For those in the lifesaving movement it is once again time for the biggest carnival of the season. In size, it definitely compares to the Commonwealth Games. With some 480 beach and water events representing 314 surf clubs, the carnival will be contested from the 13 to 31 April. In keeping with modern times, the events will be contested at three different beachers: Alexandra Headlands, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.
From Noosa’s Head Coach Darren Mercer, comes the following details. Noosa will be sending a small strong team. We once again have athletes representing the club in all areas across the nine days of competition, with some good prospects in each area. Once the titles have been completed, we can look forward to a full report from Coach Mercer. To the coaching panel and all competitors, we wish them well.
Over the hill at Sunshine Beach, the excitement is also spreading as they are expected to field its largest team for the Australian Titles: 83 Youth and Open competitors. After the successful results from the recent Branch and State Titles, which saw Sunshine win the Branch medal tally and bring home the clubs highest medal count, from the Youth State Titles, coach Wes Berg, predicts the clubs Australian campaign to emulate this outcome.
‘’We have had a very special season, the squad has worked hard and come together as a real team, supporting each other at training and carnivals thus bringing out the best in squad. The success has been a bonus on top of the way they have embraced the program, giving it their all, and thus creating a strong team environment. I am excited leading into the Aussies but just really proud of the squad.’’
Youth Titles kick off first, April 13 and 14 at Maroochydore Beach. This will see the U15 and U13 age groups begin their campaign. This cohort, is the largest in the Sunshine Beach program, with 15 new U13s competitors joining the senior squad and competing at their first Australian Titles. The Sunshine youth program has grown a lot this season. This is very exciting, for some competitors will be experience the Aussie Titles for the very first time.
It is the biggest event of the year, bringing clubs together from all over the country. This is the bases of all sport, making new friendships and experiencing competition at the highest levels. “We have some very strong teams and as their coach, I am looking forward to watching them compete: they have all done a great job in preparing for this event. I have no doubt whatsoever that they will all give it their very best,” said coach Berg.
The senior team has continually been putting great results on the board this season. Two competitors, Electra Outram and Gemma Welch Smith, made club history when they qualified for the Nutri-Grain Series. There were also great performances from U17 Dylan Wilson in the Summer of Surf Series, as well as being placed 3rd overall on the Ironman leader board. Darcy Lewis has also had a great year, being placed 3rd in the Shannon Eckstein U17 Ironman, as a bottom age competitor
The seniors had a great year, competing in a very demanding program and working as a team. But perhaps the best achievement of all, was when Sunshine fielded an open Taplin Team, thus competing in the sports blue ribbon event
The beach team has also performed well, adding to the teams highlights. Xavier Dillewaard winning the U17 flags, and Mila Jones winning the U13 flags for the second year in a row. All this is a great result from beach coach, Pauline Gleeson: and Surf Sports Director Brigid Duncanson, is in particular very proud of a job well done.
Rugby League.
Last Saturday, saw the newly formed Noosa Pirates C grade team, play their first game of the season against last years Minor Premiers, Palmwoods Devils. After a solid pre- season and a good hit out in their trial against the always strong Mary Valley, the C graders were keen to get on the paddock.
The Pirates had a good showing of young debuting coming up from last season U19s and a couple of new recruits. For the C graders, Charlie Bond, Kaleb Hart and Ben Graf came up from the U19s, Tama Stana and Lucas McKenna from Toowoomba, Sam Wright Yandina, Jackson Roffey and fresh from retirement, Locklen Gladman: a group on which Pirates should build a good foundation.
Palmwoods got off to a good start, scoring in the first three minutes. However, Pirates quickly regrouped and with some strong defence, followed by two good sets, put winger Charley Bond in for a try. With good aggressive defence they forced Palmwoods to make mistakes : this saw centre Dave Van Heuzen score out wide and the conversion made it a lead of 10-4. Then Brodie Brennan went over to make half time, Pirates lead 14-4.
Second half, saw Palmwoods hit back and a converted try saw the score 14-10. Palmwoods kept up the pressure, however Pirates defence stood firm, regained possession for a long period : this saw Pirates front rower Hayden Krass scoring the final try for a solid 18-10 win. Well- done, to coach Anthony McIIory and team.
In the Reserve grade game, Noosa Pirates came home with a win against Bribie Island, 16-4: great first up win against last year’s, undefeated premiers. “We went behind early,” said coach Danny Riddle, “but stuck to our guns in what was a scrappy and fiery match.” Good to see our forwards stand up to the Bribie forwards as Bribie had been the dominate pack for the past years.”
Once Pirates hit the lead with15 minutes to go they piled on the pressure and a few late tries sealed the win. ‘’For Pirates Asher Buckman was dangerous at the back and Lockie Delbridge and Jesse Roberts were damaging in the forwards and Rabbits (Will Cousens) moved well after moving into half back. ‘A bye next week for Pirates then off to Kawana to avenge last weeks finals defeat.
Outriggers.
This weekend the Noosa Outriggers will travel down to the beautiful Gold Coast along with other clubs in our South Queensland Zone. The reason for this trip is to contest Race 5 of the Club Challenge.
According to club spokesman Colin Jones, this regatta will be a double header weekend with Saturdays racing being the OC6 and Sunday catering for the Small Craft racing. This regatta will be the last club challenge before the South Queensland Championships and the Australian Outrigger National Marathons.
Racing will be on the Broadwater at Southport with the main goal being to head out and do some Open Ocean racing. Also, on the program Noosa will shortly be hosting a regatta at the very popular Rainbow Beach. Once again, our Noosa Outrigger Club is definitely on the move ignoring what can only be described as erratic weather forecasting. We wish them safe conditions.
Athletics.
According to Noosa’s Head Coach Mick Hooper, the Australian Athletics Championships for 2024 will be the virtual trials, for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games. Being contested over a period of ten days, starting on 11th April, the titles will be held in Adelaide and Noosa will have a team of ten representing.
“It will definitely be a busy time for our team,” said coach Hooper, “with our team of ten competing virtually every day.” The Opens and the U/20s will be competing for the first four days, and the remaining six days will see our U/18s to U/13s busy on the track and field. “They have trained all season for this and they will definitely be up against the very best that the country has to offer. As this is the big one, and they are representing Noosa, we know that they will give their all,” said Coach Hooper
