s Danny Gahan by
eleven shots 27-16.
“Jason Fowler was never headed by Rodman’s Cam Tegg, finishing eight shots up 24-16.
Will Coad defeated Rod Turner by four shots, 21-17, to round out Kingborough’s three-rink
win, while Stephen Clifford was Rodman’s sole winning skip, beating Ryan Guy-Rees 20-14.
Brighton strengthened their position in the top four with an all-rinks win over Cremorne, 95-
47. Matt Breward led the way for Brighton, defeating Ralph Tieman 25-5.
Mick Daniels continued his stellar season, defeating Phil Ions 25-9 and Grant Wakefield had a comfortable eight-shot win over Peter Marshall. Riley Davie claimed the fourth rink for Brighton, defeating Cremorne’s Ashley Banks, 22-18.
At Rosny Park, the hosts claimed an easy all-rinks win 102-55 against Buckingham, keeping Rosny firmly in fourth place just one point behind Brighton in third.
Rosny skips Dale Maundrill and Nic Courto each had 15-shot wins against their Bucks
opponents. Maundrill beat Alvin Cooke, 31-16, and Courto defeated George Kovacs, 27-
12.
Darren Monks finished ten shots to the better of Bucks’ Craig Owen, 25-15, and Peter
Bannister completed a perfect day for Rosny by beating Bucks’ Stuart Rees by seven.
Dover won by 26 at home to Howrah, 92-66. Bill Butler set his up his side for a memorable win away by beating Dover’s Brad Carver 26-9.
Unfortunately, none of Howrah’s other skips were able to emulate Butler’s winning efforts,
with Dover’s skips winning each of the other three contests.
Chris Noris more than answered Butler’s advantage, defeating Howrah’s Stephen Hyland by
23 shots supported by Cam Norris’ 27-16 win over Peter Jenkins, and Roger Dale’s nine-shot victory against Glenn Frame.
MANNERING CLAIMS LINE HONOURS
- Nick Hutton
Steve Mannering’s Zeston 40 Camlet Way took the line honours and handicap double in both Long and Harbour Series in Saturday’s Hobart Combined Clubs pennant racing, conducted by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.
With the Derwent delivering champagne sailing conditions, Camlet Way led the fleet home having sailed the Ralphs Bay - Crayfish Point course in just under two hours, finishing over three minutes ahead of arch rival Innovator, sailed by Ian Smith and Dean Aberle.
Group 1 boats sailed to Ralphs Bay then Piersons Point, enjoying a quick trip up the river in a shifty but solid south-easterly. Group 2 sailed two-laps of a Ralphs Bay, John Garrow Light course, making the most of the conditions.
In Group 1 Paul McCartney’s Porco Rosso took line honours and first on IRC handicap in the Long Race series. Gary Smith’s Fork in the Road took PHS honours in the Long and Harbour Series and ORC in the Harbour Series, with Midnight Rambler (Ed Psaltis) snaring the win in Long Race ORC.
David Calvert’s Intrigue, a perennial pennant winner, took the win on IRC in the Harbour Series.
Chris Sheahan’s Young 88 Saga popped up for wins in ORC and IRC divisions in Group 2, sharing the spoils with Jean-Piere Ravanat’s Hip-Nautic.
Andrew Crisp’s Bandwagon, a one-design Etchells class, took the win in Group 2 ORC in the Harbour Series.
Next Saturday sees the annual Bruny Island Race starting at 9:00am off the Royal Hobart Regatta grounds, and on Monday of the long weekend, RYCT is running the Lipton Cup for keelboats on behalf of the regatta association. Racing starts around 1pm.
Got your own sporting achievements? Reach out to us at mercury.sport@themercury.com.au
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