But here is proof positive that the incident may carry some validity in the shape of another round-ball game.

Yarrawonga’s Sarah Leslie has been a star of the Ovens and Murray netball for some time but until last weekend no one really knew of her special advantage.

There was no trick photography from The Border Mail’s Matthew Smithwick — just a moment in time capturing the three-handed Leslie in action.

No wonder Pigeons are on top of the table.

KEENAGERS is the term for a bunch of wily veterans who will take to the Albury Table Tennis Centre today.

Teams from Ballarat, Coburg, Wangaratta, Wonthaggi and Leongatha will do battle through the day, with some of the competitors well into their 80s. 

Dawn Gibbs said it was just part of a growing push that sees the keenagers play three times a week.

“I guess some days there are about 50 of us there,” she said.

“We play every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“Most of us are retired, mostly played when we were kids but have only now started up again.

“I was terrible when I started but it doesn’t take long to get back into it — it’s great for movement, great for the brain.”

People interested in joining the competition can phone Kerry Bell on 0401 984 085.

WODONGA could be the centre of Australia’s push for an Olympic medal in biathlon.

People in high places believe the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and shooting can be a medal event at winter Olympics and Paralympics.

On Thursday, a past vice-president of the international biathlon union, a veteran of Italian winter Olympic teams since 1968, Ubaldo Prucker, along with Australian biathlon association president Grant Flanagan visited the sporting shooters range south of Wodonga to assess it as the national summer training ground for the sport. 

It would require a 500-metre track for wheelchair biathletes to train during summer.

The pair will report to the International Biathlon Union, Australian Olympic and Paralympic committees and the Australian Biathlon Association on the feasibility of developing the range. 

“We are looking at what is available here and what could be done to improve the sport’s facilities in Australia,” Prucker said.

“This would be a fantastic place to train — you are in nature, you don’t disturb anyone and it’s safe.

“It would be fantastic either running or roller skiing, You can’t hope for any more than this.

“Australia needs one location for the training.

“You don’t want different centres in different regions — the whole idea is one concept, one biathlon base.”

Flanagan said the track would be the issue.

“Ubaldo has come over primarily to help us grow the sport at all levels and, part of that, is to push regional development and the Paralympics,” he said.

“We met the Sports Commission and Paralympic committee last week and both are pushing biathlon and shooting as a medal event at the next Paralympics.

“This is would be seen as a major training centre but it would needs a hard-packed surface, asphalt really, to raise the heart rate of the wheelchair-bound athletes to simulate a competition that on snow is conducted with sit-skis.

“It will cost money but most things like this are built through good will of those in the sport and benefactors.”

Best of luck to champion hoop Peter Robl after injury forced him to pull the pin on returning to race riding.

1 The Fevola bump. Was it worth three weeks, was it worth six? Either way it was a major talking point.

2 Ben Jeffery has big shoes to fill as the new coach of Albury Thunder — literally and figuratively. Former coach Josh Cale was a big man on the field and a great leader, communicator and spokesman off the park.

3 A sad day with the decision to pull the pin on next year’s Burramine Gift.

4 Germany’s World Cup win. The best team won but there would have been a sense of poetic justice had Lionel Messi got Argentina over the line.

5 Captain Nathan Bright plays his final first-grade home and away game for the Steamers at Murrayfield today.

A FORMER Boomers senior men’s coaching member is in seventh heaven about the performance of his beloved Germany at the World Cup.

On previous showings, he will have no doubt had some bets with associates but hopefully they’ll be more forthcoming than him when it comes to squaring up for lost wagers.

Eight years ago, in front of onlookers at Glen Park, he made a bet with Albury-Wodonga football life member Carlo Villani.

The coaching panel member wanted to bet $100 that Germany finished ahead of Italy. Villani was more circumspect and wagered half a dozen beers.

Italy went on to win the cup and Villani is still waiting to collect. With time passed and interest accrued, it is probably now a dozen. If the Boomers follower wants, I know where Villani lives in Lavington.

ZACH Murray has tuned-up for a tilt at the US Boys Open with another unofficial course record.

The 17-year-old cruised around a water-logged Wodonga layout on Monday in nine-under par 63.

Murray was five-under on the front nine courtesy of three birdies and an eagle when he knocked a six-iron to a makeable putt on the par 5, fourth hole.

He rolled off another five birdies on the back nine but blotted his copybook with a bogey on the 13th.

One Week understands Murray was dirty on missing a birdie at the last that would have given him a 10-under card.

But the score won’t be recognised as a course record because it wasn’t played off the championship tees.

Two years ago, Murray shot a 62, the lowest score in Albury Golf Club’s 113-year history, which wasn’t recognised either.

CONGRATULATIONS to those involved in the Boomers become Tigers day at Glen Park last Sunday.

The charity event for injured Albury footballer James McQuillan raised more than $4400 through hybrid jumpers, raffles and other events at the Boomers v Diamonds clash.

There were ground announcers, flyovers and a general feeling everything was being done in the right spirit, for the right cause.

The referees got involved too, throwing $250 into the kitty and donning special yellow strips to avoid clashing with the players.

“While we are involved in another code, some things transcend individual sports and bring the whole sporting community together,” referee association president Sharyn Ryan said.

Today the Albury-Wodonga Steamers will also wear a hybrid jumper in its show of support for McQuillan.

WODONGA Netball, along with Trans-Tasman title-winning Melbourne Vixens Liz Watson and Kate Maloney, will today launch a new program for the less-abled.

With the support of Netball Victoria and The Centre Access for All Abilities, the aim is to give people with a disability a chance to participate in netball.

The come and try event starts at 11am at Kelly Park and includes a barbecue lunch.

The Vixens will be holding junior development clinics in the afternoon.

“Wodonga Netball is excited to launch this event and to broaden the opportunities for people with a disability to participate in netball,” Access for All Abilities program co-ordinator Kathy Patton said.

“It will be followed by a six-week program from the following Saturday.”

Phone Wendy Kelly on (02) 6056 0940 or 0498 953 663 for details.