On Saturday, November 5, eight mini-Pitties from Proserpine’s Junior Cricket association made their debut in the Master Blaster U10s grade of the Proserpine-Bowen intertown competition.

Taking on the Bowen Barracudas, Captain Blake W made sure to win the bat toss and chose to put Bowen on the pitch first, seeing it was a bit of a green top and the ball might move around a bit early on.

Cydnee (2-10) opened up and didn’t let her skipper down, picking up two baby Barracudas in her first over.

Captain Blake W (1-8) was the next to put barracuda on the menu in his second over, and following him was Arista (0-19), who was unlucky not to get a fillet of fish from her overs.

Jayden (3-10), Ryan (2-5) had the ball on a string and got the line wet with good length bowling. Harry (1-8), Thomas (1-7), Georgia (1-11) all added to the esky and closed the lid on the Barracudas innings at 11-78.

With 55 runs on the board (five runs per wicket) from those they took, the Pitbull puppies pounced out into a bubbling Barracuda swell.

Harry and Georgia (3-14) found it tough going in their first bat. Thomas and Ryan (1-15) batted well and set sail with the wind and the ball over the boundary with their time at the crease.

Then Jayden and Arista (3-16) did the same until the wind dropped out and lost a couple of quick wickets. This had the Baby Barracudas in a feeding frenzy and Pitbull Puppies in trouble on 100 runs, 13 runs behind with two batting pairs to go.

Cydnee and Blake W  (1-12) turned the tide in a great knock with the skipper finding boundary rope on several occasions and the Puppies clawing back to six runs behind with one pair to play.

This was given to Harry and Georgia (2-19) who threw caution to the wind. They ran on everything in a nail biter with the Puppies winning in a tight one by three runs.

A match well played by both teams. Players’ players went to Harry and Georgia for their amazing teamwork as batting partners, being brave and getting those runs.

Contributed with thanks to Mark Valmadre

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The young Proserpine Pitbulls side managed a close fought victory over the Bowen Barracudas

Airlie Beach Darts hosted three of the four scheduled qualifying finals on Sunday morning at Mika Live BBQ & Bar.

The first match of the day was the latest instalment between Andy Peel and Ross Gallichan. Both players are familiar with each other’s games; regular matches between the pair go back to the club’s formation.

Andy took the first set by three legs to one, and the second set by three legs to two, claiming the match by two sets to nil.

In the second match, Lorraine Woods defeated Dick O’Hara by two sets to one.

Lorraine advances to next week’s quarter finals where interestingly there’s a slight chance she could be drawn out to play her husband Jamie, who also happens to be the defending Champion.

In the final match of the day, Kameron Reason defeated Gary Robbie by two sets to nil with a scoreline of 3/2, 3/2. It was a good effort by Gary on the day, who unfortunately came up short.

Unlucky to the defeated players on the day, and the club thanks them for taking part. They hope to see all players grand final on Sunday, December 4.

Well done to the winners who now March on to the Quarter Finals next weekend.

The Xmas Open is sponsored by Dyson Automotive, thank you for your support.

Contributed with thanks to Jamie Maher

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Kameron Reason winning the meat raffle on Sunday at Mika and advancing to the Quarter Finals

This week, 66 people ran, jogged, and walked the five-kilometre waterfront course, with 12 first timers and seven new Personal Bests from: Sebastian, Robert, Michael, Daisy, Jess, Kelly, Nicole.

As well, Laura celebrated her 50th time volunteering.

The event was made possible by 16 other wonderful volunteers: Peter, Nick,  Daniel, Kara, Maree, Nathalie (photographer), Christopher H (run director), Lucy, Susanne, Ronald, Michael, Lilliana, Louise, Lynne, Dennis and Diane.

Every Saturday Airlie Beach parkrun meets at 6:50am for a briefing at area D, Coral Sea Marina (adjacent to the top carpark). Parking is free in the lower carpark till 9:30am if a parkrun barcode is placed on the dashboard. Post parkrun coffee and chat is held at My Rainbow Bakery, Shingley Beach.

The best-kept secret about parkrun is that it’s not about running - it’s about bringing people together in public parks and open spaces across the world to have some fun in a friendly, social and supportive environment. You can walk or run the 5k course (pushing a pram or with one dog on a short lead if you want to!), lend a helping hand as a volunteer in a wide range of super-easy roles, or simply spectate and socialise on the sidelines.

There are no winners at parkrun and nobody comes last – the Tail walkers do. Regular participation is rewarded rather than performance, with ‘parkrun milestone shirts’ available to people to recognise their achievements in coming along.

Contributed with thanks to Airlie Beach parkrun

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Plenty of people pushed off for parkrun at Airlie Beach on the weekend

Caption 2:The event celebrated its 336th iteration, as well as Laura’s 50th time volunteering

Parkrun is only made possible by the work of dedicated volunteers each week

Over 40 swimmers participated at the Cannons’ Club Night on Wednesday.

The Cannons commended Max Smith and Eloise Chegwidden for winning the Chocolate Awards and Piper Walker for winning the Swim Star Award.  

The club also congratulated Lucas Korosec, Billie Jamieson, and Koa Harland on their Upgrade Certificates.  

The coaches, Mark Erickson and Ken Crittenden, were impressed with the effort the swimmers put into their races.  

Highlights included: Biggest personal bests (PBs) from Don Algie, aged nine years, who swam a 13.07 second personal best (PB) in his 200-metre Freestyle.

Jax Clayworth, also aged nine, swam a 12.61 second PB in his 100-metre Butterfly. While Abi Maher, aged 11, swam an 11.46 second PB in her 100-metre Backstroke.  

Celeste Orenshaw and Koa Harland both swam big PBs in their 100-metre IM.  

Top Performers: Celeste Orenshaw, Addie Sanders, Charlie Doherty, Sophie Fletcher, Ehsan Helou, Lucas Korosec, Abi Maher, and Indi Smith, who swam personal best times in the majority of the events.  

Harry Chegwidden, aged five, swam very well in his Breaststroke race and took 3.6 seconds off his previous time. And Jake Clark’s best swim was his Butterfly, taking over 1.5 seconds off his previous best.  

Congratulations to all the other swimmers who swam PBs: Zane Clayworth, James Davies, Lily Maher, Nelson Malady, Isaac Pisaniello, Isabella Pisaniello, Evie Doherty, Indi Harland, Billie Jamieson, Jasper Korosec, Gracie Laguna, Levi Smith, Max Smith, Molly Smith, Jax Swannell, and Charlotte Trevaskis.  

Well done to all the swimmers who participated at Club Night on Wednesday. Swimmers are now preparing for the Whitsunday Swimming Carnival and Hamilton Island Ocean Swim which are on the weekend.  

Contributed with thanks to Raylene Rasmussen

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Cannonvale Cannon Max Smith won the chocolate award

Piper Walker claimed the Swim Star Award

Airlie Beach Bowls Club was awarded the Fields Pty Ltd Club Premiership Cup for 2022 last week.

Each year, points are awarded to bowling clubs in the region to determine the overall winner, with the honour governed by the Mackay District Bowls Association.

Congratulations to all players who contributed.

At Pines River Bowls Club for the Australian Championships final of the BPL, the club had more success: Luke Kinnear, Warren Mills, and Manny Isgro finished a very credible fifth with only a point separating them to progress to the last four.

The club also won the Men’s Mackay District Bowls Association Gilbey Cup for overall bowler of the year which went to Manny Isgro for the second time.

Tuesday afternoon bowls saw a big win to skipper Margo Stanley with lead Mark Mawson overall winners of the day.

Wednesday afternoon social bowls saw a great win to Col Morris and Rick Galea.

Wednesday night Business House Bowls also had some outstanding results with PRD losing their first game of the season.

New bowlers Keith Dornoch and Glenn Frederiksen, and the team of Whitsunday Gold Coffee, showed that they can give the competition a shake, and other team winners were The Blockheads and Tuk Tuks.

Saturday morning Scroungers saw first round winners of Margo Stanley, John Brown, Nik Fernbach, Peter Barratt, Andrew Butler, and Eric Barnard.

The final was played between Men’s President Peter Barratt and Eric Barnard from the Woolies team of Business House Bowls, who came out the winner.

Sunday social Bowls also had a great win to Graham Cowling’s team.

Contributed with thanks to Mark Mawson

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Airlie Beach Bowls Club Manny Isgro holding up the Bowler of the Year awarded to the best judged player of the season

Sunday’s Scroungers winners at Bowen Bowls Club were Lloyd White, and Paula and Lee Welsted, who followed up the stellar round of the club’s Wednesday Social Bowls.

There was plenty out and about for the games, with Peter Thomson, Lorraine McCarther, and Doc Fordham defeating Mary Ellen Pratten, Paula Swift, and Allan Williams.

Ron Gould, Jane Gilbert, and Steve Roome won their match against Tracey Roach, Jill Brabon, and Jeff Tierney.  While Bev Smith, Robyn Stitt, and Lou Fordham beat out Joan Edwards, Mark Rogers, and Ross Scanlon.

Contributed with thanks to Joan Edwards

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Wednesday Social Bowls winners Robyn Stitt, Lou Fordham, Bev Smith

Sunday’s Scroungers winners Lloyd White, and Paula and Lee Welsted

On Tuesday, Irene Laird, Lyn Danvers, and Margaret Wilson defeated Bron Tolcher, Sue Shearing, and Penny Warren.

In the other game, Greg Colquhoun and Robyn Stitt defeated Geoff Danvers and Deb Retchless.

The winners for Sunday afternoon were Lyn Danvers, Sue Shearing, and Geoff Danvers who defeated Lindy Suann, Robyn Stitt, and Pat Tracey.

Others: Toni Bowen, Penny Warren, and Sugar Brunker defeating Deb Retchless, Kevin Daniels, and Mark Drummond. While Bill Myers, Greg Colquhoun, and Allan Rolfe defeated Bron Tolcher, Linda Scells, and Kennedy Whitton.

The final of the Club Mixed Pairs was played on Thursday.

A closely fought match between Penny Warren and Allan Rolfe and Lyn and Geoff Danvers resulted in Penny and Allan taking the win.

The final of the Mixed Fours will be played on Monday, with results coming next Friday.

Good luck to the men’s teams playing Collinsville this Saturday in the last round of the local pennant at Wangaratta.

If you would like to see some good play, come down have a drink and cheer the teams on.

Contributed with thanks to Penny Warren

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Mixed Pairs winners Allan Rolfe and Penny Warren

Sunday's winners were Lyn Danvers, Goeff Danvers, Sue Shearing, and President Mark Drummond

Wednesday’s competition was a single stableford sponsored by Bowen Golf Club incorporating the ladies’ Medal of Medals.  

Single stableford Ladies’ winner was Carol O’Connell, 37 points, who also won the midweek Medal of Medals, while runner up on a countback was Ruth Dunn, 36.  

Men’s winner was Cliff Querro, 40 points, runner up Mitchell Greenbank, 39. Congratulations to Lynelle Riley who won the midweek Ladies Golfer of the Year.

Saturday’s competition was a single stableford event sponsored by Bowen Vets, incorporating the Medal of Medals sponsored by LJ Hooker.  

Men's Winner Ryley Malone, 43 points, runner up Greg Daniel, 38. Pin shots to Garry Kukura, Ryley Malone, Michael Brunker, Matthew Yasso, and Brian Martin. Brian also earned himself the Carwash voucher and an OBP.  

Ladies' winner was Joy Hose, 37 points, runner up Jo Kukura, 33.  

Pin Shots to Claire Garrod, Lynelle Riley, and Michelle Campbell. Congratulations to Kurt Bidgood and Joy Hose on winning the weekend Medal of Medals, as well as to Ruth Dunn on winning the Ladies’ Golfer of the Year.

This weekend’s competition is a single stableford event sponsored by Roger Vandenberg from Proserpine Golf shop, with presentation night tonight.

Contributed with thanks to Grace Nott

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Bowen Golf Club’s Saturday winners and runners-up

The men’s winner of the Allenbuild stableford on Saturday was Ben Bullock with 43 points, from John Wallace 42 and Dean Kercher 39.

The ladies’ winner was Penny Wardroper with 36, on a count back from Renae Maxwell.

Heather Luvis came in third with 34 and Tiina Randmae 33 points.

The place getters were Rod Wecker and Sam Marschke and Ryan Wilkes with 38, Marcus Heathcote, Vince Collins, Ben Raymant, Peter Lewis and Brian Allen on 37 completed the rundown.

The ladies pin shots went to Renae Maxwell on two and Heather Luvis on nine.

On Thursday, the division one winner was Andrew Albergo with 40 points from Sam Deicke, 39 and Nathan Sothmann 38.

The division two winner was Peter Lewis with 37 points from Peter Browning, 36 and Trevor Paroz 35.

In the run down were John Grosskreutz, 38, Luke Paroz and Jim Cochrane 37, Phil Luckett, Joe Taylor, Michael Ward and Ben Raymant 35, and Ryan Wilkes, 24.

The pin shots went to Ryan Wilkes, Sam Deicke, Nathan Sothmann and Barry Mortimer.

Tuesday’s stableford winner was Peter O’Toole with 42 points from Brian Smith on 36.

In the run down were Aaron Prosser, 35 and Michael Cragg and Ken Lovett 34.

Sunday’s stroke men’s winner was Ryan Wilkes with 65 nett, from Jason Bourke 67 and Jason Whitney 68.

The ladies’ winner was Anna Winterbourn with 68, from Karen Rix 69 and Peta Thomas 71.

In the run down were Paul Nicol and Aaron Prosser 69, Danny York, 70, and Wayne Temby and Gerald Lovell 72, followed by Jacqui Wall on 73.

Next Saturday is a stroke event.

Contributed with thanks to Peter Lewis

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A stroke event was held by Whitsunday Golf Clubalong with the Medal of Medals challenge for 2022, with a total of 27 players competing from the Whitsunday Club.

Men’s A Grade winner was Jason Bourke with runner up Danny York, with Wayne Temby best gross. Men’s B Grade winner was Paul Nicol, runner up Gerald Lovell, and Scott Wardroper best gross.

Ladies’ A Grade winner was Anna Winterbiourn, runner up Jacquie Wall, and Penny Wardroper best gross.

Ladies’ B Grade winner went to Karen Rix and runner up Pam Casey, Elise Hiodgson best gross.

Longest drives were claimed by Jason Bourke, Paul Nicol, Penny Wardroper, and Elise Hodgson.

Pin shots were Penny Wardroper, Scott Wardroper, Elise Hodgson, Pauline Redpath, Aaron Watts, and Danny York.

The Bradmans award this week was won by Tina Cook and Wilf Herweg.

Medal of Medal winners will be announced at the presentation. Next Sunday will be a trophy event for 4BBB Stableford.

Contributed with thanks to Joanne Moynihan

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Anna Winterbourn, Paul Nicol, and Karen Rix

Proserpine Veteran Golf had 29 players for Tuesday with a few good scores posted.  

The ladies’ winner was Tiina Randmae with 38 points, second was Mandy Patterson, 35, and in the rundown were Leanne Alexander, 34, Elspeth Scotford, 31, Kathryn Borer, 31, Jacqui Wall, 31, and Tessa Aitken, 31.

The men’s winner was Steve Mitchell, 39, second Vic Feldman, 35, and in the rundown were Gary Scotford, 35, Neil Cawthorne, 32, Barry Shuwalow, 32, John Roser, 31, and Philip Luckett, 31.  

The nearest the pin winners were for the ladies Heather Luvis, two, Jan Shuwalow, two, Mandy Patterson, 13, Kathryn Borer, 13, Tiina Randmae, 16, and Jacqui Wall, 16.

Men's winners were John Roser, two, Peter Browning, two, Steve Mitchell, 13, and Barry Shuwalow, 16.  

Chip ins went to Paula McQuat, Jacqui Wall, Tiina Randmae, and Kathryn Borer.  

Next week will be a stroke event and count putts.This will be followed by the club’s Annual General Meeting.

Contributed with thanks to Paula McQuat

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Jacob Nightingale was a convincing winner of this week’s 9-hole stableford at Whitsunday Green Golf Club, with an impressing 25 points.

Chris Bartlett had a return to form to take second with 21 points and Kendall Nash took third with 18 points. For Friday’s competition, it was Jay Angel with 21 points to win, followed by Terry Kimpton just defeating Scott Morrissey on a count back. Both scored 19 points.

On Sunday it was SKINS over 18-holes and Tyson Flavel was the winner with 13 skins.

Rob Lodders, Tim Walton, and Billy O’Conner all came in with 6 skins each. Terry Kimpton made his first ‘Hole in One’ on the 9th and Glenn Rees and Tyson Flavel were nearest the pin.

Contributed with thanks to Kate Cross

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Terry Kimpton and Wayne Singleton at Whitsunday Green Golf Course

Bodybuilder Becomes Pro In Second Season

Em Pianeda is out to prove that it’s never too late for women to achieve their goals.

Recently completing her second bodybuilding season, Em has achieved three pro cards, or professional athlete awards, and her journey has only just begun.

She entered her first bodybuilding season last year, after much consideration and a lifelong passion for sport, fitness and muscle.

“Last year I was turning 40, and I thought, ‘Well, I’m going to do it before I’m 40,’” she said.

“I always admired bodybuilding and I really do like muscle … because I know what it takes to get it.”

Inspiring Journey Of Bodybuilding Success

After receiving feedback from her first bodybuilding season, Em Pianeda went into an improvement period to grow her muscle and develop her posing.

Her goal was to finish her second season with a pro card.

“I learnt that I could do it and I could stick to the diet and the training,” she said.

In her second season, Em achieved three pro cards with natural federations I Compete Natural, Natural Bodybuilding Australia and Miss Fitness Australia.

“It blew my mind,” she said.

“I had three chances and got three from three, so I’m super excited for next year.”

Bodybuilding competitions are judged on aspects including figure, symmetry and muscle separation, which requires an intense preparation period and training regime.

Em allowed her body to recover between seasons before starting a growth season of strength training and structured eating.

“When you hit your prep season, that’s when you start to cut your calories and add your cardio and start to do the shred,” she said.

“You get yourself into good habits with eating and regular training and then just hit the ground running.”

Em trains five days a week and says this period can be strenuous on not only her body, but her personal life and the people around her.

“You don’t want to go out and catch up for drinks because you can’t drink and you’re hungry and you’re tired and you’re struggling, so you don’t want to be in those environments,” she said.

“You’ve got to stay on track.

“Coming out into recovery and improvement, not only do you have to recover and improve you and your body, but you need to do that with the relationships that you’ve put on the backburner.

“My family’s had to be on the ride too so now it’s about trying to put back into that part of your life.”

Em aspires to leave her mark on the Australian natural bodybuilding scene before taking on international competitions in future seasons.

“Once I’m done there, I wouldn’t mind doing the untested federations as a natural athlete and see where I stand against enhanced athletes,” she said.

“It gives you a goal; it gives you something to work towards.”

All the while, she hopes to inspire women to follow their dreams.

“If there’s something you want to do and you have goals and aspirations, it does not matter how old you are or how busy you are,” she said.

“If I can do it, anyone can do it.

“Get out there and make it happen; it’s so empowering when you do.”

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St Patrick’s College Mackay has rubber stamped its exciting new partnership with the North Queensland Cowboys.

Both parties recently signed a memorandum of understanding to promote clear pathways for aspiring rugby league players in the region to play in the NRL competition.

A Cowboys contingent led by Head of NRL Elite Pathways Glenn Hall visited Mercy College Mackay last Friday to officially endorse the new partnership.

Other Cowboys officials in attendance were Elite Pathways coach Steve Sheppard, Club Recruitment Manager Dane Campbell and Elite Pathways Strength and Conditioning Coach Liam Bartlett.

They were joined by boom St Patrick’s and Queensland Country Under 17 colts Xavier Kerrisk and Jaxon Purdue, St Patrick’s and Mercy College Sports Co-ordinators Chad Buckby and Matthew Paul, newly appointed Mercy College Cowboys Challenge coach Tom Gaviglio and Mercy College Assistant Principal Curriculum Scott McSherry.

Emerging hooker Kerrisk and skilful half back Purdue will attend a special camp in Townsville during December as part of the Cowboys Young Bucks squad.

Other promising St Patrick’s rugby league colts invited include top forwards Liam Doherty, Matthew Watts, dynamic centre Kai Simon (Under 21 Young Guns) and lock forward Kayne Smith and classy utility back Will Shears (Young Bucks).

Both Mercy College and St Patrick’s College have proved a thriving nursery for NRL clubs over the past three decades and have tasted phenomenal success in the Confraternity Shield, Aaron Payne Cup and Cowboys Challenge competitions.

Mr Hall said the Cowboys were looking forward to building on the back of the school’s success of the past few seasons.

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Rookie bull rider and Koumala local, Qynn Andersen is headed to Canada next week to compete at the PBR Canada national finals.

19-year-old Andersen took home an event win at the PBR Monster Energy Tour Rockhampton Invitational earlier this month, his third for 2022. His rookie season has been a resounding success, currently sitting in third position in the national standings, three weeks out from the Grand Finals in Townsville.

“It was good to ride both my bulls and get another win,” Mr Andersen says.

“I’m quite happy with how this season is panning out, having lots of fun and learning a lot along the way.”

If Mr Andersen can continue his good form, he has the potential to snatch the national title from the grips of four-time and current national champion, Aaron Kleier from Clermont.

Not that Mr Andersen is thinking about it too much.

“Nothing changes too much for me, I’ll continue to put the hard yards in during the week and look to ride all my bulls,” he says.

“Townsville will also be lots of fun! I’m just excited about getting my bulls rode and letting things pan out like they should.”

Having already represented Queensland at the Monster Energy PBR State of Origin series, where he was the event winner in Origin I and III, Mr Andersen will now represent Australia when he heads to Canada to ride in the 2022 PBR Canada National Finals.

“I’m very excited to head over to Canada. It’ll be my first time. I’m very keen to ride their bulls and experience their crowds.”

He’ll return to Australia just in time to ride for the Australian National Title at the PBR Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals in Townsville.

Clermont’s Aaron Kleier currently holds onto the number one spot, but after sustaining an injury at the Mackay Invitational four weeks ago has been missing from the schedule.

He’ll be looking to make a return at the Grand Finals in Townsville to secure his fifth consecutive national title, a feat no other rider in PBR history has achieved.

PBR Australia presents the PBR Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals, Friday 25th and Saturday 26th of November at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre. Tickets are still available at www.pbraustralia.com.au.

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