The final round of the Premier League season was held on Sunday afternoon at the Airlie Beach Bowls Club, with top spot on the line.

Dom Friend had a huge role to play in the day’s affairs, as both contenders for the title, Reef Peel and Jamie Maher, were set to face him.

For Reef, nothing less than a win over Dom would do, and he would then need Dom to defeat Jamie later in the day for the league to be decided on leg difference. Jamie, on the other hand, only needed a draw or a win against Dom to secure his first league crown.

Before those key clashes, Dom had a third match to play against Scott Edmonds. While neither player could move on the ladder, both gave it their all. Dom prevailed 7–0 to lock in fourth place for the season, with Scott finishing seventh, setting up a consolation final against Naomi Mitchell for the Hetlock Cup.

Reef then did his part, defeating Dom 7–4 while firing in a 171 and his third 180 of the season. That result pushed Reef into first place on leg difference and put all the pressure on Jamie’s final match.

The decisive showdown between Jamie and Dom was a tense affair. At 5–4 up, Dom looked like he might snatch the win and hand the league to Reef. But Jamie rallied, winning the 10th leg to level at 5–all before edging ahead 6–5. From there, he sealed the match 7–5, clinching a hard-fought victory and his first league title.

The focus now shifts to the Premier League Championship finals in a fortnight’s time, where the biggest prize in the club will be up for grabs. With all contenders still in the mix, it promises to be a ripper. Bring it on!

A big thank you to our sponsors — Mika Airlie, Master Butchers Whitsunday & MBW On the Barbie, Whitsunday Tattooing, ShirtFront Solutions, and Dyson Automotive — for their ongoing support.

Contributed with thanks to Jamie Maher

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Jamie Maher with his first league win at the Airlie Beach Darts Club. Photo supplied

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SWIMMING

Four rising talents from Mackay Cyclones Swimming Club have made waves on the national stage, earning recognition both in and out of the pool.

Dakota Daniel, Ava Kearns, Isabelle Daniel, and Montana Townley recently returned from the 2025 State Short Course Championships with impressive results, while a fellow Cyclone Anisa Helou has been named as one of just 18 recipients of the prestigious Hancock Prospecting Patron Scholarship.

The scholarship program, awarded to swimmers aged 13–18, provides financial and developmental support to assist with training and competition. Helou will now be part of the Olympic Pathway, representing North Queensland alongside Townsville’s Coby McCloskey.

On the competition front, Dakota collected a series of top-ten finishes, including bronze in the 200m freestyle, fourth in both the 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle, fifth in the 400m individual medley, seventh in the 100m freestyle and 200m IM, and ninth in the 100m butterfly.

Ava placed inside the top ten in three events – 10th in both the 100m butterfly and 100m IM, and ninth in the 200m IM – while Isabelle claimed ninth in the 100m backstroke.

Montana also impressed, achieving personal best times in seven of her eight events, alongside 11-year-old Isabelle Daniel, who competed in her very first SC championships.

The club also acknowledges all the efforts of Coach Leigh-Anne Pokarier who guides all the swimmers through their preparation and competition schedule.

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SOFTBALL

With just one or two weeks remaining in the season, teams are preparing for finals, with the grand final set for 13th September. The B Ladies will kick off their finals campaign next weekend on 30th August.

Another tied game for the U14 teams ended in a 6-all draw between Dragons Get the Power and Angels North Jacklin Chaos. The young players have made remarkable progress since the start of the season. Dragons’ Connor Doolan got on base twice and scored each time, while Boyd Baxter took a catch and recorded 5 strikeouts while pitching. For Chaos, Ashlyn Ireland led at bat with two walks, pitched 3 strikeouts, and took a catch. Maycee Dolgner also contributed with two walks to cross home plate, while Jarvis Locher scored a home run on errors.

Golden Oldies 9, Dragon Slayers 4

Tanya Baker and Antoinette James each took a catch for the Oldies, while Tabitha Dickson recorded six assisted outs at first base. Donna Reid, Alison Poyner, and Antoinette James excelled at bat, advancing runners every time. For the Dragons, Audra Worth had a strong performance both at bat and in the field with seven assisted outs. Eli Oldham and Erin Boulding also delivered big hits to the outfield to score runs.

Dragons Devils 11, Angels Custom 4

Dane Snell and Ryan Ritcher each hit a home run for the Devils. Snell also took two catches, while Flynn Ritchie contributed seven assisted outs at first base to keep the Custom score down. Custom’s Matt Ramsamy and Elijah Gibbs took catches, with Matt assisting on four outs. Ben O’Brien had two solid hits to the outfield, while Darren Frew and Gary Cunningham worked the bases with timely walks.

Pink Hawks 23, Storm 7

Kym Lock, Judy Kimlin, and Michelle Scott helped their team on base with walks and solid hits. Scott and Tracey McCauley each took a catch for Storm. Katrina Whittaker had four strong centre outfield hits, crossing home each time, with Julie Hankin adding three more outfield hits. Bec Flynn contributed with two catches and four assisted outs to secure the win.

Evie Grace is currently representing U16 Australia on the development tour in Tokyo, returning just in time for finals and the grand final. She will also compete in the U18 State Championship in Cairns from 20th to 22nd September, alongside Miley Barrow and Tiffany Martin.

The U18 boys will travel to Rockhampton for championships in combination with Hervey Bay from 20th to 22nd September. B Ladies finals begin Saturday 30th August, Joe Ball and Rookieball grand finals on 6th September, and all other grand finals on 13th September.

Contributed by Cheryl Martin

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Softball finals kick off soon, with the grand final on 13th September and standout players like Evie Grace returning from international duty. Photos supplied

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CRICKET

As international cricket prepares to tee off in Mackay, local U20 cricketers are sharpening their skills and soaking up the excitement.

Marcus Sammut, aged 17, reflected on the upcoming Australia vs South Africa matches, saying, “It’s really good—especially for a regional area. This hasn’t happened in Mackay before, which is awesome.”

He added, “It’s inspiring to see how hard Mackay players train. We’ve got great facilities here, and hosting games like Australia vs South Africa really shows that.”

Jack Law, aged 16, is equally motivated.

On his ambitions, he said, “I definitely hope to play internationally. I’ll keep working hard to make it to the Australian team… it would be amazing.”

When asked about playing locally, he said, “It’s great to spend a few hours with your mates on the weekend… the facilities are really good and always well maintained.”

Offering advice to other young players, Jack said, “Just come along and make as many friends as possible. Cricket is a team sport, so getting to know people is important.”

Both Jack and Marcus are taking part in pre-season training at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, refining techniques and preparing for the next level.

One of the four academy coaches, Chris Nemitz, said, “We saw a gap between the senior players and the junior competition, so we wanted to create something to keep the kids in the game during the off-season.

“These young men and women are very talented, and the more they play, the better they'll become.”

On the impact of international cricket visiting the region, he added, “There's nothing like seeing live cricket.

“Watching international players here shows the skill and effort required to reach that level – the things you just don’t see on TV.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for the kids and young adults to learn and be inspired.”

Female cricketer Kiana Dunn, one of the few girls’ in the academy, is making the most of the experience.

“It's just fun. I love fielding, batting, bowling—it's great to be with friends doing something we all love.”

Her advice to other young players is to, “Just have fun, enjoy it, and play as long as you can.”

“The international games will be really good—getting to see all the experienced players, talking to them about how they got there, what they did, and how we can learn from them. And of course, just watching some really good cricket,” she said.

With world-class cricket taking place on local grounds, the next generation of international stars could very well be nurtured right here in our own region, turning opportunity into reality on Mackay’s pitches.

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Mackay’s U20 cricketers are sharpening their skills, with local grounds shaping the next generation of international stars. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

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BMX

Mackay riders were in fine form at last weekend’s R7 & R8 of the Queensland State Series, held at the Cairns BMX Club. Competitors from across the region tested their speed and skill on the challenging track, with Mackay’s young riders producing some standout performances and claiming multiple top finishes.

Round 8 Results:

11 Girls

1. Lilly Bolger – F16:8 1st | 118:6 1st | 73:3 1st | 28:1 1st

12 Girls

1. Ruby Soke – F17:4 1st | 119:8 1st | 74:5 2nd | 29:1 1st

13 Boys

1. Max Ransome – F7:1 1st | 108:4 1st | 62:3 1st | 18:6 1st

14 Girls (Merged)

1. Willow Pogmore – F18:1 1st | 120:2 1st | 75:8 1st | 30:7 2nd

45-49 Men (40-44 Men)

1. Michael Jameljanenko – F13:2 1st | 115:8 1st | 70:7 1st | 25:1 1st

Cruiser 11-12 Boys

1. Liam Wilson – F27:1 3rd | 130:8 1st | 85:4 1st | 40:5 1st

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Mackay riders delivered a string of top finishes at last weekend’s R7 & R8 Queensland State Series in Cairns, showcasing speed, skill, and standout performances across multiple age groups. Photo source: Mackay and District BMX Club Inc (Facebook)

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Mackay Table Tennis Match Results – 12th August 2025

Tuesday Morning Fixtures

Division 1 – Eagle Wings (Branko Vucurovic, Noreen Frederickson, Coral Morgan) defeated Bear Claws (Judy Zahn, John McGee, Kevin Abbott) 8-4. Kevin had a massive day with three 5 setters and saved the best for last coming back from 2 sets down to take the win over Branko 11-7.

Tigers Paws (Allan Robins, Ross DeBoer, Bryan Marshall) defeated Shark Attack (Doug Dungavell, Peter Goodson, Marie Taylor) 8-4 with Bryan winning in 5 sets over Marie 11-6.

Lion Kings (Donna Abbott, Veronica Shepherd, Don Boettcher) had a draw with Wolf Pack (Pam Joyce, Steve Mathieson, Virginia Clayton) 6-6. Steve won massive 5 set match against Veronica 11-9

Division 2 – Python Spin (Louise Gould, Robyn Bushell, Kim Daffy) drew with Panther Pace (John Pratt, Pam Keune, Gerry Synnott) 6-6 with Robyn and Pam having a tuff battle Robyn winning 11-9 in 5th Set.
Rhino Charge (Daryl Ross, Kim Challendar, Josie Davis) defeated Falcon Flyers (Ken Best, John Hamelink) 9-3. Ken won great battle against Kim 12-10 in 5th Set.

Division 3 – Captin Spins (Sharon Muller, Glenda Dutton, Allison Day) defeated Spider Smashers (Laurie Bradshaw, Madge Saunders, Myles Dutton) 8-4 with Myles winning the family battle against Glenda 13-11 in 5th Set.
Bat Serves (Peter Taber, Glenda Brookes) defeated Iron Rallies (Ron Johr, Trish Zamparutti) 5-4 with no 5 set matches but Trish winning over Glenda 11-6 in 4th Set.

Tuesday Night Fixtures

Division 1 – Bears (Lily Boland, Josh Brown, Lee Brake) defeated Ants (Barry Patterson, Robbie Richards, Vince Boeske) 7 to 4 with Josh defeating Barry 13-11 in the 5th Set
Fish (Mick Ruhl, Geoff Denman) defeated Birds (Anne Sheridan, Trent Day) 6-3, Mick and Geoff come back from 2 sets down to win 11-6 in the 5th Set.

Division 2 – Cats (Duncan Treloar, Graham Brake, Will VanDeKaa) defeated Owls (Andrea Nicholson, Yilin Jiang, Josie Davis) 8-3. Yilin won a massive 5th Set against Will 11-9.

Horses (Ollie Hamelink, Syed Aminul Hossain, Donna Abbott) defeated Dogs (Janice Kent, Mark Sleeman, Peter Goodson) 6-5 with Syed winning Mark 11-7

Tigers (Geoff Cowan, Allan Edwards, Allan Robins) defeated Cows (Graeme Walker, Ian McKay, Steve Mathieson) 7-4 with (Daryl Ross, Vincent Neuhauf, Val Austin) defeated Nittaku (Noreen Frederickson, Melanie Theodore, Samuel Whelan) 7-4. Samuel won in 4 sets over Daryl to win 11-9.

Butterfly (Mark Stam, Liz Burton, Logan Brown) defeated Tibhar (Ross DeBoer, Craig VanDeKaa, Rod Hamelink) 9-2 with Liz winning tight 5 set match against Craig 12-10.

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Mackay athletics club continues to celebrate the dedication and progress of its athletes as they strive for excellence on the track. Each week, athletes are recognised for achieving personal bests (PBs), with special awards presented for every 10 PBs reached.

On the 10th of August, club Vice President and Athlete Experience Officer Tammy Meyer proudly presented the latest batch of PB milestone awards.

Congratulates to Blake, Dharman, Sharity, Quinn, Matilda and Marlee for their outstanding efforts.

The club wishes all athletes continued success in their training and competitions.

Results:

10 PBs - Blake
20 PBs - Dharman, Sharity
30 PBs - Quinn, Matilda, Marlee

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At Mackay Contract Bridge Club

Well done to the Mackay Team who travelled to the Moreton-Bribie Teams and Pairs 2025 Congress. In an outstanding field of players, Diane Morgan, Janet Hansen, Francie Brown and Alan Brown won the Open Teams event. The second week of the Anne Hird Trophy was played on Wednesday with Andrew Canavan currently leading the coveted event.

Weekly Results

Monday 11 August 2025 – 8 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Janelle Conroy / Terry Sheedy 1st Helen Van Den Broek / Jan Harris
2nd David Ting / Eric Goodchild 2nd Geoff Taylor / Nancy Martin
3rd Barbara Tait / Josie Crowley 3rd Andrew Canavan / Geoffrey Patterson
4th Edward Kleise / Diane Stokes 4th Mary Rose Ramsden / Sandy Patterson

Tuesday Evening 12 August 2025 – 4 Table One Winner Green Points
1st Marilin Robins / Faye Wright 2nd Janine Rodgers / Andrew Canavan
3rd Janelle Conroy / Geoff Taylor 4th Terry Sheedy / Helen Van Den Broek

Wednesday 13 August 2025 – Anne Hird Memorial Trophy Week 2 of 3 Novice event
N/S E/W
1st Jayne Johnson / Geoff Taylor 1st Andrew Canavan / Geoffrey Patterson
2nd Jewel Schimdt / Janet Hansen 2nd Joy Hold / Terry Sheedy
3rd Martin Pearce / Joy Robinson 3rd Colleen Riddel / Gwen Liddell
4th Sandy Patterson / Debra Goodchild 4th Susan Gibson / Jan Harris

Thursday Evening 14 August 2025 – 3 Table One Winner Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Janine Rodgers / Janelle Conroy 2nd Martin Pearce / Terry Sheedy
3rd Geoff Taylor / Christopher Meyers 4th Jan Harris / Patricia Garner

Friday 15 August 2025 – Week 16 of 25 NWP 10 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Geoff Taylor / Joy Robinson 1st Lorna Shuttlewood / Debra Goodchild
2nd Terry Sheedy / Janelle Conroy 2nd Roland Taylor / Lynne O’Neill
3rd Janine Rodgers / Richard Wix 3rd Mary Rose Ramsden / Patrick Rasmussen
4th Martin Pearce / Gwen Liddell 4th Alan Brown / Frances Brown
5th Ming Ting / David Ting 5th Jewel Schmidt / Annette Howe

Saturday 16 August – B4 Week 1 of 2 - 11 Table Mitchell Red Points
N/S E/W
1st Eric Goodchild / Debra Goodchild 1st Errol Morris / Ian Gaskell
2nd Geoff Taylor / Terry Sheedy 2nd David Ting / Ming Ting
3rd Joy Robinson / Ken Seaniger 3rd Janine Rodgers / Jan Harris
4th Susan Ross / Geoff Cowan 4th Patricia Garner / Geoffrey Patterson
5th Julie O’Neill / Griffin Bancroft 5th Helen Van Den Broek / Joy Brunette

Contributed by Joy Block

Alan Brown, Diane Morgan, Janet Hansen, Pres.Robert and Frances Brown

Andrew Canavan and Joy Robinson. Photos supplied

A sparkling Queensland winter’s day gently opened the starting gate for the 40th Hamilton Island Race Week, presented by AMEX, on-water program.

The Dent Passage starters spent the morning ashore in postponement drinking coffee and chatting and the Eastern starters bobbed around under beautiful sunshine for a couple of hours, as humpback whales played freely nearby. Sailing can be a waiting game - sailors are accustomed to it - it’s one of the reasons they are generally relaxed at all levels of the sport.

Shortened courses accommodated the later start times, a light NNW - ESE breeze in Dent Passage off Hamilton Island Yacht Club enough to get Rating, Super 40, Hamilton Island Blue and Multihull Racing divisions underway.

Ron Epstein’s JPK1180 Bacchanal nabbed a first race win in Rating division 2 with his mixed team sailing for the Corinthian Yacht Club of San Francisco California and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

“Half our crew are Californians who hadn’t seen the boat until two days ago,” Epstein said.

“Our goal is to have a blast and sail well. We’ve started the week off the right way points-wise; the good news is there’s a lot we can do better. This is an incredible place to sail. There was a moment today when my main trimmer Shane took the wheel, to make sure I looked around.”

Andrew McInnes owns one of three trailer yachts transported to the Whitsundays from Ballina on the NSW North Coast.

The crew of McInnes’ Seascape 25se Alfina took the racing delay out at Eastern in their stride, practicing and even grabbing a snooze before racking up for a start around 1.30pm.

“It was a good shakedown race,” McInnes said. “We had new people in the boat, so the light breeze was great for us,” the owner said.

The Palm Beach Motor Yachts Trans-Tasman 49er Exhibition Series also commenced today as part of the 40th anniversary Race Week. Thirteen Olympic skiffs pitted Australia and New Zealand against one another over three races, with three more tomorrow and Tuesday August 19 and a final double points race.

Photos supplied

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The Whitsunday Game Fish Club’s Airlie Beach Tackle World-sponsored Billfish and Tuna Rally is set for the 13th and 14th of September, and it promises to be a busy weekend with excellent numbers of Sailfish, Juvenile Black Marlin, Mackerel, and Tuna around this season.

The event kicks off with a briefing and angler registration on Thursday, 11th September at 6 pm at the club on Altmann Avenue, Cannonvale. The rally is free and open to all club members.

Fishing takes place on Saturday, 13th, and Sunday, 14th, with a social raft-up at Stonehaven Anchorage on Saturday night for those boats choosing to stay out. All activities, sheers, tag cards, and any fish to be weighed for rally or club points must be at the club by 4 pm on Sunday, 14th, to allow the presentation of some great prizes at 5 pm. Full details will be explained at the briefing.
Don’t miss this one—it promises to be an exciting weekend! We thank Sam and the team at AB Tackle World for their support.

Also, mark your calendar for the bait and lure rigging and information workshop on Wednesday, 3rd September at 6 pm at the club. This workshop is packed with helpful tips on rigging troll baits using circle and J hooks, tackle setup, locating various species, and other useful ideas for anglers of all levels.

Everyone is welcome. The bar and sausage sizzle will open from 6 pm, and club membership forms will be available for anyone interested in joining a club where the whole family can enjoy fresh-air sport—no PlayStation or Gameboy required.

Finally, a special congratulations to club member Jasmin Smith for winning Queensland Champion Junior Female Angler at the recent QGFA Annual Awards. A fantastic achievement!

All our juniors performed admirably throughout the year and are already off to a strong start with some very impressive catches.

Contributed with thanks to Ashley Moore

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Nice long tail Tuna for the table. Photo supplied

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Rugby Union - Proserpine/Whitsunday Rugby Union Club
Grand Final
Saturday 23 August
Womens vs Bowen Rugby Union Inc at Whitsunday Sportspark
4:15pm - Premier Grade vs Mackay Brothers Rugby Union at Whitsunday Sportspark

Football - Whitsunday United FC
Friday 22 August
6:00pm – Mackay Lions Div 2 Men vs Whitsunday United FC Div 2 Men at Mackay Lions Soccer Club
8:00pm – Mackay Lions Div 1 Men vs Whitsunday United FC Div 1 Men at Mackay Lions Soccer Club

Saturday 23 August
9:30am – Mackay Rangers FC U13 Div 1 vs Whitsunday United FC U13 Div 1 at Mackay Football Park
9:30am – Mackay Wanderers U13 FQPL Rubies vs Whitsunday United FC U13 FQPL at Mackay Football Park
9:30am – Mackay Rangers FC U14 Gold vs Whitsunday United FC U14 at Whitsunday Sportspark
11:15am – Whitsunday United FC U15/16 vs Magpies U15/16 Black at Whitsunday Sportspark
5:00pm – Whitsunday United FC U23 Men vs Magpies U23 Men at Whitsunday Sportspark
7:00pm – Whitsunday United FC Men vs Magpies FC Men at Whitsunday Sportspark

Women’s
Saturday 23 August
3:00pm – Whitsunday Dolphins FQPL vs Wanderers at Whitsunday Sportspark

AFL - Whitsunday Sea Eagles
Senior Elimination Finals
Sunday 24th August
11:00am Reserves - Mackay Magpies vs Eastern Swans at Whitsunday Sportspark
12:40pm Senior Women - Whitsunday Sea Eagles vs Moranbah Bulldogs at Whitsunday Sportspark
2:10pm Senior Men - Whitsunday Sea Eagles vs Bakers Creek Tigers at Whitsunday Sportspark

Touch Rugby - Whitsunday Touch
Round 4 Fixtures at Whitsunday Sportspark

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In a great round of football, Whitsunday United maintained a clean sheet with not a single goal scored against any side! Unfortunately, the weekend was marred by multiple forfeits of our home games by Mackay clubs with our Div2 Men, U14 and U13 Div1 players all missing out on games.

The Div men hosted wanderers on Friday night eager to gain momentum at the end of the league season. Div 2 received a late forfeit win which helps the cause but was a missed opportunity to build for possible finals football.

Div 1 took on a in-form Wanderers side who have almost been scoring at will. The first half was tight with possession mostly with WUFC and wanderers playing on the counter. A mix up by their keeper gave us the lead before an unstoppable shot from Jake made things a bit more comfortable at half time. The second half was frantic for 15 minutes, wanderers battling to get back in but the defence kept them at bay leading to the WUFC attack running riot. 5 goals followed from some high pressing and quality in front of goal for a final 7-0 scoreline. A big confidence boost ahead of next week's game which is looking to be the league decider

WUFC U13 Prems battled to a determined 1-0 victory over Mackay Rangers at Mackay Football Park in a tense and hard-fought contest. The first half was a tight affair with few clear chances, as both teams defended strongly to head into the break locked at 0-0. The second half followed a similar pattern, though both sides began to create more opportunities. With about 15 minutes to play, Nelson M broke the deadlock for WUFC. From there, WUFC dug deep, holding their advantage until full time to secure a memorable win — their first for the season against Rangers. The result keeps the league title race alive and highlights the team’s resilience and fighting spirit.

The Whitsunday U15/16 continued the good form building confidence as the finals approach. A strong 4-0 victory over Lions Gold was a confidence building win as the team sits in 4 position on the table

Whitsunday Women’s brilliant team spirit shone in a commanding 7–0 away win over City Brothers. Michelle opened the scoring with a well-earned goal before Bre doubled the lead and a deflected own goal from another Michelle strike made it 3–0 at half-time. The second half brought a flurry of goals, with Karlee firing a screamer from distance, Bre curling in her second, Sarah adding a sixth, and Kiki finishing smartly to round out the victory. A dominant display with a pleasing variety of goals from across the team.

Whitsunday FQPL U23 Men faced tough opposition against Lions FC in must win games to keep top 2 dreams alive. Reserve grade came in with full confidence after an array of victories, however the game was a tight affair. A 1 nil win ensued with a decisive strike from Cialan Dollard ensuring all 3 points came home.

In premier league, Lions were top of the table, and deservedly so, being the most consistent team all year. Whitsunday came out with a great attitude and scores were deadlocked at half time. A penalty from Sean McCarthy and a great strike from Reef Peel gave Whitsunday United a much needed 2 nil victory and now the top 3 positions in the premiership are separated by just two points. With two games to go, this Sunday’s game against the new top of the table Magpies is going to be a nail biter!

Contributed with thanks to Allan Milostic

A happy and confident U13 FQPL squad – third in a competition separated only by 3 points

The Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival was buzzing with energy last weekend, and the Cannonvale Cannons were right in the thick of it, showing their strength both in the water and on land.

Saturday’s Junior Triathlon saw a strong turnout from our young Cannons, with Lucas Korosec, Zavier and Caleb Woolston, Lily Woolston, River and Penelope Shields, Sophie Palmero, Pippa Laguna and Finn Temple all giving their best in their respective age groups. A special congratulations goes to Lucas Korosec, who was the first individual triathlete across the line in the 8–10 years age category — a fantastic achievement.

Not content with just one event, Lucas, River and Penelope then backed up to compete in the 300-metre open water swim. The trio exited the water in close succession, finishing second, third and fourth overall. Roxanne Groom also took on her first open water competition in the 750-metre swim, storming home in first place with an impressive time of 9:36.

On Sunday, attention turned to the triathlon events. Roxanne Groom, Matilda Nicholes and Gracie Laguna all represented the club with grit and determination. Matilda shone in the Enticer Triathlon, finishing as the third female across the line, while Gracie followed closely as the fifth female finisher. In the Sprint Triathlon, Roxanne proudly represented the club as the swim leg in her team, whilst Cannons dad Bruce Laguna also made his mark, winning his age group and placing as the fourth male overall.

The weekend wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of volunteers. A huge thank you goes to Mark and Raylene for lending their time as lifesavers across multiple events, and to all the families who manned the barbecue on Sunday, raising funds to support the club while keeping hungry athletes fuelled.

Well done to all our Cannons athletes for a weekend of outstanding results and team spirit!

Contributed with thanks to Jade Korosec

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Grace Laguna, Roxanne Groom and Matilda Nicholes after their triathlon events
River Shields and Lucas Korosec after their first open water event

Photos supplied

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The Port Denison Gun Club’s two-day annual shoot on July 26–27 attracted a strong field of 64 competitors from across Australia, including visitors from Tasmania, Victoria, Brisbane, Clermont, Dysart, Mackay/Sarina, the Burdekin, Townsville and Charters Towers.

Caravans began arriving from Wednesday, and by Friday the grounds were almost full. The weekend offered great competition, friendly rivalry, and a warm country welcome — complete with hearty meals from Kerry and Cheryl in the kitchen, a Friday night BBQ, and a roast dinner on Saturday.

Saturday dawned sunny and clear with only a light breeze — rare for “Blowin’ Bowen.” Despite the favourable conditions, only 12 possibles were recorded across the day. Joe Sebastiani shot the only possible in the 30T Medley (Event 1) to take the overall win, while Joe Caruso claimed the Port Denison Championship (Event 2) with a perfect 111/111. Michael Zabala was the standout of the day, taking the Double Barrel Championship (Event 3) with 100/100 and securing the Overall High Gun with 246/250.

Sunday began with light showers before clearing to another fine day. Nick Munro claimed the DB Continental (Event 4) with 68/68, while Peter Scott scored the only possible in the DB Handicap (Event 5) to take first place.

High Gun winners were: Overall – Michael Zabala; AA – Lindsay Groat; A – Brad Rea; B – Nick Munro; C – Chris Robertson. Junior High Gun went to Alex Sebastiani, Ladies to Robyn Mikkelsen, and Veterans to Anthony Lord.

The club thanked its many sponsors, prize donors, volunteers and competitors for making the weekend a success. The next competition will be held on Sunday, August 24.

Contributed with thanks to Colin Edgerton

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After a great winter holiday, many visitors are heading home. We wish them safe travels and hope to see them again next year.

Monday’s triples saw Maureen Hyde, Alby Vigar, and Ron Hyde claim victory over Graeme Read, Kennedy Whitton, and Mark Drummond. Runners-up were G. Wills, G. Cornell, and M. Eames, who defeated E. Dunn, John F., and G. Coleman. The jackpot didn’t go off.

On Tuesday, N. McKinnon, D. Retchless, M. Wilson, and J. Walsh defeated I. Hide, V. Boskma, P. Wilson, and N. Dawson. Runners-up James Maurie and John overcame Elaine, Pam, and Geoff. Again, the jackpot didn’t go off.

Fun Friday winners Mary Jackson and Maureen Hyde defeated Grant Hands and Shirley Smith. Runners-up were Carole Bellingham, Jan Harvey, Ron Boskma, and Joe Paynting, who beat Karen, Pam, Alan Gillies, and David Madden. Resting touchers went to Mary, Jim, Neil, Judy, and Jan.

In club competition, the men’s triples were won by Mark Drummond, Kennedy Whitton, and Kevin Daniels, who defeated Jason Wright, Mitch Wright, and Steve Roome.

Sunday’s triples featured eight teams, with Viv Boskma, Ron Boskma, and France Wilmann emerging winners over Karen Halkon, Shirley Smith, and Ron Symmons.

Runners-up Judy Christie, Jack Stamp, and Greg Kelly won the mango against Louise Sheldon Collins, John Hallas, and Norm Dawson.

Congratulations to Denise Wallace and Penny Warren, who partnered with Bernadette Hay and Denise Davis from Thuringowa to win the District Fours at the North Queensland Ladies District Championships in Townsville. Denise was named Player of the Tournament for the most wins across singles, pairs, and fours, earning the Roswell Trophy.

Contributed with thanks to Penny Warren

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NQ District Championship 4s winners - NQ President Lyn Riches Bernadette Hay Penny Warren Denise Davis and Denise Wallace.

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