Everyone I hope has rested sufficiently to approach the second half of the season with new enthusiasm and energy.

The New Year saw a number of our members track all the way to Dubbo for the annual New Year athletics carnival.

This year's carnival differed greatly from previous carnivals in so far as it was held on their new synthetic track.

Our members were very impressed by the track and the hospitality of the people of Dubbo.

The open women's relay team of Marie Kay, Rachel Shaw, Dianne Moore and Christine Shaw won gold.

Marie also scored a strong win in the women's 200m. Peter Kidd finished second in the 800m, but the most interesting result was Rachel Shaw winning $150 by coming second in the women's invitational handicap 100m.

Organisers have taken a well-deserved break so the full list of results may take some time to be compiled. I will list them when they come to hand.

Club meets start today.

We will be hosting a regular round meeting and inviting the Nowra club to come up and participate as well.

The NSW Country Championship will be held this weekend at Glendale Stadium in Newcastle.

Online entries for the carnival closed today at noon.

For the past three years our club has won the Hooper's Cup at the championship for the highest overall point score.

We have a great shot at the title again this year but other clubs have not been lying idle. We need to match whoever they may throw up against us.

The completion of the Treloar Shield competition saw our club finish behind the Mingara club as second highest point-scoring country club.

Special mention must go to the ever energetic Jarrod Twigg, who competed in five Treloar Shield rounds followed close by Carlie McIver and Christine Shaw, who competed in four rounds.

This Saturday will see ANSW and Illawarra Blue Stars host the Illawarra Track Classic at Beaton Park with events starting at 5pm.

Entry is online and closes on Thursday at midnight. Competitors need to be registered with an ANSW club to enter.

More information is available online at nswathletics.org.au/Competitions/Calendar/illawarra-track-classic.

- Dave Ross