SPORT

Local Little Athletics competitor Imogen Hallett

Imogen stars on and off the track

BUDDING local athlete Imogen Hallett’s efforts on and off the track have led to her being named one of 13 national Coles Little Athletes of the Year for season 2021/22.

Thirteen-year-old Imogen, who is in Grade 8 at Montrose Bay High School, was nominated for her sportsmanship at Hobart Districts Little Athletics, where she has competed for the past five years.

Imogen was chosen from more than 110 nominations across the country for the award, which recognises athletes’ sportsmanship, leadership, teamwork and health.

She received a $500 Coles gift card and an opportunity to participate in a virtual mentoring session with Olympian pole vaulter Nina Kennedy and dual Paralympian runner Jaryd Clifford.

“I was super shocked, but also super happy that I got chosen for this amazing award and to be recognised for my hard work and sportsmanship,” Imogen said.

“I love being a part of Hobart Districts Little Athletics because they have really helped me to improve in all my events, as well as with my confidence.

“I have also made some really amazing friends while being at this club.

“I’d like to thank Allie Green for nominating me for this award and to my parents, sister and teammates for always cheering me on.”

Ms Green, the parent of another Hobart Districts Little Athlete, said she nominated Imogen because she “always shows sportsmanship at every meet by competing in all her events and never gives up, especially on the track”.

“She also gives assistance and encouragement to other athletes she’s competing against to help them get over the line,” she said.

Coles Little Athletics Australia President Sherrie Boulter said the awards are a great way to recognise the achievements of young athletes.

“Little Athletics is not about winning but rather getting kids to be the best athlete and person they can be on and off the track,” she said.

That’s why our motto is “be your best” and it’s great to have an award that recognises sportsmanship, leadership, health and teamwork.”

Tasmania strikes gold at the Masters Swimming National Championships

A TEAM of Tasmanian swimmers have returned home with 13 gold medals and multiple broken records from this year’s Masters Swimming Australia National Championships.

In April, five swimmers from Hobart and Launceston aged between 29 and 72 travelled to Sydney to compete against the best masters swimmers from across the country.

While Tasmania fielded a relatively small team compared to some mainland states, each swimmer punched well above their weight when it came to results.

“Our swimmers demonstrated excellent skills and fitness and came home with an outstanding haul of 13 gold, seven silver, and five bronze medals as well as three national records and 18 Tasmanian Branch records,” Masters Swimming Tasmania president Megan Stronach said.

“This is testament to the swimmers’ commitment to training over the past challenging two years.”

For first-time attendee Elisa McMillan, the highlights were her swims in the butterfly events. “It was great racing many different people in my age group and seeing how I compare with times,” she said.

“The atmosphere was incredible, especially during the relay events.

“All the masters swimming teams were very supportive of one another and of swimmers from other states.”

Veteran competitor Maciej Slugocki is celebrating some significant wins, taking home three new national records and five gold medals from the championships.

“You race the way you train and if you train hard, have the right preparation and nutrition, then you can set yourself up to achieve,” he said.

Tasmania is set to host the National Championships next year and many local swimmers are already starting to prepare.

“I would love to see as many people as possible competing, having fun and achieving their goals,” Elisa said.

Masters Swimming Tasmania has a range of clubs for all levels of fitness, experience and ability. To find a club near you, visit mastersswimming tasmania.com.au

Elisa McMillan enjoyed her first Masters Swimming Australia National Championships

Baldock tackles wounded Tigers

A HOBART medical centre with longstanding links to local football has teamed up with a community-based club keen to bounce back from an injury-ravaged 2021 season.

Multi-disciplined medical centre Your Hobart Health (YHH), which has a staff of 19 doctors and three nurses working out of its new Bathurst Street facility, will support the SFL’s Hobart Football Club by providing professional medical support and supplies to for the next two years.

After a miserable 2021 season plagued by 24 long-term injuries, for 2022 and ’23 the Tigers players will have the professional support of Your Hobart Health at their disposal.

YHH director Dr Mark Baldock has volunteered his time to act as the Club Doctor on game days, taking a seat on the Hobart bench to provide professional medical support for players and back up the club’s trainers.

Your Hobart Health, which will also donate medical and first aid supplies for use by the trainers, has a long connection to grassroots football in Tasmania - Dr Baldock is the second cousin of one of the state’s greatest ever players, legendary St. Kilda captain Darrel “Doc” Baldock.

Another connection to community-based football is YHH business manager Gill Powell, whose father played football for Hobart in the 1960s alongside three-time Brownlow medallist Ian Stewart.

To follow the Tigers in season 2022, go to hobartfc.com.au for match details.

Veteran cricketers Kelvyn Anderson, Patrick Henry and Spencer Woolley are looking to sign up some new teammates

Call out for cricket veterans keen to pad up for Tassie

IF you’re over 60 but still keen to bat or bowl, Veterans Cricket Tasmania wants to hear from you.

The organisation is seeking cricketers to join its squads for the upcoming Over 60s and Over 70s National Carnivals.

Over 60s coordinator and Veterans Cricket Tasmania treasurer Spencer Woolley, who has been playing veterans cricket for the past 17 seasons, said the sport has social, mental and physical benefits for participants.

“We often talk about it as being ‘a men’s shed on a cricket pitch’,” he said.

“There’s certainly a pretty significant mental health element to it.

“It’s mates, basically, enjoying something that they’ve enjoyed throughout their life in most cases.

“It’s an opportunity to continue doing something they enjoy, while they still can.

“And you get a bit of exercise as well.”

The Tasmanian Over 70s teams will play against other Australian states in Launceston from 10-15 November; before the Over 60s travel to Geelong to play four matches over five days between 26 November and 1 December.

More than 40 teams from across the country will compete across five divisions.

Tasmania is aiming to field teams in divisions 1, 3 and 5, but needs some more players in order to do so.

“We’re inviting players of all abilities to nominate for our teams,” Mr Woolley said

“Whilst there are still plenty of ‘veterans’ playing in regular competitions, we also encourage those who have been out of the game for a while to give it a go!

“The division 1 teams have still got some bloody good cricketers playing.

“It’s not uncommon for former state representatives to be involved, and in the past there has even been two or three former Australian Test cricketers like Graham Yallop and Geoff Dymock who have played in these carnivals.

“So the standard can be very good.”

While the big mainland states like Victoria and New South Wales have hundreds or even thousands of players to pick from, Mr Woolley estimates that there is currently about 150 veteran cricketers playing in Tasmania.

Veterans Cricket Tasmania is always looking for new players to join the local summer roster, which starts in October.

“There’s four of five teams from across the state who play fortnightly,” Mr Woolley said.

“Then there’s another half-dozen who might play three or four games a year.

“And there’s a couple of teams like the University Legends, who play one game a year.

“It’s a social but serious roster. We don’t have finals or anything like that, but we do play for small sheep stations.”

Anyone keen to play in either the National Carnivals or the local roster can contact Mr Woolley on 0409254812 (Over 60s) or Rod Headlam on 0439256378 (Over 70s).

For more information, go to vets.tas.cricket. com.au