SPORT

Lewis able to rise over the challenge

LEWIS Taylor has completed the final climb of his 158 mountain challenge, just in time to celebrate his 30th birthday.

Every day for the past six months, avid hiker Lewis has been summiting one of Tasmania’s 158 abels (mountains more than 1100m high).

After travelling abroad for much of his twenties, Lewis had a strong desire to rediscover Tasmania.

“I wanted a true Tasmanian experience and after hiking overseas I felt a real pull to Tasmania’s mountains and wild areas,” he said.

In late 2020 Lewis was hit with the sad news that his mum’s breast cancer had returned.

“Everything was put on hold until her treatment was complete,” he said.

“That experience of being all-consumed by cancer and it hitting so close to home really drove me to think how I could turn my dream of wanting to complete the mountain challenge into something bigger.”

Lewis had heard about people climbing all Tasmania’s 158 abels in two years, but wanted to take it to the next level and set the ambitious goal of summitting all 158 in just 158 days, while raising funds for Cancer Council Tasmania.

After nearly two years of planning, Lewis began the challenge on 4 January and was excited to be out there raising money for a cause so close to his heart.

It was going well until, with just two weeks remaining in the challenge, Lewis hit a major hurdle.

“My trailer was out of action, my car had broken down and I got COVID,” he said.

“I was feeling so burnt out and fatigued and I was finding it hard to accept this roadblock.

“But it was the support of family, friends and people following my challenge that really drove me and got me through those really hard moments.”

Lewis finished his final climb on 10 June and has so far raised about $70,000, which will go directly to Cancer Council Tasmania to help fund its many initiatives.

“The money can fund the equivalent of 460 wigs in the wig gallery for women experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy; two years of alternative therapy programs; or 2400 trips to vital appointments for cancer patients,” Lewis said.

“Hearing these numbers makes me want to cry. I am so happy my funds can make such a big impact on the lives of Tasmanians effected by cancer.”

To find out more or make a donation, go to www.158challenge.com

Lewis Taylor atop one of the 158 mountains he’s climbed this year

Children participating in the Tasmanian Variety Activate Inclusion Sport Day held in Hobart recently. Photos by Chris Rule

Levelling the playing field with inclusive sport days

VARIETY Tasmania has helped ensure Australia’s great sporting culture extends to every child, with the first Tasmanian Variety Activate Inclusion Sport Days held across the state last month.

Variety partnered with Disability Sports Australia and worked in collaboration with ParaQuad to present the events, which saw 108 kids participate across consecutive days in Devonport, Launceston and Hobart.

The Activate Inclusion program is a groundbreaking initiative focused on providing sporting pathways for children with a physical, intellectual or sensory disability.

Showcasing a range of activities including cricket, ParaQuad wheelchair basketball, AFL and ten pin bowling, the free Variety Activate Inclusion Sport Days encourage students to identify the sports and activities they enjoy and provides them with support and contacts for future participation in their local community.

Children who are often excluded from mainstream physical education because of a lack of modification knowledge and adaptive equipment, are given the opportunity to experience a variety of sport activities in a fun and inclusive environment.

“We believe every child deserves the chance to play,” Variety CEO Mohammad Aldergham said.

“The Variety Activate Inclusion Sports Days are all about breaking down the barriers so many kids often face to playing sport.

“Kids are just having fun, but sport has so many valuable lessons for them from teamwork and social bonding to developing patience, setting and working towards goals, controlling emotions, and increased self-esteem through a sense of achievement.

“No child should miss out on the joy and benefits of playing sport.”

Activate Inclusion Sport Days have been running in New South Wales for six years and have introduced more than 7000 kids to sporting opportunities.

Glenorchy City Petanque Club members (L-R) Sue Johnson, Eric Hartill and Annette Horsler

Bouled over by petanque

THE Glenorchy City Petanque Club is bringing a sense of community to Glenorchy’s older population who seek companionship in retirement.

The bocce-like game of petanque originated in France more than 100 years ago and is now enjoyed around the world.

Original club member Annette Horsler started playing petanque six years ago after coming across the game by accident in Sandy Bay.

“At that point I had not been working for a period of seven or eight months, so I decided to check it out and it changed my life,” she said.

“When you are working you get social engagement from colleagues, and when this dries up it can be easy to fall into a pattern of not seeing people.

“Petanque was brilliant for my mental health.

“It was a place I fitted into, and I really enjoyed the company and championship of other people.”

The all-inclusive game is played both socially and competitively by people of all ages.

Petanque is played on a gravelly surface called a piste, with teams of two or three trying to toss all three of their boules as close to the jack – known as the cochhonnet - as possible.

“The game has a randomness about it when compared to a structured game like lawn bowls,” Glenorchy City Club member Eric said.

“After becoming acquainted with the game, you can bring strategy to your play and incorporate different skills like Shane Warne type-spinners, skidders, lobs and drops.”

Petanque players across the state have been advocating for a Tasmanian league for a number of years.

“The opportunities for playing petanque in Tasmania have never been better,” Annette said.

“Clubs that play here at Glenorchy have been putting in an intensive effort to create a petanque league in Tasmania.

“There is a league in every other state and Tasmania is close to completing the arrangements to having one of our very own.”

Based in Berriedale, the Glenorchy City Petanque Club plays from 1-4pm Wednesdays and is always looking for new members to join.

To find out more, call Tracey on 0402 300 672.

Bay bowlers tickled pink by new synthetic green

THE Sandy Bay Bowls and Community Club had officially opened a new synthetic green, as participation in the sport grows in the state.

Club members, local MPs and government ministers gathered recently to celebrate the opening of the long-awaited synthetic green, which will allow the club’s facilities to be enjoyed year-round.

The new green will also provide greater opportunities for the club to host corporate functions, more social and ‘barefoot’ bowling, and other community events.

Sandy Bay has a long and proud history of lawn bowls, with the first recorded game taking place at the Beach Tavern on New Year’s Day in 1845.

The Sandy Bay Bowls Club was established at its current location in Margaret Street in 1907. The club now has 320 members, with almost half being women.

As a longstanding club sponsor, local Member for Clark Elise Archer was on hand to lay the first bowl and cut the ribbon to officially open the new green, joined by Sport and Recreation Minister Nic Street and Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb.

“The Sandy Bay Bowls Club plays an important role in our community as a meeting place for members and others to come together and socialise as well as keep fit,” Ms Archer said.

“I hope this new green will help promote the benefits of lawn bowls and what an asset this club is to the local community.

“The very reasonably priced drinks and friendly bar staff are a bit of a local secret, but the new green has the potential to attract more members of the community across all demographics to enjoy what the club has to offer.”

The Hobart waterfront will provide a backdrop to the IRONMAN 70.3 event. Photo credit: Korupt Vision

Inaugural Tasmanian Ironman competition to draw thousands

MORE than 1000 athletes will travel from across the country early next year for the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania, which will be held right in the heart of Hobart.

Set to take place on Sunday 5 February 2023, the multi-discipline event will see thousands of athletes and supporters head to the city.

The course for the event was unveiled in early July, with the race to feature a 1.9km Derwent River swim leg starting at Brooke Street Pier; a gruelling 90km cycling leg including kunyani/Mt Wellington; and a 21.1km run in and around Salamanca Place, finishing at PW1.

Earlier this year the State Government signed a new five-year partnership agreement with IRONMAN 70.3 which will see Tasmania host events from 20232027.

“Triathletes from across the country are now eagerly anticipating Tasmania’s first ever IRONMAN 70.3 race,” Hospitality and Events Minister Nic Street said.

“Event organisers have developed a course which will provide an exceptional racing experience and showcase our spectacular region.

“After crossing the finish line at PW1, athletes will be able to enjoy some wellearned recovery time at Hobart’s bars and restaurants, with many expected to extend their stay to enjoy all that our state has to offer.”

The event is expected to deliver $1.9 million in economic impact to local businesses right across the state.

Destination Southern Tasmania CEO Alex Heroys said IRONMAN 70.3 would bring thousands of visitors to the city and provide great tourism, hospitality and accommodation opportunities before and after the event.

“IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania will also bring a world focus on Hobart and Tasmania through its wide-ranging media platforms,” he said.

“This will bring more visitors to Tasmania in coming years, hopefully as IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania becomes a permanent fixture in the sporting and event calendar.”

For more details and course maps, go to www.ironman.com/ im703-tasmania-course

Back row L-R: Jimmy Eddington, Rod Oliver-Ewen, Hendry Lukman, Gabe Karlsson and Brendon Oliver-Ewen Front row L-R: Gina Silverstone, Josh Binks, Katie Cole and Sam Philpott

HOT winter tennis action

LOCAL organisation Hobart Out Tennis is looking for more players to sign up for this month’s Compass Tournament, inviting the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to take part.

Open to players of all standards, the Compass Tournament will be held at the Domain Tennis Centre on the weekend of 23-24 July, with doubles competition on the Saturday and singles action on the Sunday.

The focus is on fun. It’s not a knockout tournament, with players guaranteed to play at least four matches.

Founded in 2020 following the success of the annual Hobart Out Tennis Tournament, the Hobart Out Tennis (HOT) club now has more than 50 members.

Open to everyone, the club organises weekly social matches, tournaments, grand slam viewing parties, regular dinners and road trips to regional tennis clubs across the state.

The club’s latest venture is the Compass Weekend, made possible by a Tasmanian Government Grant which will be used to provide transport and accommodation for players coming to Hobart from across the state.

Along with the Compass Tournament, the club will also host a welcome event featuring dignitaries including Sport and Recreation Minister Nic Street, and a party at the Hobart Brewing Company on the Saturday night, featuring ‘bingay’ hosted by Pussay Poppins.

For more information go to play.tennis.com. au/hobartouttennisclub

Sign up for MS Mega Swim

ORGANISERS of October’s 2022 Hobart MS Mega Swim are on the hunt for more participants, teams and fundraisers.

The MS Mega Swim is a fun swim relay where teams of up to 15 swimmers are sponsored by family, friends and colleagues to freestyle, backstroke, butterfly or doggy-paddle for a total of 12 hours, raising vital funds to support people living with MS.

Swimmers of all ages and abilities are welcome. You can complete one lap or 100; swim for ten minutes or four hours. Teams just need to have one team member in the pool at all times.

Funds raised from the MS Mega Swim contribute to MS Go For Gold Scholarships, financial assistance programs, and providing services to directly benefit people living with multiple sclerosis.

The 2022 Hobart MS Mega Swim will take place at the Hobart Aquatic Centre from 10am - 10pm on Saturday 8 October.

If you are interested in participating, sign up your team at www. msmegachallenge.org. au/event/mega-swimhobart

Billycarts back for more

SPEED demons, take note: entries are now open for the Claremont Rotary Club’s second annual Billy Cart Derby, which will be held in November.

Inspired by the Red Bull Soapbox Race and the Dampier Billy Cart Derby and designed to bring the community together, the inaugural event took place in November last year and attracted a large number of racers keen for some good old-fashioned fun.

Families, businesses and other teams had spent weeks building and refining their billy carts for the event, which bans pushing, pedalling or any other type of manual propulsion.

This year, carts can be entered in the traditional, homegrown, professional and novelty categories, with races to be held for a number of junior age groups and the popular parent/child category.

The Billy Cart Derby will take place at Claremont College on Sunday 27 November. Entry is free.

Entry forms are available from the Claremont Rotary Club Billycart Derby FaceBook page. For more information, phone Paul on 0439757100 or Lorraine on 0419579739.

PLAYING FOR ALEX

St Virgil’s captain Eden Hills and Hutchins captain George Chesterman at Alex Gadomski Cup charity game

OLD school rivals have gone head-to-head again for a cause close to home, with the St Virgil’s and Hutchins football teams facing off at the fifth annual Alex Gadomski Cup Gala Day.

Students from junior, middle and senior years gathered at the Hutchins oval last month to play in memory of former student and football fanatic Alex Gadomski.

“The day is named after former St Virgil’s student Alex Gadomski, who battled really bravely with Bone Marrow Failure,” St Virgil’s College director of sport Michael Moschogianis said.

“Sadly, Alex lost his battle with his debilitating disease, but he will always be remembered for his love of footy and his contribution to the college.”

Mr Moschogianis said the Cup Gala Day is much more than just football – it’s a day to honour Alex and raise awareness about Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome.

“It is a day for the school community to promote this great cause and raise funds for the Alex Gadomski Fellowship, supporting Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision in researching Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome,” he said.

The Hutchins School director of sport Jason Berry said students had been looking forward to the day for weeks.

“The boys have been talking about this all term,” he said.

“Having the day live streamed, a big crowd gathered around, and lots of talk from both school communities really had the students up and about.

“More than 150 students played on the day and many others lent a hand with umpiring, scoring and other jobs.”

St Virgil’s and Hutchins hope to grow the Cup Gala Day and involve the senior teams when St Virgil’s welcomes back Years 11 and 12 students next year.

“We hope to make an even bigger day of this so the whole community from both schools understands why we are here,” Mr Moschogianis said.