Sydney Summer Series

BRUTAL BEGINNING AT BLACKMAN

Courtesy of the SSS spy network, Porkitude (resting quietly in Canberra) has glimpsed Damen Haupt's initial Summer Series flogerooney at Blackman Park, and is breathing a sigh of relief that the old chalkies were not required to 'put on a show'. It looks like a tough start to the season with our best and fairest only managing half a kilo - and many going the beep around the halfway mark.

Despite the meagre scoring from the fancies, it looks like the 150 odd ponies on the sniff would have enjoyed their first 'hit up' (note the deference to the League here by PP - a normally rusted on Swannies man) at Blackman Park. Glenn emerged to continue where he left off, running the lot, this time in just over 61 minutes - annoyingly for The Glennie, beeping at 61.01 and setting the scene for all those 'just overs' to follow in the coming weeks. Beautiful work from 'The Horror Movie'.

Carolyn's deployment looked wide, as though she had gone 'Four Corners' without realising this wasn't TV - this was real life! There was a very tough claim along Epping Road, where potty #6 surely didn't get a dribble. Our opening 'lonely pot'. Going north looked way hard, with not much reward from the normally engaging mangrove sniff, and lots of running (huh??) without compositional completeness. Bailing up and across needed ethanol fuel in the tank, with #10 a right nark if ever there was one. Those whose non magnetic strings curled, snake like, around the southern bushy points, looked to have had more fun - and would have enjoyed the comfy certainty of the tracks, the waft of gum tree and the cling of damp cliff. The delicious tempters (#26,1,21) down to the map's tail probably proved too much for many - who surrendered before realising their fate was nicely sealed by CH. 'The Lassoo' apparently avoided this drop south, and was one of the few who managed to pick up a few from the northern torture chamber.

'The Joss Stick' seems to have carried the day with 550 in the boiler, but five over. Andy and Steve set out to battle Tommy, but carded 480/470 respectively as they fell away on the turn. Jeremy and Patrik carded 450's with Mark and Glenn pulling 430's. Michael 'Douglas' Burton began his campaign with a 420, and an offer of further roles (for the older actor), whereas 'The Pants' picked up his prior speed, and walked away with a nice opening ton in the LM stakes. Many other excellent scores, and many names now flicking up in SSS lights, and who will soon be the subject of the searching, and sometimes searing, pencil work of Pork Pie. Great to see TKF Cox moving with purpose (and with his sand wedge at the ready) and Mel Cox opening with a classy walk.

This is but a short post, worked in somewhat of a rush as Ron's broccoli works towards it's gaseous exit. But good to be back in the commentary position once again, and great to see us once again back in action in the series of the century! Thanks Carolyn for handling the opening salvo in Navy Week - and to all the Garingal crew helping out as we go 'one-up'. I note several 'non club' entries, and hope these freshies enjoyed their afternoon/evening, and will be soon grappling with their membership forms.

Many O carnival types will be back for event two, where 'The Tezza' enthuses about the area and Chris's course. The 'Natural Bridge' has an allure and an intrigue