THERE was a world first at Viking Park on Friday night for the Brumbies' last pre-season trial. But it had nothing to do with Jake White or David Pocock. Instead, representatives from Fox Sports were in the capital trialling some new technology they hope to use for the Super Rugby season. The referee wore a camera on the side of his head to give fans a ''unique view'' of the field, especially the scrum. Fox Sports put cameras in the corner posts as well. There were a few kinks, but overall the Fox people were happy and hopeful they'll have the technology in action this year.

AGE is no barrier for Canberra golfer Brian James, who shot a score lower than what is indicated by his birth certificate during the week. The 79-year-old amazed fellow Yowani Golf Club members when he lodged his card for a remarkable three-over-par 75. James went four over on the front nine before finishing in a flourish with a one-under-par 35, including an eagle on the 458m, par five 15th. The left-hander is a life member, having joined in 1964, and was a part of the first Canberra A-grade pennant team which took on Yass in 1965.

CANBERRA Grammar boasts a proud rugby union tradition, but it is also producing champions in the sport of dragon boating. Three students - Riley Sanderman , Braydon Sloan and Theshikan Santhirasegaran - will represent Australia at the world championships in Hungary later this year in the under-18 boys team. Former students Rod Kafer, Guy Shepherdson and current Brumbies lock Peter Kimlin have all gone on to play for the Wallabies. Grammar has also produced stars in other sports, such as GWS Giants co-captain Phil Davis and Paralympic Games gold medallist Michael Milton. Riley will be joined in the Australian squad by his younger sister, Lauren Sanderman, from Canberra Girls Grammar School, who has been selected for the under-18 girls team.

LACKING motivation for a morning walk? Then spare a thought for Matt Napier, who's walking more than 4000 kilometres from Perth to Canberra, all while bouncing a Sherrin every step of the way, all 5 million of them. Napier's incredible feat is part of The Global Poverty Walk, and is being done to raise awareness about reducing the gap between the world's richest countries and those in desperate need of help. Napier set out from Perth on February 2 and intends to finish in about six months with a lap around Margaret Donoghue Oval during a Queanbeyan Tigers NEAFL game. For more information, visit www.planbig.com.au/the-global-poverty-walk/

FUDGING the books or just a coincidence? Now we wouldn't for one second accuse the Canberra Cavalry of releasing a crowd figure for publicity reasons, but the 2013 fans who showed up for Friday night's sold-out opener is exactly the number the Cavalry had wanted earlier in the season as part of centenary celebrations. All got to go home happy, as the Cavalry withstood a Perth Heat fightback to win 6-4.

CANBERRA Raiders flyer Sandor Earl showed off some of his best tattoos in The Canberra Times this week, but we couldn't help but think his tattooist should have run a spell check over his work first. On one of the more impressive pieces of ink on his back, it says ''Whatever Dosen't Kill Me Makes Me Stronger''. Not exactly something you can just fix up with White Out, but Sandor must not mind too much because it remains one of his favourites.