With all games in the opening round of the senior R L T D transferred to the contingency date in July due to the weather and state of grounds last week, the season will officially get underway this weekend.

Only four clubs are fielding the under 20 grade so that will leave four clubs contesting with Brothers, Western Lions, Centrals and Souths.

With the exception of Souths who do not have a Ladies team, all clubs will be in the other three grades.

This weekend on Saturday Souths will host Western Lions in a replay of last seasons Grand Final while on Sunday Burdekin will travel to Brothers and Centrals will host Herbert River, Charters Towers and Norths A grade having byes.

The North reserves and ladies though will be visited by Bowen.

Wet weather has severely hindered training so far this season with all teams affected by the conditions.

Normally teams would have had two or three trials.

The Roosters did have a reserve grade match with Bowen while Brothers did play half a match with the Blackhawks.

Brothers have secured one of the best and most experienced League players in the competition and he alone should put them back up near the top of the ladder.

Half, five eight Shaun Nona lead Souths to a premiership last season with his kicking game alone a match winner.

The former Dragons NRL star has also played New South Wales and Queensland Cup over the years and has claimed many victories through his goal kicking.

Nothing much is known concerning the remainder of the Brothers squad but they will be enough.
The Roosters have gained PNG International Aiden Arusa and former Blackhawk speedster Jesse Yallop and they will be strengthened by the return from the Hawks MMC team Jye Olsen and Hayde Munnro but will not be till next week.

The Burdekin Hens knocked Brothers out of the Women's race last year in the semi final but a couple of Hens have now moved to Brothers and the match could be interesting.

Meanwhile back at Rugby Park the annual Shane Muspratt Cup games will be played in the under 12 division.

28 teams from Cairns in the North to one from Brisbane will contest the two day carnival on Friday and Saturday.

The carnival has been well supported by the clubs from Townsville as well as Mackay and the Whitsundays.

The Burdekin Little Roosters team will be a strong one coached by former Australian Schoolboy John Nash.

Roosters Junior President Jarod Smith said the team relay and the coaches relay could be two of the highlights.

The canteen will be open during the two days while the carnival is alcohol free.

Play gets under way on Friday morning with former local Rooster, Cowboys and Parramatta Eel Shane Muspratt in attendance.

Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.

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The Burdekin Touch association celebrated the contribution of senior players to Touch football in the Burdekin recently.

With over 25 male and female players over the age of 50 taking the field each week, Touch is proving to be a great sport for fitness and social connection.

“I started playing Touch in 1981 when I was transferred to Home Hill,” said Bruce Johnson, now 70 years of age.

“It’s a contact sport but not a collision sport so there is maximum speed and skill with minimum injury. Even though I’ve retired to Townsville, I drive down every Wednesday to play Touch with my mates,” he continued.

Peter Knapton began playing Touch in Townsville in 1978.

“I still look forward with the same enthusiasm to playing every week as I did all those years ago,” said the 73 year old.

“A little slower these days but still thinking like a youngster. The brain says go but the body says whoa,” he added.

Among the players over 50, there are quite a few in their 60s with seven players and referees over 70.

Burdekin Touch President, Michael Littlefield, acknowledged the contribution of the older players.

“They are role models. They’ve played, refereed and coached for years and they keep supporting Touch in the Burdekin,” he said.’

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Saturday 5th of April 1.00pm t0 5.00pm ( Patrol Group G ) Carl List, Jimmy Hayllor,  James Kennedy, Shane Morgan, Ross Blakey, Ross Rickard, Jedd giddy.

Sunday 6th of April 9.00am to 1.00pm  ( Patrol Group D ) Ben Lawry, Kellie Lawry, Zac Dale, Parker Bonato, Richard Dale, Bella Lawry, William Holt, Sharli Archibald, Danica Archibald, Lisa Vivian, Kristy Wassmuth, Briella Wassmuth.

Sunday 6th of April 1.00pm to 5.00pm ( Patrol Group E ) John Moloney, Anne Moloney, Tony Felesina, Isa bella Moloney, Jane Jones, Gavin Jones, Sophia Moloney, Alissia Gibson, Billy Gibson, Shaize Christie, Emma Jone

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Home Hill Tennis is excited to announce that the upgraded amenities block is nearing completion and will soon be officially opened. What started as a simple idea has become a reality through dedicated planning, hard work, and strong community support. The project took a major step forward in 2023 when the club secured a $250,000 grant from the Queensland Government to upgrade the amenities, enabling Queenslanders to participate in sport and recreation activities.

Careful consideration went into designing the new facilities to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, including septic tanks, soakage pits, and electrical switchboards, while also meeting modern standards. The upgraded amenities block now features a wheelchair-accessible shower, toilet, and baby change room, a separate shower, a cleaner’s room, a storeroom, and a bank of five new toilets, including an ambulant toilet.

Funding for the project was provided by the club itself, along with contributions from Tennis Queensland and Tennis Australia. Additionally, privacy screens designed by artist Jane Hawkins and manufactured locally by Michael Blakey were incorporated into the building. This aspect of the project received partial funding through a Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) grant, a partnership between the Queensland Government and the Burdekin Shire Council aimed at supporting local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

The official opening, conducted by Dale Last MP, will take place at 7:45 am on Saturday, 3rd May, coinciding with the start of the iconic Sugar Bowl event. Everyone is welcome to attend and view the new facilities.

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The new amenities block at the Home Hill Tennis grounds. Photo supplied

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The 2025 rugby league season is set to officially begin this weekend in the R L T D competition, with Brothers and Centrals' A-grade teams not in action. Centrals will face Bowen in Bowen, but the home side does not have an A-grade team, meaning no game will take place. Brothers are having a bye this round.

In other matches, the Western Lions will host Charters Towers on Saturday, while the Roosters will play Norths at Rugby Park, and Souths will face Herbert River in Townsville. Norths will bring three teams to Ayr: Women, Reserves, and A-grade.

The Reserves, coached by Peter Horan, will kick off the season at 3.30pm, with gates opening at 2pm. Horan's squad will feature a mix of youth and experience, with several players from his grand final-winning U18 team from last season stepping up to higher grades. Norths are traditionally a tough, hard-hitting side, so if the Roosters play an expansive game, the locals could have the upper hand.

Anita Hagarty will once again coach the Hens, who reached the preliminary final last season. The Hens have lost their strike weapon, Stephanie Monday, but her twin sister, Martina, has been training and is known for her speed. Hooker Abby King, who had a disrupted season last year due to a knee injury, appears fully fit and will be a significant threat. Alongside her, Talisha Bulgarelli and the returning Shae Kratzmann will be key players in defense.

Kezzia Lammon is reportedly back at fullback and remains a dangerous playmaker, especially when linking up with speedy wingers Tegan Johnson and Jo Morgan. The Hens' match will kick off at 5pm.

At 6.30pm, a new-look Roosters A-grade side will face Norths, who have appeared to bolster their squad during the off-season. The Roosters have lost Cowboys players Henry Teuteu and Jeremiah Matuatu, along with Englishman Chris Gale. However, they have secured two Blackhawks players: outside back Logan Dixon from Penrith and forward Alfie Mather from the London Broncos. Mather impressed coach Steve Lansley with his playing style.

Two new signings could also make an impact: Jesse Yallop, reportedly the fastest man in the R L T D, and former Papua New Guinea international Adrian Arusa. Yallop, usually a winger, may be used in the halves, where he stood out in a recent trial with Bowen.

Jye Olsen and Hayde Munro have been the under-19 halves for the Blackhawks all season, but last week, Hayde was left out of the squad. Roosters coach Steve Lansley will hope that continues, as it would allow the experienced Munro to slot into the Roosters' halves.

Arusa was a standout in the Bowen trial and, along with forwards Mather, Braedyn Cotter, Ethan Hagarty, Kali Nauque, Lachlan Shepherd, and Caleb Noah, will look to dominate up front, with good service from hooker Colby Johnson. Joel Mason will lead the team from fullback, with Nemia Nawave in form on the wing, and possibly Luca Lago to make an appearance as well.

Jones Munro is always a dangerous player, and Terry Connors can score tries from anywhere on the field. John Zaro, Dylan Doak, and Jhye Starr could also play key roles for the Roosters.

The canteen will be open, staffed by the Lions Club, and the bar will also be serving throughout the day. After the games, patrons are invited to join the major sponsor, the Queens Hotel, for further celebrations.

Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.

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Local

Once again, all four Burdekin Panthers games had to be called off because of the wet weather. In fact, all NQ Football fixtures were called off. There is now a three week break for the Premiers and Under 23s until they play Brothers at home on 26 April!

The only fixture this week is the Division One Ladies who are down to play Warriors in Townsville this Friday night. Weather permitting.

Juniors

The Juniors fixtures were once again called off due to the ongoing wet weather. Hope the kids and families have good school holidays and we will see you all back for training and games after Easter.

Masters

Monday Night Masters had to be called off yet again as the grounds were too wet. This week’s Master’s has also been postponed.

National and International

The Socceroos played China in Hangzhou last Tuesday in the third round of qualifying games for the 2026 World Cup. They won 2-0 and are now three points clear of third placed Saudi Arabia who drew 0-0 with Japan.

The Socceroos have two games left in the Qualifying Group C. On 5 June they are at home to Japan and then on 10 June they travel to Saudi Arabia. Australia must win one of these games to be sure of direct qualification.

The Matildas have two games against South Korea coming up. The first is on 4 April in Sydney and the second game is three days later in Newcastle. Sam Kerr has retained the captaincy and will join the squad in Sydney.

In the A League Men, Auckland won 2-0 away to Brisbane and is seven points clear of second placed Western Utd with Melbourne City another point behind and Victory in fourth place another point away. However, Victory has played one game more. Brisbane is still in twelfth place equal on points with Perth.

In the A League Women, Melbourne City is still top, five points clear of Victory after beating Wellington 1-0 in New Zealand. Victory beat third placed Adelaide 2-1 at home and has a game in hand. Western Utd stays in fourth place. Brisbane lost away to Central Coast and drops to seventh.

The European Leagues are back in action this week and in England with nine games to go Liverpool has a twelve point lead over Arsenal while in Germany, with seven matches to go, Bayern leads Leverkusen by six points. In Italy Inter has a three point lead over Napoli, with eight games to go and in Spain, with nine games left Barcelona leads Real Madrid by just three points. Finally in France, with seven matches left PSG has it all sewn up with a twenty one point lead over Monaco.

The Quote of the Week is from ex Crystal Palace and Irish star Clinton Morrison. “I'd been ill and hadn't trained for a week, and I'd been out of the team for three weeks before that, so I wasn't sharp. I got cramp before half-time as well. But I'm not one to make excuses.”

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The 2025 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships began at North Kirra on the Gold Coast, with the Nipper and Youth Championships on 29-30 March. Harsh weather led to water event cancellations and a reduced beach program. Ayr Surf Club’s seven youth competitors performed well despite event limitations. Bella Lawry & Briella Wassmuth and Charlotte Lawry & Emilee Wassmuth placed 6th in their R&R finals, with Bella & Briella as the top Queensland team. Other members excelled in beach and ocean events. The season ends with the Championships, but patrols continue until May, with a new season starting in July.

The 2025 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships kicked off on the weekend at North Kirra on the Gold Coast, with the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Nipper and Youth Championships taking place on the 29th & 30th March.

This annual event where members from the 314 Surf Clubs across Australia come together to compete in more than 480 beach and ocean events, is the largest event of its kind, only comparing the likes of the Commonwealth Games. Wet and wild conditions greeted competitors on the opening day of the Championships, with all water events cancelled and a limited number of beach events run in horrendous conditions after the program was revised.

Delays in the start of competition had competitors nervously waiting for their opportunity at a national title and the uncertainty of proceedings and conditions making for a very unsettled morning. Beach flags and R&R were the only events that could be held as part of day one youth competition, with the youngsters battling the wild winds and rain.

The seven youth members from the Ayr Surf Club - Isla Chapman, Bella Lawry, Briella Wassmuth, Zachary Dale, Milla Chapman, Charlotte Lawry and Emilee Wassmuth - all had a very solid carnival with the limited events they were able to partake in due to the shortened program.

Both the 2 Person R&R teams: U14/15s - Bella Lawry & Briella Wassmuth & U13/14s - Charlotte Lawry & Emilee Wassmuth, had strong performances in their heats to advance to the finals and both teams placed 6th in some very close and tough competition, with only a handful of points separating all teams and several countbacks to determine placings. Bella & Briella were the top Queensland team in their competition which was taken out by Brighton SLSC, and Charlotte & Emilee were the 4th Queensland team, with the top 3 QLD teams taking out the medals; Redcliffe, Burleigh and Townsville-Picnic Bay respectively.

The other 3 members took to the ocean and beach for their events, having to choose between specific events due to clashes in the revised program and missing additional events which were cancelled due to further deteriorating conditions on Sunday and all 3 youth members performed exceptionally well and should be proud of their efforts.

The Australian Championships brings the 2024/25 competition season to a close, however beaches will still be patrolled across Queensland until the end of the May Day long weekend and a new season of lifesaving for both Juniors and Seniors will be kicking off at the end of July. If you are interested in joining the Ayr Surf Club, please contact ayrslsc@gmail.com or the Ayr Surf Club Public.

Contributed by Ayr Surf Club.

R&R Teams - Charlotte Lawry, Emilee Wassmuth, Bella Lawry & Briella Wassmuth
U14/15 2 Person R&R - Bella Lawry & Briella Wassmuth
U13/14 2 Person R&R - Charlotte Lawry & Emilee Wassmuth
Zachary Dale
Isla & Milla Chapman

After persistent rain, bowlers finally had their chance to return to the green at Brandon, with competitive action kicking off on Friday night. The A & B Pairs final saw Jayson Farry and Jamie Woods prove too strong for Gary Pearce and Lloyd Shepherd, securing a decisive victory.

Saturday 29th March – A Grade Singles

Championship events continued on Saturday with a highly anticipated second-round A Grade Singles clash between two powerhouses, Peter Lejarraga and Vince Beitia. The match was finely balanced, but in-form Lejarraga shone on the green, sealing his place in the next round.

Sunday 30th March – Championship & Social Bowls

Sunday saw 30 bowlers take to the green for a mix of championship and social bowls.

In the A Grade Singles, a family rivalry took centre stage as Gary Pearce faced his son, Chris, for annual bragging rights. Chris took an early lead, but Gary’s experience ultimately prevailed as he edged a narrow victory.

The A Grade Pairs second-round match between Lloyd Shepherd and Kevin Collins against Gary Nosworthy and Trevor Elton was another tightly contested encounter. Shepherd and Collins emerged victorious, progressing to the next round.

Social bowls also saw competitive play, with several matches producing impressive performances:

Bruce McCallum & Richie Mau defeated Henry Hazel & Jamie Woods.

Sandra Darween, Hugh Montgomery & Peter Jorgensen overcame Ken Ferguson, Lyn Storrie & Ray Paneccasio.

Margaret Chapman, Leo Kenny & Peter Henderson triumphed over Ben Mills, Doug Kiehne & Jeff Taylor.

Joe Linton, Mick McCloskey & Doug Robins edged Neville Dickinson, Glenn Woodford & Joe Yipnazar.

The club’s monthly meeting will be held on Sunday 6th April at the usual time, followed by bowls at 1:30 pm.

Contributed by Brandon Bowls Club.

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Gary Pearce, Lloyd Shepherd and  Kevin Collins

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The heavens opened again which made it impossible for playing the last week of Junior Cricket games of the 24/25 season. The breakup and presentations went ahead at the Nutrien Ag Solutions cricket clubhouse though. Players from the youngest Rookies to the Challengers, along with members of the Blue and Gold groups and their families, gathered for the end-of-season celebration last Friday night. A free sausage sizzle was provided for all players and their siblings before the presentation of gifts and trophies took place.

The Rookies and Challengers all received a certificate for completing the season, and a ball each for practicing cricket at home. The Blue and Gold players were given a certificate, a laminated field position picture and a medal for their season at Home Hill Cricket.

Some individual trophies were then presented to some of the Blue and Gold group. Mitchell Patti received the "Most Improved Player" in the Blue Group. The "Coaches Award" in the Gold Goup went to Xavier Cross, Marshall Parker got the "Batting Award" and Ben Watkins the "Bowling Award". The major award for the year, the "Junior Cricket Player of the Year" went to Marshall Parker for his all-round performances in the Friday games as well as at Representative level throughout the season.

Gratitude was extended to everyone who contributed in any way to providing children with the opportunity to play cricket in the Burdekin. Appreciation was also expressed to Woolworths for donating the items used for the free sausage sizzle.

Contributed by Home Hill Junior Cricket.

Xavier, Gold Coaches Award
Marshall Parker, Gold Battling Award
Ben Watkins, Gold Bowling Award

The weather gods were not smiling on Home Hill Cricket this week, with the grand final game between Peto Marine and the Rookies, and the playoff for third between Alliance Pharmacy and the Crowned Mongrels being washed out.

Despite the rain, presentations and a small celebration of the 2024/25 cricket season were held on Sunday afternoon.  Winners from the season were:

Minor premiers - Peto Marine

Most runs - Lee Watts (210 runs for the season)
Batting average - Lee Watts (average 70 runs)
Highest individual score - Alex Stillhard (116 runs)
Most wickets - Dan Olditch (9 wickets)
Bowling average - Ayden Marano (taking 4 wickets at an average of 5 runs per wicket)
Fielding - JD Wilkins (10 catches)

An overall champion was also crowned, with the Senior Player of the Season being awarded to Dan Olditch from the Rookies for strong performances across all aspects of the game.

Home Hill Cricket Association would like to thank all the senior players who made the effort to take the field this season.  While the regular Saturday games might be over, cricket will be back soon with the Canefield Ashes scheduled for April 26 and 27.

Contributed by Home Hill Senior Cricket.

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Minor premiers - Peto Marine 
Highest score - Alex Stillhard (L)
Player of the Season Dan Olditch (R) and his son and fellow Rookies teammate Leo Olditch (L)

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The Ayr Bowling Club has celebrated another excellent week on the greens despite the rain, with members coming together for a mix of club Championship games and engaging social matches. The atmosphere and enthusiasm around the club remains high, as members are gearing up for Ladies Division 1 Pennants. With Ayr Bowling Club hosting the event from 26th – 29th April, 2025. We encourage members and anyone who has an interest in bowls to come and support our ladies during this prestigious event. Our ladies’ pennants team has been announced and available on the Club Noticeboard.

Tuesday Ladies Social bowls was played in overcast conditions with intermittent showers throughout the afternoon. Winners on the day were Katharina Stuckler, Isabel Cislowski, Deslie Olsen and Heather Jorgensen defeating Rayleen Hervey, Donna Soper, Karen Page and Irene Wilson. Runners up were Merle Smith, Sandra Stidston and Beryl Cornford defeating Karen Shepherd, Linda Giumelli and Mary Poli.

Ladies Competition A Singles played on Thursday saw Pam Power defeating Isabel Cislowski. Pam now progresses to the next round. In the other A singles games between Deslie and Karen, Irene and Heather, the games were suspended due to the wet weather conditions.

Men’s Social bowls on Wednesday saw one game of triples and one game of pairs. Winners on the day were Arthur Gauvin, Joe Papale and Ron Soper defeating Ron Smythe, Wayne Coonan and Barry Shepherd. In the pairs John Pirrone and Lew Stidston defeated Happy Horan and Anthony Bull.

Saturday’s Social bowls sponsored by Mahjong Ladies saw another great turnout of 22 players, with three games of triples and a game of pairs played. The winners on the day were Donna Soper, John Pirrone and Anthony Bull who put on a good performance to take the top spot. Runners up were Barry Hewson and Pam Power.

On Saturday 5th April, Mahjong Ladies will be sponsoring the Saturday Social bowls, celebrating 23 years of Mahjong at the club. The club is looking forward to a great afternoon of celebration with 1st prize $25 pp 2nd prize $15pp with a lucky number draw and other prizes to be won.

The Ayr Bowling Club invites everyone to its Fun Friday Night Bowls Sponsored by B & M Drilling on Friday 4th April, starting at 6 PM. This evening promises fun for bowlers of all levels, encouraging participants to bring friends or join solo to meet new people. The entry fee is $10 per game, which includes a sausage sizzle at 6 PM and a light supper after bowling begins at 7 PM.

Contributed by Ayr Bowling Club.

Saturday runners up, Pam and Barry
Saturday Winners, John, Donna and Anthony

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The sun was shining as the Ayr Juniors enjoyed a fantastic round of golf two weekends ago. The front nine was played, with 3-, 6-, and 9-hole competitions running.

The club expressed its gratitude to Burdekin Christian College for generously sponsoring the morning and to Debra Creed for joining Ayr Juniors to help present the wonderful prizes, which included bags of golf goodies.

In the 3-hole competition, Opie McKeough claimed the gross win, closely followed by Pia Mauro, who secured the nett victory with an impressive -1 nett score. A warm welcome was extended to Pia’s brother, Harvey, who played his first 3-hole round and recorded a strong debut score of 30 shots.

Heath Smart took out the gross win in the 6-hole competition, with Tyler emerging as the nett winner.

In the 9-hole competition, Amaya Mahoney secured the gross win, while Rheanna claimed the nett victory. The club congratulated all players for their efforts, participation, and support of the event.

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Logan, Max and Debra
Juniors with their wonderful prizes.

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The grounds at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Cricket Complex dried up enough for play to go ahead last Friday.  The partnerships of Aria and Corbett and Jai and Nahjiyah produced 19 runs each in the Challengers.  Nahjiyah also took two wickets with his great fast bowling, as did Olivia in her overs.  Harvey, Lincoln, Aria, Everly, Claire and Corbett all took one each.  The McDonalds Sports Awards were given to Nahjiyah for his great bowling and Everly for an excellent all-round performance.

It was an exciting game in the "Blue Group" with Jude dominating with the bat and the ball.  He made 26 runs which included 4 fours, took six wickets in an exceptional spell of bowling and got a runout.  His first over was a double wicket maiden and his second was an unbelievable 4 for 1 run.  He got a hattrick in this over and was one ball away from a double hattrick. Other notable mentions go to Jake who made 20 runs and Mason scored 12 runs not out.  Kip, Tait, Mitchell, Mason and Mazlyn all took one wicket each and Mazlyn got four runouts.  Not surprisingly one of the McDonalds Sports Awards went to Jude, and the other to Mason.

Wickets and runs were shared by all of the players in the "Gold" game, Marshall made 12 not out and Mark on 11 runs also unbeaten.  Tyler, Oliver, Xavier, Marshall and Logan took one wicket each and catches were taken by Mark and Ben.  Ben's catch was a sharp one in the slips.  Marshall took home the McDonalds Sports Award for his all-round effort.

Contributed by Home Hill Junior Cricket.

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HH 1: Challengers, Nahjiyah and Everly
HH 2: Blue Mason and Jude
HH 3: Gold, Marshall

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The Ayr Bowling Club has celebrated an exceptional week on the greens, with members coming together for a mix of spirited club Championship games and engaging social matches. The vibrant atmosphere and camaraderie continue to strengthen, showcasing the club's dedication to fostering connections through the sport of lawn bowls. As enthusiasm remains high, members are returning to the club after their break during the summer heat.

Unfortunately, our club games were cancelled during the week due to the wet weather but we were able to get Saturday bowls in and also some of the Championship games.

Saturday’s social bowls saw another fantastic turnout of 30 players, with five games of triples played. The winners on the day were Ron Smythe, Margaret Chapman and Maurie Power who put on a fantastic performance to take the top spot.  Runners up were Karen Paige, Ray Wall and Col Essex.

The club is very busy with many Club Championship games this week.  On Thursday, a Ladies’ Championship Fours game was played. The winning team proved to strong scoring a good margin and taking them into the final. Winners were Donna Soper, Deslie Olsen, Beryl Cornford and Pam Power defeating Katharina Stuckler, Karen Page, Heather Jorgensen and Mary Poli.

The Men’s Championships A Singles continued Sunday, Maurie Power defeated Mario Milan in a fantastic game of draw bowling. Maurie now progresses to the next round.

The Women’s Championships B Singles continued during the week.  Lorraine Wolffe and Karen Shepherd had a great game with the lead changing constantly.  Unfortunately, the game had to be paused due to the rain.  The game was 22 -19 when stopped with play to continue later to provide a result.

The Ayr Bowling Club invites everyone to its Fun Friday Night Bowls event of the year on Friday 4th April, starting at 6 PM. This evening promises fun for bowlers of all levels, encouraging participants to bring friends or join solo to meet new people. The entry fee is $10 per game, which includes a sausage sizzle at 6 PM and a light supper after bowling begins at 7 PM.

Contributed by Ayr Bowling Club.

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The weekend saw two days of competitive and social bowls as teams from across the region gathered for a highly anticipated tournament. Players travelled from Townsville, Mackay, Airlie Beach, Giru, Brandon, and Proserpine to take part, with plenty of skill and camaraderie on display.

Among the competitors was Wayne Carroll, a veteran of the tournament who has been participating for an impressive 34 years. Now representing a Mackay team, Wayne first took part at the age of 36 and, still fit as a fiddle, hopes to continue competing for many years to come.

During the presentations, organisers made special mention of the Home Hill Bowls Club, noting it was heartening to see the club thriving and their bowlers supporting such major events once again. Both Home Hill teams bowled exceptionally well and did their club proud.

In the end, congratulations went to Steve Montin’s team, who claimed the tournament title after a strong performance over the two days. It was a fantastic weekend of bowls, with players already looking forward to next year’s event.

Contributed by Home Hill Bowls.

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