Ron Lane
The participation of women and young girls in the game of rugby league is definitely on the rise.
Clubs from all around the state are becoming involved, raising teams and competing, and no more so than right here in our own backyard of Noosa Pirates Rugby League club.
From Pirates sponsorships, social media and functions coordinator, Deborah-Jane (DJ) Gillard comes the following: “The club has fielded the first ever U13 girls’ team. What an awesome first game, the girls did so well, winning 52 to 8. So amazing to watch the next generation of our Bendigo Community Bank Sunshine Coast Ladies Division, of the Noosa Pirates Rugby League club, playing under their personal sponsorship McGinn’s of Kenilworth.”
Further to this, the club is delighted to welcome Justine Cook-Watene on board as the coach of the first all-female U13s team in club history and proudly sponsored by McGinn of Kenilworth. Justine and her family have been an important part of the club for several seasons. They have never hesitated to help in the heavy workloa, that is always a part of junior football.
Justine is a sister to the late Cook Islands World Cup representative Adam Cook -Atene who also captained the Burleigh Bears. She is also related to former Tonga and New Zealand Māori representative Frank Watene.
“Justine is a strong- willed woman who leads with action, and ha put her body through numerous seasons,” said senior women’s coach Robert Burgin.
These junior players are definitely fortunate to have a female mentor of such calibre.
All throughout the club they are excited about what the U13 girls will achieve in 2023 – it’s history in the making. The club extends its many thanks to all that are working in support of the Pirates Bendigo Community Bank Sunshine Coast, Women’s Division.
Outrigger Canoe Club
The latest information from the Noosa Outrigger Club is something in which the club can take pride. The world long distance championships are being held in Soma in August, and several members from the Noosa Outrigger Club have been chosen for the training squad from which the Australian team will be chosen.
Club spokesperson Colin Jones said, “This is the pinnacle for the sport of paddling and indeed a great honour. Congratulations to Sandra Kennedy, Manuela Frank, Rose Edvin, Martina Gerdemann, Cecily Ridderhof, Chris Kelly, Mark Rocco, Glenn Brown, Des Abbot and Muz Latham.’’
Training and further selection was taking place at Redcliffe 18 and 19 March under the supervision of the national body, AOCRA. Apart from members being chosen for advanced training selection camps, the really good news is that the coaching panel of our Noosa Outrigger Canoe Club must be doing a lot of things right. Congratulations to all.
Sporting roundup
Our Noosa Pickle Ball Club is once again going to promote another big tournament.
On 15 and 16 April the club will be hosting the 4th Annual Noosa Classic Pickleball Doubles Tournament at the Noosa Leisure Centre.
With a total of 170 players from all over the state registered, this will be the biggest tournament in Noosa to date. The number of players gives us a good indication as to the growth of the game.
For those who are interested in this sport with the funny name, this is a good opportunity to see the game played by top competitors. All spectators are welcome. Game times are 8am to 5pm both days.
When we talk about the fastest growing sports in Australia, a sport now at the top of the list is, without a doubt, the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and one such club is the Caza, situated in 153 Cooyar St, Noosa Junction.
This now well- established club, under the supervision and training of Professor Yoshi Hasegawa 3rd Dan, and assisted by a panel of six coaches, will on 2 April travel to Caloundra to take part in an open tournament with clubs from all over the state participating.
Following this will be the Queensland state titles. These will be held June in Brisbane and following on in August, the national titles in Melbourne.
With a club membership of 200-plus and growing, they have already established a very successful reputation at the highest level of competition. And, on occasion, some have been at international level.
From Boxing Queensland (amateur) comes the news the Sunshine Coast Regional Championships will be held on 25 March starting at 11am at the Noosa District High School, Cooroy.
The tournament, under control of Mark Evans, owner and founder of Impact Boxing Academy, was originally known as the Young Guns and its first tournament was 12 years ago. Now it is one of the most successful events on the boxing calendar.
The main reason for its success is the fact that Evans and his support team keep looking for a different format each year. Speaking on the matter, Evans said, “We came to realise that there has never been a regional championship held for this part of the state so, 25 March at 11am will be the first.
“What started as the Young Guns will now be the Sunshine Coast Regional Championships.”
Well done to all. We wish them every success.
