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The Burdekin’s premier running event saw a record-breaking turnout on Sunday, 26 April, as nearly 400 athletes laced up in Ayr for what was a Sugar Rush for the books. The 24th edition of the Burdekin Road Runners and Walkers Club’s signature running event saw its previous participation record of 320 smashed, with around 392 runners taking part. Club president Patrick Shannon hailed the event as a success for both the organisation and the wider North Queensland running community. “We’re chuffed with the turnout,” Mr Shannon said. “It was a bit unfortunate—we actually had to cut off entries a little bit early simply because we ran out of bibs. It just means we have to plan bigger and better next year.” Continued on page 28 Massive Field Powers Sugar Rush To New Record In Ayr Continued from cover The event attracted competitors from as far north as Cairns and south as Mackay, alongside families and first-time runners in shorter distance fun runs. Jeff Rubach of the Townsville Road Runners won the men’s half marathon in 1:15:08, while Vanessa Kennedy of Hungry Runners took out the women’s title in 1:27:15. Matt Hutchinson led the men’s 10km field in 35:51, with Brittany Hutchinson winning the women’s race in 40:26. Miles Kerr claimed the men’s 5km title in 20:18, while Mia Brunker of the PACE Project won the women’s event in 20:46. Each runner received a complimentary barbecue breakfast courtesy of the Ayr Rotary Club, while MC John Furnell entertained supporters at the finish line at the Ayr War Memorial. Mr Shannon said the memorial backdrop capped off the morning, the culmination of months of preparation. “There was a lot of work put in over the last three to five months… But to see the community coming out, the amazing weather, and the day after Anzac Day, having the monument behind us, was a really good feeling.” FULL RESULTS Half Marathon—Men Jeff Rubach (Townsville Road Runners) — 1:15:08 Grant Breadsell Aaron Bathis Half Marathon—Women Vanessa Kennedy (Hungry Runners) — 1:27:15 Liv Compton (Whitsunday Running Club) Elizabeth Maguire (Hungry Runners) 10km—Men Matt Hutchinson — 35:51 Sonny O’Rourke Brendan Maltby 10km—Women Brittany Hutchinson — 40:26 Anwen Mackay Isla Chapman 5km—Men Miles Kerr — 20:18 Nathan Barrett Brad Patti 5km—Women Mia Brunker (PACE Project) — 20:46 Bec Stedman Skye Claussen CAPTIONS: Back—The 24th edition of the Burdekin Road Runners and Walkers Club’s signature running event saw its previous participation record of 320 smashed, with around 392 runners taking part. 2—Jeff Rubach of the Townsville Road Runners won the men’s half marathon in 1:15:08. 3—Vanessa Kennedy of Hungry Runners took out the women’s title in 1:27:15. Photo credit: Jacob Casha
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Seniors A better weekend for the Burdekin Panthers. The Club had only four senior games winning three and losing one. The Premiers and Reserve, away to Riverway JCU, won 2-1 and the Reserves, also away to JCU also won 2-1, The Division 1, at home to rebels lost 3-6 but the Division 2, also at home to Rebels won 3-0. The Colts and Ladies both had byes. This week only four teams are in action as both Ladies and Colts have byes. On Friday, the Division 1 and Division 2 are away to Olympic, at 8.30 and 6.30 and on Saturday the Premiers and Reserves are away to Warriors at 7.00 and 3.00. The Colts and Ladies do not have games this week. Premiers – Ayr Anzac Club An away trip to JCU is never easy, and after dropping points the previous week, there was added motivation to respond. JCU started strongly, limiting the Panthers time on the ball and making it difficult to find any rhythm early. The first half produced few clear chances, with JCU capitalising late to take a 1–0 lead into the break. The second half saw a renewed energy from the Panthers, while JCU looked to sit deeper and protect their advantage. This shift allowed Burdekin to dominate possession and build pressure in dangerous areas. The Panthers came close on many occasions, including a strike off the crossbar, before Elliott Dal Santo found the breakthrough with a well-taken finish following strong defensive work in the lead-up. Pushing for a winner, Kyle Taylor earned a penalty in the 87th minute, and Jake Siandri stepped up to calmly convert and give the Panthers a 2–1 lead which they held onto in the closing stages to secure a hard-fought result. That’s three wins from their opening four rounds. Reserves – Burdekin Tyre Service Another week and another changed side saw the Reserves debut opportunity for young players Charlie Predebon & Nyasha Gwarada. It was a very warm afternoon game and developed into a good contest with both teams working hard but neither finding any dominance in possession or field position. It took until the last five minutes of the first half for a goal to come from a longer range freekick and JCU went into the break one up. The second half for the Panthers was much better with senior players able to influence the game and keep better possession of the ball. With improved possession and control Burdekin were able to score two goals from Jonte Grazioli and Dom Arrate. It was a gritty game that in previous seasons the Panthers may have let slip, so very pleasing to turn it around and notch up another win. Division 1 – Austral Masonry Against Rebel, both teams and goals started fast, with two goals from Julen Arrate being answered by two from Rebels in the first eighteen minutes. At half time it was 2-2. After that Burdekin got stuck into the grind with tackles flying everywhere. Then a penalty to Rebels and second yellow card for Brad Wright tipped the balance, with Rebels side scoring two goals in quick succession. Cody Scalia headed in a beautiful Charlie Shears corner to give the Burdekin a chance, but with only ten men, it was too much of a struggle The game ended 6-3 to Rebels. Division 2 – RG Customs RG Customs 2nd division defeated Rebels 3-0 in a match they dominated from start to finish. Chris Achille gave Burdekin the lead early in the first half, but despite lots of possession and repeatedly attacking Rebels goal, the Funkies were unable to extend their lead in the first half. Burdekin added further goals through Simon Scuderi after 68 minutes and Fengil after 84 minutes in the second half to see the Funkies rewarded for their efforts and deserving winners in a match they controlled very much from start to finish. Next up is MA Olympic this Friday night away in Townsville. Masters The Masters had another good turnout and, augmented by the Ladies Squad had a replay of the World Cup Qualifier, Italy v Bosnia Herzegovina. A tight match ended in a 2-2 draw with a replay next Monday. Best players on the night were Charley Ruskin and Riley Granshaw. 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 Junior soccer returned in great spirit over the Anzac Day weekend, marking the first round of games following the school holiday break. Our youngest players in the U5–U7 age groups took to the field on Saturday afternoon, enjoying local matches filled with enthusiasm, teamwork and plenty of smiles. It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces back and eager to play. Sunday saw an exciting milestone for the U8–U12 teams, who travelled to Townsville for their first games of the season. The step up in competition didn’t deter our players, with all teams showing determination and great sportsmanship throughout the day. It was a wonderful way to kick off the return to soccer, with strong participation across all age groups and a positive start to the term ahead. The U15's had their first game at the weekend against Wulguru. A new coach, a few new players and whole lot of enthusiasm. A bit of nervous energy to start with the first goal being scored by the opposition, but the team went in at half time with a 2-1 lead. Goals for the Panthers scored by Annan Power and Nathan Casella. The team lost Linc Innes due to a nasty clash with their keeper which depleted the bench with only one sub. The second half saw the team digging deep to secure three more goals. One of the new Panthers, Cecil Badza Gwarda scoring two and Emmanuel Mio banging in the final goal for the Panthers to secure a convincing win 5-2. Unfortunately, there is a bit of a break before their next round on the 16 May. An excited U13 Burdekin Panthers team took the field for the first time this season again MA Olympic. The Panthers came away with a very good 3-0 win with two goals from. 2 Caelan Farrell and one from Jazz Chung. All players played outstanding football!! National The A League Men’s season has reached the final stages. Newcastle have won the Premiership; five points clear of Adelaide with Auckland third and Melbourne Victory fourth. The Elimination Finals start on Saturday with Auckland playing Melbourne City and Victory playing Sydney FC. The A League Women are at the Semi-finals stage. At the end of regular fixtures Melbourne City were Premiers six points clear of Wellington, with Canberra third and Brisbane fourth. In the semi-finals this Saturday, Melbourne City face Victory and Brisbane play Wellington.
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Round 7 of the Coutt’s Commercial Tavern Burdekin Touch open competition produced a string of competitive results across all divisions. In the men’s draw, Way To Go defeated BAYWatch 8–4, while His Haas and Slush Puppies played out a 5–all draw. Alliance Pharmacy proved too strong for Wires Down 9–3, and Petrol Heads accounted for Touch n Go 8–5. Blue Murder continued their good form with an 8–4 win over Ball Grabbers, while Burdekin PCYC and Feelers finished locked at 4–all. Renegades edged a tight contest against Royal Touch 7–6, and Teamo Supremo claimed a narrow 3–2 victory over Creampuffs. In the women’s competition, Eathorne’s Princesses defeated Lasers 5–2, while First in Physio delivered the most dominant performance of the round, overpowering Salty Sirens 12–1. Chick Flicks also secured a solid 6–4 win over Can’t Catch. Junior action in the under-14 division saw Chicken Burgers and Cowboys share the points in a 6–all draw. Rockies defeated Broncos 8–3, BAYWatch A accounted for Red Dogs A 8–2, and Silly Soft Serves rounded out the round with a 10–5 win over Red Dogs B. Meanwhile, junior touch football sign-on will be held on Friday, May 1 at 5.30pm at the Burdekin Touch Football clubhouse. The program is open to boys and girls aged 4 to 12, with six weeks of skills, drills and games to follow. Returning Term 1 players can register for free, while new sign-ons cost $20. For more information, contact Rebecca on 0400 705 205 or Peter on 0437 710 500.
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As this is the final patrol weekend for the season, the Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club would would like to thank all our patrolling members for the countless volunteer hours that were undertaken on the beach for our community, your time is appreciated and we thank you for keeping Alva Beach safe. Beach patrols will resume again in the September School Holidays. Beach patrols will resume again in the September school holidays. Saturday, 2/5/26 (1pm–5pm)[Text Wrapping Break]Group I – Sage Hisatake (PC), Ben Hisatake, Luke Hisatake, Austin Dewar Sunday, 3/5/26 (9am–1pm)[Text Wrapping Break]Group G – Carl List (PC), James Kennedy (PC), Shane Morgan, Ross Rickards, Ross Blakey, Jedd Giddy, Nate Giddy Sunday, 3/5/26 (1pm–5pm)[Text Wrapping Break]Group E – John Moloney (PC), Anne Moloney (PC), Sophia Moloney, Tony Felisina, Tramayne Horan, Jarrod Rossato Monday, 4/5/26 (9am–5pm)[Text Wrapping Break]Group A – Chris Wicks (PC), Richard Dale (PC), Jane Olsen, Zackary Dale, Stephanie Dale, Warne McShane, Nico Ortner, Wil Holt
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It was another competitive week at Brandon Bowls Club, starting on Wednesday, 9 October, with Darelle Pearce securing victory in an A-grade singles match against Margaret Chapman, furthering the Pearce family’s bowling legacy. In the social pairs, Ann Newton and Vanda Ballao triumphed over Bev Garioch and Lyn Farr.
Friday evening saw two competitive games played under the lights. In the pairs match, Lloyd Shepherd and the formidable Ray Paneccasio faced off against Peter Lejarraga and "Mr. Bowls" himself, Gary Pearce. Despite the high-quality bowlers on both sides, Shepherd and Paneccasio delivered a masterclass, securing a decisive win.
The triples game saw Joy Woods, Jayson Farry, and Jamie Woods take on Margaret McLaughlan, Bob Jorgensen, and Ross McLaughlin. The Woods team led throughout the night, but McLaughlin's team staged a dramatic comeback on the final end to snatch the victory.
Scratchy ticket winners for the week were Lloyd Shepherd and Ray Paneccasio, while the jackpot went to Joy Woods, Jayson Farry, and Jamie Woods.
Sunday featured an exciting A-grade pairs match where Leo Kenny and Richie Mau battled Chris and Gary Pearce in a 21-end thriller. It was a close contest, but Chris and Gary Pearce edged out their opponents to secure a place in the final, where they will face Peter Henderson and Jamie Woods.
In the social bowls, two triples games and one pairs game were played. In the pairs, Neville Dickinson and Kevin Collins narrowly lost to Peter Lejarraga and Vince Beitia. In the triples, Ross McLaughlin, Rob Jorgensen, and Peter Jorgensen took down Henry Hazel, Joe Yipnazar, and Ray Paneccasio, while in the final triples game, Kenny Ferguson, Doug Kiehne, and Doug Robins were bested by the in-form Jamie Woods, Glenn Woodford, and Ben Mills.
The Brandon Bowls Club invites the community to come along for Trophy Bowls on Friday, 18 October, at 6:30pm, sponsored by Nutrien AG. If you haven’t put your name down, please do so as soon as possible. The cost is $12 per player, which includes a sausage sizzle before the game and the best smoko in Brandon afterwards.
Be sure not to miss out on another fantastic night of bowls at Brandon!
Contributed with thanks to Lloyd Shepherd.
Jackpot Winners, Jamie Wood and Jayson Farry (Joy Woods absent).
Gary and Chris Pearce were victorious on Sunday, securing a place in the final!
Local
The Burdekin Panthers Presentation Night was held last Saturday at Populin’s Hall, and a good crowd turned up to celebrate a good year for the Burdekin Football Club. Major Awards were Men’s Player of the Year – Ryan Scodellaro and the Women’s Player of the Year was Sian Reardon. The President’s Medal this year went to Wayne Kolb and Josh Valle and Maddison Taylor took out the Taylah Pearson Memorial Trophy.
The Senior Club Person of the ear went to Sian Reardon and Casey Calligaro and Oscar Licciardello were the Junior Club Persons of the Year.
Angelo Licciardello was made a Life Member, deservedly, after a good thirty plus years associated with the Club from playing as a fifteen-year-old to coaching and everything in between.
The Escriva Cup is due to be played on Friday evening, 1st November and is a fundraiser held by The SLoBs (Soccer Legends of the Burdekin) to help out ex-players with health problems. Last year fourteen Men’s teams and two Ladies teams took part. Hopefully, we will have more teams involved this year.
Night Soccer
Delta Cleaners Night Soccer’s Week 6 produced 67 goals from the twenty two games. Top scorers for the Men were UDS and Rapos Utd with five goals and in the Women’s competition DILLIGAF led the way with four goals. Sin Bins were earned by Gareth Ferguson from Plumb Dingers and Ryley Siandri from Jaime’s Boys.
Juniors
Junior Social Soccer kicked off Tuesday afternoon with 40 teams taking part this year! It was a very successful afternoon, with a lot of returning players and teams from last year and also a lot of new kids and new teams formed.
It was good to see the kids having fun with their friends! Thank you to the managers of each team, and especially those who took on teams that were formed in just the few days. Also, a big thank you to the youths who have put their hands up to referee again. You make the afternoons run smoothly and it is hoped that you will gain further experience and confidence from this.
Sian Reardon was celebrated as the Club Person of the Year.
Casey Calligaro and Oscar Licciardello were congratulated as the Junior Club Persons of the Year.
Maddison Taylor was the recipient of the Taylah Pearson Memorial Trophy.
Celebrated as the Women’s Player of the Year was Sian Reardon.
The Men’s Player of the Year was Ryan Scodellaro.
Wayne Kolb and Joshua Valle were presented with the Presidents Medal.
Saturday 19th of October 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 Wasmuth, Briella Wassmuth.
Sunday 20th of October 9.00am to 5.00pm ( All Day Patrol Group E ) John Moloney, Anne Moloney, Tony Felesina, Bella Moloney, Jane Jones, Gavin Jones, Sophia Moloney, Alissia Gibson, Billy Gibson, Danni Coughlin.
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Over the weekend, the Ayr Surf Club headed north to Forrest Beach, near Ingham, to undertake the second carnival of the North Barrier Branch competition season.
Despite a smaller than usual cohort of competitors, there were some absolutely brilliant individual and team efforts throughout the two days of competition, and it was fantastic to see some of the club's newer members pushing themselves to take on the challenging Ironperson event.
Club Junior Activities Co-ordinator Kellie Lawry reported that she was extremely proud of all members and enjoyed watching such good sportsmanship and comradery displayed by all competitors over the weekend.
Seeing the nippers forming friendships and engaging positively with members from the other clubs, is so great to see, and where members make friendships for life.
She reported that it was a big two days with some challenging conditions, and it was very rewarding to see members tackling the tricky conditions with skill and determination and never giving up.
Next up on the competition carnival is the North Australian Championships to be held in Mackay in a couple of weeks, which will see competitors converge from the majority of the northern half of the State and will be a real test for our local competitors.
Contributed with thanks to Kellie Lawry.
Quinn Pontifex in Under 8 Female wade race
Alyssa Irvine catching a wave in U12 Female Ironperson
Alexandra Moloney, Taylor Chapman & Charlotte Dale following U11 Female Board Race
Ross Rickards & Chris Wicks in Masters Male Flags
U13 Board Relay Team - Emilee Wassmuth, Cole Pontifex, Charlotte Lawry
Zachary Dale in All Age Relay
Photos supplied
The 2024 Country Swimming Championships took place in Darwin from 27 to 30 September, with the Burdekin Swimming Club proudly represented by Millie Lyne, accompanied by her dedicated coaches, Kim and Mick McConnachie. The event brought together 51 clubs from across regional Australia, with 334 swimmers competing for medals and striving for personal bests.
Millie’s hard work over the winter months paid off, as she achieved three personal best times and earned a place on the podium in three events. She placed second in both the 100m Breaststroke and 50m Butterfly for 14-year-old girls. However, her standout moment was winning the 50m Breaststroke with a personal best time of 34.72 seconds, the fastest female time across all age groups at the event.
Millie expressed her gratitude to the Burdekin Swimming Club for their support and to her coaches for their commitment and effort, including traveling to Darwin for the competition.
The Burdekin Swimming Club is now back in action at the Ayr pool, with Club nights held every Wednesday. For more information, visit their Facebook page and enjoy a fun family night out.
Contributed with thanks to Kate Lyne.
Millie Lyne racing to the finish at the 2024 Country Swimming Championships.
Hard work pays off! Millie celebrating her well earned place on the podium.
Millie diving into one of her many races at last month's Championships.
Millie alongside her dedicated coaches, Kim and Mick McConnachie.
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The 2024/25 Senior Cricket season at Home Hill Cricket kicked off in style on Saturday 12 October with four teams taking the field. It was a family affair, with fathers and sons playing together for the Rookies, Alliance Pharmacy, and Crowned Mongrels.
On Barry Richards Field, the Rookies faced off against Crowned Mongrels in a tightly contested match. Despite a standout performance by Dan Olditch, who scored 45 runs from 48 balls, the Rookies fell just short as Crowned Mongrels clinched victory in the final over. The Mongrels finished 6/137, narrowly edging out the Rookies' 6/131.
Meanwhile, on Field 2, Alliance Pharmacy posted a competitive 5/130, thanks to opener Lee Watts, who retired not out after scoring 50 runs from 58 balls. Peto's Marine put up a strong reply, led by Andy Ballin’s unbeaten 50 from 36 balls, and secured the win with a total of 6/151.
Next Saturday, 19 October, the Round 1 winners, Peto's Marine and Crowned Mongrels, will battle it out on Barry Richards Field from 1p.m., while Alliance Pharmacy takes on the Rookies on Field 2.
To register and join a team, visit www.PlayHQ.com and search for "Home Hill."
Contributed with thanks to Home Hill Cricket Association Secretary, Tiffany.
Crowned Mongrels were father and son duo Aiden and Joe Marano.
Three generations playing for the Rookies; Leo, Chris and Dan Olditch.
Alliance Pharmacy Family, JD, Alf and Travis Wilkins.
Father and son teams kicked off the Home Hill Cricket Association’s senior season last weekend.
This week saw the return of junior cricketers to the fields as the Home Hill Cricket Association launched the 2024/25 season. Players of all ages took to the pitch, from the smallest rookies to the more experienced juniors.
Junior cricket sessions are open to children aged 5 and up. The "Rookies" (5-7-year-olds) meet on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30p.m. at East Ayr State School, while the "Challengers" (8-10-year-olds) and Juniors (Under 11s and older) play on Friday afternoons at the Home Hill Cricket fields from 4:00p.m. Boys and girls of all experience levels are welcome to join the fun, even if they are new to the sport.
To register and join a team, visit www.PlayHQ.com and search for "Home Hill."
Contributed with thanks to Home Hill Cricket Association Secretary, Tiffany.
An awesome turn out, plenty of junior cricketers took the field last week.
Juniors are invited to come along and join the cricketing fun by registering at www.PlayHQ.com.
The Home Hill Cricket Association hosted a week of action, cane fires, and talented young cricketers!
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Junior golf at the Ayr Golf Club made an exciting return this term, kicking off with the September Monthly Medal event. It was fantastic to see a great number of new kids take the course with the Club sharing a warm welcome to all their new members!
In the 3-hole competition, Opie McKeough claimed the Monthly Medal, while newcomer Tyler Smith had an outstanding performance, securing the Gross Winner title, Least Putts, and Longest Putt with a remarkable gross score of 18.
For the 6-hole event, Sam Heatly emerged as the Monthly Medal winner with a -1 Nett score and also took out Least Putts. Evelyn Mahoney was named Gross Winner, while Celine Bain earned Nearest to Pin honors. Congratulations to Celine for her impressive move up to 6 holes this week!
Kyle Wilkie claimed victory in the 9-hole Monthly Medal, while Amaya Mahoney won Gross. Amaya also took Nearest to Pin and tied with Gabby Cahill for Least Putts.
A reminder that the Karrie Webb Junior Championships are set for the 26 and 27 October. If you’d like to nominate your child, please email juniorcaptain@ayrgc.com.au before nominations close on the 21 October.
Contributed with thanks to Kristina Patane Land.
The victorious winners of September Monthly Medal with presenters Rheanna Bain and Amaya Mahoney.
This Sunday, 20 October will host a showdown like never before with the Home Hill Harvest Festival’s Town of Origin event!
Compeitive and dedicated teams from Ayr and Home Hill have been busily gearing up for the much-loved event which will run from 1pm to 6pm at Home Hill High School.
An annual clash, the event celebrates the friendly rivalry between the two towns, with exciting matchups in cricket, netball, and rugby. But there’s more to this event than just the competition - it’s a true community celebration.
Alongside the action-packed sports, there’s a fantastic lineup of family-friendly activities to ensure everyone has a great afternoon, with the Home Hill Community Kindergarten set to run a tuckshop serving delicious food and refreshments throughout the day.
For the little ones, a petting zoo will be available, and there will be a special kids' event during the rugby half-time. Car enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Burdekin Cruisers Car Club, which will be showcasing a stunning array of vehicles.
Whether you’re cheering for your team or enjoying the many activities, the 2024 Town of Origin is set to be a memorable day of fun and local pride. Come along this Sunday for a fantastic celebration of sport, family, and community, proudly brought to you by the Home Hill Harvest Festival Committee!
Never a dull moment, this Sunday will host an action packed Town of Origin event as part of the Home Hill Harvest Festival. Photo supplied
The final Home Hill Golf Club Ladies’ Sip ‘n Putt event will be held this Saturday 12 October from 3:30pm. After several months of successful sessions, Megan Barbagallo warmly invites newcomers and players of all skill levels to come along for a swing this Saturday afternoon.
Each session runs under the talented guidance of PGA Professional, Tara Jenkins, and covers different skills and golfing techniques to prepare the attendees for a hit on the green. All equipment for the FREE afternoon is supplied by the Home Hill Golf Club, and each session concludes with plenty of chats and a drink at the Club. Introduced by Megan in July earlier this year, the sessions were created to encourage women to give golf a try in an encouraging and judgement free environment.
Come along this Saturday for an enjoyable afternoon of socialisation and sport!
What: Ladies FREE Sip ‘n Putt.
When: Saturday 12 October from 3:30pm to 4:30pm.
Where: Home Hill Golf Club.
More Information: Contacting Megan Barbagallo.
September’s group of ladies were taught driving drills and enjoyed plenty of laughs throughout the session.
After a brief hiatus, the Ayr Bowling Club is back with a report full of exciting bowling action. The past week has seen some fantastic games, starting with Wednesday Mixed Social Bowls on 2 October, which featured three games of triples and one game of pairs. Laughter filled the air as players showcased their skills. The day's winners were G. Nixon and M. Power, who triumphed over S. Darwen and A. Bull.
Wednesday evening brought cool and windy conditions, but it didn’t stop two pairs games and one triples game from being played. The winners of the triples were Les Anderson, Rob Jorgensen, and Michael Parravacini. In the pairs, Tricia Achille and Sam Caltabiano secured a victory in one game, while Margaret McLaughlin and Gary Pearce won the other.
Thursday saw the Ladies Competition in full swing with the Parkside Triples event. In a thrilling final, Ruth Moore, Joy Comollatti, and Pam Power emerged victorious over Isabel Cislowski, Beryl Cornford, and Dot Cutting. In another match, Donna Soper, Merle Nixon, and Mary Poli defeated Katharina Stuckler, Robyn McAllister, and Irene Wilson. It was a fantastic display of competitive bowling.
Saturday Social Bowls saw three games of triples and one game of pairs. Joe Papale, Sandra Darwen, and Pam Power defeated Lorraine Wolffe, Barry Hewson, and John MacDonald to claim the win.
On Sunday 6 October, the Club Championships continued with some thrilling matches. In the Mixed Singles, Lew Stidston defeated Sam Caltabiano. In the Mixed Triples, Margaret Chapman, Henry Hazle, and Gary Pearce overcame Donna Soper, Barry Shepherd, and Ron Soper. The Mixed Fours saw Ruth Moore, John Hall, Sandra Darwen, and Michael Parravacini triumph over Lorraine Wolffe, John Pirrone, Betty Shultz, and Anthony Bull. Further championship games are scheduled for 13th October, with details posted on the club board.
For those interested in lawn bowls, the Ayr Bowling Club is the perfect place to enjoy the sport in a friendly, social environment. Located at 101 Young Street, Ayr, Queensland, the club welcomes players of all skill levels. Social bowls are played on Wednesdays (afternoon or evening) and Saturday afternoons. The club has plenty of sets of bowls available for newcomers to try.
To learn more, visit the club’s Facebook page or call (07) 4783 1336. Whether you're a seasoned bowler or a beginner, the Ayr Bowling Club is the place to be!
Contributed with thanks to Anthony Bull.
Come along and have a bowl at the Ayr Bowling Club’s Wednesday Social Bowls!
On Saturday 12 October from 1pm to 5pm will be Patrol Group F consisting of; Furnell, Jen Morgan, John Furnell, Jo Morgan, Lauren Chapman, Isla Chapman, Ryley Satori, Jake Satori, Kat Satori, Dave Satori.
On Sunday 13 October from 9am to 1pm, the Super Sab Group consisting of Joshua Furnell, Barry Cross, and Brooke Cross will be on patrol. Taking over from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday will be Patrol Group G consisting of Carl List, Jimmy Hayllor, James Kennedy, Shane Morgan, Ross Blakey, Ross Rickards, and Jed Giddy.
The Club wishes their members all the best for the upcoming Forrest Beach Carnival.
Contributed with thanks to Hockey Vernon.
On the evening of Friday 20 September history was made at the Burdekin Rugby League Presentation night held at Populins Hall where the Club inducted its first ever Lady Life Member, Jenna Parravicini.
The Burdekin Rugby League was first formed in that name in 1963 and although there have been several males honoured with Life Membership, Jenna will be the first female. Jenna has been associated as Secretary and Treasurer for a period of just over 12 years. During that period, she has become heavily involved in the running of the club which has become more difficult in the past few years with changes in general to Rugby League in the Townsville District. For just on eight of those years Jenna also found time to devote to the organisation and conducting of the highly popular Ladies Day which has become a great fund raiser for the Roosters.
Jenna became involved with the club as she like Rugby League and the other people with the organisation. She says it takes up a lot of time as the administration emails just keep coming but she has enjoyed what she has done.
Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.
On Wednesday 25 September, the Ayr Golf Club hosted a partner event, generously sponsored by Burdekin Tyre Service, featuring 12 pairs competing in a split six format. The windy conditions added a layer of challenge, but they also kept the heat at bay, ensuring an enjoyable day for all. The final two pairings played neck and neck throughout the entire 18 holes, adding excitement to the day.
The top five teams were awarded prizes, with Kerry and Heather finishing 5th, Elesa and Kim in 4th, Rhonda O and Ann in 3rd, Betty and Mavis taking 2nd place, and the winners of the day being Sandra and Donna R.
The Club shared a warm thank you to Jason, Pam, and the entire crew at Burdekin Tyre Service for their fantastic support of the Ayr Ladies Golfing group.
On Wednesday 2 October, the Ayr Golf Club ladies played in Selections Day, sponsored by Marissa and her team at Selections, in a Stableford competition. A very windy afternoon made scoring difficult, but two golfers stood out. Vicki, back in form after a short break, and newcomer Heather, who is quickly lowering her handicap, battled it out. Heather edged out Vicki on a countback to take the win. Congratulations to both, and the Club shared a big thank you to Selections for their continued support.
The Ayr Ladies Golf Club recently welcomed clubs from across North Queensland for their annual Open Event, proudly sponsored by Don West Toyota and Groves and Clark Solicitors, with the Open Champion prize sponsored by Brenton and Janet Trezise. This year’s event saw 70 enthusiastic ladies compete in their respective grades, making it a weekend to remember.
The day was filled with camaraderie, great food donated by the Ayr lady members, and plenty of impressive golf. Presentations were slightly delayed due to a thrilling playoff in the C Grade division, which ended after three extra holes, crowning a well-deserved winner.
A special thank you goes to the generous sponsors who continue to support this event, making it a highlight of the year. The Ayr Ladies Club members also deserve recognition for their tireless work in cooking and catering for the day, ensuring there was plenty of delicious food for all.
The weather was kind, the course was in excellent condition, and despite a few hiccups, the event ran smoothly. Congratulations to all the winners and participants, and the Club looks forward to seeing everyone again in 2025.
Contributed with thanks to the Ayr Golf Club.
12 pairs put it on the green at the Ayr Golf Club for Burdekin Tyre Service Day.
Vicki Adcock and Heather Desbois were victorious with a score of 37 at Selections Day.
The Ayr Golf Club held another highly successful Open Event over the weekend, welcoming 70 golfers to the green.
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The Burdekin Bocce Club, a small but dedicated group of 26 members, is embracing Seniors Month this October by hosting an open afternoon on Sunday, 20 October. The event will include afternoon tea, and guests are encouraged to either watch or join in a friendly game of bocce. With many of the club's members aging and finding the physical demands of the sport challenging, some have transitioned to playing Italian card games while others continue to enjoy bocce.
Last Sunday 6 October, the club held a special lunch for members, featuring the traditional Italian dessert, Tiramisu, served by Bertilla Piazzetta and Rita Vener. The lunch was made even more memorable with the presence of three special guests: Fr Manoj, Fr Troung, and Sr Carmel Pattinson from the Catholic Church.
The club is also celebrating the long-awaited repair of its roof, which was damaged during the February cyclone. The repairs were made possible thanks to a $5,000 government grant from the Disaster Recovery fund.
The Burdekin Bocce Club invites the public to come along to the open afternoon, enjoy some delicious afternoon tea, and experience the joy of bocce firsthand. It's a wonderful opportunity for the community to connect and share in this beloved Italian tradition.
Contributed with thanks to Regina Lequerica.
Regina and Tony putting their bocce skills to the test!
Bertilla Piazzetta and Rita Vener treated members to a delicious lunch last weekend.
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