Ballina Information Blog

Ballina has been chosen to host the opening round of an exciting new netball competition.
All six netball associations of the Far North Coast will be fielding a senior team in the 2008 Premier Netball League, a regional Interdistrict competition of Netball NSW.
The Premier Netball League for the Far North Coast region of New South Wales [...]

The Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League grand final replay between Ballina Seagulls and Mullumbimby Giants turned into a no-contest at Kingsford Smith Park, Ballina, today, with the Giants emphatic 30-0 winners.
Mullumbimby proved too big, too fast and too well-drilled for the Seagulls.
The match-up was much-anticipated after last season’s epic grand final, which Mullum won 34-30 [...]

More miserable weather, and it’s set to continue throughout the weekend.
The swell is big and messy, so look towards the sheltered spots such as Byron if you’re contemplating battling the elements this weekend.
Conditions will be for the experienced surfers only.

Marine weather:
Friday: S/SE 20/30 knots. Sea: 2/3 metres. Swell: S/SE 3/4 metres. Dangerous surf conditions.
Outlook Saturday: [...]

Ballina Electorate sporting coaches and officials have been awarded grants under the 2008 NSW Country Coaches and Officials Travel Scheme, Member for Ballina Don Page announced.
“I am pleased to announce five local coaches and officials received total funding of $1940 under the scheme,” Mr Page said.
The successful recipients are:
Gerard Piper of Alstonville, AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission;
Gregory [...]

Firstly, our deepest sympathies to the family of Peter Edmonds, 16, of Wollongbar.
Peter and his mate Brock Curtis-Mathew went for what should have been a fun surf at North Wall on Tuesday morning, but it ended in tragedy when a shark mauled Peter, inflicting fatal wounds.
Brock showed inspirational courage to rescue his mate and get [...]

Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop says quite a few bream and flathead have been around in the lower reaches, which are stained with local run-off.
Quite a few mud crabs around in the lower river and North Creek.
Plenty of tailor on the beaches with some bream around the walls.
Whiting and flathead in good numbers down along [...]

Ballina Seahorses have qualified for Football Far North Coast’s Anzac Cup final with a 3-2 win over neighbouring Lennox Head Sharks.
It was a sweet win for Ballina, who had not beaten Lennox in the top division.
Playing at home at Saunders Oval, Ballina had an early setback when the Sharks’ Paul Kirkland scored from the penalty [...]

 
Tintenbar-East Ballina captain Brett Crawford, above, has confirmed his status as one of the greatest all-rounders to play the game locally after winning his fourth Far North Coast L J Hooker League Cricketer of the Year award.
Crawford polled16 votes to win the award from Alstonville batsman Greg Potter (14), Lennox Head’s Mark Denmeade (13), Cudgen’s Michael [...]

Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop says the river has been fishing really well for whiting and flathead with quite a few bream around as well.
A few blackfish also starting to appear around the walls. Some school jew up-river around Pimlico to Wardell. Mud crabs are starting to move upstream again but still a few around [...]

It’s flat this morning but there is real promise for the weekend.
There’s a nice offshore and the forecast for Saturday is south-west to south-east winds, and a westerly is predicted for Sunday.
All we need is a spike in the swell.
Marine weather: W/SW 5/10 knots, tending SE. Sea: About 1 metre. Swell: S/SE about 1.5 metres. [...]