It is once again that time of the year, that time when championships and grand finals become the order of the day. And for the local Noosa sporting fraternity, it has been full on.
First of all, came the results of the Australian National Oceanic Commonwealth Masters Championships (weight lifting) held in Cairns. This is now rated as an international event. Then last Saturday came the rugby union grand finals and on the same day, the U/18 rugby league finals. Add to this, also over that weekend, came the Queensland Amateur Boxing Championships, which saw a team of six of our local Impact Boxing Academy, travel to Acacia Ridge Tavern in Brisbane, to contest the titles. It was indeed, very pleasing to note the number of Noosa teams and athletes involved in these sporting events.
In Cairns, three members of the Noosa Barbell Club, Wendy Campbell, Jo Phillips and Scott Mark, represented their club and all three came home with gold medals won in the Snatch, Clean and Jerk event. Wendy, who competed in the F71kg, 60-64 age group, won with a Snatch of 37kg, Clean and Jerk 41kg for a total of 78kg. Scott Mark won with a Snatch of 81kg, and a Clean and Jerk of 100kg, giving him a total of 181kg, a life time PR. Jo Phillips made it a clean sweep for the Barbell team winning his event with a Snatch of 54kg and a Clean and Jerk of 76kg, giving him a total of 130kg: also, a personal PR. All medals were in the Australian Nationals/Oceanic Championships/Commonwealth masters.
Speaking of the event, head coach Woogie Marsh said, “It has been a tough build up for the Noosa Barbell team with Covid cancelling the event a couple of times. The crew had a slightly altered prep but put up some fantastic weights and came home with the gold. For the club, we are super proud of our teams’ efforts and stoked that they could bring home the club’s first international titles’. Phillips and Wendy Campbell have since applied to the AWF (Australian Weightlifting Federation) to compete in the world masters next year in Japan (or online).
The AWF worked tirelessly with local and international weightlifting to develop online options for international and local competitors who couldn’t attend the competition on site. While it was different to usual competitions, it is something we need to get used to in these times of Covid. When some of our local athlete win medals in a sport that, despite being international, plus also a major drawcard at the Olympics, (and not wearing football boots), it is only right that their sport should get the recognition due.
For the Ray White Noosa Dolphins, Saturday’s grand final day is surely one to remember.
“With four teams playing grand finals, Colts, Women’s, Reserves and A grade, and winning three of the four, it definitely speaks volumes for the club, but most important of all, our future,” said president Donald McKill. In the first half of the Colts grand final against Maroochydore, heavy windy conditions saw both teams miss kicks. Noosa scored first from a kick, but then Maroochy tied the game, also with a kick.
After the break, Noosa made good use of the stiff breeze with captain Leo Langbridge and vice-captain, Michael Cutcliffe, beginning to call the shot and take control: final score being 13-8 Noosa. To see Noosa lift the premiership trophy was indeed gratifying after a long hard season. The second final of the day was between Noosa and Caloundra women’s and, like the Colts, it was a tough first half with the score being level on the break. Two tries by Naiomi Tomlinson and tries from Jett Fairfax and skipper Tess Evans saw the Dolphin ladies in a 24-17 lead in the final minute. Then Caloundra scored a seven-point penalty try, to make it 24 -24. However, Noosa was awarded the trophy as they had finished the regular season top of the ladder. Definitely a strange one for the record book.
With the Dolphins then holding two premierships from two finals, the Reverse grade took to the field against the in-form University. Captain Jay Moffatt and vice -captain Yvahan Allsworth had the leadership required to get them through a tough game. In a bruising encounter, both sides were eager around the ruck and maul. However, Noosa came out on top to win the trophy, 10-6.
The A grade final saw Noosa take to the field against the favourites, University, a team that beat them twice in the last two weeks. The game was a ragged affair with both teams struggling with windy conditions, plus a heavy penalty count that favoured neither side. It all came down to the final play when Noosa thought they had scored in the corner to take the trophy, however, the referee did not agree and Uni took the win and the trophy, 10-6.
In the words of Noosa president Donald McKill, “We have achieved a fantastic result overall, with three wins from four games. We also extend our congratulations to Uni on a game well played. As of now, we will have a few weeks off before hosting the club championship sevens tournament at Dolphin Oval on the 13/14th of November, details of which will be released shortly.”
For the Noosa Pirates Rugby League u/18s, it was the first time an u/18s team had made the grand final for many a long year. It was, however, not their day. Playing at Sunshine Coast Stadium Kawana for the premiership, a poor first half saw them on the back foot and, despite a very spirited second half, the gap was too wide.
“On looking back, it has definitely been a big improvement on last season and, above all, the performance from some junior teams definitely gives the Pirates a good indication of what we can achieve next season,” club manager Brett Winkler said.
In the world of amateur boxing, a team of six from the Impact Boxing Academy Cooroy travelled to Brisbane to contest the Queensland championships and once again it was a successful tournament. With 80 bouts over three days, the Australian Olympic boxing coach Kevin Smith, who was in attendance, was very happy with the performance of Boxing Queensland, the people responsible for the running of a smooth tournament.
“With teams coming from all over Queensland, our organisers were indeed very happy with the outcome,” said Boxing Queensland president Mark Evans.
‘’I also offer my thanks to all who made the tournament a success.”
Our team from Impact Academy consisted of the following members and their weight division: Ciara Storch 57kg, Erie Cartier 69kg, Keanna Welsh 60kg, Paige Robinson 63kg, Slade Gray 38kg and Cohen Robinson 54kg. From this team of six, five girls and one boy, they came home with five gold and one silver medal, indeed a great overall performance.
The next major tournament will be in Mackay on 16 October and will be a Southern Queensland vs Northern Queensland event. Indications are that some members of the Impact Academy could make the team. We wish them well.
