The Western Region Academy of Sport has returned from the 2011 ClubsNSW Academy Games held in Armidale the past weekend with good performances across the sports of basketball, golf, hockey and lawn bowls.

A highlight of the event was the performance of the WRAS golf team who won the overall net score by 4 strokes from the Gold Coast Academy of Sport. Joshua Carpenter (Orange) also took out the Individual Nett title with a score of 139 (4 strokes ahead of his nearest rival).

WRAS athletes also figured prominently in most valuable player voting with Issac Clarke (Lithgow) winning the WRAS lawn bowls MVP. Nick Kelly (Parkes) and Amelia Leard (Lithgow) were named the WRAS hockey MVP’s.

WRAS executive officer Nancy Haslop was very pleased with the performance of the WRAS squads throughout the weekend.

“The weekend was a great success. It was great to see our athletes competing against other Academies from all over the State.” Haslop commented.

This year was the last occasion that the Games will be held in Armidale, with the Illawarra Academy of Sport being named hosts of the event from 2012-14.

The WRAS Athletes of the Month for February and March, sponsored by CSU, are basketball squad member James Niddrie from Young and hockey squad member Jack Baker from Cowra.

James continues to excel at school. He has been asked to represent the school youth council.  He also won a scholarship to ANU science week because of his academic achievement in science (only 10 places were offered).

James is the captain of his year 9/10 school basketball team. He continually shows leadership quality ever time he steps onto the basketball court. He is a great role model to his younger squad members and definitely fits the Motto of “No excuses, get it done!”

This year has seen Jack make the transition from his home town of Cowra to The Scots School and Boarding.  Whilst this may unsettle many youngsters, Jack has thrived on the move. Academically, Jack is making great progress and is heavily involved in the school sporting and boarding activities, and was voted as the Boarder’s SRC rep.

Jack has represented Scots in cricket, swimming, water polo, triathlon, cross country and hockey.  He also recently participated in the “Relay for Life” with other senior students from the Scots school.

Congratulations to both James and Jack!

Athletes, coaches and support staff from the Western Region Academy of Sport will make the trip to Armidale in just over a week to compete in the 2011 ClubsNSW Academy Games. The event will see the 11 Regional Academies of Sport across NSW come together for 3 days of competition across 7 sports.

WRAS will be represented in the boy’s and girl’s basketball and hockey, as well as the golf and lawn bowls competitions which commence on Friday 15 April and run through until Sunday 17 April.

Up to 1000 athletes, coaches and support staff are expected to converge on Armidale in what has become an Annual event on the Academy’s calendars.

WRAS executive officer Nancy Haslop is excited about the prospect of WRAS attending the event.

“The Academy Games provide our athletes and coaching staff the opportunity to gain some much needed competition against some quality opposition. It also allows our squads to experience the whole concept of tournament play, including the preparation needed to be at your physically best for the duration of the event” Haslop commented.

Daily updates and results will be available on the Games website at: www.academygames.com.au

Members of the Western Region Academy of Sport Lawn Bowls squad will hit the greens this Saturday 2 April at the Orange City Bowling Club for a packed day of training.

Local squad member Connor Anderson (Orange) will have the inside knowledge of the local green while other squad members Blake Bradtke (Grenfell), Issac Clarke (Lithgow), James Hunter (Grenfell), Dylan McAlister (Quandialla), Blake Smith (Lithgow) and Dylan Troy (Grenfell) will also get the chance to test their skills on the City greens.

WRAS Head Coach Ross Hunter of Grenfell is looking forward to assembling his squad again.

“Having the squad come together in Orange is a great chance for us to get some much needed training as we prepare for the ASi Academy Games to be held in Armidale in April. We will be working on some basic skills, including the areas of line and length” Hunter commented.

Training will commence at 10am and conclude at 3pm.

Scott Matheson (Bathurst) has been named the 2010/11 WRAS Golf Champion after beating James Grierson (Forbes) on a count-back following the Peter O’Malley Junior Masters (Jack Newton Junior Golf tour event) held at the Bathurst Golf Course 26-27 March.

Matheson had a 79 off the stick and had a 1 shot lead in the 13’s and under division heading into the last round. On the Sunday he carded a round of 77 which extended his lead to 3 giving him the Scratch overall total.

Matheson followed up his good performance on the weekend by winning the A Grade scratch event at the Western School Sports Association Golf Championship at Cowra on Monday by a massive 8 shots after shooting his fist sub-par score with a 1 under 70.

Other WRAS squad members also performed well at the Masters event held in Bathurst. Cameron Mitchell (Orange) was 1st in the 16’s and over division, Josh Carpenter (Orange) tied 5th in 15’s Division, Andrew Barclay (Wentworth Falls) tied 11th in the 16’s and over division, James Grierson (Forbes) tied 15th overall and Aaron Wilkie (Parkes) tied 25 in the 16’s and over division.

The squad now looks forward to competing at the ASi Academy Games to be held in Armidale in April.

Members of the Western Region Academy of Sport golf squad will compete in the Peter O’Malley Junior Masters (Jack Newton Junior Golf tour event) to be held in Bathurst on 26-27 March.

Local squad members Scott Matheson (Bathurst), Kayla Smith (Blayney) and Orange squad members Joshua Carpenter, Cameron Mitchell and Adam Snare will have the inside knowledge of the Bathurst Course. Other squad members James Grierson (Forbes), Aaron Wilkie (Parkes) and Andrew Barclay (Wentworth Falls) will also be tested by the local course.

WRAS Head Coach Bruce McLean of Orange is looking forward to seeing his charges in action.

“The Peter O’Malley Junior Masters event is a great chance for our squad to get some much needed competition as we look ahead to the ASi Academy Games to be held in Armidale in April. I am anticipating that the squad will perform well throughout the weekend” McLean commented.

The event is one of the largest on the Jack Newton Junior Golf tour, with over 200 participants expected to make the trip to Bathurst to compete.

Basketball NSW Intensive Training Program (ITP) head coach Mark Watkins visited Bathurst this week to work with High Performance Squad members Laurence Mifsud and Hannah and Haylee Lepaio. As well as being squad members of WRAS, Laurence and Hannah are also NSW ITP scholarship holders whilst Haylee is a NSW Institute of Sport Scholarship holder.

Watkins has an extensive coaching background having coached at the Australian Institute of Sport as well as in the National Basketball League. His vast knowledge was evident as he put the athletes thru two sessions focusing specifically on “big man” skills.

WRAS would like to thank Mark for visiting and working with our High Performance athletes.