Cannons Soak Up New Skills in Mackay

2026 NQ & CQ Swimming coaches conference. Photo supplied: Raylene Rasmussen.

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It wasn’t just the swimmers sharpening their skills on the weekend, with Cannonvale Cannons coaches hitting the learning lane at the NQ & CQ Coaching Conference in Mackay.

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The two-day conference brought together coaches from across North and Central Queensland to learn, share ideas and gain fresh inspiration to take back to their clubs.

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Cannons coaches Mark Erickson, Ken Crittenden, Kate Thomson, Giselle Burton and Raylene Rasmussen attended presentations on coaching philosophy, athlete development, Individual Medley coaching and the technical points of breaststroke, butterflyand backstroke. Practical pool sessions also gave coaches the chance to see specialist techniques in action.

But the coaches weren’t the only Cannons learning!  

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Six Cannonvale swimmers were invited by Swimming Queensland coach Barry Prime to take part in the Backstroke and Breaststroke Clinic held in conjunction with the conference.  

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Congratulations to Tora Delac, Roxy Groom, Levi Smith, Jax Clayworth, Hamilton Anflous and Charlie Doherty, who jumped at the opportunity to develop their skills and receive valuable feedback.  

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For the Cannons, having coaches and swimmers involved made the weekend valuable, with coaches returning to Cannonvale with fresh ideas, technical knowledge and practical strategies to share across the club.

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Opportunities such as the NQ & CQ Coaching Conference help ensure Cannons swimmers continue receiving quality coaching while developing their skills and love of swimming. The club thanked Swimming North Queensland and Barry Prime, Swimming Queensland, for organising the weekend.

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Contributed with thanks to Raylene Rasmussen.