Local rider Boyd Hollis grabbed the opportunity to put his name alongside some big-name previous winners by taking out the final of the 2020 Tradecore Industries Senior Casey Stoner Cup last Saturday at the Kurri Kurri Junior Motor Cycle Club’s Loxford Park Raceway.

The host club also provided the Junior Cup winner in Cody Lewis.

Hollis felt the pressure of the favourites tag going in to the meeting after having previously been runner-up behind notables like Jarred Brook, Kayden Downing and Connor Ryan.

But last Saturday the 8-lap final saw Hollis lead all the way, even though placegetters Luke Bush and Kale Galeano kept the pressure on him throughout.

When he pulled up after a victory lap with the checkered flag his first words to track announcer Peter Baker was simply “At last”.

Hollis had earlier won the Pro 450 final ahead of surprise packet, motocross regular Danny Anderson with Galeano third.

The Pro 250 class saw Angus Hutchinson win all five rounds to continue his recent good form, but he failed to reproduce good results from the heats when the Cup and Pro 450 finals came around.

Classes for Over 35s and Pre’95s machines were both won by Eric Smaller, and there was no lessening of intensity or excitement when they took to the track.

Junior racing again showcased the great talent coming through the ranks.

Even with a small entry list in the 13 to Under 16s the expected close battles for honours ensued and Cody Lewis made it a double for the host club winning the one-off 6-lap Casey Stoner Junior Cup final ahead of Michael West and Rory Hutchinson.

That trio was involved in plenty of close battles during the program.

In the younger age brackets both Alexander Adamson and Riley Nauta scored two class wins, while Taylen Howard and Jake Paige had a win and a minor placing.

Nauta and Howard, along with Jake and Bodie Paige all made the trip down from Queensland worthwhile.

This annual dirt track meeting at the Loxford Park Raceway is normally run in the early part of the calendar year, but ultimately was fortunate to be staged at all in a year so disrupted for sporting events.

The New South Wales Junior Track Championships to be held at Tamworth’s Oakburn Park Speedway next weekend (November 28) meaning the state will get to stage all its State Championship meetings, along annual feature meetings like the Akubra Classic and the Casey Stoner Cup in what has been a much abbreviated season of racing.

View results here

Press Release prepared by Peter Baker 0409 903196; bakerp@westnet.com.au

On behalf of Kurri Kurri Junior Motorcycle Club

CASEY STONER CUP – This Weekend

Local rider Boyd Hollis has the perfect opportunity to put his name alongside some big-name previous winners when he contests the annual Tradecore Industries Casey Stoner Cup dirt track meeting this Saturday, November 21.

After many months of inactivity the Kurri Kurri Junior Motor Cycle Club will swing back in to action as it again honours its former member Casey Stoner who went on to become Moto GP world champion.

The Loxford Park Raceway, situated in Dickson Road, Loxford, has hosted this Casey Stoner Cup for over a decade and already has an impressive list of previous winners.

Boyd Hollis has been runner –up in three of the last four years, but with no previous winners among the entries for this weekend Hollis has the opportunity to stand on the top step of the rostrum.

Hollis will likely face his toughest opposition from another local Angus Hutchinson who was in fine form at the recent NSW Senior Track Championships at Quirindi.

The Junior Cup has attracted a smaller line-up but there is no stand-out contender which should ensure plenty of close battles to resolve the outcome.

Several riders who have won Australian championships are among entries in the other junior classes.

With so little racing having taken place this year Saturday’s meeting has drawn riders from as far away as Albury, the Far South Coast and the Gold Coast clubs heading to Kurri Kurri for some action.

Practice gets underway at 8.30am followed by the first round of competition with the Cup finals wrapping up the programme in the afternoon.

For fans it is a cheap day out on Saturday with just a $5.00 per car entry fee with full canteen facilities available.

Press Release prepared by Peter Baker,

On behalf of Kurri Kurri Junior Motorcycle Club.

Following information we have been providing you all over the last 48hrs, the office attended a briefing session with the Office of Sport and Dr Kerry Chant late yesterday afternoon. During this meeting we were provided updated advice relating the community sport recommendations detailed in the letter distributed earlier this week.

• Letter from Dr Kerry Chant – Chief Health Officer (NSW Health)
• Announcement from SportNSW

Below is the advice our office was provided to support the sport and recreation sector to interpret and apply the recommendations outlined in the letter from the Chief Health Officer.

 

Advice on ceasing activities that result in mixing of participants from different regions Community Sport –Team and Individual Competitions and Leagues

 

• The principle is to restrict activities to local competitions to avoid inter-mingling and potential community transmission.
• Competitions should be run within the local district, zone or association boundaries (see below)
• Competitions may run across local government areas within these boundaries, but if there are enough teams or players within one LGA, a more local competition should be considered.
• In regional NSW (i.e. outside of Greater Sydney), existing competition structures or scheduling should aim to minimise the need for overnight travel. If overnight travel is required in order to participate in sporting activities in regional NSW, carpooling or other shared transport arrangements should be avoided. The use of shared accommodation facilities that would lead to mixing of people from different households should also be avoided.
• If participants are members of a club not located within their local area, they should consider whether it is necessary to participate in club activities at this time.
• It is acknowledged that associations and districts across Greater Sydney and regional NSW may need to maintain their existing arrangements with neighbouring associations or districts to ensure there are enough teams to participate in a competition.

 

The Office of Sport have advised the regional ‘Regions’ as per the below:

 

• Hunter
• North Coast
• Central Coast
• Metropolitan Sydney
• Illawarra
• South East & Tablelands
• New England/North West
• Central West and Orana
• Riverina Murray
• Far West

https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/sectordevelopment/nsw-government-regional-boundaries

 

Sydney’s ‘Regions’ as below:

 

• Western city
• Central city
• Eastern city
• North
• South

https://www.greater.sydney/district-plans 

We will continue to liaise with the Department of Health and Office of Sport regarding the implementation of the Department of Health Recommendations and any possible adjustments which flow from them. Whilst this process is taking place we will continue to observe the terms of the existing Public Health Order. Again, we encourage our clubs to continue running their local club competitions and ride days within their greater region area, however we reinforce the importance of your current COVID-safe plans and the necessity for following the terms of those plans in the letter.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why are these additional recommendations being put in place for community sport?

Since the return of community sport on 1 July, we have seen an increased number of COVID19 cases in NSW. It is essential we implement a range of additional measures across industries and sectors where there is a high risk of community transmission, or where many people may come into social contact with others that they do not usually mix with.

 

Why is there a concern about mixing participants from zones?

We have seen over the past few weeks how easy it is for the virus to be transmitted across local communities by people going about their regular activities prior to testing positive for COVID-19. By bringing people together from different regions of Greater Sydney and more broadly across NSW, there is an increased risk of introduction of new infections into communities, as well as ongoing community transmission once established. Community sport is one of several sectors and industries where there is increased interaction of people from outside their local communities, therefore these additional recommendations aim to limit this interaction to minimise the risk of community transmission.

 

Why are additional restrictions being placed on community sport?

Sport brings together a range of people from across different communities, increasing the risk of community transmission. The public health advice is that these additional recommendations are needed for a period of 6 weeks in the first instance, to reduce the risk of community transmission.

 

Our competition has already commenced, our scheduling has been finalised and our fixtures and activities take place across multiple locations and regions – what should we do?

You should consider what steps you can take to cease activities that result in the mixing of participants and staff from different regions, in line with the advice above. This may require the postponement or cancellation of fixtures including but not limited to regional or state championships or competitions. Alternatively, it may be possible to alter or split a competition or event so that fixtures remain local. It is acknowledged that associations and districts across Greater Sydney and regional NSW may need to maintain their existing arrangements with neighbouring associations or districts to ensure there are enough teams to participate in a competition.

 

Does this affect competitions that are played across local government areas?

Competitions may run across local government areas within these boundaries, but if there are enough teams or players within one LGA, a more local competition should be considered.

 

What does this mean for scheduling of upcoming finals and events?

The additional recommendations are anticipated to remain in place for the next six weeks. Organisations may need to consider the scheduling of finals in the context of these additional recommendations.

 

Will this be updated in the COVID-19 Safety Plans as a requirement for community sport organisations?

At this time, the recommendations relating to limiting mixing across regions have not been included in the COVID-19 Safety Plan checklist for community sport. The safety plan will be updated to include the advice in relation to limiting spectator numbers to a single parent where the child requires parental supervision during the sporting activity, and to avoid group singing or chanting (including cheering). NSW Health is seeking the cooperation of community sport organisations in complying with these additional recommendations. Should community transmission continue or increase, the Public Health Orders and COVID-19 Safety Plan requirements may be reviewed and amended accordingly.

 

Why is there such a short time frame to implement the additional recommendations?

We are at a critical time in the pandemic. It is essential that we act quickly and implement additional measures to protect local communities from the risk of community transmission.

 

What does this mean for inter-region or state championship events scheduled for the October Long weekend and beyond?

Community sport organisations should consider contingency plans for postponement for events and activities on the October long weekend in case the recommendations remain in place for more than 6 weeks. Summer season activity organisers should consider contingency plans aligned with these additional recommendations. NSW Health will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation over the next six weeks and provide further advice as the situation evolves.

 

Are there any changes to the current gathering sizes?

No, at this point in time there is no change to the current gathering size restriction of 500 people at community sport activities. For local activities, they include a requirement to limit spectators to one parent only, where the child requires parental supervision during the sporting activity.

 

How are sports supposed to monitor the one parent per child rule at open sports grounds and venues?

Community sport organisations should already be considering measures within their COVID Safety Plans to minimise spectators at community sport. This may include communicating in advance with parents, erecting signage in the carpark around the grounds and through PA announcements at the venue.

 

If I arrange my own accommodation rather than using communal or residential accommodation facilities, is it OK to part participate in multiday activities?

Community sport organisations should cease activities that result in the mixing of participants and staff from different regions. In general, if your activity is going to result in travel that requires participants to stay overnight, then it recommended that the activity should cease for 6 weeks. In regional NSW (i.e. outside of Greater Sydney), existing competition structures or scheduling should aim to minimise the need for overnight travel. If overnight travel is required in order to participate in sporting activities in regional NSW, carpooling or other shared transport arrangements should be avoided. The use of shared accommodation facilities that would lead to mixing of people from different households should also be avoided.

Due to uncertainty in the continually changing health environment, shown below are new recommendations for community sport that have been advised today by Dr Kerry Chant, Chief Medical Officer, NSW Health.

Sporting organisations are requested to commence implementation of these recommendations by Wednesday, 19 August and it is anticipated that they will be in place for the next six (6) weeks.

At this stage, community sport may be able to continue as it is currently being implemented providing that it does not require inter-regional mixing including activities which bring together participants (including spectators and officials) from organisations in different regions of Sydney, from a rural area into a metro area and vice versa, and movement between different rural areas.

It is essential that all community sports organisations have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place, and are fully compliant with their Plan.

Full article can be read here