A lot of people may not know but the sport of Outrigger Canoe Paddling is a great sport for all ages: this definitely includes our juniors. Our junior program runs weekly from late August to May each year, with breaks over the school holidays.
Coaches at the Noosa club have decades of paddling experience and are all volunteers with Queensland Blue Cards and Level 1 Outrigger specific coaching skills. From August the program is Sunday morning, 9.15 assembly, and coaching is 9.30am to 10.30am. For September its training shifts to Friday afternoon 4pm to 5pm.
First time paddlers enjoy their first three sessions for free and the club provides paddles and life jackets for the first couple of months, till they can obtain their own. Noosa junior outriggers plan to build a foundation of community values, cultivating water confidence and skills, along with fun, friendship and team spirit.
Outrigger canoeing is a sport for all ages and there is nothing better than learning this age- old skill, while they are young and developing into a healthy and focussed teenager. While on the safe, beautiful waters of the Noosa River, the junior sessions cover; Outrigger traditions, history, canoe values and care.
Also, they learn water knowledge and safety while exploring the river. Fun games and creating interesting goals are on the agenda, as is preparation for competition racing. But perhaps the most important virtues learnt is care and respect for each other, the environment and above all, the traditions and ways of this age- old sport.
For those wishing to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in this great sport, you are invited to contact, junior coach/manager: Flea 0400 428 000 for further information.
Noosa Athletics.
For coach Mick Hooper the news from China is very encouraging. Our two local athletes Zane Blanco and Kristie Edwards are still competing amongst the world’s best and doing well. Last week, competing in the World University Titles in China, Zane made the final of the Long Jump, finishing in 8th place
For Kristie who contested the 200m sprint, she made the final and finished 5th. Coach Hooper was happy with the results for both. It was of a very high international standard and with both making the final the results were good.
“Winning a medal would have been good but we must remember that whenever they compete, they are making the finals and also winning medals: and it is always in world class competition.” The journey to the Olympics is long and hard and our two, Zane Blanco and Kristie Edwards are definitely giving their very best. We wish them well
From Tuesday to Friday this week the High School District Championships (track and field)will be held at the Sunshine Coast University Track: all State and Independent Schools will contest the events and our students will take part. These events are always great for our young ones just starting their careers. “It gives them a good look at what it takes to contest these events and achieve their goals.”
Pickleball.
From our local Pickleball club, a sport now regarded to be one of the fastest growing sports in the world, comes the good news. The council has announced that the opening day for the new sporting complex at the Noosa Tewantin Sports precinct, will be Wednesday the 30th of August at 3pm.
‘’Everyone,’’ said Pickleball Club president Ron Gatliff, “is welcome to join us on this day to view the new state of the art building. The new complex will contain two dedicated Pickle ball courts. These courts will be used for free introductory lessons for everyone that would like to come and try Pickleball. Come and see what all the fuss is about, as pickleball is now one of the world’s fastest growing sports. Be prepared to have fun and make new friends.”
The growth of this sport in the USA, where it originated in 1965, goes beyond all expectations. Started by three good mates, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, in answer to their kids who were complaining of being bored, the stats tell it all.
This sport now has an estimated 8.9 million players in the USA and a growth rate of 158.6% for the last three- year period,2020 to 2022. The origin of its name has two stories. One is that it was named after a family dog called Pickles, but the most acceptable is that it was coined by Joan Pritchard, wife of Joel Pritchard who did so in reference to the “left over non- starter crews, in the pickle boat races.”
Regardless of the correct story about the naming, there can be no doubt that this sport, now being played by the very young through to the 80 year olds, (with no fear of concussion), is going to spread throughout this great country.
Rugby League.
For Noosa Pirates A grade, the Sunday home game against Coolum was indeed a tough one and more-so for Head Coach Micki Duff. “We had a very disrupted preparation coming into Sunday’s match. Injuries and illness caused halfback Ethan Pohlner, international forward Rajan Opetita- Halls and outside back Harrison O’Toole to be ruled out of the game.
Bothe young forwards Kayd North and Harry Dwyer were late call ups to the Falcons u/21s side. George Fisher and Hayden Trask both returned from injuries, linking together to set up the opening try of the match: this would just about be our only highlight. We went into halftime being down 18 to 4, having been on the wrong side of penalties and field positions.
I cannot fault the boy’s efforts. We managed to defend nine repeat sets during a period of the first half, in which Coolum only came away with two tries. The second half was no different as we seemed to be unable to get a decision come out away and had to defend another eight repeat sets, including sin bins to both halves, captain Dan Maceio and Hayden Trask
Down to 11 men on the field, our guys were courageous in defeat with Cameron Hanson crossing the line to score in the corner. This was, however, to be the only highlight in the second half as Coolum ran out winners 32 to 8. Campbell Duffy front rower was our best having played 80 minutes in the middle. Fellow front rower Kris Williams, had to depart the game early owing to a bicep injury: an injury which has now left him in doubt for next weekend.
In the end, a lack of field position and the penalty count proved the difference. Coming into the finals, we need to be better. We now face Beerwah, competition leaders, who are undefeated this season. With the reality of not having team captain Moveao and back rower Vincent Law, who have been referred to the judiciary for incidents late in the game, we definitely need to be on our game.”
In a summary of the game, a penalty count against Pirates shows, 9 penalties in the first half and 8 penalties in the second. A count such as this is amazing: as by previous games it has never occurred. So, with finals fast approaching, both players and officials must in all reality, have a serious look at their performance.
As a leadup to the main game, we saw the Golden Oldies take to the field in an entertaining game, trying hard to destroy what is left of their bodies. This was followed by the u/15s who lost to Coolum. Both Reserves and Women won by forfeit as Gympie could not field teams.
