Over the school holidays, four talented young golfers from the Ayr Golf Club travelled to Mackay to attend the Mackay Sugar Circuit.

Heath Smart, Oscar and Evelyn Mahoney and Kyle Wilkie had plenty of fun showcasing their skills on the green for an action-packed week of golf. Each Junior performed exceptionally, with all four walking away victorious, scoring a title or two in the daily competitions.

“Some great golf and fun during this Mackay Sugar Circuit - many thanks to Sarina Golf Club, Pioneer Valley Golf Club and Mackay Golf Club for putting on a great week of golf for the juniors,” shared Ayr Golf Club member Laura Mahoney.

Along with golfers from local Mackay clubs, the week attracted players from Moranbah, Blackwater, Charters Towers, and Townsville, providing a range of great competition for the Ayr Golf Club’s Juniors.

Heath Smart was congratulated for his success of moving up to 6 holes, and for consistently playing at a high level over three days of 6 holes in a row. Deservingly, Heath was awarded as the Nett Winner for Thursday’s competition.

Kyle Wilkie was celebrated as the Gross Runner Up at Pioneer Valley for his performance in the 6 hole competition on Wednesday.

Evelyn Mahoney was the victorious Nett Winner each day of the girls 6 hole competition and continued to improve her score as the week went on.

Oscar Mahoney performed well over the four days and was celebrated as the Nett Winner on the third day of the competition in the boys 18 hole competition where he reached a new personal best score of 90.

The Ayr Golf Club has congratulated their Junior players for their amazing performance over the week, and looks forward to attending future away competitions.

“Well done all for travelling and giving away competitions a go, they really are a great way to make golfing friends and experience new challenging courses,” said Laura.

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Heath Smart, Kyle Wilkie, and Evelyn Mahoney ready to go at the Mackay Golf Club’s Mackay Sugar Circuit on the school holidays
Oscar and Evelyn Mahoney with their winning prizes at the Mackay Sugar Circuit

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On Sunday 14 July, members of the Home Hill Tennis Association travelled to the Whitsundays to compete against the Bowen Tennis Association (BTA) for a wonderful day of friendly pickleball.

A day of perfect weather, and plenty of laughs, Bowen were the celebrated victors, winning two out of the three sections on their home courts.

“What a great day we had yesterday, playing a game we love against one of our favorite neighboring towns, Home Hill,” shared the Bowen Tennis Association.

“Bowen may have come away as victors on the day but a lot of fun, new friendships and laughs were had at our inaugural Bowen VS Home Hill friendly.”

BTA hosted a lovely morning tea which was enjoyed by all, and both the Home Hill and Bowen teams look forward to the next inter town competition.

“Thank you Bowen for your hospitality and especially the great morning tea – we’re sure to be back,” shared the Home Hill Tennis Association.

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Members from both the Bowen and Home Hill Tennis Association after enjoying playing against one another in friendly matches of pickleball.

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On Saturday 20 July, the Ayr Golf Club was a hub of activity for the KJ’s Mining and Engineering Ayr Junior Golf Morning.

The junior golfers put it on the green, showcasing their skills in hopes to bag one of the awesome SportFirst Ayr vouchers, t-shirts and tracker caps that were up for grabs!

“Some very lucky juniors this morning for sure,” shared Ayr Golf Club’s Laura Mahoney.

The celebrated 9 Hole Gross Winner was Oscar Mahoney with an impressive score of 43.

Breaking PB’s after PB’s was 9 Hole Nett Winner, Riely Dobe who topped his personal best with a great score of 50.

Rhianna Bain was congratulated as the 6 Hole Gross Winner, also breaking her personal best score to top it off to 42.

The celebrated 6 Hole Nett Winner was Heath Smart.

The 3 Hole Gross Winner was Hudson Suficiencia with a great score of 26, and Celine Bain was the victorious 3 Hole Nett Winner.

Contributed with thanks to Laura Mahoney.

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Andrew Smart presented the prizes to all the talented juniors on behalf of KJ’s Mining and Engineering for last Saturday’s wonderful morning of golf.
Rhianna Bain, Tegan Saxby and Evelyn Mahoney had an enjoyable Saturday on the green.

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North Queensland was victorious at the North Women’s Lawn Bowls Challenge last week following a tough three-day competition.  

Taking to the green to lead the North Queensland team to victory was Ayr Bowling Club member, Pam Power, and her achievements have been celebrated by the Burdekin community.

“Congratulations to our own club members, Pam Power for being part of this team,” shared the Ayr Bowling Club.

Over the three days the North Queensland team competed against the best of the best from the Mackay District and two teams from the Far North Queensland District. NQ’s victory was determined by the very last game of the competition, making for a nail-biting decider for on lookers.

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Ayr Bowling Club member, Pam Power with the NQ Team’s winning trophy.
Victorious! The North Queensland team at the North Women’s Lawn Bowls Challenge.

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Last Sunday 14 June, Casalegno Fields was the place to be with the Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads putting it on the field for another action-packed weekend.

Although not the results the club was hoping for across the three grades, First Grade put on an impressive performance of skill and talent, clinching a home ground victory against Teachers. A triumphant outcome, the win earned the team another bonus point for the second week in a row.

“Another successful weekend of rugby done and dusted,” shared the Rugby Union Canetoads.

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The Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads giving it their all at last Sunday’s showdown

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On Wednesday July 10, the Ayr Golf Club hosted Burdekin Printers Day 2024.

In celebration of the Burdekin Printers’ continued sponsorship and support, Wednesday saw one of the Ayr Golf Club’s largest attendance totals, with 28 ladies on the course.

With each competition, the club continues to see the ladies reach new personal bests, with impressive scores shining through.

Katrina Hearn was the celebrated Winner of the day, with a “sensational” total of 41 points. The Runner Up was Angie Baxter with 39 points, with Marion Chapple in Third Place with 38 points.

The club congratulates all those who attended the day.

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Marion Chapple, Katrina Hearn and Angie Baxter.

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Sunday 14 July saw 20 ladies compete in the annual Northern Insurance Solutions (NIS) Ayr Ladies Closed Championships.

The 2024 championships hosted spectacular weather conditions whereby two divisions played a 27-hole stroke event on the gorgeous greens of the Ayr Golf Course, with the club celebrating all those who maintain the grounds.

“The ground staff and volunteers are doing a great job – big thanks to all of you,” shared the Ayr Golf Club.

Due to the championship having no live scoring enabled, the conclusion of the day saw a surprising reveal of those victorious, an unveiling the club shared was “fantastic to see”.

The Division 1 Net Winner was Debbie Searle with an amazing score of 100, with the Runner Up being Sandra Wright with a score of 107.

In Division 2, Betty Durrant was the celebrated Net Winner with a net score of 111, and the Division 2 Net Runner Up was Ann Phelan who totaled a net score of 112.

The Club’s Division 1 Gross Winner was Loretta Mauro with a score of 126, and Pat Lawson was the Runner Up with a score of 131.

The Division 2 Gross Winner was Kerry Mann with an impressive score of 143, with Runner Up, Rhonda Martin scoring 148.

“A big thank you for all the ladies who played the 27 holes on a Sunday, and an even bigger thank you to Kelli Dabelstein (NIS) for her generous sponsorship of this important event on the lady’s calendar,” shared the Ayr Golf Club.

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The ladies celebrated the conclusion of a successful championship on the weekend at the Ayr Golf Course.

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The Burdekin Football Club has celebrated another successful Junior Carnival following an action-packed Sunday igniting the sporting fields of Beach Road.

Sunday 14 July attracted many travelling teams along with the region’s very own local stars. All the young players shone brightly across the fields of International Park, showcasing great sportsmanship and team spirit whilst giving each game their best.

Over the past numerous weeks, the Burdekin Football Club’s committee comprising of parents, carers, volunteers, sponsors and community members, have been working tirelessly to dot every i and cross every t to ensure the carnival ran without a hitch. Their efforts in organising the event did not go unnoticed, and the club has shared its immense gratitude to the community for their valuable contributions to the overall success of the carnival.

“Thank you so much to everyone who helped make our annual Junior Carnival a success,” shared the Burdekin Football Club.

The 2024 Junior Carnival saw the Club blown away with the generosity of its sponsors and donors, with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and excitingly, a 4th prize up for grabs as part of their fundraising raffle, and many dedicated members of the community spent their time baking and cooking delicious treats for the canteen which ran throughout the day.

“We are so extremely lucky to have so many donations for our raffle this year – thank you to all sponsors and those that made donations to the raffle and the canteen!” Shared the Club.

The Burdekin Football Club’s 2024 Junior Carnival has received praise from the Charters Towers’ Hawks of the Goldfields United Football Club who travelled to attend the Sunday spectacular.

“Thank you to Burdekin Football Club for your superb efforts in making the magic happen once again this year,” shared the Goldfields United Football Club.

The Burdekin Football Club has thanked all the coaches, managers, referees and scorers for dedicating their time in the lead up to the carnival and for their support on the day, as well as the community for coming along to cheer on the kids for what was another successful Junior Carnival.

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Local

Last weekend was not a good weekend for the Burdekin Panthers. They had four games, winning one and losing three. On Friday night the Division One Funkies lost 0-2 at home to Estates Blue and on Saturday, the Premiers, Under 23s and Ladies were all at home to Brothers. The day started well with the Under 23s winning 2-1 but the ladies lost 0-7 and the Premiers went down 0-1.

This week the Panthers have four away games all against Warriors. On Friday night, it is the Division One Funkies and on Saturday the Premiers, Under 23s and Ladies.

The Ayr Anzac Club Premiers were up against a Brothers team that knew this was a very important game. Brothers brought this onto the pitch with a level of intensity in the defensive side of the game and set up a very compact shape that made it hard for the Panthers to break through. In attack, Brothers tried to catch Burdekin on the counter and managed to pull a few close saves from Jarrod Camer. In attack, Burdekin’s Elliott Dal Santo forced a great save from Brothers keeper and Matthew Kolb shot wide after being put through by Jay Leckenby but neither side could score before half time. The game continued in a similar fashion to start the second half with both sides having some half chances but no one able to capitalise. Brothers hit the lead in the 70th.

From there, their compact shape got even tighter, making it harder for Burdekin to find a way through. A few chances came to the Panthers in the last 15 minutes, none better than a rocket of a shot by Ryan Scodellaro that clattered against the cross bar and bounced out. Unfortunately, the Panthers were not able to find an equaliser, losing 1-0. The Panthers goalkeeper Jarrod Camer was the Burdekin Man of the Match

The Burdekin Tyre Service Under 23s. Every game from here feels like do or die for the Panthers if they want to be playing finals football. Against a Brother’s side that we haven't lost to this year there was a sense of belief around the squad. However, the game started with Brothers dominating the proceedings on the back of a few unforced errors from the Panthers. A few inspired substitutions from the coach saw the Burdekin reinvigorated and on the stroke of half time after a nice little interchange of passes on top of the box Adam Mottin scored to make it 1-0 heading into the break. The second half started off much better for the Panthers but a second goal wouldn’t come. Then with fifteen minutes left, Jarrod Dal Santo, on the right hit a cross into the penalty area that Damien Casella put into the back of the net to make it 2-0. Shortly after, Brothers scored to set up a tense finish, but Burdekin was able to see out the final stages and finish the game with a 2-1 win. 

The Austral Masonry Funkies were at home against Estates Blue on Friday night. Burdekin started the game slowly and were under pressure early on. Estates took the lead after fourteen minutes with a shot from just inside the area. This lead was doubled ten minutes later after a shot was drilled into the bottom corner of the goal after the Estates player was given too much time and space on the ball. In a repeat of the last couple of weeks the Burdekin team worked their way into the game and finished the half strongly but couldn’t convert any of their chances. The Funkies were a lot stronger in the second half straight from the whistle and had some moments of slick ball movement. Unfortunately, no goals resulted from this good play. Neither team managed to score in the second half which left the final score 2-0 to Estates.

The Ayr Anzac Club Ladies met midweek for a clash with Saints followed by a home game fixture against Brothers on Saturday night. Wednesday night saw the women walk away victorious, winning just their second game against the fiery and physical Saints. The Ladies proved able to hold their own and produce some quality football. Sienna Lago scored two goals and Charlotte Dal Santo snagged the third. Burdekin winning 3-2, coming back from 2 nil down. The taste of victory unfortunately proved to be too sweet as Burdekin faced 2nd placed Brothers on Saturday. They were met by an extremely skilled Brothers team. Burdekin were unfortunate to lose 0-7. The standard of football the Burdekin produced against Brothers was far more technical and confident than that from the beginning of the season. It must be noted that the Ladies have improved greatly, especially defensively. Hopefully with some shooting practice at training, the attackers will be rewarded for their outstanding runs. 

The Under 13s Panthers took on MAO Maroon on Saturday at Paradise Park going down 4-2. In another improved performance the team went ahead with a cracking goal by Rohan Kelly and were leading 1-0 at the interval. MAO came out firing after half time and scored 3 unanswered goals before Rohan Kelly scored again showing great determination. Unfortunately, the boys couldn’t keep the intensity up for the full 70 minutes and went down 4-2. Rohan Kelly, William Shears and Jacob Menso all had great games.

Masters

On a perfect night for a game, it was nice to see a good turnout and in a replay of the Euro 2024 Final, England beat Spain 1-0 with a second half goal from Drew Bursey.
There are just seven weeks of Monday Night Masters left before Night Soccer kicks off on Tuesday 3rd September.

Juniors

The club held its annual junior carnival on Sunday 14th July. It was a very successful day all around for teams, players and the Club, with so many happy faces, quality football and positive feedback from out-of-town clubs. The club expressed their gratitude to everyone who made the event happen, as well as the donations of food and raffle prizes from sponsors and other organisations.

A special thanks also to the youth and senior players for refereeing the games to ensure the day ran smoothly, and to Steven Caltabiano from Honeycombes for being on hand all day to present the winners and runners up with their medals.

There are a few more carnivals coming up, with Wulguru on Sunday 28th July, Bowen Sunday 4th August and Ingham Sunday 18th August.  Wulguru nominations would be closed now.  Please support Bowen and Ingham carnivals where you can, a lot of Bowen and Ingham teams travel to the carnival. Games as per normal will recommence this Saturday.

National and International

In their last game before the Olympics kick off, the Matildas went down 1-2 to Canada in a friendly match in Spain. Their first Olympics match will be against Germany on 25th July in Marseille. They then meet Zambia on 28th July in Nice, and their final group match is against the USA in Marseille on 31st July.
Euro 2024 has now been decided with Spain beating England 2-1 in the Final, held in Berlin early on Monday morning. Frank Giddy won the SLoBs competition.

The Copa America was also decided, with Argentina defeating Colombia 1-0 in extra time. The match was played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

This week’s quote is from Argentine and Napoli hero Diego Maradona. “The goal was scored a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”

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George Holmkvist has been celebrated for his recent achievements in the 2024 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship in Du Quoin, Illinois.
George, with the company of his proud parents Dane and Steph Holmkvist, little sister Audrey, and two Grandmothers travelled to America for the championships running from 30 June to 5 July.
An annual event, any racer aged between 5 to over 60 years of age can enter in the championship after meeting the strict qualifying requirements. George’s abilities saw him shine through four rounds over the weeklong championship, where he engaged in practises, qualifiers, heats and main events.

George progressed exceptionally through the events of the weeklong championship.

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George Holmkvist Triumphs
In The 2024 Flat Track Grand Championship

Racing within the 65cc 7 to 11 years class, George was one of approximately 25 competitors, with only 12 being selected for each main competition based on qualifying times and heat races. With an overall score calculated from points scored in main competitions, George finished in third place, and has excitingly been invited to attend the 2025 Championships.
“We are very proud of George’s results, but we are most proud of his dedication to succeed at the sport he loves,” George’s father, Dane, proudly shared.
George and Dane had travelled ahead of the rest of George’s cheer squad to test out his new motorbike, and schedule in many hours of practice on the American track.
“Bike setup is crucial, and the new bike and tracks in America are a lot different to Australia so we had to get as much time on the practice tracks as possible,” said Dane.
Following in his mother Steph’s footsteps, George began motorcycle racing when he was just four years old at the Ayr Motorcycle Club. Steph began racing with the club in her teen years and has now become heavily involved in running events within the Ayr Motorcycle Club to provide members like George with the opportunity to hone their skills for both national and international competitions.
“We pay credit to local clubs like Ayr Motorcycle Club and the volunteers like his mother who keep kids on the tracks so they can be competitive when opportunities like this trip are available to them,” explained Dane.
Over the past few years, George has been a proud representative of the Ayr Motorcycle Club and has brought home 2 National Titles, and 8 State Titles.
“He has achieved great results at local, State and National levels of racing in Australia and now further proved his ability with great results in America,” expressed Dane.
“He is a modest kid who is always looking to help others on and off the track.”

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George with his outstanding achievements and new championship motorcycle after finishing 3rd in his class in the USA championship.

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The Ayr Bowling Club has been bustling with camaraderie and spirited competition.

Tuesday, 9 July, witnessed a vibrant turnout for Ladies Social Bowls, featuring 15 enthusiastic players split into two rinks. Beryl Cornford, Linda Guimelli, Betty Schultz, and Pam Power emerged victorious in an exciting match against Ruth Moore, Karen Page, and Dot Cutting. Meanwhile, Karen Shepherd, Donna Soper, Irene Wilson, and Mary Poli triumphed over Merle Smith, Raylene Hervey, Robyn McAllister, and Sandra Stidston in a closely contested game.

Thursday, 11 July, saw the Open Pairs event unfold, with Joy Comollatti and Irene Wilson prevailing over Ruth Moore and Deslie Olsen.

Highlighting the club's achievements, Pam Power clinched her first game in the District Open Singles playoff on 13 July and secured a spot in the Northern Women's Challenge, playing in the number 3 position. Additionally, Heather Jorgensen, Irene Wilson, Deslie Olsen, Beryl Cornford, and Pam Power (skip) were selected to represent the club in the upcoming Premier Cup at Suburban Bowls Club from 26 to 29 July.

Wednesday featured an enjoyable afternoon of social bowling with two games of Triples, where J. Pirrone, B. O’Halloran, and R. Soper emerged as winners. Wednesday Night mixed social bowls saw B. Piazetta, R. Jorgensen, and S. Caltabiano winning the triples game, and D. Burt, and J. Grabbi winning in pairs.

Saturday's Social Bowls showcased five thrilling games of triples, with Beryl Cornford, S. Darwen, and S. Caltabiano securing victory. The day also welcomed visiting players, enriching the club's vibrant community atmosphere.

Sunday was marked by intense championship games, including the Semi-Final Championship Pairs, where G. Pearce and C. Pearce triumphed over B/ Hewson and C. Essex. In the B Grade Singles, J. Grabbi emerged victorious against J. Hall, claiming the title. The A/B Pairs competition saw M. Olsen and B. Shepherd defeating J. Pirrone and A. Bull.

Looking ahead, the Ayr Bowling Club invites everyone to join the Fun Friday Night Bowls on 19 July, starting at 6pm. Hosted with support from Sparkle Town Car Wash and Stranos, the event promises an evening of fun for bowlers of all levels. Entry is $10 per game, inclusive of a sausage sizzle and light supper.

Come alone or with friends and experience the joy of bowling in a friendly atmosphere. For more details or to register, contact Maurie Power at 0412551816 or Pam Power at 0458330019. For more information and updates on upcoming club events, please visit the club notice board.

Contributed with thanks to Anthony Bull.

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North Queensland Singles Champion of Champions, Pam Power with her winning trophy.

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The Brandon Bowls Club kicked off their action-packed week with Wednesday ladies' bowls, where Kaye Garner, Ann Newton, Vanda Ballao, and Margaret Chapman secured a victory over Lyn Storrie, Colleen Olsen, Helen Collins, and Darelle Pearce.

Friday, 12 July, saw Trophy Bowls Night, generously sponsored by Fahey & Walsh, drawing a strong turnout of 64 bowlers despite chilly conditions. Jamie Wood, Ben Mills, Gavin Quinn, and Allyson Williams emerged victorious in the competitive evening.

Sunday, 14 July, featured intense competition in the A Grade Singles. Gary Pearce narrowly defeated Tony Bayliss in a thrilling match that came down to the final bowl. In another semifinal, Chris Pearce triumphed over Glenn Woodford, setting up an exciting father-son final between Gary and Chris Pearce. Bookies favour Chris Pearce slightly at this stage.

In the B Grade Singles, Lloyd Shepherd initially trailed Ross McLaughlin but staged a comeback to claim the 2024 title.

Acknowledgments were extended to Len Feeney, Helen Collins, and Jamie Woods for their invaluable assistance in marking the matches.

Sunday Social Bowls drew a total of 18 participants engaged in triples games. Winners included Mick McCloskey, Allan Garioch, Keith Prosser, Jimmy Murray, Leo Kenny, Peter Henderson, Peter Lejarraga, Trevor Elton, and Richi Mau. The jackpot winners were Norm Storrie, Rob Jorgensen, and Jeff Taylor.

A reminder for all members there will be a Club Meeting on Sunday, 21 July, at 12:15pm.

Contributed with thanks to Lloyd Shepherd.

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The winners of the evening; Jamie Wood, Ben Mills, Gavin Quinn and Allyson Williams.
The Runners Up; Sandra Darwin, Margaret Chapman, Henry Hazel and Gary Pearce with sponsor representative Rob Jorgensen.
The Mio Farming team took out third place; Simon, Peter, sponsor representative Rob Jorgensen and Phillip.
Tony Bayliss was defeated by Gary Pearce.
Chris Pearce was victorious over Glenn Woodford.
B Grade Singles Final winners; Lloyd Shepherd, Jamie Woods (President), and Ross McLaughlin.

The Home Hill Bowls Club enjoyed another lively week of bowls with Thursday 11 July seeing winning trio Stephen Doig, Dino Poli, and Mick Olsen showcasing their skills on Rummeny Green

Congratulations were due to Lyn Elton for winning the raffle. Gary Nosworthy drew the mystery ball, although unfortunately, the jackpot remains unclaimed with hopes high for next week's draw.

Special thanks were expressed to the sponsors, EB HIVES, whose delicious honey is available for $6 a bottle at the Home Hill Bowls Club bar.

The afternoon on Rummeny Green saw 34 players in action, delivering outstanding performances across multiple rinks:

Rink 2: Tony, John, and Glen secured a solid victory over Ron, Mick M., and Jeff with a score of 22-11.

Rink 3: Alex, Chris, and Karen triumphed over Des, Gail, and Yogi, finishing 20-11.

Rink 4: Mick O., Dino, and Stephen dominated their match against Paul, Peter, and Gary with an impressive 38-6 win.

Rink 5: Kim, Bob, and Mick M. engaged in a close battle, narrowly defeating Judy, Steve, and Keith 15-14.

Rink 6: The seasoned team of Jimmy/Karl and Barry proved age is no barrier, defeating Richard and Hugh 19-11.

Rink 7: In another exciting match, Cy and Con held on to win against Helen and Trevor 19-17.

The club continues to thrive with activities including Monday morning fitness classes, Tuesday Trimmers club, Wednesday morning Kraft group, and Wednesday night barefoot bowls. Thursday mornings are bustling with BINGO, drawing good crowds, while Thursday afternoons remain a highlight with vibrant social bowls.

Saturday afternoon bowls have also commenced, with names to be in by 1pm for a 1:30pm start.

Until next week, keep up the great bowling spirit!

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Contributed with thanks to Stephen Doig.

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On Friday 28 June, the Burdekin Netball Association’s 13’s and 14’s teams, with the support of numerous officials and spectators, travelled to Brisbane to compete in the Junior State Age Championships.

The team began the jampacked weekend with some close losses on Saturday, however a draw against Palmerston in Game 3 provided the motivation the girls needed to raise their spirits for the days ahead. Sunday hosted tough competitions for day two, and saw the girls celebrate victory, coming out on top against Nambour.

Cool and overcast weather produced a slow start on Monday, which saw the girls power through, overcoming a hard start to day three to bag three strong wins, and a draw. With victories under their belts, the girls were ready to face the cold and rainy weather as they went up against leaderboard toppers, Downey Park. A hard game ending in a draw, the Burdekin Netball Association was extremely proud of how well the girls played. The girls put it on the court for the last few games and concluded the championship weekend with a win.

With dedication and determination at the forefront of their performance, the girls played hard from start to finish, playing a total of 19 games over the 4-day championship. The 2024 team additionally included a couple of 12-year-olds which both coach, Cailin Gosling, and Manageress, Kristen Linton slotted in nicely with the rest of the girls.

“We’re extremely proud of how hard this team worked and their commitment to their team on and off the court,” shared Cailin.

“I wish all players nothing but the best for their future netball endeavours.”

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Last Saturday 13 July, proved to be a challenging outing for the Burdekin Roosters as they suffered defeats across all three matches held in Townsville during Brothers Old Boys reunion day.

The afternoon commenced with a tough 30-4 loss for the ladies against Brothers, followed by the home reserves team securing a 28-16 victory over the visiting Roosters. Later in the day, amidst a large crowd, the Brothers A-grade side dominated with a resounding 34-0 win over the young Roosters.

From the outset, the more experienced Brothers A-grade team set a relentless pace, immediately taking control of the game. Despite the Roosters' valiant efforts, including a commendable defensive stand in the first quarter, penalties and a disorganised defence allowed Brothers to capitalise early.

Throughout the afternoon, the Roosters struggled against the new "six again" rule, which added to their defensive woes. Coach Steve Lansley acknowledged the team's resilience but noted their inability to convert promising opportunities into points. Despite holding Brothers to a 12-0 lead at halftime, the Roosters faced an uphill battle as Brothers extended their lead shortly after the break.

Lansley praised Rhett Williams and Jeremiah Matuatu for their standout performances in tackling and attacking respectively. English front-rower Chris Gale was also recognised for his unwavering effort.

“The boys gave it their all but on the day we were a bit off, and the more experienced Brothers team took advantage,” said Coach Lansley.

In other A-grade matchups, Charters Towers defeated Western Lions 38-12, Souths overcame Norths 24-10, and Herbert River and Centrals battled to a 22-all draw at the Sports Reserve.

In the Reserve grade matches, Roosters' coach Chris Perry commended his makeshift team for their effort in holding a formidable Brothers outfit to a 28-16 loss despite 18 players being unavailable due to various reasons. Perry highlighted the contributions of under-18 players Luca Lago, Llama Ghee, Jaki Starr, and Kane Batcheler, who stepped up after a challenging draw the previous night.

“I would personally like to thank the four under 18 players, Luca Lago, Llama Ghee, Jaki Starr and Kane Batcheler who put their hands up to play after playing a hard 16 all draw on Friday night in their own grade,” said Coach Perry.

“Luca Lago showed great form being named players player and he along with Jaki Starr crossed for tries.”

Despite shortcomings such as handling errors and missed tackles, Perry emphasised the team's determination and positive aspects of their performance. He expressed confidence in bouncing back with the return of several key players in the upcoming fixtures.

“At times we were our own worst enemy dropping balls and falling off tackles, but we will bounce back with several players returning this week,’ added Coach Perry.

Meanwhile, in other Reserve grade fixtures, Charters Towers defeated Western Lions 32-24, Souths triumphed over Norths 38-10, and Bowen prevailed over Centrals 30-18, while Herbert River had a bye.

The Hens, facing a depleted squad due to injuries and commitments, fell short against Brothers, succumbing to a 30-8 defeat after trailing 16-8 at halftime. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Hens showed resilience throughout the match, with players like Theo Mosby Nona, Ama bin Awel, Akeilah Thiomasson, and Steph Monday putting in commendable efforts.

In other ladies' matches, Western Lions defeated Charters Towers 38-4, and Centrals dominated Herbert River with a 68-0 victory, while Norths had a bye.

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Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.

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