Lachlan Date is fighting hard to be fully fit for the Barellan Masters Games. Photo: Supplied.
The Barellan Masters Games organisers will add the sports of tee-ball and touch football to its program this year and urge those across the Riverina aged over 35 to support the annual sporting tournament that has raised $200,000 for the town.
Griffith teacher Lachlan Date, who won the triathlon as well as singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles tennis events in 2024, has vowed to defend all his titles despite breaking a leg and welcoming a new baby into his life since his heroics.
Date’s multiple wins saw him take the crown called Barellan Master Blaster last year. He said he wouldn’t give that up without a fight, despite being barely able to walk three months ago.
“I am still recovering from my leg injury mid last year, which nearly required surgery,” he said.
“This allowed more swimming during my recovery. I was gearing up for an Australia Day Newcastle Harbour Swim, but it was cancelled due to poor water quality after all the storms on the east coast.”
He says he’s now preparing non-stop, determined not to disappoint a la Novak Djokovic and pull out mid-Games.
“I’m back in the swing of things next Thursday with the Griffith tennis comp after a long absence. My running miles have been slowly increasing each week and I am currently on the lookout for a bike so I can jump in the triathlon again,” he said.
“I’ve stuck to the old-school performance enhancers: an extra-strong iced coffee, an inspiring Rocky montage, and power naps if the ankle biters allow it.”
80-year-old tennis player Trevor Hornery with his energy drink at the Barellan Masters Games 2024. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Agricultural teacher and Barellan Games organiser Carl Chirgwin says he wants to remind people that the event is on a bit earlier than usual this year and will be held over the weekend of 22 and 23 February.
“It’s always the last weekend of February but it’s coming up earlier than past years in 2025. Before that, we have a two-person Ambrose golf event taking place on Sunday 9 February,” he said.
“This year we are bringing back touch football, which we haven’t had in a few years. We have also included tee-ball; it’s a different sport with eight in a team. You have a backstop, three bases and you put the ball on the tee and hit it.”
Mr Chirgwin said people could either get their friends together and form a team or register as an individual, letting organisers know they needed to be placed in a side.
“It’s $25 registration to participate, which you only pay once. Then you pay for whatever event you want to join. We are hoping to get 200-plus participants this year.”
Ian Goolagong, the only Indigenous man to ever play at Wimbledon, is a past Barellan Masters Games champion. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Other sports at the event include tennis, walking, cattle team sorting, lawn bowls, six-a-side cricket, women’s basketball and netball. Events cater to all skill levels and have previously included competitors aged well into their 80s.
The annual tournament has been held 13 times and raises around $15,000 for the local community on each occasion.
The tennis event is held on recently laid courts named in honour of Evonne Goolagong, the sporting superstar and town’s most famous export. Her brother Ian, the only Indigenous man to have ever played at the Wimbledon championship (mixed doubles with Evonne) has participated in the Games several times.
The program is as follows:
Saturday 22 February
7:30 am – Games Registration at Barellan Sports Ground
8 am – Walk
9 am – Tennis (Singles & Doubles)
9 am – Women’s 3×3 Basketball
9 am – Mixed Touch
10 am – Cattle Team Sorting
12:30 pm – Mixed Tee-Ball
5 pm – Lawn Bowls.
Sunday 23 February
7 am – Registration for Triathlon at the Barellan Pool
8 am – Games Registration at Barellan Sports Ground
9 am – Six-a-Side Cricket
9 am – Tennis (Mixed Doubles)
9 am – Netball.
More information and a form to register for events can be found on the Barellan Masters Games website.
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