Mackay roared with the thrill of international cricket over the weekend, as the BKT Tyres ODI series between Australia and South Africa delivered both heartbreak and historic triumphs at the Great Barrier Reef Arena. Our coastal city proved it could host world-class sport, with fans witnessing performances that will be talked about amongst cricket fanatics for generations to come.

The series opened on Friday night, August 22, with a tense contest, as South Africa silenced the home crowd, clinching an 84-run victory to take a 2-0 lead. Choosing to bat first, the Proteas posted a competitive 277, anchored by Matthew Breetzke’s fluent 81 and Tristan Stubbs’ composed 74. Australia’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Xavier Bartlett continuing his impressive start in national colours, and leg-spinners Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne claiming five between them.

Australia’s reply faltered early, slipping to 3-38, before Josh Inglis ignited the innings with a spirited 87 – his highest score at home. Yet, when Lungi Ngidi (5-42) removed Inglis, Australia’s momentum collapsed, and South Africa extended their remarkable run to five consecutive ODI series wins over the Aussies.

But Mackay’s cricket faithful had reason to cheer on Sunday, August 24, witnessing a performance for the ages. Australia amassed a record 2-431, their highest ODI total on home soil, with Travis Head (142), Mitchell Marsh (100), and Cameron Green (118 off 55 balls) all striking centuries – the first time in men’s ODI history Australia’s top three have achieved this feat. Green’s explosive maiden ton, featuring eight sixes, had the crowd on its feet, while Alex Carey added a brisk unbeaten 50.

South Africa never recovered, bowled out for just 155 in 25 overs. Youngster Cooper Connolly capped the night with a dream debut, claiming a maiden five-wicket haul (5-22). Australia’s 276-run triumph, their second-largest ODI victory, salvaged pride and offered Mackay spectators a front-row seat to cricketing history, even as South Africa secured the series 2-1.

Ahead of the clash, Cameron Green reflected on the team’s approach.

“I think we’ve all played enough cricket now and hopefully we can read the situation really well… I think we know that we like to play a pretty positive brand of cricket.”

On playing in Mackay, he added, “It’s lovely to be up here… The wicket looks like a beauty… and I think it’ll be a terrific game.”

Adrienne Young, CEO of Great Barrier Reef Arena, highlighted the broader significance of hosting international cricket.

“It’s the pathway we’re on to hopefully be a venue at the Olympics… I’m really passionate about Harrup Park, and the Great Barrier Reef Arena… to build this into an Olympic venue, grow cricket as a sport in the region, and help other sports develop facilities and community programs.”

On the importance of fostering regional sporting stars, Mr Young says, “You can’t be what you can’t see.”

“It’s just wonderful that there’ll be young boys and girls here who’ll be able to see not only players… but their icons right here in our region.”

While the weekend was a sell-out, Young acknowledged challenges, particularly in accommodation, noting plans are underway with regional stakeholders to ensure Mackay is ready for future international events.

Mackay’s cricketing weekend may have delivered both heartbreak and heroics, but the city’s rising stature on the global stage was undeniable. From record-breaking centuries to dream debuts, the Great Barrier Reef Arena proved that this regional hub is keen to host world-class cricket, and perhaps, one day, the Olympics.

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Mackay made history as the Great Barrier Reef Arena hosted Australia and South Africa in a thrilling ODI series, delivering heartbreak, heroics, and record-breaking moments. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

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Mackay SLSC “Guardians of Harbour Beach since 1950” are kicking off the start of their season with a Sign On Day, Sunday the 31st of August from 9am – 11am at the surf club located at Mackay’s beautiful Harbour Beach.

The Surf Club is holding “come and try” days for the whole of September.  With surf education, fitness and beach skill activities, as well as a whole lot of fun being held from 8.45am each Sunday.

The Nipper’s family will provide stinger suits, boards and all other equipment needed to get involved.  Just bring your togs, sunscreen and a towel, plus Mum and Dad.

“We had a really fun season last year, it was great to see our nippers grow not only in numbers but also in their individual confidence in the surf and with learning about being a lifesaver” said Josh Grant, Director of Surf Sports.

“Our parent helpers are fantastic as well, getting involved with their children and building our club culture.  It really is a family orientated and welcoming sport.”

Nippers is a surf development program catering for children aged from 5 – 14 years, after which they move into the Junior and Senior lifesaving ranks.  A typical Nippers morning will involve a structured warm-up and surf education such as signals, rescue techniques and reading the surf for rips or stingers (which we get very rarely), beach training such as flag / beach races and relays, then water-based activities that are age appropriate.  The morning finishes with a family sausage sizzle at the canteen where all nipper families catch up.

The club has a focus on developing skills from our youngest children up to our older teenagers and starts with play-based confidence and skill activities for the young ones which progresses to surf sports competition training for more advanced lifesavers.

If you or your family are interested in finding out more about being a nipper, come along and try!

If you would like any more information, please contact the Junior Activity Coordinator Lexie Schiffer on juniors@mackayslsc.com.au

"We hope to see you at the Beach!"

Contributed by Josh Grant

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Nippers is all about fun, friends, confidence and surf safety, with the Mackay Surf Club Nipper Family ready for another ripper season at Harbour Beach. Photos supplied

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District Champ Of Champ Triples

The District Champ of Champ Triples were played across two days at the Marian Bowls Club, beginning Wednesday, 13th August, with the final contested on Thursday, 14th August 2025.

The final saw Airlie Beach face off against North Mackay in a thrilling clash full of surprises, skill, and steady nerves. Heading into the last end it was anyone’s game, but Airlie Beach held firm to secure victory by just one point. Congratulations to all who took part in this district event, with special mention to Airlie Beach on their hard-fought win over a determined North Mackay side.

District Master Fours 2025

The District Master Fours followed at Marian Bowls Club, with semi-finals on Monday, 18th August, and the final on Wednesday, 20th August 2025.

Once again, the last match came down to Airlie Beach and North Mackay, showcasing a wealth of talent from across the region. The North Mackay ladies – Lois Deguara, Deb Mackenzie and Isla Comelli – were joined by St Helen’s bowler Joyce Bloomfield in a determined battle to the finish. However, Airlie Beach proved too strong in the closing ends, claiming victory.

Congratulations to Airlie Beach on their success, and to all competitors in the Master Fours who represented their clubs with pride.

Contributed by Sue Hazledine

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Winners from Airlie Beach in blue, with Runners up from North Mackay: Nug Pratt,Marie Bragg,Val DePinto

Runners up: Deb Mackenzie, Lois Deguara, Isla Comelli, Joyce Bloomfield. Photos supplied

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Mackay Table Tennis Fixture Results

Mackay Table Tennis Association had some incredible matches on Tuesday, August 19. Trent Day has had an exceptional year, improving every week and showing his talent by winning all of his matches. He went head-to-head with his grandad, Barry Patterson, in a family war that saw both play a blinding match, with Trent coming out victorious in the 5th set, 12–10.

Division 1 – Fish (Goncalo Serra, Steve Whiting, Jacob Whelan) defeated Bears (Lily Boland, Josh Brown, Lee Brake) 10-1 with Steve snuck home in a close 5 sets with Lily 11-8.

Birds (Trent Day, Emma Widdup, Anne Sheridan) defeated Ants (Barry Patterson, Vince Boeske, Robbie Richards) in tight finish 6-5, as mentioned above about Trent and Barry’s match.

Division 2 – Tigers (Allan Edwards, Geoff Cowan, Allan Robins) defeated Cats (Duncan Treloar, Graham Brake, Will VanDeKaa) 8-3 there were no 5 set matches but Duncan and Will beat The Allan’s 12-10 in 4th Set.

Cows (Geoff Deman, Graeme Walker, Ian McKay) defeated Dogs (Janice Kent, Mark Sleeman, Peter Goodson) 8-3, Ian beating Mark in close 5 sets, 11-7.

Horses (Donna Abbott, Syed Aminul Hossain, Ollie Hamelink) defeated Owls (Andrea Nicholson, Rymer Tabulo, Yilin Jiang) 6-5 with Yilin winning a great 5 sets against Donna, 11-9.

Division 3 – Nittaku (Noreen Frederickson, Samuel Whelan) defeated Butterfly (Mark Stam, Liz Burton, Logan Brown) 6-5 with Mark had close 4 sets with Noreen 11-8.

Stiga (Simon Hogan, Val Austin, Vincent Neuhauf) defeated Tibhar (Ross DeBoer, Craig VanDeKaa, Marie Taylor) 9-2, Val come back from 2 sets down against Craig to win 11-8 in 5th set.

Contributed by Andrea Nicholson

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Superstar Junior, Trent Day. Photo supplied

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Over thirty runners and supporters gathered for the Blacks Beach Bush Bash (BBBB), with competitors tackling the 5km and 10km courses in cool, ideal conditions. Thanks to timekeeper Rohan Miles and course setup team Andrew Short, Len Howarth, and David Isbister, the event ran smoothly – without even the usual “lost runner” hiccup.

President Paul Tilse thanked volunteers for their efforts and reminded members that there will be no Mackay Road Runners event on Father’s Day, Sunday 7th September. Instead, members are encouraged to join the 5km Parkrun at the Botanic Gardens on Saturday 6th September, where the Club is on the volunteer roster.

On the 10km course, ultramarathoner Mick Vivian claimed first place, followed by Jared Mackie, John Rae, Levi Wallace, Ashley Miles, Clinton Mackie, Michael Feenaghty, Jeremy Taylor, and Max Miles. Birthday girl Rhian Massey was the first female across the line, finishing tenth overall, with strong runs from Jose Short, Carmel Mahon, Gail Mackie, Tahnie Malagueno, Carolyn Mapes, Jo Hughes, and Judy Zahn. In the 5km, Roscoe McDonnell overcame a niggling injury to take the win ahead of David Isbister, Leanne Connor, Ross Connor, and Fran March.

This Sunday, the popular Shield’s Stampede will kick off at 4pm from 21 Karl Langer Crescent, Mt Pleasant, hosted by life members Merv and Wendy Shields. The 5km and 12km run includes post-race snacks, Father’s Day prize draws, and check-in by 3.50pm sharp.

Club Captain Jim Ford continues to offer free Wednesday track training at 5.30pm at the ARC, open to all with a $4 entry fee.

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Approximately thirty runners and supporters including Club Patron, Mr Col Meng (left) enjoyed the BBBB 5k and 10k  this morning

Michael Feenaghty (left), Jeremy Taylor (centre) and Darrin Pullen (right) battle it out before hitting the off road section in the 10km BBBB

Mick Vivian (right) is congratulated on his 1st placing in the 10km BBBB by Fran Marsh (left) and Jo Hughes (centre.

Roscoe McDonnell ran a sensational first place in the 5km BBBB. Photos and words supplied by Janelle Tilse

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BRIDGE

Another stellar week at the bridge table saw Debra and Eric Goodchild take out the B4 Red Points event. The final week of the Anne Hird Memorial Trophy for Novices wrapped up after three weeks of play, with three different winners, and a deserving champion in Sandy Patterson.

Sandy, a novice player, has steadily honed her skills, embraced new conventions, and expanded her bridge knowledge with dedication and determination. She perfectly reflects Anne Hird’s passion for supporting novice players and encouraging their growth in the game.

Anne’s husband, David, proudly presented the trophy to Sandy and her partners.

Weekly Results

Tuesday Evening 19 August 2025 – 5 Table One Winner Green Points
1st Janelle Conroy / Geoff Taylor 2nd Terry Sheedy / Helen Van Den Broek
3rd Patricia Garner / Sandra Morris 4th Mick King / John McGee

Wednesday 20 August 2025 – Anne Hird Memorial Trophy Week 3 of 3 Novice event 10 Table Mitchell
N/S E/W
1st Annette Howe / Frances Brown 1st Lorna Shuttlewood / Colleen Riddel
2nd David Hird / Terry Sheedy 2nd Alan Brown / Jewel Schmidt
3rd Sandy Patterson / Geoffrey Patterson 3rd Janet Hansen / Susan Ross
4th Susan Gibson / Sandra Morris 4th Anne Lutz / Diane Cox

Final Results – Anne Hird Memorial Trophy
1st Sandy Patterson 2nd Jewel Schmidt 3rd Andrew Canavan 4th Martin Pearce

Thursday Evening 21 August 2025 – 4 Table One Winner Green Points
1st Terry Sheedy / Janelle Conroy 2nd Geoff Taylor / Richard Wix

Friday 22 August 2025 – 6 Table One Winner Green Points
1st Terry Sheedy / Richard Wix 2nd Geoff Taylor / Joy Robinson
3rd Ian Gaskell / Geoffrey Patterson 4th Sandy Patterson / Eric Goodchild

Saturday 23 August 2025 – B4 Week 2 of 2 - 8 Table Mitchell Red Points
N/S E/W
1st Janine Rodgers / Richard Wix 1st Eric Goodchild / Debra Goodchild
2nd Helen Van Den Broek / Joy Brunette 2nd Janelle Conroy / Robert Carless
3rd Frances Brown / Alan Brown 3rd Martin Pearce / Sandy Patterson
4th Geoff Taylor / Terry Sheedy 4th Jewel Schmidt / Annette Howe

Final Results of the B4 – Red Points
1st Eric Goodchild / Debra Goodchild 2nd Terry Sheedy / Geoff Taylor
3rd Ian Gaskell / Errol Morris 4th Joy Brunette / Helen Van Den Broek

Sunday 24 August 2025 Mentors and Novice –
N/S E/W
1st Christine Morrison / Rodney Miles 1st Debra Goodchild / Annette Howe
2nd Geoff Taylor / Andrew Canavan 2nd Susan Gibson / Jan Harris
3rd Joyce Deguara / Janice Mansfield 3rd Diane Stokes / Jayne Johnston

Contributed by Joy Block

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The Div 1 men headed to Mackay for key games against Lions. Div 2 were up first wanting a win to cement their place in the finals. In the first half, Whitsunday was very flat with little to show in attack and a single goal lead not showing the Lions’ dominance. Second half was a different story with the team firing up and playing some of their best football of the season. Macka had his best game so far and a breakaway goal near the end gave WUFC a 3-2 win and confidence before the finals series coming up.

Div 1 had to win to give themselves a chance to take the league in the final round. First half they were dominant but only had a single goal to show with the opposition keeper playing a blinder. The second half Whitsunday conceded a poor goal as they waited for a foul expected to be called but no whistle eventuated. The pressure built as WUFC pushed hard with an end-to-end game playing out an entertaining season decider. Unfortunately, WUFC could not get the rub of the green or past the excellent Lions keeper, conceding a late goal as they pushed too many forward giving Lions the league title.

The U13 Div 1 team played a couple of tough games over the weekend. On Saturday they faced a strong Lions team (third on the ladder) and despite playing really well, went down 6-3. On Sunday they played Magpies who are second on the ladder and battled away for a respectable 7-3 loss. WUFC U13 Prems secured a solid 2-0 win over Wanderers Rubies at Mackay Football Park in a game marked by tight defence and hard work across the pitch.

The first half was a hard-fought battle, with few clear chances for either side, leaving the score locked at 0-0 at the break. Early in the second half, WUFC found their breakthrough, with Nelson M and Mayson M both finding the net to establish a two-goal lead. From there, WUFC showed great discipline and determination, holding firm in defence to see out the match and claim all three points. A strong team effort that continues to build their momentum in the competition. Tough day at the office for the WUFC U14s. With a lot riding on this game, the team just didn’t come together. There were some great saves early in the game from Nick Phillipson and some impressive runs towards goal by Shannon without result.

Rangers and WUFC fought head-to-head for the majority of the first half with Rangers finally scoring in the 30th minute, going into half-time up by 1. Second half started with Rangers scoring their 2nd goal for the match in the first minute. The team could not jump back from this. Some late digs at goal could not find the back of the net. Rangers wanted it more today than us today. Final score: Rangers 4 - WUFC 0. In the Premier Men, Magpies forfeited the U23 game, leaving just the FQPL Premier Men to play on Sunday evening and it proved to be a favourable way to end the week.

First half saw Oisin Sherlock score a header, and a red card to Magpies captain gave Whitsunday a great chance at winning the game. However, in true Magpies fashion they put up a great fight creating multiple chances. A goal to Kevin Dunne in the second half secured all 3 points. The result shows Whitsunday in great form before the finals series having just beaten the top two teams on the park in consecutive weeks.

Contributed with thanks to Whitsunday United Football Club.

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A week of spirited play and community camaraderie has drawn to a close at the club, with members turning out in great numbers for our regular fixtures. The greens were alive with competition, good humour, and the unmistakable sense of friendly rivalry that defines bowls at Airlie Beach. Enthusiasm was high as participants vied for top honours and shared in the enjoyment of the game, whatever the result.

The Saturday Scroungers final was held on 23 August, with Dennis Donadelli emerging victorious. Dennis showcased consistent form and sharp technique to claim a decisive win. The club extends its thanks to John Askew for his proficient management of this well-attended Saturday morning competition. The next round of Scroungers will begin on 30 August under the same rules. Players are reminded to register before 9:00am for a 9:30am start.

Looking ahead, the Zone Championships will be contested in Emerald this weekend. Airlie Beach will be proudly represented by both the men’s and ladies’ fours teams, each having earned Champion of Champions honours at the district level. With skips Joan McGrath and Man Isgro providing experienced leadership, both teams will be aiming for further success.

On 13 September, the club will host a Rock and Roll evening featuring acclaimed musician Paul Berger. Admission is free, and all are welcome to enjoy what promises to be a fantastic night of live entertainment.

Meanwhile, the men’s meat tray raffle held on Sunday was won by John Askew. Congratulations, John!

Contributed with thanks to Betty Whitehorn

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On Saturday, Jonathan Bye represented Proserpine in the Champion of Champions Singles at Souths Suburban. Jonathan faced Wayne Handley in the second round, going down 25–16. Wayne then met Phillip Blackburn from Wests Tigers, who defeated him 25–22 before going on to claim the title.

In Wednesday’s social bowls, Arthur Griffith and Henny Tattam edged out Trevor Parsons and Sandy Daffara 24–21, while John Anderson and Philip Brown recorded a strong 39–14 win over Alen Sanderson and Mike Harrison.

Sunday’s play saw Bruce Uhe and Mike Harrison defeat Gavin Noonan and Philip Brown 26–16, while Henny Tattam and Heather Brown combined well to overcome John Anderson and Sandy Daffara 24–18.

Contribtued with thanks to Proserpine Bowls Club

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Another great week of bowls was enjoyed in paradise, with plenty of action across the greens.

Monday’s triples winners were Dave Madden, Joe Paynting and Ron Symmons, who defeated Jenny and Chris Healey with France Wilmann. The jackpot also went off in this game, as well as in the clash where Ron Boskma and Cameron defeated Eileen Dunne and Leon Fox. Runners-up were Bruce Thompson, Maureen Hyde and Ron Hyde over Graeme and Shirley Smith with Norm Dawson.

Tuesday’s winners on Rink 3 were Margaret Harvey, Brian Bellingham and Allan Gillies, who beat Viv Boskma, Les Jackson and Ron Boskma. Runners-up were Keith, Natalie and June Walsh defeating Lindy Suann, Jan Dawson and Bruce Thompson.

Mark’s President’s Day, sponsored by Queens Beach Tourist Village, Arabon Seafoods and Queens Beach Hotel, filled the greens on Thursday. Winners were Mark Tomsett, Greg Kelly and Joe Paynting, defeating Shirley Jones, Brian Bellingham and Chris Frew. Runners-up were Shirley Smith, Maree Brunker, Christian B and Ron Hyde. A sportsman’s prize went to Graeme Smith, Dave Madden and S Roome.

Fun Friday winners were Graham Smith, Daryl Hans and Ian Hind, while barefoot bowls attracted a strong evening crowd, with Glenda, Joan and Alisun taking the win.

On Sunday, Karen, Jim and Ron defeated Vic, Brian and Alby, with Brian Sims, Dave Madden and Kennedy taking runners-up honours over Anne Kayser, Jim Quod and France Wilmann.

Best of luck to our ladies travelling to Townsville this weekend to contest the Zone 8 Pennant Flag and Champion of Champions Pairs.

Contributed with thanks to Penny Warren

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Sponsor - Bob, Joe Paynting, Greg Kelly and Mark Tomsett. Photo supplied

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The Cannonvale Cannons have started the season strong with a mix of development opportunities and the return of the club’s much-loved Wednesday night racing.

Over the weekend, two of our juniors, Indi and Levi Smith, travelled to the Long Tan Memorial Pool in Townsville to take part in the Junior Achievers Squad clinic. Meanwhile, 17 of our dedicated Cannons headed south to the Memorial Pool in Mackay for the same program. Hosted by Swimming North Queensland and led by coaches David Proud and Liam Smith, the clinic focused on athletic development, coordination, mobility, and core strength, alongside refining freestyle technique. The day provided our swimmers with valuable insights and skills to take back to their training and racing.

Back home, our Wednesday night club racing has also resumed this month, and despite the cooler weather, swimmers have dived in with enthusiasm. A very warm welcome goes to our newest Cannons – Sunday and Wilson Hounsell, along with Finn Temple. Wilson and Finn made an immediate impression, both achieving upgrade times on their very first night in the pool.

The season has begun with a wave of upgrades across the club. Congratulations to Lucas and Jasper Korosec, Miller Eaves, Zavier and Lily Woolston, Lennox Wild, Jessica Moon, Indiana De-Lisle, Liam Filewood, Islan Johnston, Airlie Mladenovski, Faithlyn Trotter, Harry Chegwidden, Matilda Nicholes, and Eric, Leo and Stella Mulliss. A special shoutout goes to young Stella for her very first upgrades – a fantastic achievement!

We also celebrate Andie Reynolds for a spectacular first 100m Freestyle of the season. Andie clocked a 2.31 second personal best to join the 70s club in 1:09.69, earning the coaches award for her outstanding effort.

The Cannons are back with determination, growth, and plenty of excitement for the season ahead.

Contributed with thanks to Jade Korosec

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Junior Achievers squad in Mackay. Photo supplied

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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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