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45 teams from across Queensland met in Home Hill last weekend, duelling for glory in what was the 45th edition of the region’s esteemed Sugar Bowl tennis tournament. Men’s and women’s teams travelled from as far as Brisbane, competing in a traditional round-robin format across A Grade, A2 Grade and B Grade divisions from Saturday, 2 May to Monday, 4 May. Emerald Tennis Club’s Keg Slayers took out the A Grade men’s competition, with M&M’s claiming the women’s A Grade title for a fourth time. A2 Grade men’s champions TTT dominated the division, while the Lady Bugs pipped their A2 women’s rivals to glory. The Shoeys edged the Wackers to claim men’s B Grade glory, and the Hot Shots proved too strong for the women’s B division after a comfortable victory. Both Col’s Crew and the Sugar Hits were recognised with Team Spirit awards to tie off the eventful three days. Home Hill Tennis Association secretary Kate Casswell said the event was another feather in the cap of the club, continuing the tournament’s 45-year history with another successful edition. “It was such a successful year with a really strong field. The quality we saw from the A men’s in particular this year was next level,” Ms Casswell said. She said the event garnered significant interest from the tennis community. “Tennis really picks up locally—even in Townsville—because this is a big thing on the calendar for them. They want to come to play, compete and have fun,” she said. Ms Casswell said the influx of visitors also boosted local business, with around 1,000 players and spectators filling local accommodation and supporting businesses throughout the long weekend. She thanked the committee, team captains and the Ayr-Home Hill Lions Club for their efforts in facilitating the event that was just as much social as it was competitive. “The highlight for me is just seeing all the teams come and have a great time together—the positivity and the energy that comes from it,” she said.
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Ayr’s finest golfers have returned triumphant from the 2026 Queensland Women’s Country Week. Battling "character-building" coastal winds across Yeppoon and Rockhampton, the eight-strong squad proved their mettle on the greens. The highlight belonged to Kerry Heuir and Sandra Wight, who secured the Division 2 Foursomes title with a gritty 95. Former local Amanda Gees also tasted glory in Division 1. Between rainbows and gala dinners, the week celebrated the unbreakable spirit and camaraderie of regional golf. Read on page 29 CAPTION: Battling "character-building" coastal winds across Yeppoon and Rockhampton, the eight-strong squad proved their mettle on the greens. Photo source: Ayr Golf Club/Facebook
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Seniors A disappointing weekend for the Burdekin Panthers. The Club had only three senior games drawing two and losing one. The Premiers and Reserves were away to Warriors with the Premiers drawing 1-1 and the Reserves losing 0-1. The Division 1 team forfeited but the Division 2, drew 1-1 away to MA Olympic. The Colts also had a bye, and the Ladies have withdrawn from the competition. This week four teams are in action as the Colts have a bye. On Friday, the Division 1 and Division 2 teams are at home to Olympic, at 8.30 and 6.30 and on Saturday the Premiers and Reserves are away to MA Olympic at 7.00 and 5.00. Premiers – Ayr Anzac Club With several players unavailable, the Panthers were forced into their fifth different backline combination in as many games, heading into a tough away trip to Warriors at Melrose Park, a venue where points are always hard to come by. The first half was a stalemate, with neither side able to gain control despite the Panthers enjoying a large share of possession. Clear chances were limited, and both teams remained disciplined defensively. The second half followed a similar pattern, although Warriors began to create more threatening opportunities. Jarrod Camer stood tall in goal, producing key saves to keep the scores level. With ten minutes remaining, the breakthrough finally came, with Jay Leckenby finishing off a well-worked move to give the Panthers a 1–0 lead. However, the advantage was short-lived, with Warriors equalising five minutes later. The match finished 1–1, a result that reflected a hard-fought contest in difficult conditions. Reserves – Burdekin Tyre Service The Panthers started the game well with plenty of effort and pressure creating multiple chances which the Burdekin were guilty of not taking. On the back of the Panthers failing to score, Warriors took one of their very few chances and scored right before half time. The Panthers applied a lot of pressure after the break but were again guilty of not taking their opportunities. Luke Torkington received a red card, for letting his frustration at some questionable tactics get to him. Even with ten men, Burdekin still had Warriors camped in their half so despite the 1-0 loss there is potential for a better result next round. Division 1 – Austral Masonry Faced with a shortage of players, weddings etcetera, the Division 1 had to forfeit their match against Olympic. Division 2 – RG Customs The RG Customs Funkies drew 1-1 with MA Olympic on Friday night. It was a very competitive contest and free flowing game. Burdekin created numerous attacking chances but continued to be denied by Olympic keeper who was very good all night. It took until the 77th minute for Jared Giardina to give Burdekin the lead with a neat finish. The game was quite frantic until the end and Olympic managed to equalise in the 89th minute to share the points. An unfortunate goal after an incorrect decision to award Olympic a corner that resulted with the goal. Despite the draw the Funkies can be proud of the effort and intensity on the night, for the entire game. A focus, however, must be on finishing off attacking chances and dominating the scoreboard as well as the game. Great performances by Jared Giardina, Jesse Thomasson and also Chris Achille running out the full 90 minutes of play. Ladies Female Football is taking over Monday nights! A strictly social hour of football. All are welcome to attend. Small-sided game, no skills, or experience required! Grab your friends and come down and have good time. 6:30pm, Senior Fields! Welcome to Female Football Week! An exciting two weeks to celebrate the outstanding contribution and the growth of the female game! We are proudly hosting events across the two weeks! Keep an eye out on Facebook for more details. Thank you to all the amazing females and girls that shape the face of what Female Football means in the Burdekin! Masters The Masters had another good turnout and a replay of last week’s World Cup Qualifier, Italy v Bosnia Herzegovina. In a close game Bosnia won 3-2 and for Italy it’s Goodnight Luigi! Fengil scored twice for Bosnia. Best players on the night were George Karagkiozis and Jonty Davis. The Masters play every Monday night. All players are welcome, male, and female, useful and hopeless, halt and lame. Be there, International Park for 6.30 Kick off. Juniors After a quiet week with no games over the long weekend, our junior soccer teams are eager to get back into the swing of things. Training resumes this week, giving players a great chance to sharpen their skills, reconnect with teammates, and prepare for the return to matches this Saturday. We are looking forward to seeing everyone back on the field, refreshed and ready for another exciting round of junior soccer. National The A League Men’s season has reached the final stages. In the Elimination Finals Auckland defeated Melbourne City on penalties after a 1-1 tie and Sydney beat Melbourne Victory 1-0. On Saturday, Sydney now plays Newcastle and Auckland plays Adelaide in the 1st Leg of the semi-finals. The A League Women are at the Semi-finals stage, and in the 1st Leg, Melbourne City beat Victory 1-0 and Brisbane defeated Wellington 2-1. The second leg will be played this weekend. International In the World Cup department, the Socceroos travel to the USA to play Mexico on 31 May at the Rosebowl in Pasadena and now have another ‘friendly’ organised. They play Switzerland in San Diego on 6th June. Australia’s first Group D match is against Turkey in Vancouver on the 14th June. They then play the USA in Seattle on 20th June and Paraguay in San Francisco on 26th June. In Europe, the various leagues are very close to the end of season. In England with three rounds left, Arsenal leads Manchester City by six points, but City has two games in hand. ManU will probably finish in third place with Liverpool or Aston Villa finishing fourth. Wolves and Burnley are already relegated with either Spurs or West Ham joining them. Oh yes, Coventry City won the Championship by eleven points. What a team! In Germany with two rounds to go Bayern are already champions and Dortmund need one more point to finish second. Leipzig should finish in third spot with either Leverkusen, Stuttgart or Hoffenheim finishing fourth. Relegation faces Heidenheim, St Pauli and Wolfsburg. In Spain, with four rounds to go, Barcelona are champions with Real Madrid second and, probably Villarreal third and Atletico fourth. It is very tight at the foot of the table with Oviedo in deep trouble with Levante, Seville and Alaves struggling. In Italy, with three rounds left, Inter are already champions with Napol likely to finish in second place. AC Milan, Juventus, Como or Roma could fill the third and fourth places. Pisa and Verona are already relegated and either Cremonese or Lecce could join them. In France with two rounds to play PSG are already champions and Lens and Lyon are likely to finish in second and third spots. Lille or Rennes will finish fourth. Metz and Nantes are already relegated, and Auxerre will probably accompany them.
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Touch Juniors[Text Wrapping Break]Last Friday’s Junior Touch saw 45 boys and girls aged 4 to 12 nominate. Skills, drills and games will begin this Friday from 5.30pm to 6.15pm for six weeks. Further nominations will still be accepted. Annual General Meeting[Text Wrapping Break]The Annual General Meeting of the Burdekin Touch Association will be held next Tuesday, 12 May, in the Touch Clubhouse at 6pm. Everyone is welcome. Results – Coutt’s Commercial Hotel Open Men’s and Women’s (Round 8) Men[Text Wrapping Break]Way To Go 5 (B Palmer 2) def Nrgize 4 (L Torkington 2)[Text Wrapping Break]Wires Down 6 (K Parravicini 2, G Flannagan 2) drew One Touch IT 6 (J Ballin 2, J Leckenby 2, R Taylor 2)[Text Wrapping Break]Alliance Pharmacy 13 (J Furnell 4, K Hesp 3, A Watson 2) def Baywatch 1[Text Wrapping Break]Burdekin PCYC 12 (G Dau 6, S Doolah 2, T Heron 2) def Blue Murder 7 (N Spina 2, R Smith 2)[Text Wrapping Break]Royal Touch 7 (A Miller 3, C Formilan 2) def Touch n Go 5 (R Piva 2, K Vitty 2)[Text Wrapping Break]Creampuffs 9 (P Le Feuvre 3, L Chatfield 2, L Lampton 2) def Petrol Heads 4[Text Wrapping Break]Teamo Supremo 9 (J Moustakas 3, H Horan 2, R Heuir 2) def Feelers 5[Text Wrapping Break]Renegades 12 (B Frau 4, D McKeough 2, B Johnson 2, S Andreatta 2) def Ball Grabbers 2[Text Wrapping Break]Crocs won on forfeit Women[Text Wrapping Break]Lasers 12 (B Robertson 6, T Horan 3, M Robertson 2) def Can’t Catch 1[Text Wrapping Break]Eathorne’s Princesses 6 (A Cornford 4) def Salty Sirens 1[Text Wrapping Break]First in Physio 11 (L Trindle 5, M Nauqe 3, T Monday 2) def Chick Flicks 1 Under 14[Text Wrapping Break]Red Dogs 2 3 (Logan, Jamie, Emmet) def Broncos 2 (Jake, Kasey)[Text Wrapping Break]Red Dogs 1 6 (Connor Linton 3, Luca Lawry, Archie) def Rockies 2 Contributed with thanks to Peter Knapton CAPTION: Torah Brock in action. Photo supplied
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One of the most beloved events on the Alva Beach calendar will soon grace the community’s shoreline, as teams begin to finalise ahead of 2025’s Alva Beach Golf Day set for Saturday the 8th of February.
A major fundraiser for the Ayr Surf Life Saving Club, the annual event will tee off from 1pm at the clubhouse with the celebrations to continue well into the late afternoon. Plenty of food and drinks will be available for purchase throughout the day as well as a selection of awesome prizes on offer as sponsored by fantastic local businesses for best dressed teams and more! Players are kindly asked to bring their own golf clubs and reach out to members of the Ayr Surf Life Saving Club for team registrations and more details.
What: Ayr Surf Life Saving Club’s Alva Beach Golf Day
When: Saturday the 8th of February from 1pm
Where: Ayr Surf Club, Alva Beach
More Information: contact Ayr Surf Life Saving Club members
2024’s Alva Beach Golf Day was a smashing success
The Ayr Bowling Club is rolling into 2025 with plenty of enthusiasm and a packed calendar of events. We’re kicking off the new year by inviting all members and the broader community, to come join us in celebrating Australia Day on Sunday 26 January at 1:00pm. Names down by 12:30pm. $10 a game.
The event promises to be a fantastic afternoon, with a classic Aussie sausage sizzle after the game, great company, and the perfect opportunity to enjoy some friendly lawn bowls. Whether you're a seasoned player or have never set foot on the green, there’s something for everyone. Wear your best Aussie gear but remember your flat soled shoes.
We’ve already had a fantastic start to the year, with 20 members enjoying a social bowls game under the cover on Saturday, 11th of January. It was a great afternoon filled with laughter, camaraderie, and some impressive bowling action. Winners on the day were: Donna Soper, John Pirrone, and Ray Wall.
If you've ever thought about giving lawn bowls a try, now’s your chance! We're encouraging locals of all ages to visit the club on Saturdays or Wednesday nights to get a taste of the sport, in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Our friendly members are always on hand to show you the ropes and share their love for the game.
Lawn bowls is a great way to stay active, meet new people, and be part of a fun and inclusive community. Whether you're looking to pick up a new hobby, reconnect with friends, or simply enjoy some outdoor time, the Ayr Bowling Club has something to offer.
So, mark your calendar for January 26 and come join the celebration. And remember, Saturday afternoon sessions are the perfect time to roll up and give bowls a go.
For more information, visit Ayr Bowling Club or find us on Facebook. Here’s to a fantastic 2025 on and off the green!
Saturday 18th 0f January: 1.00pm to 5.00pm ( Patrol Group A ) Chris Wicks, Damien Rickets, Emma Rickets, Jane Wicks.
Sunday 19th 0f January: 9,00am to 1,00pm ( Patrol Group B ) Terry Lund, Tramayne Horan, Dylan Carew, Heather Scott, Anita Giddy, Jan Hatherell, Gabriel Hatherell, Toby Wilson, Danny Wilson.
Sunday 19th 0f January: 1.00pm to 5.00pm (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.
Burdekin Clay Target Club held their monthly shoot on Sunday 12th January. Forty-one shooters braved the extreme heat, and the scores were exceptional in all grades. Congratulations to all the winners on the day, with a big thank you to Max and Julie Nicolaides, of Storage Sheds Ayr, for sponsoring event four.
Our next shoot will be on Sunday 9th February, followed by our ‘Come and Try Day’ on Saturday 22nd February.
Event 1-15 Target Medley 15m
AA Grade 1st Ron Clive, Joe Caruso, Ray Collinson 25/25
A Grade 1st David Stitt, Sylvia Rossato 24/25
B Grade 1st Peter Wade 25/25, 2nd Mick Populin 23/25
C Grade 1st Tim Ewens 23/25, 2nd Rob Ness, Laurie Luke 20/25
Event 2-20 Target Double Barrell 15m
AA Grade 1st Joe Caruso 20/20, 2nd Glen Rea, Ron Clive, Ray Collinson Aaron Lemphers and Wayne Cislowski 19/20
A Grade 1st Joe Sebastiani 20/20, 2nd Colin Ferguson, Brontie Rea, Sylvia Rossato, Greg Maltby 19/20
B Grade 1st Sean Russell 20/20, 2nd John Kinnimonth and Mick Populin 19/20
C Grade 1st Rob Ness 19/20, 2nd Peter Delle Baite, Tim Ewens, Laurie Luke & Lynda Potter 18/20
Event 3-25 Target Pointscore 15m
AA Grade 1st Aaron Lemphers 75/75
A Grade 1st Joe Sebastiani 87/87
B Grade 1st Alf Gangemi 70/75
C Grade 1st Brian Bonanno 64/75
Event 4-25 Target Burdekin Single Barrel Championship
Sponsored by Max & Julie Nicolaides-Storage Sheds Ayr
OPEN 1st Ray Collinson 25/25
AA Grade 1st Ray Collinson 25/25
A Grade 1st Joe Sebastiani 24/25
B Grade 1st Mick Populin 23/25
C Grade 1st Tim Ewens 21/25
Event 5-25 Target Double Barrel Handicap
OPEN 1st Glen Rea 34/35
2nd Rob Mikkelsen 33/35
3rd John Kinnimonth 32/35
Event 3-25 Target Pointscore 15m – Brian Bonanno, Joe Sebastiani, Aaron Lemphers and Alf Gangemi. Photos supplied.
Event 4-25 Target Burdekin Single Barrel Championship (sponsored by Max & Julie Nicolaides Storage & Sheds Ayr) – Raymond Collinson, Joe Sebastiani, Mick Populin and Tim Ewens.
Event 5-25 Target Handicap – Glen Rea, Rob Mikkelsen and John Kinnimonth.
In 1970, Margaret Gudge became one of the founding members of the Home Hill Netball Club, later known as Burdekin Netball. Little did she know that five decades later, her great-granddaughter, Lillea Levitt, would join the club, continuing a remarkable family legacy. Lillea became the first-ever great-grandchild of a former player to sign up with Burdekin Netball in 2020.
Back in the 70’s, Margaret and a group of friends formed a team in the newly established, Home Hill Netball Association. They named their team the ‘Bandits’ and set about creating their uniforms. With no professional designers, they bought fabric and used sewing machines to craft their dark green and black tunics.
Margaret played in various teams and represented Home Hill’s Green and Gold at numerous tournaments across Queensland, even travelling to Tasmania for games. Her commitment to the sport set the foundation for the club's long history.
Fast forward to 2020, Lillea, at just six years old, joined Burdekin Netball, proudly wearing the same green and gold colours as her great-grandmother. As the club continues to thrive, this beautiful connection between generations is a testament to the enduring spirit of community and the love for netball.
The Burdekin Netball Association is eagerly preparing for the 2025 season and is excited about the upcoming upgrades to their clubhouse and courts. These improvements will ensure that their facilities continue to support both current players and future generations for many years to come.
To start your own legacy, the Silverlinks squad are hosting team trials at the Burdekin Netball Courts beginning on Monday, 27th of January. All positions are open for the Premier League, Division One and 18’s League teams for this year's upcoming Townsville competitions.
The Burdekin Netball Association's Annual General Meeting, will be held at 10am, Friday 9 February, at the Burdekin Netball Association courts. All positions are vacant. Members and interested parties are encouraged to attend. For further information, please contact burdekinnetball@gmail.com
Contributed with thanks by Kelli Loizou.
Margaret Gudge and her granddaughter, Lillea Levitt. Photo: Supplied
Get ready to roll into a fun-filled Australia Day celebration at the Ayr Bowling Club! On Sunday, the 26th January 26 the Ayr Blowing Club invites the community to come together for a social bowls event that’s all about enjoying the Aussie spirit. Dress in your best Aussie outfits and get ready for a day of friendly competition and plenty of Aussie prizes.
What: Australia Day Social Bowls
When: Sunday 26 January from 12:30pm
Where: Ayr Bowling Club
More Information: Call (07) 4783 1336
Burdekin FC Inc. is on the lookout for female players eager to join their teams for the 2024 season! The club is recruiting for both the FQPL Northern Women and the U23 Northern Women teams with preseason training to kick off in early January.
The club invites interested players to contact them for more information via email at burdekinfc@hotmail.com or send a message through the club’s Facebook page.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a passionate team! Stay tuned for further details.
Are you searching for a new, energy-filled sport for the whole family to enjoy? Pickleball has been making waves in the US, earning the title as the fastest growing sport in the country!
The Home Hill Tennis Association provides the community with the chance to have a swing at the fantastic tennis, cross badminton, cross ping pong sport at their courts located at 43 – 75 First Street, Home Hill.
The Association hosts Pickleball Saturdays each week from 8am to 9am as well as free come and try sessions throughout the year. Whether you’re a beginner or have played before, this is a fantastic opportunity to start a new year hobby, improve your skills, or just enjoy a friendly game!
Call the Association on 0487 890 201 for more information!
Give Pickleball a swing this January!
With the festivities and new year holidays wrapping up, the Burdekin Roosters are looking forward to getting back on the field, announcing seniors will commence preseason training from Tuesday the 14th January.
The Club is eyeing big things in the new year, debuting a new motto, “Roosters Thrive in ‘25” across their socials last December, following on from an action packed 2024 season.
A call out for nominations of club roles will also be announced in early January, with the community encouraged to keep an eye on the Burdekin Roosters page for updates.
The Ayr Surf Club held it's final Junior Club Championships on Saturday 14th December, bringing their general nipper season to a close for 2024. The event showcased the junior surf sports skills where all members including the Green Caps (U6s and U7s), are able to compete in a variety of events, from wades, surf races, boards, and iron person in the water and flags, sprints and 1km beach run on the sand. The nippers compete in both their individual age group and a junior or senior category to determine age champions, Open Iron person Champions and Junior and Senior Champions. The nippers will be presented with their awards in the New Year at presentations with the Senior members. Members were also treated to a special visit from the big man in red later on in the afternoon with Santa delivering the nippers a water themed gift which culminated in a massive water fight to cool off after a big afternoon of competition.
Although the normal nipper season has come to an end, there is still plenty happening at the Ayr Surf Club. The junior members who were selected in the North Barrier Branch 2025 Youth State Team are still training in the lead up to State Titles in March on the Gold Coast. Junior members, under 12s and under 13s, from across the entire branch will head to Alva during the January School holidays to attend Camp Alva, a development and leadership camp, and the Annual Beach Golf Day has been booked in for Saturday 8th of February, so get your teams together and prepare for another fun filled day!
Contributed with thanks to Kellie Lawry.
U11-U14 Senior Flags event
Eva Rickards, Alexandra Moloney and Isabella Flower
Penelope Donald, Quinn Pontifex, Mackenzie Sartori and Eliza Hayllor
Ryan Irvine, Angus Wicks and Hoyt Pontifex
Ross, Eva and Audrey Rickards with Santa
John, Alexandra and Anne Moloney with Santa
Saturday the 11th of January, 1pm to 5pm: Patrol Group B - Terry Lund, Tramayne Horan, Dylan Carew, Heather Scott, Anita Giddy, Jan and Gabriel Hatherell, and Toby and Danny Wilson.
Sunday the 12th of January, 9am to 5pm: All Day Patrol Group F - Lisa and John Furnell, Jen and Jo Morgan, Lauren and Isla Chapman, and Ryley, Jake, Kat and Dave Sartori.
Contributed with thanks to Hockey Vernon.
The 2024 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Swimming Championships took place in Brisbane at the Chandler Aquatic Centre, and the Burdekin Swimming Club had a representative attend the Championships in December.
Bringing together Queensland's best, including Olympian’s, Shayna Jack and Mollie O'Callaghan, as well as top competitors in Queensland, and also, from around the world, The Burdekin Torpedoes had Millie Lyne, and coaches, Kim and Mick McConnachie, represent them and the Burdekin region for the week-long event.
Millie had a jam-packed week kicking off with the regional relays on the Saturday, where she represented North QLD Swimming in both Freestyle and Medley relays. Then came her individual races, where she did a personal best time in each race she competed in, which included 50m Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly, Breaststroke, and 100m Breaststroke.
Millie was able to make the final in 100m Breaststroke in the 14yo girls where she came 6th in the state. The week ended on a high when Millie made the 50m Breaststroke final, placing 3rd in the state and bringing home a bronze medal for the Burdekin Torpedoes.
The Burdekin Torpedoes and Millie were extremely grateful to have such dedicated coaches in Kim and Mick McConnachie, who take the time to travel to these events and give their all to the swimmers to achieve these great results.
The Burdekin Torpedoes will now be looking forward to their annual Swimming meet on January 18th – the 2025 NQIB Burdekin sprint held at the Burdekin Aquatic Centre – where Clubs from around the North QLD region converge for a fun filled afternoon of fast swimming.
Burdekin Torpedo swimmer, Millie Lyne, with her bronze medal. Photo: Supplied
Coaches, Kim and Mick McConnachie, embracing Burdekin Torpedo swimmer, Millie Lyne, with her bronze medal and finalist awards. Photo: Supplied
Millie Lyne, in full flight on her way to bronze. Photo: Supplied
The Ayr Surf Club Junior Championships on December 14th marked the end of an action-packed 2024 season, with Nippers competing in surf races, board events, and beach sprints. Looking ahead, the club’s juniors are gearing up for an exciting 2025.
Selected members are training for the North Barrier Branch 2025 Youth State Team, with State Titles set for March on the Gold Coast. Additionally, under 12s and 13s will attend Camp Alva in January, focusing on leadership and development.
The club is also preparing for the Annual Beach Golf Day on February 8th, promising a fun-filled day to kick off the new year. The Ayr Surf Club is ready for another year of growth, competition, and community!
Penelope Donald, Quinn Pontifex, Mackenzie Sartori and Eliza Hayllor. Photo supplied
The Burdekin Touch Association hosted the Grand Finals for the 2024 Mixed Season on the evening of Friday 13 December, showcasing top-quality games across all five grades.
In a thrilling conclusion to the season, the A Grade Final delivered one of the most exciting matches in recent years. Can’t Touch This, seeking their first-ever A Grade title, faced off against the experienced Nrgize team.
The game was a fast-paced spectacle, with play surging end-to-end. Nrgize displayed their well-rehearsed moves, while Can’t Touch This countered with an organised yet free-flowing style. At full time, the score was locked at 5-all, sending the match into a nerve-wracking drop-off.
In the decisive moments, it was the speed and agility of Jye Olsen, named Player of the Final, that sealed the victory for Can’t Touch This, securing their maiden A Grade Championship.
The match capped off a remarkable season, reflecting the hard work and dedication of both players and officials of the Burdekin Touch Association.
Looking ahead, the 2025 Open Touch Season is set to kick off in January, promising more exciting action for players and fans alike.
Contributed with thanks to Amity Cornford.
Marshall Parker is an active and commendable member of the Home Hill Cricket Association, and recently represented his club with pride in North Queensland’s Under 12 B Team in Townsville.
At just 10 years old, Marshall plays and trains at both his home club, and the Townsville West Cricket Club with the Parker family travelling to Townsville twice a week to continue building upon Marshall’s techniques and skillset.
In following in the footsteps of his dad, Ross Parker, Marshall enjoys a match of father-son cricket here and there and loves the socialisation aspect of the sport above all else.
“Cricket is fun, and you can play with your friends,” shared Marshall.
With just over three years of experience in the sport, Marshall’s training routine sees him spend plenty of time both in the nets and out in the field. Marshall’s selection to be part of the North Queensland’s Under 12 B Team was an exciting milestone in his cricket career, with becoming the team’s Vice Captain a celebrated cherry on top achievement!
Playing alongside his friends, Marshall felt nothing but excitement for the weeklong competition held in December, with the Home Hill Cricket Association cheering him on from across the river!
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