Mount Joy hosts state titles

Rock star: Tasmanian expert Chris Bayles, pictured at the 2014 trials, will compete in the top class at at Mount Joy, Powranna, this weekend. Mount Joy, Powranna, will ring with the sounds of motorcycles on the weekend as more than 70 local and national riders compete in the Tasmanian Moto Trials.

RPT-COLUMN-Saudi cuts to lighter crude prices show shifting oil market: Russell

LAUNCESTON, Australia, March 7 A decision by Saudi Aramco to cut the price of its benchmark Arab Light crude to Asian refiners for April-delivery cargoes has prompted speculation that the world’s top oil exporter is chasing market share. There is always a risk in over-interpreting moves in Aramco’s official selling prices , and trying to fit them into a narrative that supports a particular view of the state of the market.

Call out for amateur golfers

There is still time for amateurs to enter Devonport Golf Club’s Pro-Am on March 6 and play with forty-two of Australia’s best touring professional golfers. Teams of three amateurs and one professional will play an 18-hole 4BBB stableford.

Penguin surprise all with super size win

The battle for fourth spot on the Dannebrog Premier League ladder looks over with the two participants Penguin and Devonport vying for the position having played each other on Saturday. FOCUS: Adrian Steers of Spreyton in the Bowls North-West pennant Premier League match between Spreyton and Ulverstone.

Kauri Tree Sitter to Stand for The Greens

Michael Tavares, the 34 year old who occupied a threatened West Auckland kauri tree in March 2015 has put his name forward to be a candidate for the Green Party in this year’s election in the Auckland electorate of Northcote. A long term campaigner on environmental and social issues, and a party member of over 5 years, Michael will head to the Green Party’s conference this weekend, where members begin the process of forming their party List for the general election.

Classic, modern Jags arrive in Devonport

Jaguar Club of Tasmania vice president Barry Wiggins said the weekend rally was organised by Burnie members and would be held in Devonport. “It makes a bit of a change so everybody gets a go and it spreads around the state,” he added.

Ship berths at festival

ALL HANDS ON DECK: The ‘Julie Burgess’ crew moor in Hobart’s Elizabeth Pier after taking part in the Parade of Sail on Friday afternoon The biggest wooden boat festival in the Southern Hemisphere has a Dutch theme in 2017, to commemorate the 375-year anniversary of Abel Tasman’s landing on Tasmania’s shores. “It a showcas[es] our rich maritime culture and heritage, our connection with the sea and our love of life on the water,” Mr Hodgman said.

Four shark sightings in one week

A Launceston man got a little too close for comfort with a two-metre shark when the animal approached him while he was enjoying a swim on the East Coast. Josh Mcglinn was waist deep in the water at a beach north of Binalong Bay when he noticed a shadowy figure nearby.

Project to help schools

GIVING BACK: Robert Lee, of Glengarry, will be teaching at Burnie High School as part of the Teach For Australia program. Picture: Neil Richardson A controversial program that puts “career changers” and high-achieving university graduates in front of classrooms at disadvantaged schools without teaching degrees has arrived in Tasmania.

Pedophilia claims span three regions

An 88-year-old man before the court over child sex crimes allegedly abused boys across Tasmania in the 1980s. The man, who the court has not named, is charged with two counts of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child and one count of indecent assault.

Council votes to end free vaccines

A community immunisation program has been axed by the Devonport City Council, based on dwindling numbers and the cost to run it. The aldermen voted at Monday’s council meeting to end the monthly immunisation sessions provided free to the community at the East Devonport Recreation Centre.

Strong start for Orions

An outstanding display of swing bowling from Aiden Marshall has Sheffield in a dominant position against Wynyard in their Round 18 Two-Day clash. An outstanding display of swing bowling from Aiden Marshall has Sheffield in a dominant position against Wynyard in their Round 18 Two-Day clash.

Athletes rewarded for standout season

Two Coastal athletes have been named among the best of 2016 after receiving Tasmanian Athletics League awards over the weekend. RISING STAR: Ulverstone’s Lachie Bonney was named the distance runner of the year following the 2016/17 Tasmanian Christmas Carnival Series.

Two men named Sam Mitchell meet up in Tasmania on New Year’s Eve

A tale of two Sam Mitchells: Men with the same name meet up in Tasmania for New Year’s Eve after finding each other on Facebook A Facebook search for ‘Sam Mitchell’ has led to two strangers with the same name from opposite sides of the world meeting on New Year’s Eve. It was December 31 when the Tasmanian Sam James Mitchell, 19, plugged his name into social media and upon finding Sam James Mitchell, 22, from London, decided to send him a message.

‘We were meant to be together forever’

THE fiancee of a young man killed in a jetskiing accident weeks before they were due to marry has paid tribute to his “quirky” personality. Launceston man Luke Rice, 22, was killed on Monday while jetskiing at Trevallyn Dam on the South Esk River in Tasmania.

Open Championships begin

The 2017 Bowls Tasmania State Championships began on Monday with the men’s and women’s fours the first event of the series. GAME ON: Latrobe’s Phil Moore rolls one down the green on the opening day of Bowls Tasmania’s Gala Week.

Gregson’s slice of history

On top: Bulli’s Ryan Gregson came from the scratch mark to take out the Burnie Open Mile in Tasmania on New Year’s Day. Picture: Getty Images The Bulli runner, who holds the Australian 1500m record and made the Olympics final in Brazil last year, became the first athlete to win the Burnie Mile from the scratch mark since 1967.

Welsford back to best

Having been conspicuously absent in his last two wheel finals, rising Australia cycling star Sam Welsford hit back with a bang on Sunday to take out his second consecutive Burnie Wheel. Having been conspicuously absent in his last two wheel finals, rising Australia cycling star Sam Welsford hit back with a bang on Sunday to take out his second consecutive Burnie Wheel.

Edmondson claims wheel win trifecta

It was another tough battle, but the class of Olympic cyclist Annette Edmondson shone through again as she took out the 2017 Burnie women’s wheel on Sunday. It was another tough battle, but the class of Olympic cyclist Annette Edmondson shone through again as she took out the 2017 Burnie women’s wheel on Sunday.

Junior Josh storms home in boilover

HE is competing with the senior cyclists for the first time at a Tasmanian Carnivals series but Launceston teenager Josh Duffy showed the tactical nous of a seasoned veteran to cause a major boilover and claim the Devonport Wheel. The 16-year-old made the most of his 240m mark at the front of the field in last night’s final, to hold off some fast-finishing backmarkers to claim the $6500 prize in the biggest win of his infant career.

Update on state project statuses

An update on the government’s progress over the past three months found delays have held back school capital works and crisis accommodation projects. Premier Will Hodgman provided the update on the state’s projects and their timeframes when he released the government’s Third Quarter update for October to December 2016.

Morrison’s pilsner best at Taste

WINNERS: Launceston’s Morrison Brewery brewer Paul Morrison and assistant brewer Will Horan won an award for best lager at the Taste of Tasmania in Hobart. Using an experimental style of hops paid off for Launceston’s Morrison Brewery when it was named best lager at the Taste of Tasmania on Thursday.

Big changes for UTAS

LOOKING FORWARD: University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor Peter Rathjen said 2016 was an exciting year of accomplishments and changes, with many more to come next year. The 125-year-old institution took home many prestigious research awards, added to its range of courses and, of course, secured funds to relocate its campuses in Launceston and Burnie.

Latrobe comes alive for Christmas fun

An estimated 2000 people still turned out in poor weather conditions for the Lions Christmas Parade at Latrobe on Saturday. Coordinator Kevin Moulden said despite terrible weather conditions, they still had 32 float entries, with an estimated 2000 people turning out to witness the event, which gave the kids the chance to see Santa.

Demons down Black Caps

OVER: Latrobe’s Jacob Webb bowls to Ulverstone batsman Andrew Vantatenhove in the Demons five wicket win over the Black Caps on Saturday. Picture: Paul Scambler.