Barellan Masters Games attracts hundreds of athletes

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More than 250 elite and amateur senior athletes from around NSW will compete across 10 events at the Barellan Masters Games this weekend.

Now in its eleventh year, the Games will feature tennis (singles and mixed doubles), triathlon, walking, women’s basketball, lawn bowls, netball, 6-a-side cricket and the equestrian event of cattle team sorting.

A highlight will be the official opening of the newly laid tennis courts at Barellan on Saturday, February 27 at 10am by the Goolagong family.

Family members will represent Australian tennis legend and former Barellan resident Evonne Goolagong-Cawley who was unable to attend the Masters Games on medical advice.

“We are fortunate that 10 to 12 of the Goolagong family will be in attendance to mark the official opening of the new Barellan Tennis complex,” Games spokesman Carl Chirgwin said.

Funding for the project has been received from the NSW State Government’s Stronger Country Communities grant of $267,417 along with locally acquired funding for an additional $83,000 which has been invested into the new tennis centre.

Updates have included a new court surface, playing lights, clubhouse facilities and tennis equipment.

Originally held biannually, the Masters Games started in 2010 with the aim of bringing professional and amateur sportspeople aged 30 years and over together to promote fellowship, and is run under the Australian Masters guidelines.

The Masters Games has gained a widespread reputation as an event catering for masters level sports people, providing a fun-filled weekend boosting the town and participants’ spirits year after year.

Games organising committee member Carl Chirgwin said interest in the event had really increased in 2021 due to the lack of social opportunities during the COVID pandemic, and the event was already attracting widespread interest again this year.

While it’s a competitive event, the Games is also a great morale booster for the community of Barellan and those participating.

“People get to enjoy their sport in a great atmosphere and the Games play an important role in mental health as well as healthy participation in a sporting event, both as teams and individuals,” Mr Chirgwin said.

“It inspires older generations to take part in an event specifically for them, as well as an enjoyable social occasion.”

Mr Chirgwin said the 2020 games was a resounding success and the introduction of softball helped the other sports.

Last year the event drew 208 competitors this year with 259 entries across nine sports.

Each sport has an individual sports co-ordinator.

Jeanette Overs will be co-ordinating the Serafin Ag Pro Triathlon on Sunday, February 28.

The event will start at the Barellan swimming pool at 7am and competitors will need to be at the pool at least one hour before registration to receive route instructions.

Athletes can compete either as an individual or team but the minimum age is 30 years.

The race will be in three legs of 300m swim, 5km run and 12.5km cycle.

Lou Robertson is overseeing the Athletes Foot Netball Competition at the Barellan Sportsground on Sunday at 9am.

There will be only one age group with teams sorted accordingly into the master or social divisions.

David Elwin is looking after the Yenda Pioneer Butchery 6-a-side cricket at the Barellan sports ground on Sunday from 9am.

Teams will be handicapped on a run system based on their ages, and the minimum age is 35.

Mark Kenny is co-ordinating the Barellan and District War Memorial Club lawn bowls competition to be held at the Barellan War Memorial Club bowling greens on Saturday from 5.30pm.

The mixed fours event requires players to be aged 30 and over.

There will be two games of six ends and teams will be awarded five points for a win.

One point will be awarded for each end won, and if there is a tie, another end will be played until a win achieved.

The Mark Flagg Livestock and Property tennis competition is coordinated by Louise Hornery and will get underway at the Barellan Tennis Courts on Saturday with singles and doubles from 9am.

The mixed doubles will be played on Sunday from 10am.

Carl Chirgwin overseas the Elgas Golf Competition at the Barellan Golf Course on Saturday from 8am to 3pm.

The two person Ambrose format over nine holes will cater for golfers aged 30 years and over.

Barellan Golf Club house rules apply.

Bec Brody is coordinating the Codemo Machinery cattle team sorting at the Barellan showgrounds on Saturday from 11am.

The minimum age is 25 years and normal team sorting rules will apply.

Registrations and payment will take place at the Barellan sportsground beforehand.

Carl Chirgwin is the co-ordinator for the J and A Waide Seed Grading walking on Saturday at the Barellan sportsground at 8am.

There will be 3km and 6km walks for those aged 30-49 years or 50 plus.

The McNabb Fuels Basketball competition will be overseen by Jodie Landy on Saturday at the Barellan Central School from 9am.

The competition is for women only with the minimum age of 30 years.

Samuel Daymond is coordinating the South West Fuels mixed softball competition from 11am on Saturday at the Barellan sportsground.

Played under modified rules, there are 10 players for team with a minimum of three ladies per team.

Each game runs for an hour or four to five innings, and play will be across two ovals.

Mr Chirgwin said the event will follow a COVID-Safe plan including QR code scanning, sanitiser stations and regular sanitation of equipment and social distancing.

“To date we have pledged about $95,000 to projects within our community from solar heating at the pool, new netball courts at the sportsground to a new verandah at the CWA hall,” he said.

“Each year organisations within our community are encouraged to put in a grant application for funds required to complete any projects they have for improving infrastructure.”

Applications are open from June 1 to June 30 each year.

The committee thanks gold sponsor, the Narrandera and District Community Bank Barellan and silver sponsors Athletes Foot, Griffith, Yenda Pioneer Butchery, Barellan and District War Memorial Club, Seraf in Ag Pro, Elgas, South West Fuels Temora, F and R McNabb Pty Ltd, J & A Waide Seed Grading Services, Mark Flagg Livestock and Property and Codemo Machinery.

Bronze sponsors are Elders, Vaccari’s Bakery, GB’s Sport and Lifestyle, Barellan General Store, Leeton Hire, Golden Grain Café, Irons Ag and Earth Repairs, and Golden Apple Superstore.

The Narrandera Argus is a proud pink sponsor of the Masters Games.

For more details visit www.barellanmastersgames.com.au

Saturday, February 27