Ron Lane
For our Noosa Little Athletics representative team, the recent trip to Townsville for the North Queensland Athletics Championships was definitely a trip to remember. Head Coach Mick Hooper was more than pleased with the overall results. “Our team had nine athletes competing over the three-day carnival in beautiful 30-degree temperatures,” he said.
“This trip north was the most successful in the club’s history, coming away with a total of 15 medals as well as three Australian qualifiers for the 2023 Australian Championships.” A total of 61 clubs from Australia and New Zealand competed: with more than 700 athletes in attendance.
The team that carried our colours and came home with medals were: Luca Gerrard U14 gold 200m Hurdles, silver medal 200m Sprint and bronze in the long jump. Brielle Steel U20 bronze in the 100m and 200m sprint, Mailee Scott-Jones U18 bronze in the 400m hurdles and long jump, Taya Clayton U13 silver 80m hurdles and bronze in the 100m, Samantha Hooper silver in the 800m, Jaxon Retchless U18 silver in high jump, Georgia Grant U13 bronze in the Javelin.
To cap it off in the team events, the 4×100 relay for women, saw Mailee Scott-Jones, Courtney Steel, Samantha Hooper and Brielle Steel combine to pick up the silver medal. Definitely a great weekend.
When we consider these results plus those from the weightlifting club it again emphasises the high standard of our local coaches. This tells that it is high time that we started to shine the bright lights of success on the lesser-known sports. And remember the next Olympics are in 2024: and with both weightlifting and the athletics well entrenched in this great event, a big thank you to all sponsors is well deserved.
Coaches
When we talk coaching, another two of our coaches, Sharlene Kelly and Mark Evans, are continuing down the road of success. Sharlene Kelly of the Noosa Heads SLSC, is now enjoying the full support of the Queensland Academy of Sport, and Paddle Australia. Based on the Sunshine Coast Sharlene, who paddled kayaks as a member of the Australian team on a tour of Europe, said, “This sport is definitely starting to grow. We are very excited to see the interest being shown in Kayak Paddling and our goal is to develop future champions on the Sunshine coast.”
With the Surf Lifesaving competition season now getting under way Noosa’s Head Coach Darren Mercer and his team of coaches are pulling at the bit to get competitive. So too is Sunshine Beach newly appointed Head Coach Wes Berg. With Wes being the new boy on the block, we wish him well.
Up at Cooroy, Head Coach of the Impact Boxing and Fitness Centre Mark Evans has continued to have amateur team members selected to represent Australia at International level. Now also, in the professional ranks, Coach Evans has team members fighting for both State and National titles.
Another interesting aspect of the work being done by Coach Evans is as Queensland Futures Coach. This involves the formation of a squad of 20 of the best boxers: boxers who, with advanced training we will see standing on the winners’ podium at Olympic and International events
Boxing.
With information just to hand, Ben Cameron-Hands of the Impact team, will on 15 October, fight for the Super Featherweight Championship of Australia.
With an amateur career of 90 plus fights during which, on four consecutive years, he won the Australian Golden Gloves, his chances of adding this, his first professional title to his record, should be good. His opponent will be the present reigning champion, Rocky Ogden of Brisbane.
We wish both Ben and coach Mark Evans the very best.
Another of the Cooroy Impact team to enter the professional ranks is Angie Harris. Fresh off her World Amateur Championships campaign in Turkey, Angie came up against the undefeated Angel Rushton.
By sticking to the fight plan of Coach Evans, which was to throw good combination punching, she won a unanimous points decision: winning 4 of the 5 rounds. “Her performance has drawn a lot of attention and impressed a lot of people.” said Coach Evans. Definitely a great start to a professional career.
Also at the Queensland Novice amateur titles, two future stars emerged. Slade Gray who at age 11, won the 40kg division: boxing brilliantly she had her opponent take two standing 8 counts. Luke Austin won the 75 kg division with a strong forward style, backed up by what Coach Evans described as, “A punch like a Mack truck. Definitely one to watch.”
Amateur boxing in Queensland is definitely on the move. It has been a busy time for Boxing Queensland with Development camps held in places such as Hervey Bay and Townsville. Apart for the boxing classes, it also included Level1courses for boxing coaches. Thus, all aspects of the sport of amateur boxing are being covered.
It is also interesting to note that a Female Development Camp held at the El Barrio Boxing Club Brisbane, was very well attended. The days of it being a boys only sport, are well and truly over.
From the team at the Cooroy Impact club comes an invitation. If you are interested in boxing whether it be for fitness or competition, feel free to drop into the gym at unit 16-17, 5 Taylor Crt Cooroy for a chat, or jump on their webpage: impactboxingandfitnesscentre.com
