
The 2026 Whitsunday Zone Teams was held on Saturday and Sunday with 12 teams competing. Team Sheedy finished in top place, without losing a game all weekend. Team members Terry Sheedy, Max Holewa, Diane Holewa and Noel Bugeia. Well done to all who competed! The last week of 3 Fridays Remembrance Pairs was played on Friday. This event is to remember and reflect on our members who are no longer with us for one reason or another. The outright winner was Terry Sheedy, followed by Janelle Conroy. Weekly Results Monday 1 June 2026 – 9 Table Mitchell Green Points N/S E/W 1st David Ting / Eric Goodchild 1st Gwen Liddell / Griffin Bancroft 2nd Janelle Conroy / Terry Sheedy 2nd Vicki Howard / Laura Howland 3rd Janine Rodgers / Jewel Schmidt 3rd Andrew Canavan / Geoff Taylor Tuesday Evening 2 June 2026 – 6 Table Mitchell Green Points N/S E/W 1st Janelle Conroy / Geoff Taylor 1st Helen Van Den Breok / Terry Sheedy 2nd Janet Hansen / Ken Seaniger 2nd Vicki Howard / Richard Wix Wednesday 3 June 2026 –9 Table Mitchell Green Points N/S E/W 1st David Ting / Eric Goodchild 1st Janet Hansen / Alan Brown 2nd Janelle Conroy / Noel Bugeia 2nd Diane Holewa / Max Holewa 3rd Monica Darley / Kath Poole 3rd Susan Wright / Bob Ellis Thursday Evening 4 June 2026 – 4 Table One Winner – Green Points 1st Robert Carless / Ken Seaniger 2nd Janine Rodgers / Janelle Conroy 3rd Terry Sheedy / Noel Bugeia 4th Griffin Bancroft / Mick King Friday 5 June 2026 –- Week 3 of the Remembrance Pairs - 10 Table Mitchell Red Points N/S E/W 1st Monica Darley / Kath Poole 1st Griffin Bancroft / Ann Whitmore 2nd Anne Lutz / Geoff Taylor 2nd Janet Hansen / Thelma / Caruana 3rd Karen Caldwell / Gwen Liddell 3rd Ming Ting / Helen Van Den Breok Final Results of Remembrance Pairs after 3 Weeks with 3 different Partners, One Winner – Red Points 1st Terry Sheedy 2nd Janelle Conroy Saturday 6 June 2026 – Whitsunday Zone Teams 2026 – 12 Team Red Points Team Players 1st Sheedy Terry Sheedy / Noel Bugeia / Diane Holewa / Max Holewa 2nd Conroy Janelle Conroy / Geoff Taylor / Joy Robinson / Ken Seaniger 3rd Harris Jan Harris / Julie O’Neill / Faye Wright / Marilin Robins Whits. Zone Team Winners – Noel Bugeia, Diane Holewa, Max Holewa and Terry Sheedy 2- Remembrance Pairs 1st Terry, 2nd Janelle
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Tuesday Night Fixtures Division 1: Canaries (Josh Brown, Lily Boland, YiLin Jiang) won 6-5 over Curlews (Barry Patterson, Geoff Cowan, Anne Sheridan), with YiLin just overcoming Anne in a very close five-set match (6, -11, 10, -5, 8). Budgies (Emma Widdup, Graeme Walker, Graham Brake) defeated Geese (Steve Whiting, Janice Kent, Donna Abbott) 6-5, with Donna coming home strongly against Graham B (9, -6, -8, 9, 7). Cockatoos (Mick Ruhl, Neil Brown, Mark Sleeman) were too strong for Bowerbirds (Trent Day, Allan Edwards, Graham Drury), winning 8-3. Allan snuck home against Mark in an extremely close battle (-9, 3, -9, 8, 9). Division 2: Galahs (Remy Zhan, Mark Stam) were too strong for Doves (Daniel Warfield, Noreen Fredrickson), winning 4-1. Remy played extremely well to defeat Daniel in five sets (-10, 4, -8, 7, 9). Eagles (Andrea Nicholson, Ollie Hamelink, Rachel Fiesta) defeated Owls (Rod Mahumas, Ricky Zhan, Peter Goodson) 8-3. Rachel came back from two sets down against Peter to win a close match (-10, -10, 6, 6, 9). Parrots (George Camilleri, Delma Knight, Liz Burton) won a close battle 6-5 against Kites (Ian McKay, Matt West, Darryl Ross), with Matt getting the better of Delma (-7, 10, -6, 8, 6). Division 3: Some great matches were played as the battle for the top positions in Division 3 continues. Jason, Dylan, Tiffany and Jeff all recorded impressive wins. Tuesday Morning Fixtures Division 1: Astro Aces (George Camilleri, Peter Goodson, Sally Muir) just got home 7-5 over Orion Orbiters (John McGee, Andrea Nicholson, Veronica Shepherd). George edged out Andrea in a thrilling five-set battle (-9, 5, -9, 11, 13). Eclipse Spin (Branko Vucurovic, Delma Knight, Darryl Ross) won 7-5 against Nova Smashers (Doug Dungavell, Ross DeBoer, Bryan Marshall), with Branko securing a good win over Doug in a close five-set contest (-5, 8, -6, 9, 9). Division 2: Spartan Spin (Ian Dodds, Helen Ware, Veronica Needham) got home to defeat Ninja Strikes (Pam Keune, Frank Caruana, Chris Collins). Helen won a close battle against Chris (12, 6, -9, -7, 10). Viking Raiders (Kim Daffy, Louise Gould, Josie Davis) defeated Samurai Swords (John Hamelink, Robyn Bushell, Coral Morgan) 7-5. Louise fought back against Robyn to win in five sets (-8, -7, 7, 7, 8). Division 3: Aztec Warriors (Kim Challender, Janelle Keune, Glenda Brookes) defeated Mongol Power (Gerry Synnott, Laurie Bradshaw, Thelma Caruana) 9-3. Janelle recorded a strong five-set win over Laurie (-7, 6, 4, -3, 8). Gladiator Grip (Allison Day, Iris Grasso, Sharon Muller) tied 6-6 with Celtic Smash (Marie Taylor, Cheryl Pearson, Trish Zamparutti). Allison had a good win against Trish in five sets (-13, 9, 4, -9, 7). 1. Remy Zhan 2. Daniel Warfield
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Two talented swimmers from the Mackay Cyclones Swimming Club are set to represent Mackay on the national stage after qualifying for the 2026 Australian Swimming Trials in Sydney from June 8th–13th. Ehsan Helou and Audrey Bryan have both achieved qualifying times in the highly competitive 50-metre breaststroke event and will take to the pool on Day Three of the meet, June 10th, against many of Australia’s top swimmers. The achievement marks a significant milestone for the pair and reflects years of dedication, perseverance and hard work in the pool. Cyclones coach Leigh-Anne Pokarier praised the swimmers for the resilience they have shown throughout their journeys to reach the elite level. “These athletes understand better than most the highs and lows that come with elite sport — the setbacks, challenges and moments of disappointment,” she said. “But their qualification is proof that persistence, resilience and hard work do pay off when everything finally comes together.” The success of Helou and Bryan also reflects the commitment of Pokarier, whose passion for developing young swimmers has helped build a strong culture of resilience, discipline and belief within the Cyclones squad. The club described the qualification as a significant milestone and said the entire Cyclones community was proud of both athletes. The Australian Swimming Trials are among the country’s premier events, with swimmers competing for national selection and representative honours. For Helou and Bryan, qualifying alone places them among the nation’s best breaststroke swimmers and caps off a strong long-course season for the Mackay Cyclones squad. Their success is also proving an inspiration for younger swimmers within the club, demonstrating what can be achieved through resilience, commitment and belief. As the countdown to Sydney begins, the Mackay swimming community will be proudly cheering on two of its own.
Read the full storyThank you Race Director Andrew Short for co-ordinating a great social North Mackay Adventure 5k and 10k run from the Bluewater Quay this afternoon for over 30 runners/walkers/spectators. Excellent performances came from runners across both events including Alana Knezevic, Shane Donnollan, David Isbister, Steve Oberg, Carmel Mahon, Jo Hughes, Fran March, Bianca Miles, Craig Johnson, Natasha Joynson, Jess Evetts, John Couldrey, Stuart Sprott, David Isbister and Andrew Short. June 7th saw a spectacular BMA Mackay Marina Run, with best wishes to everyone involved from the Sponsors, athletes, volunteers and supporters. A big thank you to every single person for being part of this magnificent must do event hosted by the awesome Mackay Marina Run committee and wider community. 6604 – Shane Donnollan (centre)bolts from the gun at the Bluewater Quay North Mackay Adventure 5k and 10km social run event. 6606 –Stephen Oberg (centre) sets a steady pace early in the 10km after running 4km to get to the start line. 6618 – David Isbister’s all smiles as he nears the 5km finish line. 6621 – Bianca Miles (left) and Fran March run in sync in the final 400 metres of the 5km to the finish line. 6648 – Alana Knezevic (left) and Jess Evetts ecstatic with their 10km efforts. 6658 – Some of the Mackay Road Runners who completed the North Mackay Adventure 5k and 10km run from the Bluewater Quay :- Back row (left to right) Carmel Mahon, Jess Evetts, Alana Knezevic, Jo Hughes and (front row left to right) Stuart Sprott, Steve Oberg, John Couldrey. Contributed with thanks to Mackay Road Runners.
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Century 21 proudly announces the launch of Century 21 Coast to Coalfields in Mackay, under the leadership of seasoned real estate professional Luke James Curtis.
With over 14 years of industry expertise, Luke aims to cater to clients' diverse goals and property needs, whether buying, selling, or investing. Having deep roots in the local community, Luke brings intimate knowledge of the market's trends and nuances.
Luke expressed the following on what he hopes to accomplish with this new office, "Our vision for the new Century 21 Coast to Coalfields office is to revolutionise the Mackay property market”.
“We're not just here to sell houses – we're here to provide a one-stop, holistic solution for all our clients' property needs,” he explained.
“Backed by the Century 21 brand and fuelled by our passion for excellence, we're excited to redefine what it means to be a real estate agency in Mackay.”
CEO of Century 21 Australasia, James Bell expresses excitement about this new venture, anticipating the positive impact it will have on the local real estate landscape.
"It's very exciting to see a new era of exceptional real estate and property management services coming to the Mackay region,” he stated.
“We're proud to have such a dynamic team become part of our network and we look forward to seeing them go from strength to strength."
Century 21 Coast to Coalfields Mackay promises unparalleled real estate services, covering everything from transaction complexities to securing financing for various assets.
Situated in the heart of Mackay within the Century 21 Plaza building, the new office will serve as a centralised hub for delivering exceptional service. Supported by a dedicated team of agents who share his vision, Luke ensures clients receive top-notch guidance and results.
With a focus on personalised attention and comprehensive solutions, the office sets a standard for excellence in the industry, where every client's needs are met with professionalism and efficiency.

Bridge players will congregate in Mackay this long weekend to compete in the Barrier Reef Congress. Players will travel from the Atherton Tablelands & Cairns in the North and Victoria & Tasmania in the south for this annual event. Several players are even making the trip from New Zealand.
Approximately 300 players will compete in pairs and team events over the 4 days. Many current and former Australian & Queensland representative players will be vying for the top honours. Also, in the running will be 3 players from the Australian u26 women’s team honing their skills before they travel to Poland later in the year to compete in the World Youth Championships.
The Mackey Bridge Club is thrilled that the current Australian Bridge Federation president and secretary will also be in attendance. Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said council was pleased to support the Barrier Reef Congress, one of the premier competition events of the Queensland Bridge community.
“Events like the congress bring hundreds of people together in our region, and outside of the skill and strategy of gameplay, they will have the opportunity to relax, socialise and explore what our region has to offer,” Mayor Williamson said.
The Mackay Bridge Club is very thankful to their sponsors for this event – Mackay Regional Council, Daly Bay, SH Tait & Co, TBIB, Paul Lavings, North Marine, Mackay Tourism & Officeworks.

In a thrilling NBL1 North showdown at the McDonald’s Mackay Stadium last Saturday night, the McDonald’s Mackay Meteors triumphed over the Rockhampton Rockets in a spectacular high-scoring game. The Meteors displayed exceptional teamwork, securing a win with a final score of 111 to 102. Todd Blanchfield led the charge for the Meteors netting the most goals, notching up 31 points and 14 rebounds. Isaac White also continued his on-court fire with 28 points and 6 assists, while Emmett Naar and Luca Yates delivered impressive double-doubles. Naar tallied 14 points and 12 assists, while Yates added 14 points and 10 rebounds to the scoreboard. The Meteors' next home game will be against the Northside Wizards in Round 6 on Saturday, May 18.
Meanwhile, in another intense NBL1 North clash, the McDonald’s Mackay Meteorettes faced off against the Rockhampton Cyclones. Despite putting up a valiant effort, the Meteorettes fell short against their opponents, with a final score of 73 to 93 in favour of the Cyclones. The Meteorettes displayed determination on the court, with Nikita Van Wyk leading the charge with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Chelsea Brook and Sam Haiby also made notable contributions, each adding 11 points to the scoreboard. Despite the loss, the Meteorettes remain focused and determined to bounce back stronger in their next home game against the Northside Wizards on May 18.
In addition to the thrilling on-court action, the Meteors celebrated the on-fire performance of Todd Blanchfield, who alongside Samantha Bowman from Rockhampton, were both awarded the prestigious NBL1 North ANZAC Round Medal. This recognises players who exemplify the ANZAC Spirit, embodying qualities such as endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, and mateship. Congratulations to both Todd and Samantha for their exceptional achievements.
McDonald's Mackay Meteors' Todd Blanchfield shines with the ANZAC Round Medal, celebrating his outstanding display of athleticism, courage, and camaraderie on the court

Weekly Results
Monday 22 April 2024 – 8 Table Mitchell Green Points
1st
David Ting / Eric Goodchild
1st
Victor Mason / Antonia Taradas
2nd
Geoffrey Patterson / Noel Bugeia
2nd
Lorna Shuttlewood / Faye Wright
3rd
Ian Cruickshank / Mary Cruickshank
3rd
Geoff Cowan / Sandy Patterson
3rd
Karen Caldwell / Noel Saunders
4th
Pamela Finger / Ming Ting
3rd
Ted Cullinan / Terrence Sheedy
5th
Monica Darley / Nancy Martin
Tuesday Evening 23 April 2024 –6 Table One Winner Green Points
1st
Noel Bugeia / Eric Goodchild
2nd
Janet Hansen / Simon Barnes
3rd
Diane Morgan / Terrence Sheedy
4th
Israel Hall / Alan Brown
5th
Marilin Robins / Faye Wright
Wednesday 24 April 2024 – NWP Week 8 of 24 - 9 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S
E/W
1st
Joy Robinson / Robert Carless
1st
Lorna Shuttlewood / Terrence Sheedy
2nd
Joy Brunette / Don Poole
2nd
Monica Darley / Kath Poole
3rd
Janet Hansen / Alan Brown
3rd
Geoff Taylor / Ted Cullinan
4th
Joy Block / Toni Large
4th
Josie Crowley / Barbara Tait
5th
John Ludkin / Victor Mason
5th
David Ting / Ming Ting
Thursday Evening 25 April 2024 –5 Table One Winner Green Points
N/S
E/W
1st
Janet Hansen / Janelle Conroy
2nd
Mick King / Ann Whitmore
3rd
Ken Seaniger / Robert Carless
4th
Terrence Sheedy / Noel Bugeia
5th
Lynne O’Neill / Susan Gibson
Friday 26 April 2024 - 8 Table Mitchell Green Points
1st
Joy Brunette / Don Poole
1st
David Ting / Ming Ting
2nd
Gwen Liddell / Monica Darley
2nd
Kath Poole / Nancy Martin
3rd
Terrence Sheedy / Noel Bugeia
3rd
Victor Mason / Josie Cowley
4th
Eddie Kliese / Nancy Wix
4th
Eric Goodchild / Sandy Patterson
Saturday 27 April 2024 – 11 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S
E/W
1st
Janette Hansen / Janelle Conroy
1st
Monica Darley / Kath Poole
2nd
Joy Robinson / Ken Seaniger
2nd
Diane Morgan / Robert Carless
3rd
Mick King / Jan Harris
3rd
Geoff Cowan / Sandy Patterson
4th
Janine Rodgers / Richard Wix
4th
Geoffrey Patterson / Patricia Garner
5th
Josie Crowley / Terrence Sheedy
5th
David Ting / Ming Ting
Sunday 28 April 2024 – 5 Table Mitchell Green Points
1st
Christopher Meyers / Geoff Cowan
1st
Ian Gaskell / Carol Gaskell
2nd
Ann Whitmore / Griffen Brancroft
2nd
Debbie Ludkin / John Ludkin
3rd
Susan Ross / Vicki Howard
3rd
Diane Stokes / Joy Block
Ming, Debra and Noel Bugeia Anne, Geoff, Noel and Sandy

Community spirit was in full swing as participants and sponsors gathered for a second annual Charity Golf Day organised by the inspiring 16-year-old, Taya Rush. Held at the Mackay Golf Club, the event raised a staggering $18,315.50 for RACQ CQ Rescue, a vital lifeline for our remote and rural communities.
Helicopter services like RACQ CQ Rescue play a crucial role in providing rapid response and critical care for individuals involved in rural accidents, boating mishaps, and emergencies beyond the reach of traditional medical facilities. For Taya Rush, the cause hits close to home, with her family now owning a farm and recognising the importance of having access to such rescue services in times of crisis.
Participants enjoyed a day filled with camaraderie, competition, and community spirit, all while supporting a worthy cause. Sporting navy blue and yellow attire to symbolise their support for RACQ CQ Rescue, golfers teed off, eager to make a difference.
"Charity Golf days are a great way to network with other businesses in the area while enjoying a round of golf," explained Ms Rush.
"Everyone last year had a great time on the golf course, with team bonding, meeting new people, and supporting a charity at the same time."
From humble beginnings selling chocolates and socks to organising a successful charity golf day, Taya's dedication and passion serve as an inspiration to us all. As she continues to advocate for emergency assistance in rural areas, her message rings clear: even the smallest swing can lead to significant change.
Golfers enjoying a day filled with camaraderie, competition, and community spirit at Taya’s RACQ CQ Rescue Charity Golf Day. Photos supplied

Tuesday night fixtures April 23, 2024
Division 1:
Orange (Donna Abbott, Janice Kent, Geoff Denman) d Blue (Steve Whiting, Lee Brake, Will VanDeKaa) 6-5. Geoff d Steven -10, 13, -8, 5, 10.
Brown (Andrea Nicholson, Barry Patterson, Vince Boeske) d Red (Anne Sheridan, Graeme Walker, George Camilleri) 7-4. Andrea d George -7, 4, 8, -6, 6.
Green (Leo Gilbert, Robbie Richards, Neil Brown) d White (Mick Ruhl, Graham Brake, Mark Sleeman) 6-5. Robbie d Graham 3, 10, -8, -6, 7.
Black (Goncalo Serra, Ishan Rana, Allan Robins) d Purple (Duncan Treloar, Emma Widdup, Tony Bowman) 7-4. Allan d Duncan 6, -6, 7, 5.
Division 2:
Rose (Nehmat Dhaliwal, Niro, Mark Stam) d Lime (Dave Symons, Noreen Fredericksen, Anaya Reelh) 6-5. Noreen d Mark 6, -11, 4, -9, 2.
Teal (Peter Goodson, Aarnav Reelh, Val Austin) d Tan (Saisha Palod, Jye Callander, Judy Zahn) 6-5. Aarnav d Saisha 1, 7, -9, -4, 12.
Aqua (Delma Knight, YiLin Jiang, Tiffany Camilleri) d Gold (Ollie Hamelink, Steve Mathieson, Ishiaha) 7-4. Ishiara d Tiffany 6, -9, 9, -10, 17.
Grey (Doug Dungavell, Misha Palod) d Cyan (Matt West, Trent Day) 5-4. Trent d Misha -9, 6, 5, -10, 9.
Division 1 Tuesday morning fixtures results for last season
Jaguar (Branko Vucurovic, Peter Goodson and Kevin Abbott) initially tied on match-winning percentages with Lions (Tony Bowman, Pam Joyce and Bryan Marshall). On a countback Jaguar won with slightly better player percentage wins. Tony Bowman was leading player with 91.67 percent.
The Cyan team (Robyn Bushell, Marie Taylor and Louise Gould) took all before them with an unbeaten season in division 2. Marie Taylor was leading player with 90 percent.
Sapphires (Pam Keune, Madge Saunders and Darryl Ross) won division 3. Leading player was Ian Dodds with 83.33 percent.
Winners of the Tuesday morning table tennis tournament John Hamelink and Josie Davis, at left, and Tony Bowman, right, with organizer Steve Mathieson.

The Ladies Section hosted their President's event at home this past Friday, with President Julie extending a warm welcome to 60 members from district clubs, including Men's President John, Board Representative Brian, Life Member Ruby, and Patroness Eunice. The gathering was filled with laughter and spirited bowls matches.
The winning team, comprising B. Jenner, R. Lloyd, and R. Hughes, emerged victorious from the day's play, while the runners up lucky card from the losers were, R. O'Donnell, K. Robinson, and J. Borg. The club extends a heartfelt thanks to all attendees for their contribution to the day's tremendous success.
Looking ahead, this weekend features the Men's Division competing in the Dr. Williams Shield on Saturday, with matches taking place at the City Club and North Mackay. The finals will be held on Sunday at the City Club.
Team 1 G. Luck, R. Bell, N. Holt, R. Blanchfield
Team 2 T. Hollows, B. Paskins, E. Roberts, T. Mayfield
Team 3 A. Lovern, C. Marks, M. Coll, N. Wilson
On the 5th and 6th of May the club will be holding the Prestige Fours.
The green will be full of Bowlers chasing the prize Money.
Results:
Tuesday Social Play (22)
Winner of Winners:
G. Gibbs, W. Herewini, J. Nelson, B. Paskins
Winner of Losers:
L. Jenner, B. Jenner, P. Taaffe.
Thursday SCROUNGERS (18):
K. Struik def M. Coll 15-9
Club Competition Results:
A Singles
B. Jenner def C. Molloy 25 -17
M. Irving def A. Summerville 27-19
M. Coll def W. Herewini 26-19
B. Bridger def S. Green 25-11
Contributed by Mike Irving
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Goosepond Triples was a fun packed day with 78 bowlers vying for a share in the $2,000 prize money generously donated by our sponsors Minestaff and Gardian Mortgage Choice, for a second year.
Three games of 16 ends determined the place-getters with the lucky winners being presented their trophies by Denis Fisher & Ben Phillips from Gardian. Clint Zahmel from Minestaff sent his apologies.
First place:
Lorna Coad, Del McKelvie & Ahondy Ray
Second place:
Kathy Mathews, Carmel Bell & Phyllis Morgan
Third place:
Kay Underwood, Phyllis Cooper & Narell Schmidtke
Fourth place:
Daelia Walsh, Maryann Harrigan & Bev McDonald
Contributed with thanks to Helen Fleming
1: Winners: L Coad, D McKelvie, A Ray. Photos supplied
2: 2nd place getters: K Mathews, C Bell, P Morgan
3: 3rd Place: K Underwood, P Cooper, Narell Schmidtke
4: 4th place: D Walsh, Maryann Harrington, Bev McDonald

Premiership, with Cutters captain Tahlulah Tillett saying it was disappointing to miss out on two season points up for grabs.
Bears winger Ashleigh Werner was on fire, scoring a hat-trick in front of a big and boisterous crowd; one in the first half to help the Bears go into half-time up 14-4, and the final two in the second half to help deliver the 22-10 win.
Bears captain Zahara Temara said "oh man, it feels good to be back in the winner's circle", especially this close to State of Origin and the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons being named.
"We haven't had the best year and we know that," Temara said.
"We've faced a lot of adversity recently... we had a lot to play for with ANZAC Day this week and a few of our staff had passings as well.
"We'll take it."
Temara said the scoreline did not reflect how hard the game was.
"They were bloody hard, the Cutters, and they deserve to be on top," Temara said.
"We take a lot of learnings from them. They bloody gave it to us... the score doesn't reflect that but it was bloody close out there, with them coming back, and they had all of the momentum, and that's where we stayed calm.”
Temara said it was hit-out for everyone in contention to play Origin.
"I got a lot of confidence out of that so if I am selected, I'll take that with me," Temara said.
Cutters captain Tahlulah Tillett said "it was a bit disappointing" to miss out on the two points, but her side would take learnings from the game into the next round.
"We let Burleigh come out to a really good start and they're a quality team so it was hard to come back... I was proud of our efforts in the second half, we fought our way back into the game, but we gave Burleigh that headstart in the first half and it was a bit too hard to come back," Tillett said.
"I think the biggest thing for us is we just need to make sure we control the ball and make sure we get to the end of our sets.
"We found ourselves in some really good positions early in the first half but we just gave away silly penalties and piggybacked them around the field. The great team that they are, they executed off the back of those.
"I think going into next week, at the back end of the season, we just need to be more disciplined and make sure we're completing and executing our sets."
Photo credit: Dylan Parker/QRL
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More than seventy runners and supporters supported the 6th Annual Forsyth’s Accounting Services Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield and Mackay Road Runners 10km Club Championship event held at historic Queens’s Park, where valuable funds were raised for Pancreatic Cancer Research (Pancare).
Special invited guests in attendance were the Mackay Mayor, Cr Greg Williamson who has opened the event every year since its inception, Ms Leanne Druery and Mr Jim Ford. Their speeches were full of compassion and sincerity, provoking emotional remembrance and thoughts of Shawn who passed away in 2018. Shawn was a treasured son, brother, brother-in-law, father, nephew, cousin, athlete, partner, friend, colleague, coach, runner and club supporter of all those lives he touched.
One hundred per cent of all nomination fees, raffle proceeds, race day donations and sponsorship funds will be donated to Pancare thanks to the generosity of major sponsors.
We also thank our Club Patron Mr Col Meng and his family for donating the zooper doopers at this event as well as other weekly club events on the program. The Meng and Leven families are so much appreciated together with all club volunteers who make the club the successful welcoming arena that it is.
Mackay Mayor Cr Greg Williamson and Forsyths Accounting Director/Partner, Nicole White were integral in setting runners on their way towards their chance to be crowned first male and female winners in the 2024 Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield as well as gaining club championship points for open and age categories. Incredibly stunning performances by the first male and female 10km winners, Paul Mackenzie and Alana Knezevic will now be inscribed on the amazing perpetual trophy featuring an image of Shawn in racing glory which resides at the Forsyth Accounting Services office. Five-kilometre winners, Jo Skinner and Craig McGahey had sensational outings, both taking home the gold medal prize in the shorter-distance event.
Many thanks to race day volunteers including the exceptional Andrew Short who was luckily on hand for the Vice-President when his car needed a jump start. Funds raised from the day are still to be collated and will be formally announced and presented to the Claydon Family for donation directly to Pancare. Thank you to Shawn’s sister, Sharon and Jeff Stewart-Harris who did an amazing amount of work behind the scenes to ensure the success and continuity of the event.
This Sunday’s Mackay Road Runners event will be a social run from the Bluewater Quay as a lot of local runners will be travelling ‘overseas’ to Hamilton Island for the running of the famous Hilly Half Marathon event in one of the most spectacular locations in the Whitsundays.
Contributed by Janelle Tilse
Mackay Road Runners Club Vice-President, Mick Scholer, Mackay Mayor Cr Greg Williamson, Forsyths Accounting Services Director/Partner, Nicole White, Sharon Stewart-Harris, John Claydon and Bonny Claydon (seated) enjoy the 6th annual Forsyths Accounting Services Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield and Mackay Road Runners Club Championship
The Forsyths Accounting Services Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield winners, Paul Mackenzie and Alana Knezevic with Mackay Road Runners Vice-President Mick Scholer (left) and major sponsor, Forsyth’s Accounting Services Director/Partner, Nicole White (right)
6351 - The Forsyths Accounting Services Shawn Claydon Memorial Shield 5km winners, Craig McGahey & Jo Skinner with Mackay Road Runners Vice-President Mick Scholer (left) and major sponsor, Forsyth’s Accounting Services Director/Partner, Nicole White (right)
6348 – The Forsyths Accounting Services Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield very special guest speakers, Mr Jim Ford and Ms Leanne Druery delivered personally emotive and meaningful comments at the 6th Annual event
6360 – Jeff Stewart-Harris (Brother-in-law of the late Shawn Claydon) thanked the Claydon family, Mackay Road Running community, sponsors, volunteers and supporters for a very successful event for a very worthy cause

On Saturday May 4th and Sunday 5th Airlie Beach will host one of the largest outrigger regattas in the North Queensland Zone. Some 300 competitors will be in town to race across a two day program.
Saturday will commence with the VA-A Moana Shute Harbour to Airlie Beach Marathon, an 18km OC6 event sponsored by Tassal Seafood.
This event is likely to challenge the fitness of all competitors. The first of the crews will leave Shute Harbour at 11am and are expected at the Lagoon Beach from 1.30pm onwards.
Sunday will be an action packed program, conducted from the Lagoon Beach, commencing at 6.45am and running all day.
A significant highlight of the day will be the junior events commencing at 8.15am, with races including sprints and longer distances.
Junior presentations will take place on the beach at approximately 2.15pm. Spectators are encouraged to come along and enjoy the fun.
Food will be available on site and the racing is always exciting and entertaining.
Senior presentations will take place at Banjo’s Bar and Bistro commencing at 7pm and will include music and entertainment.

A strong fleet of 21 yachts participated in last Wednesday’s Whitsunday Sailing Club twilight race, conducted in an 18 knot south easterly breeze. Although the breeze was shifting in direction, the course selected by the race committee suited the majority of boats.
First away were Division 2, and while the fleet was jostling for position, a gap appeared that allowed Wide Load (Shannan Hart) to charge through to take the Doyle Sails sponsored best start prize. Once clear of the starting line, Bobby’s Girl (Mark Beale) held a slender lead over Black Jack (Michel Van Der Zwaard) and QMS Ponyo (John Galloway), with Smooth Criminal (Leo Rodriguez) also in the picture. By lap 2, Black Jack had hit the lead, while Smooth Criminal moved into 3rd place. Behind them, Reignition (Charles Wallis) and Houdini (Robert Meizer) swapped places several times before Reignition finally took control. After 3 laps, the positions had settled, with Black Jack winning comfortably by 2 minutes over Bobby’s Girl. On corrected time, Wide Load took the honours by 3 seconds over QMS Ponyo, with Black Jack a further 15 seconds back.
Division 3 saw Masquerade (Tom Vujasinovic) lead the fleet away before being overtaken by Good Vibes (Robert Holm). As the leader sprinted away, a three-way battle ensued between Masquerade, Rossgo (Greg Hammon) and Symbiosis (Anne Ross), with little to separate these three throughout the two lap race. Behind them, there was a steady gap back to Shiraz (John Cable), Riff Raff (Dan White) and Lighthorse (Di Forster). On corrected time, Symbiosis took the honours over Masquerade and Good Vibes.
Division 1 saw three trimarans competing, with G’nome (David Chittleborough) leading throughout. Frankie (Joanne Norbury) was second throughout the race, while It’s All Good (Ric Burnup) completed the trio. The results were unchanged after handicaps were applied.
The Whitsunday Sailing Club twilight series continues every Wednesday with racing commencing at 4:30pm. Limited crewing positions may be available. Those wishing to participate as crew need to be at the club by 2:30pm (limited spots available). Full results are available at https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/85/profile?tab=results.
Contributed with thanks to Ross Chisholm.
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The annual Warri Cup race, also known as the Chris Taylor Memorial race, was sailed in near perfect conditions on Sunday 14 April, with a strong fleet of 21 boats competing. The race course involved a 30 nautical mile race from Pioneer Bay around Langford Reef, which is located just to the south of Hayman Island. With the wind from the south-east, this allowed for a competitive but enjoyable race for all types of yachts.
The fleet was split into 3 divisions, with the non-spinnaker division first away. 10 boats competed in this division, ranging from a 47-foot cruiser, Mon Jouet, through to a 20-foot trailable yacht, Norbert G, with the majority of the fleet around 40 feet in length. The race out and back was largely uneventful, with the breeze hovering around 18 – 20 knots, which encouraged many in the fleet to reduce sail by reefing. First home was Mon Jouet (Michael Butler), with Twister (Kevin Fogarty) and Riff Raff (Dan White) not far behind. It was great to see Symbiosis (Anne Ross) mixing it mid fleet as they got to learn about competing in their first boat. Although the first boats home completed the course in three and a half hours, it took the last boats over 5 hours to complete the course. On corrected time, Riff Raff took the honours, with Norbert G (Ghigo Gasalini) second and Mon Jouet just 1 second back in third.
The spinnaker division started 5 minutes later with 5 regular WSC boats competing for bragging rights. While the wind was perfect for a fast spinnaker run, the direction made it unsuitable to fly a spinnaker, although Bobby’s Girl (Mark Beale) did have a brief attempt before abandoning the idea. This meant that the boats were all on equal terms, with Smooth Criminal (Iyas Shaheen) first home, with Bobby’s Girl two minutes after. The corrected time results were the same as the line honours results, with Smooth Criminal first, Bobby’s Girl second and Reignition (Charles Wallis) third.
The multi hull division saw 5 boats on the starting line, however Endless Summer (Tony Mahood) retired soon after with equipment damage. The fastest boat around the course was G’nome (Terry Archer), with Incognito (Brent Ireland) second and It’s All Good (Rick Burnup) third. The smallest boat in the fleet, Malfunction (Mal Ward), completed the course with a few equipment issues, but managed to take the corrected time win by just 1 second over G’nome after almost 4 hours of racing.
Full results are available at https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/85/profile?tab=results.
Contributed with thanks to Ross Chisholm.

Over the weekend, 130 swimmers participated at the Cannonvale Cannons SC Transition Meet. The 50 Cannons who competed had a very successful and fun weekend. All the coaching team – Mark Erickson, Ken Crittenden, Rylee Erickson, Jarrod Keys, Kate Thomson, and Shay Wilmot enjoyed watching all the Cannons race and were very impressed with the swimmers and their achievements.
The highlight of the carnival was the SKINS events. Swimmers were very excited to be selected for the SKINS and the chance to win cash prizes.
On Sunday morning, the Cannons celebrated the birthdays of Indi Smith, Addie Sanders, and Eloise Chegwidden with a very delicious cake.
There were so many fantastic achievements – swimmers who swam PBs, achieved A grade times, won ribbons/ribbons or swimmers in the SKINS events.
Highlights: Don Algie (11 years) won 11 events and achieved a massive 61 second PB in his 400m IM. Jacob Bell (17 years) won 9 events and swam 11PBs. Eloise Chegwidden, Anisa Helou, Ehsan Helou, Tora Delac, Zach Trefz and Jax Clayworth won most of their events and swam PBs throughout the meet. Harry Chegwidden (6 yrs), Miranda Palmero (7yrs), Holly Perrin (16yrs), Isabella Pisaniello (13yrs) and Jax Eaves (7 yrs) achieved top placings in all their events. Isabella swam the biggest PB which was 99.83 second in her 200m Backstroke. Declan Dichiera’s best swim was his 200m Freestyle which he swam in a time of 2.50.19 which was a 26.09 secomd PB. Charlie Doherty, Addie Sanders, Levi Smith, and Miller Eaves smashed all their events, swimming PBs in every event. One of Charlie’s best swims was his 200m Breaststroke which he won in a time of 3.30.32, a 17.44 second PB. Thomas Ganter swam massive PBs in his 200m Breaststroke(1st), 200m Backstroke (1st) , 400m Freestyle and 200m Freestyle (1st). Millie Groom (14 yrs) swam a brilliant 400m Freestyle in a time of 5.44.57 to earn 2nd place and a huge 33.49 second PB.
Congratulations to all the Cannons for a successful weekend of swimming! A big thank you to all the wonderful parents and volunteers.
Contributed with thanks to Raylene Rasmussen.

An almost perfect round for Whitsunday United FC with 9 or 10 teams winning on the weekend.
The Divisional men’s run of good form continues with Div 1 running out comfortable winners against Sarina. Goals to Cy Taylor, Aaron and an own goal gave them a 3-0 win but with the chances created it could have been more. Div 2 won a tight game as both teams battled it out. Two goals from James and one from Tim secured the 3 points.
The U13 Div1 played Magpies in Mackay. Charlie scored 4 goals and Eli G outstanding in defense, leading to a score of 4-2.
The Under-13 WUFC Prem won against the Dolphins 2-1. The entire team, demonstrated remarkable teamwork, and a special mention to Eli G who played 2 full matches!
U15 Div 1 came up against Lions Green side in an exciting game played in a fantastic spirit.
The first half was very even with Cody and Sarah scoring goals for WUFC. The Lions also scored two goals to send the teams in at 2-2 at half time. The second half was a physical affair with Lions Dominant in possession and scoring 3 unanswered goals to finish the game with a 2-5 loss.
A well-deserved win for our u15 prem this week against Country United. They attacked confidently from the start and played with determination and heart throughout. A much-needed goal from Luka Miller in the second half found us the momentum we needed. Solid performances from Logan Burke and Byron Goodin in defence kept the final score to 2-1.
The Women’s U23 side cemented their place at the summit of the table with a hard fought 2-0 win over Country with goals from Mabel and Lauren backed by solid defence from Lahni. The side is now 2 points clear on the table with a game in hand!.
Premier ladies also came out on top against Country this weekend. The ladies were in control for much of the game however goals were elusive. Eventually Steph opened the scoring, finishing a cross put in by Alice. The ladies went into the second half 1-0 up and determined to get ahead by a few more. Finals score was 3-0 win to Whitsunday ladies.
Our Men's Premiers and Reserve travelled to Wanderers in what proved to be a crazy two games.
Our premiers ended up winning 8-4 after going 2-0 early in the first half showing great determination not only to come from behind but to slot a massive 8 goals. Our Men's Reserves started the game very slowly but an opening goal from Zac Kelley sparked the game into life with Wanderers scoring twice to lead 2-1. The team rallied and the quality began to shine with Zac completing a hat trick and Sam Blake slotting from the penalty spot to bring home 3 points.
Contributed with thanks to Allan Milostic
U15 Prems happy with a well deserved win.