Dan Stampa, Past President and current Vice President of the North Mackay Masters Swim Club, the Sinkers, has been recognised for his commitment to the club and Masters swimming in general. Dan has been appointed to the role of Director of Program Development for MSQ (Masters Swimming Queensland). MSQ President Susanne Milenkevich confirmed that the formal appointment will be finalised at the next Board meeting in May. She thanked Dan for his commitment and said she looked forward to seei
Read the full storyThe annual doubles challenge proved to be just that at the Tuesday morning table tennis. Doug Dungavell and George Camilleri tied with 186 points in group 1, and Ken Best and Virginia Clayton did the same in group 2 with 183 points. The unusual challenge is a round robin, but with partners swapping after every game which is the first to 30. In last season’s fixtures Mars Pioneers (Delma Knight, Geoff Cowan and Kevin Abbott) won division 1, while division 2 went to Pluto Players (Darryl
Read the full storyLast Friday, the North Mackay Ladies welcomed players from across the Mackay District to join them for the Annual Goosepond Triples event. North Mackay Ladies President Hilary Jones-Rowan formally welcomed all attendees to a day designed for participation, camaraderie, and above all, enjoyment. Play commenced with the first of three scheduled 16-end games, with the opening match concluding at 11:30am. Participants then returned to the club for a delicious lunch, thoughtfully prepared by
Read the full storyResults For Week Ending Sunday 27 April 2025 Monday 21 April 2025 – 6 Table Howell Green Points (Nation Wide Pairs) North/South East/West 1st Janelle Conroy - Tex Sheedy 1st Ian Cruickshank - Mary Cruickshank 2nd David Ting - Eric Goodchild 2nd Andrew Canavan - Jan Harris 3rd Margaret Lane - Barbara Tait 3rd Ken Seaniger - Nancy Martin Tuesday Evening 22 April 2025 – 5 Table Mitchell Green Points North/South East/West 1st Christine Morrison - Glen Cocup 1st Noel Bugeia - Eric Goodchild
Read the full storyThe coaches named Harris Delac as the Swim Star of the week for his 100-metre IM. Congratulations to Matilda Nicholes and Lucas Korosec for winning the Chocolate Awards for the best personal bests.
Club Secretary Giselle Burton presented Upgrade Certificates to Max Smith, Molly Smith, Lucas Korosec, Remy Hedges, Lily Maher, and Millie Groom.
The coaches, Ken Crittenden and Mark Erickson, were impressed by all the Cannons who took up the challenge to swim longer distances.
Highlights include Jy Parkinson and Jacob Bell swimming 1500-metre Freestyle, which was 60 laps with lots of turns.
Nelson Malady, aged 10, swam a huge 56.96 second personal in his 800-metre Freestyle (32 laps). Jack Ganter, aged 13, swam his first 800-metre Freestyle in a time of 11.17.05.
Don Algie, aged 8, swam extremely well, swimming 400-metre Freestyle in 6.22.86 and 400-metre IM in 7.32.07.
Eloise Chegwidden, only seven-years-old, swam a cracking 100-metre Freestyle in 1.52.46 and 100-metre Breaststroke in 2.13.69.
Remy Hedges, aged 14, was very excited with her 400-metre Freestyle in 5.01.56 with a 0.07 second personal best.
Harris Delac, aged 8, swam two massive personal bests in his 100-metre Freestyle and 200-metre IM. He swam a whooping 85.38 second personal best in his 200-metre IM.
Harris’s sister Tora swam a fantastic time for her 400-metre Freestyle which was just under 6 minutes.
Lily Maher, aged 13, swam super times in her 200m Freestyle and 100m Breaststroke, both swims had personal bests over 20 seconds. Celeste Orenshaw, aged 9, swam an excellent time of 1.45.19 in her 100-metre Freestyle which was a 33.08 second personal best.
Well done to all the swimmers and big thank you to all the wonderful parents for their support!
Contributed with thanks to Raylene Rasmussen
Lucas K with Upgrade and Chocolate awards
Max Smith upgrade
The Whitsunday Colts team battled it out against a mixed senior’s side in Bowen in late September in a heavily anticipated trial match.
Senior players, supporters and sponsors of the squad were out in force, wondering if the young Colts side could hold their own in the up-and-coming season of the seniors 20/20 competition.
Adorned in new uniforms, the side didn’t let the club and its sponsors down.
Batting first, the young-guns sent in their most experienced to set the tone: M.Pettierford (6) and D.Milne (4), who both won premierships in the seniors competition last season.
But they had to face the fierce S.Mcintosh (0-15), who streamed in from the northern end with a 30-knot breeze behind him.
After a bit of chin music to unsettle the batsmen, L.Blundell (4-31) reaped the rewards when he got the ball talking, and batsman walking, picking up M.Pettierford (6), C.Woodhouse (10), and J.Pini (2) in consecutive overs.
When D.Milne (4) fell to the off spin of D.Williams shortly after, the Colts were in trouble at 4/33.
B.Valmadre (17) got a start but threw his wicket away five balls before drinks break. B.Altmann (4) was next to fall and a direct hit from the outfield by evergreen M.Hope had C.Stroud (10) short of his crease and fingernails were disappearing quickly in the crowd.
Knowing Big Tom was striding to the middle was calming the nerves of players and supporters but the nerves were redlining when he departed with a second ball duck.
Tom was the fifth batsman stumped in the innings, and Colts were now reeling at 8/99.
W.Homewood (41) made a day of it with his man of the match performance with the willow, guiding the Colts to a defendable 9/128 with the help of N.Kleinert (12no) and R.Blain (1no).
Full of confidence, the senior side were looking to make short work of the young’uns total.
M.Valmadre (1) was first to have an early shower, and D.Williams (11) popped one back to one of the comeback kids this season: R.Blain(1/30).
Followed by S.Mcintosh (16), the seniors were 3/46 in the ninth.
M.Coventry had the bat blazing with an unbeaten 67, but with tight bowling and a constant flow of wickets - with C.Woodhouse (2/9), M.Pettiford (1/29), D.Milne (1/5), and C.Stroud (1/36), and some great pressure building bowling from N.Kleinert (0/17) in the dying stages - the Colts were able to hold their nerves for a hard fought two run win, leaving the seniors 6/126 from their 20 overs.
Contributed with thanks to Mark Valmadre
A group of 30 lucky participants enjoyed an intimate clinic session with ‘Face of Bowls Australia’ Barrie Lester at Airlie Beach Bowls Club last Friday.
The 40-year-old bowling sensation has represented Australia internationally countless times and now shares his wisdom, including his effective philosophy, to clubs all across Australia.
Local bowls club member, Shane Spann, is good friends with Barrie and took the time to organise the clinic which he said was very popular with the other members.
“I managed to sneak him in last year, but this year everyone wanted to meet him – we only had 30 places and they got booked real quick – we even had a waitlist!” said Shane.
During the two-and-a-half-hour clinic, the 30 avid bowlers learnt everything from the merits of regular exercise to enhance your bowling skills, through to how to maximise your concentration and focus.
Hanging around for the whole weekend, Barrie was available to meet everyone at the club and spent time discussing tips, tricks and all things bowls.
He also played in six games across the weekend.
“It was really good to see so many people from all demographics, the really young to the more experienced, come together,” said Barrie.
“I hold clinics whenever I can – I love to give back at the grassroots level, it’s great to see the reward players get out of it.”
In golf you often have access to a golf pro, but in bowls it is not as common.
“I like to get on the road a bit, get to the rural areas, upskill players who live, breathe and love the game!”
Barrie started lawn bowls 25 years ago, his dad was a keen bowler and he enjoyed heading down to the green with him.
He got his first sponsorship from Lakes Entrance Bowls Club 22 years ago and since then has made a career out of the sport he loves.
“It’s taken me all around the world and I’ve loved every second of it!” he said.
“The ‘Jackaroos’ are like a family, we all support each other and it is such a great environment – the team is the best part about it.
“It’s a very welcoming sport and anyone can give it a go!”
Next up, Barrie will be playing in the Australian Championships which are due to be held in the Gold Coast next week.
He will then participate in the Bowls Premier League which will be held in Brisbane in November and televised on FOX Sports.
Image: International bowling legend Barrie Lester teaches a clinic at Airlie Beach Bowls Club
It is unlikely Will Crossley will ever move his left arm again.
The Mt Julian father of three no longer has muscle tone in the limb from the shoulder down – a sign doctors assure him is “very bad”. His left leg from above the knee to his foot is entirely numb, although it has some movement.
He can walk with difficulty and assistance – a better sign, doctors say.
On Saturday, August 13, in a late-season match-up against the Kuttabul Camelboks, Will Crossley pulled on the Whitsunday Raiders shirt for likely the last time as a player before suffering a life-altering injury.
During a ruck in what was a must-win game for the Raiders to qualify for finals, “someone came in to clear out”, collecting Will in the act, not hard or malicious, but from the side - an illegal move.
Their shoulder connected with the back of Will’s head, and he immediately felt the entire left side of his body from the ear down go numb, but he thought it was just a knock at first.
His teammates held his neck until the ambulance came. He thought feeling was coming back and he’d be okay but a scan alerted doctors that he needed to be flown immediately from Proserpine to Townsville’s University Hospital.
Will had broken the C5 vertebra and ruptured the C5-6 disks in his spine – both of which had prolapsed inwards. The fluid from inside those spinal disks – which are pressurised - erupted into his spinal cord, causing widespread damage.
He underwent major surgery two days after arriving at Townsville.
The once junior Whitsunday Raider, and colourful character whose family has “been around Proserpine for three generations”, is now facing the prospect that much of his life will be spent in a wheelchair.
In the aftermath of the injury, the Whitsunday Raiders Rugby Union Club began a GoFundMe page to support Will’s recovery and costs surrounding it by raising over $16,000.
Those funds have assisted Will in the short-term and he remains in hospital care, while more fundraising efforts are on the way.
Will said the rugby community’s support had been a light in dark times.
“You hear stories about the community and how good they are in situations like this and it’s truly humbling to experience it first-hand,” he said.
“It’s been extremely difficult mentally, to put it lightly, but this has been incredible.”
He’s received over 170 messages of support - from people he played two or three games of rugby with in years past, to Wallabies players like Dave Porecki and Tom Wright.
As well, he’d even been sent a video shoutout from Wallabies players on the pitch just before kick-off their Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand.
But it has had its more than difficult moments – six hours of physical therapy rehabilitation a day, six days a week – as well as major mental challenges.
“Realistically, I might not ever get use of my arm again; I might never get to throw the ball with my kids again. And it’s not about playing rugby, it’s about being a dad,” Will said.
“I was working as a security guard during the night and looking after the three kids during the day, and I’m really not sure what I’ll do now for work."
The 32-year-old single father will eventually move to Brisbane Spine Care Clinic as soon as a bed becomes available to continue his rehab as part of a “long journey” to a semblance of recovery.
His doctors have told him: “miracles can happen”.
For now, Will has two things on his mind: his children and his rugby. To be there for them, and to give back to the community that has given him so much.
“My long-term goal is to get back and give back. I want to get into junior coaching, through Australia Rugby I’ll use my Level Three Reffing and Coaching badges,” he said.
“The best thing for me to do is to take my 15 years of experience playing and help build the grass roots. I want to give back to my rugby family.”
You can donate to Will’s GoFundMe Page here: https://bit.ly/3ycnRUd
September at Port Denison Gun Club saw twenty-six shooters competing in very windy, sunny conditions which reflected in the scores on the day.
Shooters travelled from Burdekin, Silkwood, and as far as Mackay and Sarina to join our local members for a wonderful day of competition.
RESULTS:
Ev 1: 25T DB Graded Sweepstakes
AA: S Steele, J Rossato, R Gough 25/25
A: A Lord, M Zabala 25/25, B Gall, G Maltby 24/25
B: D Bartlett 22/25, M Rossato, J Cerqui 21/25
C: B Bonanno, R Zarb 21/25, R Ness 20/25
Ev 2: 25T DB Handicap
1st: G McHenry 24/25
2nd J Cerqui 23/25
3rd B Bonanno 28/31
Ev 3: 25T SB Continental – Port Denison Championship sponsored by Bowen Home Hardware
AA: R Gough 25/26
A: G McHenry 21/25
B: J Cerqui 22/27
C: R Zarb 23/25
Ev 4: 15 Pr D Rise Sweepstakes
AA: R Gough 28/30, M Zabala 22/30
A: J Rossato 26/30, A Lemphers 25/30, B Gall 24/30
B: G McHenry 27/30, A Lord 26/30, M Mackay 24/30
C: M Rossato 22/30, B Cox 20/30, D Bartlett 18/30
Thank you to everyone who helped out at the working bee and on the day of the shoot. Our sponsors for the day Bowen Home Hardware. Our next shoot will be held on Sunday 23rd October.
Contributed with thanks to Cheryl Edgerton
This week 90 fantastic people ran, jogged, and walked the 5km waterfront course, of whom 30 were first timers. 11 recorded new Personal Bests. Well done to Caleb, Bec, Josh, Steve, Riley, Jennifer, Nadine, Chris, Barbara, Jai, and Geoff.
The event was made possible by 14 wonderful volunteers: Nick, Justin (photographer), Kara (run director), Rebecca, Greg, Christopher, Wendy, Ronald, Ashley, Shane, Michael, Ted, Laura and Lynne.
Airlie Beach parkrun started on December 5, 2015. Since then, 4,226 participants have completed 22,123 parkruns covering a total distance of 110,615 km, including 2,579 new Personal Bests. A total of 358 individuals have volunteered 3,120 times.
Airlie Beach parkrun is celebrating 'parkwalk' for the month of October, with the goal of having as many walkers as possible. New participants are encouraged to come along and walk the 5km course.
Every Saturday Airlie Beach parkrun meets at 6:50am for a briefing at area D, Coral Sea Marina (adjacent to the top carpark). Parking is free in the lower carpark till 9:30am if a parkrun barcode is placed on the dashboard. Post parkrun coffee and chat is held at My Rainbow Bakery, Shingley Beach.
The best-kept secret about parkrun is that it’s not about running - it’s about bringing people together in public parks and open spaces across the world to have some fun in a friendly, social and supportive environment. You can walk or run the 5k course (pushing a pram or with one dog on a short lead if you want to!), lend a helping hand as a volunteer in a wide range of super-easy roles, or simply spectate and socialise on the sidelines.
There are no winners at parkrun and nobody comes last – the Tail walkers do. Regular participation is rewarded rather than performance, with ‘parkrun milestone shirts’ available to people to recognise their achievements in coming along.
The full results and a complete event history can be found at https://www.parkrun.com.au/airliebeach/results/latestresults/
Further photos and details about registering can be found on the Airlie Beach parkrun facebook page.
Contributed with thanks to Airlie Beach parkrun
It’s been a long, sometimes tough, but thoroughly enjoyable seven months of darts. The Airlie Beach Darts Club had three top matches to get through on its final day, with lots of friends and family coming down to Mika to enjoy all the action and show their support.
The third/fourth place match was between Joe Wilson and Andy Peel, with Joe sneaking the win 9/7 in the end.
Joe hit an impressive 160 checkout - his seventh ton checkout this year - and along with the third-place finish in 2022, he managed to claim the most ton checkouts, as well as the most 180s by a player this season.
In the Hetlock Cup match-up, the club had Ross Gallichan taking on Gary Robbie. Both players have shown improvement on last season’s campaigns for different reasons.
Ross deservedly won his first piece of silverware at the club, beating Gary 9/4 to claim the first Hetlock Cup.
To the “Big Dance”: Jamie Maher and Dom Friend both went into this grand final confident, and rightly so. Both have had stellar seasons, and all that was left to do was to finish it off.
The first session of the match was very even with Dom taking a slight three legs to two advantage over Jamie. The second session was more one sided with Jamie failing to claim a single leg to give Dom a massive 8/2 lead at the next break.
The trend continued into the next session, with Dom jumping out to an unassailable 9/2 lead and with the victory in sight.
Jamie rallied towards the end to claim three legs in a row to make it 9/5, showing there was life in this match still.
Dom was now struggling with his throw a little, and just as Jamie was believing a comeback was possible, both players on a double, Jamie missed but Dom didn’t. A two-leg momentum shift, instead of making it very interesting at 9/6, the wind was taken out of Jamie’s sails as Dom went 10/5 up and one away from victory.
Ultimately, Jamie was always chasing Dom, who never really looked like losing on the day, and Dom thoroughly deserved the 11/5 victory to become the 2022 Premier League champion.
Thanks also to our amazing sponsors Mika Airlie and Whitsunday Tattooing for looking after us this year. Back again for 2023.
Anyone interested in joining the club can contant: 0405411865 or find the group on Facebook.
Contributed with thanks to Jamie Maher
This week it was Paula Wronski who won the weekly 9-hole stableford at Whitsunday Green Golf Course with 22 points.
Justyn Durbin was second with 18 and Andew Gomez was third with 17 points. On Friday it was Justyn Durbin’s turn to win with 20 points, a narrow count back win over Andrew Gomez also with 20 points.
Elise Hodgson was third with 19 points. Elise is in fine form also winning the Sunday 18-hole stableford with a staggering 42 points!
Tyson Flavel was second with 38, and Clive Burn up third with 37 points.
Marc Belke dominated the 17th with a ‘Hole in One’.
Next Sunday will be the SKINS, 9.30am registration for 10am tee off.
Contributed with thanks to Kate Cross
Another great day hosting the Whitsunday Group. It was a beautiful day for golf and there were 48 players out on the course representing Proserpine, Home Hill, Bowen, and Collinsville.
Proserpine did very well, taking out the major prizes for both the men and women with some excellent scores.
Jenny Hounsell won the ladies with a score of 39, and Paula McQuat was runner up with 37.
Other Proserpine ladies in the rundown were Tessa Aitken (36), Mandy Patterson (35 c/b), Robyn Whitham (35), Jacqui Wall (35), Jan Shuwalow (34 c/b), and Elspeth Scotford (32).
The men’s winner was Gerald Lovell (40 c/b) and runner up was Steve Mitchell (40). In the rundown were Nick Apruzzese (37 c/b), Geoff Harrison (37), Warren Deighton (35), Vic Feldman (34), Garry Scotford (33 c/b), Peter Fox (31 c/b), and Wilf Herweg (31).
Nearest the pins for Proserpine were Jenny Hounsell, holes 13 and 18, Jacqui Wall, holes 13 and 18, too, and Geoff Harrison on the 18th.
Next week will be Proserpine Veteran’s Golf’s October Monthly Medal.
Contributed with thanks to Paula McQuat
Wednesday’s competition was a single bogie event for the men and a 4BBB event for the women sponsored by Bowen Golf Club.
Ladies’ winners on a countback were Janice Bates and Joy Hose, 49 points, and runners up were Viv Clark and Jo Goldup, 49.
Pin shots to Lisa Raisbeck, Bonnie Kohlhase, Lynelle Riley, and Judy Atkins, while Jo Goldup had an OBP.
Men’s winner was John Courtney with plus five, and runner up Dave Lydom, plus three.
On Saturday, the club played a single stableford sponsored by Axis Sport. Ladies’ winner on a countback June Kirk 39 points, runner up Lorraine McArthur, 39.
Men’s winner Carl Van Veen, 41points, and runner up on a countback Tim Miller, 39.
This weekend’s competitions are the Men’s and Ladies’ October monthly medals.
Men on Saturday, ladies on Sunday.
Don’t forget to check the clubs Facebook page for this week’s dinner menu. Takeaways still available. Please call the club on 4785 1206 if you wish to book a table or place a takeaway order. Joker draw is $4500 this week.
Contributed with thanks to Grace Nott
Tuesday results: Winners for the afternoon at Wangaratta Bowls Club were Keith Aykens, Colleen Christine, and Joe Paynter defeating Deb Retchless. Gavin C, and Sugar Brunker.
Deb Beel, June Paynter, and Pearl Aykens round out the winners circle by defeating Judy Christie, Bill Parker, and Steve Roome.
Sunday results: Winners for the afternoon were June Paynting, Sue Shearing, and Kennedy Whitton, who defeated Deb Retchless, Mark Drummond, and Joe Paynting. Other victors on the day were Penny Warren and Graeme Read, who defeated Anthony Cresswell and Brandon Higgins, while Laurie Land and Sugar Brunker defeated Linda Scells and Pat Tracey.
Competition Results: On Sunday morning the Mixed Fours competition was a great match for spectators. The game was even all the way through with both teams on 18 all going into the last end.
The winners by two shots were Lyn Danvers, Greg Colquhoun, Peter Hinschen, and Geoff Danvers who defeated Tracey Roach, Lloyd White, Jason Wright, and Mitch Wright.
Ladies’ Two Bowl Triples results saw Sue Shearing, Denise Wallace, and Penny Warren win against Linda Smith, Isobel Wheeler, and Pat Tracey.
Saturday: Wangaratta was the host club for the second round of Men’s Burdekin and Bowen Pennants. It was a great day of bowls, and the result was only decided in the last game.
Three clubs were on two wins, but Bowen Bowls Club came in as victors with a larger margin, with Wangaratta second, Ayr third, and Brandon Fourth.
Contributed with thanks to Penny Warren
The farthest north of the Whitsundays’ Bowls Clubs had a week of spectacular sport, highlighted by two big sets of winners.
The Bowen Bowls Club Men’s Team travelled with a full contingent to a regional level competition,
The side comprised of Mitch Wright, Lee Welsted, Jason Wright, Ian Best, Brett Lampard, Gavin Charles, Gus Munro, Steve Roome, Daryl Tuttle, Peter Thomson, and Wayne Crowhurst won this year’s Burdekin Country Pennants in emphatic fashion.
To finish off the week at the club, Sunday Scroungers was won by Steve Roome,Jane Gilbert and Ron Gould.
Contributed with thanks to Joan Edwards
Tuesday: 21 bowlers were out at Airlie beach Bowls Club to contest the prize money on offer, but new bowler Demika – recent School girls championship winner – Helen Ward, and Col Morris claimed the prize, finishing as invincible winners.
Wednesday afternoon: Skipper Andrew Butler and club legend Rick Galea claimed the prize money ahead of the 22 other participating bowlers.
Friday: 30 bowlers were given a bowls lesson from one of Australia’s very best. Recent Commonwealth Games Medallist Barrie Lester.
Saturday and Sunday saw the annual Men’s Carnival where teams come from all over Queensland to participate, sponsored by Airlie Beach Hotel, PRD Real Estate, and Proserpine Hardware and FED Electronics.
A huge event like this also cannot exist without the amazing volunteers from National Umpire John Askew, scorer and time keeper Jill Spencer, club workaholic Karen Jenson, and others like Bev Taylor, Vicki Spann, Ladda Purdie, Juanita Matterson, Merve Stewart, and Tim Taylor.
The competition was extremely competitive with the winners decided by a count back with the local Proserpine team of skipper Gavin Milne, Toby Craig at lead, Marcus Craig at second, and Scott Hamilton at third.
The side also claimed the ‘Calcutta’ from Shane Spann’s talented team and Warren Mills team of never say die participants.
The club also hosted a special photographic guest: Bowls World representative Dave Allen. Mr Allen is an Official World Bowls Magazine photographer who travels across the globe from event to event – Olympic, Commonwealth Games, and National Titles included – to document the game at all levels.
Mr Allen said he will be returning next year as he was highly impressed by the wonderful weekend’s exhibition of bowls.
Contributed with thanks to Mark Mawson
A team of 24 Cannonvale Cannons travelled to Mackay to compete in the Pioneer LC Transition Meet last week.
Coach Ken Crittenden was very proud of all the swimmers and their efforts, especially the young Cannons in the 10 years and under brackets.
7 years and under: Eloise Chegwidden and Lucas Korosec won all their events and swam two personal best times. Eloise’s brother, Harry, aged 5, swam extremely well in his 25-metre Backstroke and Freestyle events. Indigo Harland, aged 6, thoroughly enjoyed her four races.
8 -10 years: Don Algie had a super weekend, coming home with eight gold medals and one bronze medal. Harris Delac “smashed” all his events, swimming personal bests in all his events and winning medals. His best swim was his 50-metre Butterfly which he swam in 1.04.66 - a 19.25 second personal best.
Declan Dichiera, Koa Harland, Isaac Pisaniello, Levi Smith, Ruby Harland, and Celeste Orenshaw were very competitive, taking out top places in their division.
Addie Sanders achieved third place for 200-metre IM and swam a fabulous time in her 50-metre Breaststroke.
Indi Smith swam brilliant times in all her events, achieving six personal bests. One of her best events was her 100-metre Backstroke, which she swam a 12.04 second personal best to earn first place. Nelson Malady and Thomas Ganter, both 10 years old, swam fantastic 200-metre Freestyles to earn first place in their respective divisions.
11 years and over: It is not easy to swim personal bests. So Jacob and Tiana Bell were delighted with their two personal best times and top placings.
Birthday Girl, Tora Delac had a very successful meet, which started with her first place finish in the 200-metre Freestyle.
She also swam an impressive 200-metre Breaststroke in 3.33.62. Jack Ganter set personal bests in his 50-metre events and swam a 13.76 second personal best in his 200-metre Freestyle.
Isabella Pisaniello swam fantastic times in her 100-metre Freestyle and 50-metre Backstroke. Holly Perrin and Remy Hedges, despite not achieving personal bests, were very competitive and earned top placings in their age groups.
Contributed with thanks to Raylene Rasmussen
Twilight Race: With a light easterly breeze forecast, the fleet of 18 boats came prepared for a slow race around the waters of Pioneer Bay in the latest Whitsunday Sailing Club twilight race. With a total of 109 crew spread across the fleet, the twilight races are one of largest weekly sporting events in the Whitsundays. The fleet is split into 3 divisions subject to the size and performance of each boat.
The first division away were the faster racing yachts, with Treasure VIII (Rob Davis) leading the fleet away. At the first rounding mark, Reignition (Charles Wallis) held a slender lead over Smooth Criminal (Iyas Shaheen) and Bobby’s Girl (Mark Beale). By the time they reached the end of the first lap, these three boats were close together, allowing Bobby’s Girl to sneak through as the lead positions reversed by the finish. On corrected time, Reignition took the honours from Smooth Criminal and Bobby’s Girl.
The next division away saw Rossgo (Greg Hammon) take the lead from the start, taking with them the Doyle Sails sponsored best start prize, but there was no stopping Matchless (Terry Stevens) as they sailed away from the fleet. The light winds kept the fleet close together, with Aquatarius (Tom Parker), Shiraz (John Cable) and Rossgo in proximity throughout, with Masquerade (Tom Vujasinovic) also joining in the action. Matchless crossed the finishing line 6 minutes ahead of their rivals, but that was only good enough for fourth place on corrected time, with the handicap win going to Norbert G (Ghigo Casalini) from Rossgo and Lighthorse (Di Forster).
The final group to start were the multihulls, with G’nome (Terry Archer) leading the fleet for a start to finish win. Hot on their tail was Fangerang (Hayden Turnbull), with little to separate these boats on the water. KayCee (William Richards) made up the third boat, unable to match the quicker, lighter boats on the water, but good enough to come in second on corrected time, just 15 seconds short of G’nome.
Full results are available at https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/85/profile?tab=results. Races start from 4:30pm each Wednesday afternoon, so those wishing to participate as crew need to be at the club by 2:30 pm (limited spots available).
Contributed with thanks to Ross Chisholm