Ron Lane
Athletics
With the Covid-19 on the increase it is definitely going to be very trying times for all sporting teams and events.
With so many people apparently choosing to ignore safety advice from our medical advisors, it can only add to the possibility of the spread of the virus, and, in particular, amongst the older generation who are only too happy to officiate in their chosen sport now that their competitive days have come to an end.
However, we must and will stay positive.
At the recent Little Athletics Queensland state titles, the Noosa A team definitely came home with some great results. In the girls U/16 4x 100m and Swedish (100, 2OO, 300 and 400) relays, Kaiya Hides, Dianne Ladewig, Mailee Scott-Jones and Jennifer Ladewig won gold.
In the boys, u/19 high jump field team events, Ben Clayton and Aiden Stewart won silver medal and in the girls’ u/16 long jump, Dianne Ludewig and Mailee Scott-Jones won the bronze.
In the girls u/12 4×100 m relay ,Georgia Grant, Taya Clayton, Lucia Dye and Camdyn Reisinger won the bronze. Then in the u/17 4x100m, the Sunshine Coast regional team, anchored by Noosa team member Jaxon Retchless also won bronze.
Now the attention will shift to the Sunshine Coast regional championships to be held at the University of the Sunshine Coast track on 5 and 6 February 2022.
“Achieving a top four at these championships will qualify our athletes to compete at the Qld state championships to be held in Brisbane on the 11th to the 13th March,” said head coach Mick Hooper.
We wish them every success.
This Saturday at Mooloolaba surf clubs will contest the Queensland Beach Series. Representing Sunshine Beach will be Xavier Doleward and Hamish Giles. In the last round before Christmas these beachies finished first and second in their division. Coached by Pauline Gleeson these two are indeed showing promise and are definitely athletes to watch.
Rugby League
For our local Pirates Rugby League Club January 11 will see them recommence senior training with their first run hopefully on February 19 in the Sunshine Coast 9’s competition at the Sunshine Coast Stadium. All four senior teams will take to the field. All being well, the normal training sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with some Tuesdays being held at the Noosa Beach.
Head coach Brett Winkler is back for another season and is well prepared for the problems that may lay ahead.
‘’We have our programs for the season ahead organised, but with our current health situation we will have to sometimes play it by ear.”
With both the junior and senior Pirates now united as one club, this is sure to strengthen and encourage their present structure at both the administration and coaching level.
“I am looking forward to a good year,” said club president Paul Dwyer, “and this season we are sure to be very competitive.”
Good luck to all involved.
As stated, the current health situation will put the world of sport in a most difficult situation, in particular team sports. Individual competition maybe in a slightly better situation. However, it is perhaps most important that we continue to show our continued support as sport fans to those who, in the year past, have shown outstanding promise. Let’s stay positive and make them understand that we are still here for them, regardless of their sport.
In our local world of boxing, we have Ben Cameron-Hands, former national amateur champion (now turned professional), Kerin Whitehead, Luke Sheridan and Page Robinson.
In karate we have the junior teenage sensation, Dannica Starkey. Dannica shocked the karate world championships in Tokyo, when, competing in the Kumite (sparring) division, this teenage girl from the small Australian country town of Cooroy won the gold medal.
Lifesaving also has its local champions such as Lana Rogers, winner of the Coolangatta Gold, Electra Outram this year’s winner of the short course Coolangatta Gold. For the weight lifting, the rising stars are the brother and sister team of Taj and Kaiya Marsh.
By following the careers of these, our outstanding young athletes we will be living in a positive state of mind and not dwell in the negative world, that some media people seem to embrace. Good health and good luck to all.
