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Pitcher shines in UK race walking tour Allanah Pitcher, 18, of Terrigal continues to build her international race walking resume, scoring two firsts and a second place in the recent Australian U23 European tour, held in the UK. Following her success at the 2022 World Race Walking Team Championships held in Oman in March, where she came seventh, Pitcher was one of 20 Australians selected to compete in the three-week European tour, with athletes from almost every discipline taking to the field. The tour, which began on July 12, saw Pitcher compete in two races in England and one in Ireland. Pitcher won the Under 23 English Championships, which was a 5km race walk held in Bedford. She then competed in the AAI Games held in Ireland, coming
second in the open 3km race walk. Returning to Bedford, Pitcher won the Open English Championships in a 5km race walk, recording a personal best time. “I really didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “It was unknown territory as we didn’t know who the other walkers would be. “I really just had the goal of improving my own personal best – and I did that in the final race, where I completed the 5km in 23 minutes 39 sec, shaving eight seconds off my own PB.” With the eventual goal of representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics in the future, Pitcher is concentrating for now on state and national competitions, with two coming up in Melbourne in September and December.
“We have two seasons – the winter season on road and the summer season on track,” she said. “I was really surprised to do so well in Oman, where I placed seventh in the Under 20 women’s race walk, as I was competing against athletes from all over the world. “I would really like to qualify for the next World Championships in Oman, but this time in the Open division.” Originally training as a runner, this is Pitcher’s 10th year as a race walker. “As I was training with Frank Overton, I saw he also had athletes doing race walking and that really interested me,” she said. “I really enjoy the group environment.” Pitcher continues to train with Overton on the Gosford track. Terry Collins
Allanah Pitcher following her UK successes
Mariners giving out the good vibes Central Coast Mariners are spreading good vibes in the community in the preseason by engaging Australian football legend Andy Bernal to deepen the connections within and between the club and the community. Bernal, one of the original Australian born English League and Spanish League players was at the PCYC in Umina to give a crew of youth a session of football, boxing and motivational talks. “I’ve had a tough yet incredibly rewarding career in football and I’m passionate about helping young people build resistance and opportunities through sport,” said the former Socceroo. The Umina session was part
of a new collaboration between the Mariners, The A leagues, PCYC and the NSW Government to motivate young people to find direction and follow their ambitions. Bernal was born in Canberra to Spanish parents and found fellowship in football among other immigrant families. He quickly rose through the ranks and was scouted to the Spanish Albacete Balompié at the age of 18. He went on to play for both Reading, Sydney Olympic and Ipsitch Town. Post football he became a football agent and the personal manager of David Beckham. The 21-time Socceroo (13 ‘A’ international caps, 8 ‘B’ international caps) Bernal has recently been engaged by the Central Coast Mariners.
Andy Bernal at PCYC Umina boxing clinic
New Mariners’ owner Richard Peil convinced him to join the coaching staff in a role that head coach Nick Montgomery has dubbed the Vibe Manager. “I brought Andy into the club for the same reason I brought Luke Wilshire (8th most capped Socceroo) and why I’m backing Monty” Said Peil
“Between them, they have over 1100 professional games, in England, Spain, Holland, Russia and Australia. “In my view, there has been too little respect given to greats of the Australian game, especially the golden generation that Andy and Luke were part of.
Peil is on a mission and has a plan to reconnect the Mariners with the community and to further build the Mariners Academy to become one of the best in the Southern Hemisphere. “Over the next few years you will see more of our past best [players] be given opportunities to be involved and influence the development of our academy players at the Mariners” said Peil. Judging on Peil’s past successes in building the fitness franchise AnyTime Fitness the Central Coast’ professional football club has an exciting future to look forward to. Andy Bernal recently released an autobiogrphical book about his career experiences; the
good, bad and ugly in and around football called Riding Shotgun. It’s a quintessential read for Australian football fans. It’s an incredible tale, one that took him to some of the most famous grounds in world football, to experiencing the high-life of the Galácticos era at Real Madrid, to the crumbling rock-bottom that some professional footballers face post retirement. See the exclusive interview with Andy Bernal on our YouTube Channel and on news website coastcommunitynews. com.au/sport from this coming weekend. David Abrahams
Bombers home ground now one of AFL premier ovals Construction of the new amenities building at Adelaide Street Oval, Killarney Vale is now complete providing The Killarney Vale Bombers AFL Club with a significantly improved and accessible facility. The new sportsground amenities building is fit for purpose to meet the growing needs of local sporting groups in the area. It includes four unisex change rooms, unisex toilets, ambulant and accessible toilets, first aid room and ample storage. In addition, new concrete pathways have been constructed around the entire perimeter of the building that
links to the carpark and existing AFL Clubhouse ensuring that people with limited mobility can participate. AFL ACT/Regional NSW Participation and Programs Regional Manager, Simon Smyth said this new building firmly placed Adelaide Street Oval as one of the premier AFL facilities north of Sydney. “To have four change rooms, with two dedicated to female teams, is not only a testament to the growth of AFL in the region but also speaks volumes of the growth and high value placed on female participation,” he said. “Knowing that the Killarney Vale Bombers currently have 90 plus Auskickers, these
Ben Sheather and Harry Crosley (from left) both of North Constructions, Parliamentary Secretary Central Coast Adam Crouch, Killarney Vale Bombers CEO Paul Forster and Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart
future stars of the club will enjoy utilising these facilities for many years to come.” Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart said this
milestone was the result of Council, NSW Government and AFL working together for the benefit of the local community. “This project will deliver on a
goal from Council’s community strategic plan to create a liveable coast through quality sports facilities and one of many sports infrastructure projects underway for the Coast this financial year,” he said. Parliamentary Secretary for Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said he was thrilled to be able to provide the Killarney Vale Bombers AFL Club with the funding needed to get this project off the ground. “The NSW Government is investing record amounts to deliver the infrastructure needed to stimulate economies, but we’re also backing grassroots projects that make a positive difference to local
sports clubs, local communities and surrounding areas,” he said. Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, Paul Toole said the project was made possible thanks to more than $900,000 through the Stronger Country Communities Fund. “Adelaide Street Oval is exactly the kind of project the Stronger Country Communities Fund was designed to deliver, and the NSW Government is committed to creating a more inclusive environment for participation in sport and better local amenities,” Toole said. Source: Media Release Parliamentary Secretary Central Coast, Adam Crouch
