Pickleball in the region is soaring in popularity and this week was no different with new players on both Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning.

It is in the pipeline that a twilight evening session paddle off will occur in the next few weeks.

Thursday afternoon it was a refreshing sight to see young teenagers Sophie and Alex join in with the adults.

Saturday morning featured match was a mixed doubles between husband-and-wife combos Darrell and Paula, and Jocelyn and Darren, with intensity high until the extreme humid conditions kicked in.

It was encouraging to see the guys - Frank and Stuart - have a hit together too.

A fair reason to play Pickleball; it allows you to work on your balance, agility, reflexes, and hand eye coordination without putting excessive strains on your body.

If you have physical limitations such as hip, shoulder, knee or other joint problems, Pickleball is the sport for you.

Pickleball is played at 4.30pm Thursday afternoon and 7am Saturday morning.

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The Cannonvale Cannons hosted another hot and humid night of club racing which began with Jax Clayworth claiming the Chocolate Award for his PBs.  

Shailee Mewha, Koa Harland, Holly Perrin, Nelson Malady, Charlie Doherty, and Jax were presented with Club Upgrade certificates too.

Coach Mark Erickson presented Jy Parkinson with two more Club Records for his ever growing tally, and SNQ President, Theresa Manning, officially announced that Jy would also be the 2022- 2023 Male Regional Captain.  

Wednesday night saw the coaches note almost every swimmer improved times in Butterfly over the week; from the 32 personal bests achieved, 17 were for Butterfly.

Lukas Trevaskis swam PBs in 3 out of his 4 races, Jack Ganter swam extremely well in his 100m Butterfly to take over 10 seconds off his previous time.

Matilda Nicholes swimming 50m Butterfly in 59.24 seconds, a 2 second PB, and Daniel Saunders, aged 12 years, swam a super 100m IM in 1.31.44 which was a 7.5 second PB.

Indi Smith, 8, swam a 50m Butterfly in 1.07.37 which was a 1 second PB, while Jasper Korosec and Liam Filewood both swam personal best times in their 25m Butterfly and 25 Backstroke.  

Lily Maher, 12, swam a super 50m Butterfly in 55.14 seconds, and Millie Groom, aged 11, also swam a fantastic time in her 50m Butterfly with 53.99 seconds.

Lilli Bond swam a 50m Butterfly in 35.99 seconds which was a 1.68sec PB, and Evie Doherty, achieved 7 years swam an excellent 50m Backstroke in 1.04.43.  

Congratulations to all the swimmers who swam personal best times.

Contributed with thanks to Raylene Rasmussen

Holly Perrin

Nelson Malady and Charlie Doherty

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The Wednesday competition was a single stroke event for the March midweek monthly medals sponsored by Bowen Golf Club.  

Ladies’ winner on the day was Carol O’Connell 70 nett, runner-up Kim Bennion 71 nett, and Men’s winner Jeff Day 66 nett, with runner up on a countback Mitchell Greenbank 69 nett.

Saturday saw the opening of the Bowen golfing season with a 4BBB Medley Stableford sponsored by Bowen Small Motors.  

Winners Ian and Meg Garrod 45pts, and runners-up on a countback Craig Newell and Jason Bartlett 44pts.  

Pin shots/Turkeys nests Pauline Martin, Leanne Swan, Michelle Campbell, Ben Fellows, John Martin, David Carus, Brendan Nott.  

Accuracy drives won by Debbie Breeze and Rod Wells.  Penny Stewart and Jumbo Miller both had OBP’s and Jumbo also claimed the Car wash voucher.  

Thank you to Lisa and Scott Raisbeck from Bowen Small Motors for their continued support.

This weekend is the March monthly medals and qualifying round for single Matchplay.  

Ladies will play on Saturday and Men play on Sunday.  

Contributed with thanks to Grace Nott

The opening day winners at Bowen Golf

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It was too wet underfoot for the Monthly Medal, but 20 players braved the course and played a round of Stableford.

Conditions were tough as the scores will show and it was a very humid day.  

The ladie’s winner was Mandy Patterson, 30, second Jenny Hounsell, 29, while the men’s winner was Peter Fox, 32, second Ken Granger 29.  

Nearest the pins for the ladies were Mandy taking out the trifecta of 9th, 13th and 16th, and Leanne and Elspeth, together with Mandy, all being in the hole on the 13th.

Chip Ins for the day were John Oates, Beryl Nosworthy, Jenny Hounsell and Ken Granger.

Next week, weather and course permitting, will be the March Monthly Medal so get your names down on Golf Link or through the Pro Shop.

Contributed with thanks to Paula McQuat

Weekly winners Mandy Patterson and Peter Fox

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This week Tyson Flavel continued his winning streak to take home the Friday Prawn Run, his win was a count back over Cameron Mutch.

Both players had a great round with scores of 24 points.

New member Brad Low came in third with a very reasonable 21 points.

The Saturday 18-hole stableford was won by Glenn Rees on 43, just beating the youngster Adam Singleton, with both scoring 43 points with Glenn succeeding the countback.

New competition entrant Clint Paull came in third, while Alan Clinch took the 'Nearest the Pin'.

The Sunday 9-hole again belonged to Adam Singleton, but new play Nathan Nikolich kept him honest with both scoring 23 points.

Glenn Rees coming in third on 22 points. This coming Saturday the team play SKINS. Set time tee-off 10am, please bring the entry fee in cash $10.

Contributed with thanks to Kate Cross

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The Mackay Cycling Club held its first road racing event for the 2022 season, with the Inaugural Mackay Cycles Criterium Series held at Palmyra Raceway.

Race one saw an enthusiastic blend of seniors and juniors take to the fast track, with race two on this weekend.

RESULTS

Junior Boys:

1st: Peter Schatkowski

2nd: Scott Bennett, 3rd: Oaklan Marwood

Junior Girls:

1st: Ariel Burke

2nd: Nataya Fewquaden

Women:

1st: Tenille Galea

2nd: Tracey Marwood

C Grade:

1st: Luke Schatkowski

2nd: Mark Burke, 3rd: Mark Sheather

B Grade:

1st: Ben Russell

2nd: Shaun Brennan, 3rd: Shane Edwards

A Grade

1st: Kyle Marwood

2nd: Craig Larsen, 3rd: Ethan Weiss

Kyle Marwood and Craig Larsen

Scott Bennett, Peter Schatkowski, Oaklan Marwood

Shaun Brennan, Ben Russell, Shane Edwards

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North Mackay Ladies Bowls returned to the green in February with Graded 3 Bowl Triples. 64 ladies competed on a very hot and humid day. The winners for the day were: Lois Deguara, Francis Lehmann, Margaret Webb. Runners up on a count back were: Deb Mackenzie, Bev Woodward, Anne Peet.

On the 9th of February, North Mackay Ladies competed in a Graded 2 Bowl Triples game.   Winners were: Carmel Bell, Lurline Ford, Sue Hazledine. Runners up were: Sheryl Cutress, Jean Zamparutti, Therese Russell.

On the 16th of February was the last of the Graded games with a 2 Bowl Fours competition. The competition was a close one with winners being: Carmel Bell, Jan Comelli, Margaret Goldston, Margaret Webb. Runners up were: Jean Schmidtke, Helen Fleming, Donna Gordon and Pam Louis.

Club Championship 4’s are now underway.

Contributed by Sue Hazledine

Jean Zamparutti in full concentration

Gloria Sam showing how it’s done

Shirley Bartolo showing her style

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Table tennis games aren’t played to 21 anymore, but don’t tell that to Don Boettcher and John McGee.

Don and opponent John McGee had the rare experience of playing out a 21-19 result in the 5th game of their match in Tuesday morning Mackay table tennis fixtures.

The result gave the match to Don and the overall win for the day 7-5 against the Dalia team, which included Val Austin and Kim Challender.

Matches used to be played to 21, but a rule change in 2001 reduced that to 11, with a player having to get two points ahead to take the win if it got to 10-all. Previously if games got to 20-all, it was play on until someone got two points ahead.

It was a morning of close matches, with John also just being edged out by Roy Murray 11-9 in the 5th game.

In other close fifth-game results Iris Grasso beat Bryan Marshall 16-14 and Fred Saliba edged out Noreen Fredericksen 15-13.

By Charlie Payne

Don Boettcher knows what it’s like to play table tennis matches to 21. Photo: Charlie Payne

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Pristine conditions in Sarina a fortnight ago resulted in high scores for water skiers who competed in a local round of slalom and tricks.

A stand-our performer was Hope Englebretsen who won the Slalom Division two competition with a score of 2@13m. Hope also took out the Division 5 trick with a score of 650, elevating her into Division 4 for the next competition.

Jackson Cross also competed in the Division 2 Slalom, taking out second place behind Hope. He also came second in the Division 5 trick and is on notice with a great score of 570.

Locals who took to the Slalom in Division 3 were Ben Ohl who placed third, and Evan Mackenzie. Macca Douce rounded out the local competitors with a second place in Division 4 and is on notice after an impressive run.

LOCAL SKI RESULTS

SLALOM DIV 2: 1st Hope Englebretsen 2@13m, 2nd Jackson Cross 5@16m

SLALOM DIV 3: 3rd Benjamin Ohl 3@55 SLALOM

SLALOM DIV 5: 2nd Macca Douce 2@49 (ON NOTICE)

TRICK DIV 5: 1st Hope Englebretsen 650 (GONE to Div 4), 2nd Jackson Cross 570 (ON NOTICE)

Image credits: Dave Walters and Jackson Cross

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Inclement weather called off the Mackay Cutters trial match against the North Queensland Cowboys Young Guns at half time over the weekend.

An unfortunate bout of rain brought an end to the game at half time, which saw the Sugar City’s Cutters take on a Young Guns side comprised mainly of 18-year-olds.

The Cutters were looking to build on their last month of preseason, with Cutters’ coach David Elliott eager to show Mackay what “the club was all about this season.”

The Young Guns took kick-off to get the game going, and Cutters’ Ryan Bella was first to dive into the white and blue pack.

Five North Queensland Toyota Cowboys were named for the Cutters ahead of the clash, with outside backs Laitia Moceidreke, Brendan Elliot, half Daejarn Asi, prop Morgan McWhirter and second-rower Ben Condon will all line up in the curtain raiser to the Cowboys and Broncos trial.

The seniority of the Cutters was evident in the half, more in terms of their slow mounting of pressure compared with the Young Guns energetic approach to the game.

An exchange of possession early in the half demonstrated the dichotomy between the sides; the Cutters were calm and composed in their build up the field, while the Young Guns were eager to step, twist and attempt to break the lines each in turn.

Cutters held positionally strong in the opening plays, acquitting themselves well against what are some of North Queensland’s up and coming prospects.

Energy came from the bounding Young Gun Herbie Farnworth, who seemed to come alive whenever he was passed the ball, but it was Cutters that opened the scoring with an exceptionally worked move.

Flynn Camilleri, last season’s Hastings Deering Colts players’ player crossed first in the seventh minute – the winger was well wide when he received the ball with only the easy part left to do.

The hard work had been done by Andre Niko and Blake Paskins, with Niko in particular making a backward pass just before a crunching tackle from two Young Guns.

It was a back-and-forth affair for the next six minutes before Paskins converted after darting through two of the Young Guns’ wide players.

Brandon Finnegan was unable to convert on the Cutters first two tries, dragging them wide on both occasions.

After the Young Guns took kick-off again, Sam Faapito ran the length of the pitch in a spectacular effort that would have been the try of pre-season had he not been tackled just before crossing and subsequently rolled out of the by-line.

It was tense on both ends, with Cutters' strong defence proving the difference between the sides for the remainder of the half – there were chances aplenty, though, and Cutters were often lucky not to concede.

The game was still in the Cutters’ favour when Jayden Morgan made a straight line run into the Young Guns pack, clattering Reece Foley who had come on during a substitution. Foley was sadly unable to continue and was substituted due to injury concerns.

Cutters capitalised on the deflated Young Guns, with Paskins again crossing at the end of the half, with Finnegan once again dragging the kick wide. The half finished 18-0, and subsequently the game when lightning was fast approaching on the horizon.

With a half-win on their sides, the Cutters will be looking ahead to their next trial in Bowen against the Townsville Blackhawks, a team which head coach David Elliott was well acquainted with, having coached the Blackhawks Deering Colts side.

That game takes place on Saturday, March 12.

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Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Malou’s hot form is making a welcome return this year for the Mackay Meteors, with the 6’9 versatile forward staying in Mackay for another season. In 2021 he was the Mackay Meteors’ MVP, NBL1 All Star Five and NBL1 North Champion.

Born in Kenya, Malou grew up in Victoria and was a rising star from a young age. He found his way to the United States for junior college experience before enhancing his career trajectory while playing for the South Sudanese national team at various international tournaments.

Malou’s form has been impressive in the NBL1 North for Mackay, with the Meteors holding a 10-3 win/loss record as he led the playing roster across several categories.

He averaged 19.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, and the efficiency with which he is doing it is elite - shooting 54% from the field, 40.7% from the three-point line, and a handy 87% clip from the free-throw line.

Manny is a gifted player who works extremely hard on his game and his body, he’s a pro and the Meteors are excited to have him for the 2022 season.

Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Malou is returning to the Mackay Meteors for the 2022 NBL1 season

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Social Photos And Game Report

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A solid week of bowls in the beach town, with the Tuesday Ladies’ fours finalists making themselves known, Betty Nicole’s team will take on Margo Stanley’s squad this week after claiming their spots on Tuesday.

Wednesday Jackpot Bowls followed, with Nik Fernbach’s ably led Merv Stewart and Alan Pershouse coming out as convincing winners.

Wednesday night’s Business House Bowls saw the Tuk Tuks claim a great win over a gallant Kitties team, 7-6.

Saturday morning, Russell Jackson faced off against Rick Galea, with Jackson coming out the winner in the final.

Sunday Afternoon, Gary Smith led Maureen Barnard and Col Morris to a convincing win.

Contributed with thanks to Mark Mawson

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The opening Day in early January for the Wangaratta Bowls club in Bowen saw a great turnout of players, with many heading in from South Townsville, Thuringowa, and Giru, as the club celebrated the beginning of its season.

Winners for the morning were D Wallace, P Warren, M Wilson, T Willshire, M Brunker, and L Harasymuik.

The Queens Beach club has been rolling along over February, with the results in for this week’s bowls, with a Tuesday win for P Warren and M Drummond who defeated I Laird, P Hinschen, and M Elphinstone.

It was a strong turnout at the club, with V Hadley, A Rolfe, R Stitt, I Wheeler, M Wilson, N Bethel, L Danvers, G Danver, D Retchless, S Shearing, and S Brunker out in force.

Stay tuned for more Wangaratta Bowls Club News coming your way.

Contributed with thanks to Penny Warren

President Mark Drummond presenting opening day winners Margaret Wilson, Penny Warren, and  Denise Wallace

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Early Tuesday evening saw Tennis Whitsunday participants hit the court in singles, with Sienna and Norm keeping Annerize and Olivia on their toes.

On the adjoining court, Tan and Zoe were taking it to Big Jack and Turbo, and the third court was witness to Jackson, Val, William, and Young Jack in back-to-back rallies.

Tuesday night social tennis was a hive of activity with Tomas and Nicholas playing singles and Norm, Val, Jackson, and Sienna playing mixed doubles.

Players had been eager to get back on court after three weeks of washouts, and three of the originals ladies - Kerri, Kerry and Kirsty - returned to join in with Evelyn for games of social tennis.

The week followed on with Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning game, with outings from Indi, Lacey, Lachlan, Josh, and Remy the picks of the bunch for great warm-up games.

The competitive but social club continues to attract players of different levels, allowing a get to know vibe in an inclusive and sociable atmosphere for all.

Contributed with thanks to Jenny Kirkman

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