The Tassal Airlie Beach Marathon Festival will be held along the foreshore over the weekend of 19/20 July 2025.

A record number of entries have already been received for the marathon and half marathon and there are not many places left. At least 600 runners are expected to line up to run over the weekend.

Entries have been received from every state and territory in Australia. There are also entries from New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada, USA, France, England, Scotland and Sweden.
Last year’s winners of the women’s marathon (Liv Compton) and half marathon (Clare Ashworth) and men’s half marathon winner (Billy Grogan) have all signed up to defend their titles.

The festival offers several races over various distances: 42 k, 21k, 10k, 5k, 2k, 1k and 1 mile. It caters for all ages from 4 to 100 with gold medals for first place in most age categories.

The festival offers a corporate challenge for teams of 3 to 10 members. The quickest three runners’ times are used to determine the winner of the floating trophy that can be displayed over the next 12 months.

There are cash prizes for the open podium finishers in the Magic Mile on Saturday afternoon and the Primary School Challenge with the most participants on a percentage basis will also receive a cash prize and floating trophy.

One of the highlights on the Sunday is the mascots race immediately before the junior events at approximately 9:30 am. There are also a record number of mascots and Batman has called in to say he can make it this year.

The Event Director, Tim McQuoid-Mason said, “This year’s festival will be the largest ever and there will be plenty of entertainment for runners and spectators with live music on the course and at the race precinct.”

There are still places available for anyone interested in entering, so go to www.runairlie.com.au .

Contributed with thanks to Tassal Airlie Beach Marathon Festival

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Tassal Airlie Beach Marathon Festival is coming up soon. Are you Ready? Photo credit: Phil Copp Photography

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AFL - Whitsunday Sea Eagles
Saturday 5th July

12:15pm - Whitsunday Sea Eagles Senior Women vs North Mackay Saints at Whitsunday Sportspark

1:50pm - Whitsunday Sea Eagles Senior Men vs North Mackay Saints at Whitsunday Sportspark

Cricket – Airlie Beach Cricket Club
Contact airliebeachcc@yahoo.com.au for information about Airlie Beach Cricket Club

Netball – Whitsunday Netball Association
Contact netballwhitsunday@gmail.com for netball information

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From Officer In Charge of Whitsunday Police Station Anthony Moynihan

G’day everyone and thanks for the opportunity from Whitsunday Life to provide a little article on the goings on from the perspective of Whitsunday Police.

Firstly, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Anthony Moynihan, I am the Senior Sergeant, Officer in Charge of the Whitsunday Police Station. I have been a proud member of the Queensland Police Service for 25 years.

I started off working down south in Toowoomba and Ipswich before moving to North Queensland. I worked in Cairns and in every Police Station through Cape York. It was then that I started to work as a Plain Clothes Officer. Working in various Criminal Investigation Branch Offices in Cairns, Mossman, Mount Isa, Mareeba and the Torres Strait, investigating serious Criminal Offences including homicides, drug matters, assaults and fraud offences to name a few. I was a Detective for 17 years and now have been promoted back to uniform duties. Prior to moving to the beautiful Whitsundays, I was the Officer in Charge of the Torres Strait, based on Thursday Island.

I have provided a couple of photos of travelling to work via helicopter in the Torres Strait and visiting neighbouring Papua New Guinea villages to distribute clothing and footballs.

I love been a Police Officer and have a strong focus on been engaged with the community and providing care and aid to anyone in need. The safety of my staff and the community is my number one priority.

I have a love for Rugby League and the Brisbane Broncos. And when I’m not working, I love spending time with my wife and kids. I look forward to getting a boat and exploring this beautiful place.

Please drop in anytime to the station and have a chat about any issues we can help with.

This month we will be concentrating on personal mobility devices or E-Scooters. I have included some rules to be aware of and the fines that may be issued if you are found not doing the right thing. Please be safe at all times.

Contributed with thanks to Senior Sergeant Officer in Charge of Whitsunday Police Station Anthony Moynihan

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The Bowen Polocrosse Club’s first-ever Ladies Day is already a success, with tickets selling out weeks ahead of the July 26 event.

Set on Saturday, the afternoon will feature live acoustic music, prosecco, and a whole lot of fun. The Ladies Day event runs from 12pm to 4pm, offering a wide array of the A and B grade matches as part of a broader effort to promote the sport and attract new crowds.

Capped at 100 attendees, the event is a test run for what could become an annual highlight. Affordable tickets included drinks, souvenirs, and optional catering.

After Ladies Day wraps up, the action rolls straight into the popular Night Chukkas event followed by live music, a Calcutta, food stalls, a Kids' Corner, and a lively bar.

With polocrosse running from 8am through the day, the club is set for a full day of sport and celebration.

Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said the first Ladies Day would be a great attraction, with many people looking forward to this addition.

“People travel long distances to attend, and all events held locally provide an economic boost for Bowen and the greater Whitsundays region.

“It is also great to see the community get involved by attending the Night Chukkas event on the Saturday night, Well done Bowen Polocrosse Club,” she said.

What: Ladies Day
Where: Bowen Polocrosse Club
When: Saturday 26 July at 12pm

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The annual BMA CQ Rescue Golf Day on Hamilton Island teed off under blue skies and brisk winds on Saturday 14, drawing 92 eager players to the island greens for a good cause.

Despite the challenging conditions, spirits remained high as teams tackled the scenic course. The charity event didn’t just stay on the fairways, a bustling raffle and auction added to the fundraising total, helping raise an incredible $64,120 for BMA CQ Rescue.

Hamilton Island Golf Club Manager Michael Frampton confirmed the impressive figure, which now pushes the event’s all-time total to over half a million dollars raised for the emergency helicopter service.

BMA CQ Rescue General Manager Lisa Martin expressed her deep appreciation.

“We are so grateful to everyone who played. It might just seem like a game of golf to some, but to us, it means we can continue our life-saving missions,” she explained.

“Thank you to everyone who contributed to the event. Especially to Michael Frampton and the team from Hamilton Island who go above and beyond every year”.

Last year alone, BMA CQ Rescue was dispatched to Hamilton Island 43 times, averaging nearly one call-out a week. Just recently, the service assisted a patient suffering from pneumonia.

With the sun shining and generosity in full swing, the event proved once again that a round of golf can go a long way in saving lives.

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The Cairns Ironman held in the heart of Tropical North Queensland is a ripper!

It is set amongst the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, the only place in the World where two World heritage areas meet.

The Event was held on 15th June. On the day there were two events, a challenging FULL Ironman consisting of a 3.8km ocean swim, 180km cycle with a 42.2km marathon run to finish. The other event is still a tough one, a half Ironman and half the above distances which is a race rather than survival.

Over 2500 competitors tackled the scenic course around Cairns. The course is built for the ultimate racing experience. The swim took place at Palm Cove in reasonable conditions following the “washing machine” conditions a day earlier. The hilly bike course took athletes up towards Port Douglas. Road Closures made for a stunning course along the Tropical Queensland coastline on a closed coastal highway, although the gusting winds caused a bit of havoc with some cyclists.  Back in Cairns, the run took athletes along the picturesque Esplanade on a flat course with amazing crowd support and an abundance of enthusiastic volunteers keeping everyone in the loop!

Four of our Whitsunday locals entered the weekend races. There were two girls in the FULL Ironman while the two boys opted for the Half Ironman.

Both Kristy Gardel and Jessie Gerard entered the Full Ironman for the first time. The volume of training prior to the event is massive and happens over a three month build period. They are both local champion triathletes and conquered the behemoth FULL Ironman distance with aplomb! The girls had a great race and achieved their goal, congratulations!

Jake Yorke and Michael Kimpton completed the Half Ironman Event in fine time, all smiles crossing that Finish Line. It was Jake’s first Half Ironman event as he is pretty new to triathlon and is now looking forward to further challenges.

Contributed with thanks to Val Kimpton

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Michael Kimpton finishing his run in the Cairns Iron Man
Kristy Gardel & Jessie Gerrard after their Iron Man
Jake Yorke celebrating his first Half Iron Man

Photos supplied

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While most were enjoying a sleep-in on Whitsunday Show Day, a group of determined Cannonvale Cannons swimmers dived into an epic early morning challenge at the Cannonvale Swim Centre. The session kicked off at 7AM giving our usual Friday morning trainers a well-earned two-hour sleep-in!

The endurance session was designed by Cannons swimmer Harris Delac, known for his boundless energy and love of long-distance swimming. Harris crafted a 6 kilometre set, which was adapted across the squads: the Guns tackled the full 6 kilometre, the Missiles completed 4.8 kilometre, the Torpedoes swam 2.6 kilometre, and our younger Minis, Lasers and Bullets rose to the challenge with sets tailored to their levels.

Coach Mark Erickson was proud of every swimmer, praising their commitment and strong completion times across the board. Congratulations to all who stepped up!

Cannons who took part included set creator Harris Delac, Tyler Bennett, Tora Delac, Liam Filewood, Mackenzie Bennett, Andie Reynolds, Matilda Nicholes, Maeve Dichiera, Ruby Harland, Koa Harland, Declan Dichiera, Ruby Lawson, Eric Mulliss, Jasper Korosec, Lucas Korosec, Addie Sanders, Penelope Shields, Zavier Woolston, Zach Trefz and Tom Ganter.

Junior swimmers joined in at 9AM and gave it their all—well done to Leo and Stella Mulliss, Caleb Woolston, River Shields and Lily Woolston.

The Cannonvale Cannons would also like to recognise Olive Hounsell, Wilson Hounsell and Bodhi Gibb—regular trainers at the Cannonvale Swim Centre who aren’t yet part of the Cannonvale Cannons Swimming Club but completed impressive distances.

Finally, the cannons are thrilled to announce that the Cannonvale Cannons have been invited to run Friday night raffles at the Reef Gateway once a month. They kick off this Friday, 27th June, and would love to see our community there supporting the club.

Contribtued with thanks to Jade Korosec

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Senior Swimmers with Harris Delac

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Last week we were awaiting the results of the North Queensland District Ladies Purple Pennant, contested between Wangaratta, Thuringowa, Home Hill/Brandon, Jubilee, Magnetic Island, Ingham, and Alligator Creek. The winning flag went to Magnetic Island, with our very own Wangaratta Ladies securing runners-up honours. Congratulations, ladies—what a fantastic achievement!

Monday’s self-selected triples and Tuesday’s social bowls continued as usual, although results were not available at the time of publication.

Sunday’s social bowls saw a full green, with the winners coming from Rink 2. Allan Gillies, Teresa Willshire and Jim Steele defeated Judy Christie, Trish Webb and Dave Madden. Runners-up were Margaret Harvey, Karon M., Greg McSwain and Chris Healey, who defeated Carol Bellingham, Robin Craw, Simon Fitzgerald and June Walsh. The jackpot did not go off.

Several of our members took part in the Canefire Fours held in Ayr over the weekend. Congratulations to Wangaratta’s own Denise Wallace and Penny Warren, who teamed up with Shane Anderson and Mick Robinson from Cutheringa to claim the win.

Looking ahead, barefoot bowls and a sausage sizzle will kick off this Friday night. The club will open at 5:30pm, and everyone is welcome to join for a fun and relaxed evening.

Contributed with thanks to Penny Warren

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Wangaratta Runners Up Purple Pennant 2025. Photo supplied

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Airie Beach Bowls club had their grand opening on Friday marking a new era, players are thrilled that weather is no longer a factor—no more rain delays or cancellations. Since then, it's been full steam ahead, with Rounds 7 and 8 played over the weekend. Only one more round of redemption remains, and all divisions are looking to finish strong.

In Division 1, Saturday saw matches played in Sarina, with Manny Isgro’s team—comprising Noel Crosbie, Jeff Tierney, and Andy McDougall—the only ones to notch a win. Teams led by Bob McMahon and Warren Mills fought hard but were narrowly defeated. Sunday’s matches at home against a strong Northern Beaches side ended in losses across the board.

Division 3 also struggled against a formidable South Suburban side on Saturday morning. Both Ted Cullen’s and Steve Laurie’s teams were outplayed. Sunday’s home match against Marian Bowls Club followed a similar pattern, with the local side suffering a sound defeat.

At Seaforth, Division 5 saw some positives. John Askew’s team—Dan Robinson, Duncan Smith, and Eric Barnard—secured a hard-fought draw. However, the second team, led by Stacey Hadlow, was outclassed, though Rick Brunell stood out with an exceptional performance. Sunday’s games at home against South Suburban were thrilling, with both matches decided on the final bowl—a credit to the team effort shown.

Division 6 played well on Saturday, just falling short, and travelled to Sarina on Sunday, with those results to come.

In lighter news, the club welcomed back Neil Moore, visiting from Victoria. Despite losing weight, he joked, “I know where it is.”

Coaching continues on Monday and Thursday afternoons, with updates soon on the schools program and the Endeavour Foundation initiative.

Contributed with thanks to Mark Mawson

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The Pennants team playing under the new roof. Photo supplied

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What a MASSIVE weekend of football! Every senior teams posted a significant win and the junior played a double round with some sensational results!

On Friday night, the Divisional Men took on Wanderers despite being 20 players short. Div 2, boosted by Div 1 players, held composure for a 1–0 win, with Isaiah Chilton earning man of the match and Alistair Sawer netting the winner. Div 1 overcame a tough start to dominate 6–1, with Ralé Mudford’s equaliser sparking a second-half surge.

WUFC U13 Division 1 played Mackay Wanderers Roses in their first game, going down 5–3 after trailing 3–2 at half-time. Despite a determined second-half push, Wanderers sealed it with two more goals. Later, they faced a strong Magpies side and suffered an 8–1 defeat. WUFC showed resilience throughout both matches.

The U13 Prem team had an impressive 6–0 win over Dolphins. A red card reduced the opposition to eight, with Prabhpreet Singh converting the penalty. Goals from Jackson Paroz, Daly Gillett, and a hat-trick from Nelson Malady (man of the match) sealed the dominant win. In a show of sportsmanship, WUFC matched player numbers when Dolphins were reduced to seven.

In their second game, U13 Prems thumped Wanderers Rubies 14–2. Nelson M scored four, Sam C and Daly G hit hat-tricks, with Jackson P, Alex D, Remy S, and Isaac P also on the scoresheet. The team’s teamwork and finishing impressed, continuing their strong momentum.

WUFC U14s opened their weekend with a 6–2 win over Lions. Early goals from Eli W and Shannon gave Whitsunday a great start. An own goal and second-half strikes from Kobe, Charlie, and Eli W secured the result, with a late Lions penalty rounding out the scoreline.

In their second match, U14s faced Rangers Gold. After going behind, Eli W equalised before half-time. Playing into the wind proved challenging in the second half. Shannon scored again, but Rangers took the win 3–2 with a late goal, despite a strong WUFC effort.

The U16 FQPL side played Country and despite dominating early play, trailed 2–0 at halftime due to errors. A third goal early in the second half made the task harder, but a late penalty and pressure brought it back to 3–1. The team remains in top-four contention with a rematch coming this weekend.

FQPL Women delivered a confident 5–0 home win against City Brothers. Bre opened the scoring, followed by Sarah before halftime. In the second half, Karlee found the bottom corner, Rob Dog scored from a corner, and an own goal sealed it. A disciplined backline ensured a clean sheet.

The FQPL U23 Men dazzled in a 7–0 win over Wanderers. Anthony Gracieux led the way with two goals, supported by strikes from Oisin Sherlock, Luke Swift, Lincoln Sokolski-Fricker, Jazz Knezevic, and Pepe Perea.

The Premier Men made it a clean sweep for seniors with a 3–1 win. Cillian Crowe bagged a brace and assisted Sam Davies. Sam Thornton’s tireless play on the left earned him man of the match.

Most WUFC teams now sit in the top four, well placed ahead of August finals.

Contributed with thanks to Allan Milostic

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U14 FQPL – happy after a strong 6-2 win against Lions. Photo supplied

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Football - Whitsunday United Football Club

Friday, June 27
6:00 PM: Div 2 Men vs Mackay Lions at Mackay Lions Field
8:00 PM: Div 1 Men vs Mackay Lionsat Mackay Lions Field

Saturday, June 28
9:30 AM: U13 Div 1 vs Mackay Lions at Mackay Football Park
9:30 AM: U14 vs Dolphins at Mackay Football Park
11:00 AM: U13 FQPL vs Mackay Wanderers at Mackay Football Park
11:15 AM: U15/16 vs Country United at Mackay Football Park
5:00 PM: U23 Men vs Mackay Rangers at Whitsunday United FC
7:00 PM: Men vs Mackay Rangers at Whitsunday United FC

AFL - Whitsunday Sea Eagles
U13s vs Swans at Rogers Oval
U15s vs Swans at Rogers Oval
U17s vs Magpies at Magpies
Senior Women vs Magpies at Magpies
Senior Men vs Magpies at Magpies

Cricket – Airlie Beach Cricket Club
Contact airliebeachcc@yahoo.com.au for information about Airlie Beach Cricket Club

Netball – Whitsunday Netball Association
Contact netballwhitsunday@gmail.com for netball information

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Softballers Shine Despite Wild Weather

It was a tough day at the diamond with cold winds, scattered showers, and soggy conditions – but that didn’t stop some strong performances across all grades.

Under 14s
Get the Power 5 def. Northjacklin Choas 3
Dodging rain showers on and off the diamond, Get the Power made an early statement with five runs in the first dig. Boyd Baxter was the only player to cross home plate twice. Teammates Slenna Kitto, Lilly McKenzie, and Brenton Worth all picked up walks, keeping the scoreboard ticking.

For Choas, Darcy Dolgner crossed the plate twice—one run coming from a big hit. Siblings Harry and Maycee showed sharp discipline at the plate, both earning walks. Ashlynn Ireland delivered a top performance on the mound, recording five strikeouts.

B Grade Men
Devils 17 def. Ausgroup 8
The Devils came out swinging, with Chad Oldham, Dane Snell, and Ryan Richter each slamming two to three deep hits into the outfield—bringing runners home every time. Brandon Matthews worked the zone well, drawing walks to get on base.

Ausgroup’s Chris Mickle was named man of the match after two strong hits, including a home run. He also took a catch and assisted in two outs. Tim Monford contributed with a clean grab in the field, and young Tighe Moham stood out as the only player to cross the plate twice.

A Grade Ladies
PM Diesel Hawks 7 def. BCN Dragons 6
Ali Bekker made her lone hit count, rounding the bases to score. Walks from Evie Grace, Amy Goodwill, and Bodies Baxter proved crucial, with the trio helping to bring each other home. Peyton Baker and Jess Martin took key catches to support PM Diesel’s defence.

For the Dragons, Elvie dominated on the mound with a superb 10 strikeouts. Peyton Barrow was in hot form, crossing the plate three times—including a home run. Vicki Hudson had an outstanding batting average, going four from four at the plate.

A Grade Men
No match this week as the team travelled to Rockhampton to play rescheduled Derby Day games.

Additional Results:

Dunbar Angels  8 Tyre Power 9
Fireballs 14  Arch angels 11
Young guns 18  Dr flies 13
Golden oldies 4  slayers 2
Pink Hawks 16  storm 1
Heavy Iron Hawks 18  Custom angels 3
Xtreem Angels 7  BCN dragons  6

Contributed by Cheryl Martin

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UNDERWATER HOCKEY

It was a cracking Monday night for the Mackay Underwater Hockey Club, with 17 players diving in for a full-team showdown packed with rolling subs and non-stop action. With strong numbers in the pool, the energy was high, the water lively, and the competition fierce—but one side proved unstoppable.

In what could only be described as a clear violation of the club’s own unofficial league rulebook, Boyd, Elsie, and Macca somehow ended up on the same team. Individually, they’re forces of nature—fast, tactical, and technically gifted. But together? It was as if they were running a group chat through their snorkels. Their communication and positional synergy were exceptional, executing plays with near-telepathic precision. It set a new benchmark for skill and teamwork, and let’s just say... it won’t be allowed to happen again.

The blue team didn’t just ride the wave of that powerhouse trio—strong contributions came from Andrew, Isabelle, and the returning Todd, who looked sharp and confident after time away from the game. Their collective effort secured a well-earned victory.

On the other side of the pool, the white team refused to back down. With determination, hustle, and a steady stream of tactical insight from Sophie (shared mid-match between goals), they stayed competitive and kept the pressure on throughout.

Win or lose, the real highlight of the night was the atmosphere. Laughter echoed louder than splash-outs, and post-game smiles told the full story. With this kind of turnout and camaraderie, the future of the Mackay Underwater Hockey Club is looking bright—and buoyant.

Contributed by Joel Sadleir

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TABLE TENNIS

The Mackay Open table tennis championships brought out some of the best competition seen for years by players throughout the state.

Players from Cairns to the Gold Coast competed over three days at a packed Mackay Table Tennis Centre in what visitors and local players described as the best tournament of the season so far.

Shanith Jayamaha of Brisbane won the men’s open singles ahead of Townsville’s Olav Dahl, with Mackay’s Vimal Chilukuri and Goncalo Serra Gagiero runners-up.

In a youthful women’s final, Lin Zhu of South East Queensland took out the women’s open title from Townsville’s Taliesha Gaeta.

Vimal and Goncalo won the men’s open doubles, and Goncalo made it a double by teaming with Taleisha to win the mixed doubles.

Other Mackay medalists were:

• U1000 singles Trent Day bronze, U800 singles Trent Day gold, Yilin Jiang, Niro Premachandra bronze.
• U1200 doubles: Neil and Josh Brown gold, Anne Sheridan, Janice Kent silver, Steve Whiting (M) Marshall Muller (T); Sisca Fran (T) and Tony Bowman (M) bronze.
• O19 mixed singles: Vimal Chilukuri silver.
• O30 men’s singles: Zhan Yang bronze.
• O30 women’s singles: Andrea Nicholson bronze.
• 065 women’s singles: Janice Kent silver.
• O70 women’s singles: Val Austin silver.
• O75 women’s singles: Pam Joyce gold, Iris Grasso silver.
• O80 men’s singles: Graham Drury silver, Peter Goodson bronze.
• O80 women’s singles: Pam Joyce gold, Coral Morgan silver.
• U21 and 19 girls singles: Lily Boland silver.
• U17 girls singles: Lily Boland bronze.
• U15 boys singles: Yilin Jiang, Ollie Hamelink bronze.
• Junior development singles: Remy Zahn gold, Logan Brown silver.

Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night fixtures June 3, 2025 RESULTS:

Division 1:

Data Dashers (Josh Brown, Barry Patterson) d Code Crackers (Emma Widdup, Lee Brake) 5-4. Barry d Lee -12, 10, 13, 9.

Tech Titans (Ivan Perkins, Neil Brown, Geoff Denman) d Byte Bouncers (Anne Sheridan, Graham Brake, Daniel Warfield) 7-4. Graham d Neil 6, -5, -9, 11, 9.

Pixel Paddles (Goncalo Serra, Robbie Richards, Trent Day) d App Attackers (Andrea Nicholson, Steve Whiting, Janice Kent) 9-2. Goncalo/Trent d Steve/Andrea -11, 7, -16,10, 8.

Nano Nets (Andrew McHugh, YiLin Jiang) d Pixel Players (Lily Boland, Jacob Whelan) 5-4. YiLin d Jacob 5, 5, 13.

Division 2:

Cloud Chasers (Rod Hamelink, Syed Aminul Hossain) d Giga Gamers (Ross de Boer, Peter Goodson, Liz Burton) 7-4. Syed d Peter -5, 7, 3, 9.

Turbo Techs (Val Austin, Steve Mathieson, Jye Callander) d Quantum Quick (Mark Sleeman, Logan Brown, Ollie Hamelink) 6-5. Mark d Jye 8, -5, 10, -7, 4.

Mega Movers (Craig VanDaKaa, Duncan Treloar, Mark Stam) d Robo Rallies (Will VanDeKaa, Noreen Fredericksen, Tiffany Camilleri) 6-5. Duncan d Will 6, 7, -4, -14, 6.

Circuit Cyclers (Darryl Ross, Simon Hogan, David Symons) d Stream Strikers (Melanie Theodore,  George Camilleri) 6-2.

There were hard-fought matches in Tuesday morning fixtures last week. Division 2 had two 6-all matches, with Josie just edging out Madge -6, 4, 7, -6, 9.

Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday morning results June 3, 2025:

Division 1:

Ghost Spin (George Camilleri, Branko Vucurovic, Darryl Ross) d Cosmic Sourcerers (Delma Knight, Pam Joyce, Coral Morgan) 7-5. George/Darryl d Delma/Coral 10, -10, 10, -10, 4.

Phoenix Fire (Donna Abbott, Steve Mathieson, Noreen Fredericksen) d Panther Prowlers (Doug Dungavell, John McGee, Kevin Abbott) 7-5.  Donna d Doug 7, 11, -9, -9, 9.

Star Lords (Tony Bowman, Peter Goodson, Veronica Shepherd) d Ant Warriors (Geoff Denman, Judy Zahn, Don Boettcher) 7-5. Peter d Judy -4, 6, -9, 5, 3.

Division 2:

Eclipse Spin (Helen Ware, Ian Dodds, Virginia Clayton) d Nova Smashers (Marie Taylor, Gloria Vella, Frank Caruana) 9-3. Ian d Frank 7, -8, -9, 3, 11.

Orion Orbiters (Ross DeBoer, Kim Daffy, Robyn Bushell) d Astro Aces (Iris Grasso, John Hamelink, Chris Collins) 8-4. Chris d Kim -9, 7, -3, 6, 10.

Division 3:

Captain Spins (Josie Davis, Sharon Muller, Trish Zamparutti) drew Bat Serves (Kim Challender, Madge Saunders, Ron Johr) 6-all. Josie d Madge -6, 4, 7, -6, 9,

Spider Smashers (Gerry Synnott, Cheryl Pearson, Thelma Caruana) drew Iron Rallies (Sally Muir, Allison Day, Laurie Bradshaw) 6-all. Cheryl d Allison -5, 2, -6, 7, 6.

For more results, visit www.revolutionise.com.au/mackaytta/fixtures-results

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Vimal Chilukuri has his eyes on the ball as he serves in the Mackay Open table tennis championships.

Will VanDeKaa

Duncan Treloar. Photos supplied

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RUNNING

The annual Forsyths Accounting Shawn Claydon 10km Memorial Shield Club Championship was held last Sunday morning in damp but favourable running conditions, drawing nearly forty competitors and a supportive crowd. Despite the wet weather, spirits remained high with The Rolling Coffee Bean and da Sausage vendors providing refreshments and a lively atmosphere.

Now in its seventh year under Forsyths Accounting as major sponsor, the memorial event honours the late Shawn Claydon, a much-loved member of the Mackay Road Runners Club who passed away in August 2018 following a short illness. The race awards a perpetual shield to the first male and female to cross the line from a scratch start. Forsyths Partner Nicole White and Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson, who has opened the event every year since its inception, officially started the race in Shawn’s memory and in support of Pancreatic Cancer research (Pancare).

The 2025 Memorial Shield saw a strong field, with Toby Rule claiming the men’s title in a fast 35 minutes and 41 seconds, finishing ahead of Mick Vivian, who was less than two minutes behind. Alana Knezevic took out the women’s title for the second consecutive year, finishing third overall in 42 minutes and 18 seconds, ahead of Carolyn Mapes and Jose Short.

Other standout performers included Justin Rule, Shane Donnollan, Michael Feenaghty, Ashley Miles, Levi Wallace, Brad Kelleher, Clinton Mackie, Derek Woods, Max Miles, Carmel Mahon, Tahnie Malagueno, Robin Stinson, Andrew Short, Scott McIntosh, Judy Zahn, Jan Smith, and Ollie Gorrion.

In the 5km event, top honours went to Teresa Hackney and Ross Connor, followed by Leanne Connor, John Couldrey, David Isbister, Kayla Waugh, Fran March, and Stuart Sprott.

Special thanks were extended to Jim Ford, Life Member and Club Captain, for his heartfelt tribute to Shawn Claydon, reflecting on their close friendship and shared love of running.

The Claydon family, Jeff and Sharon, were also acknowledged for their ongoing support. All race day entry fees, raffle proceeds, and sponsorships will be donated to Pancare, with over $1,000 raised—continuing Shawn’s legacy with community spirit and purpose.

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Mackay Road Runners Club Championship Forsyths Accounting Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield Club Championship special guests (left to right) Ms Sharon Stewart-Harris, Mr Jeff Stewart-Harris, Mackay Regional Council Mayor, Mr. Greg Williamson, Club Captain and Mackay Road Runners Life Member, Mr Jim Ford, Bonny Claydon (seated), Forsyths, Nicole White & Sarah Damen and Mr John Claydon.

Runners and supporters at the Forsyths Accounting Shawn Claydon Memorial 10km Shield & Club Championship annual event (left to right) – Fran March, Jo Hughes, Alleny Gorrion, Jan Smith, Ollie Gorrion, Stuart Sprott and Kayla Waugh.

Major sponsor Forsyths Accounting, Nicole White (centre) proudly congratulates winners of the 10km perpetual trophy as well as the 5km winners (left to right) Alana Knezevic (10km 1st), Toby Rule (10km 1st), Ross Connor (5km 1st), Sarah (Forsyths) accepting Teresa Hackney’s  5km 1st female trophy in her absence.

Scott McIntosh made a welcome return to racing the 10km Forsyths Accounting Shawn Claydon Memorial Shield. Photos and words by Janelle Tilse

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