SPORTS
Sharks impress Preston
Anika Jones, Shareya Doyle, Bianca Stevenson, Channing Borey-Coghill and Krystal Mazzoni meet with Preston Campbell, who recently announced his retirement from football.
ive Straddie Sharks’ girls were invited to play during half time at the Titans versus Cronulla Sharks game at Skilled Park, Robina, on the Gold Coast, as part of a Women in League promotion. Channing Borey Coghill, Krystal-Rose Mazzoni, Bianca Stevenson, Shareya Doyle and Anika Jones played for 10 minutes and then met professional rugby league footballer, Preston Campbell. Team manager Liz Borey told SIN: “He was so good to talk to them and have a photo with them. They also got to line up in a guard of honour for the NRL players when they ran out at half time and slapped all their hands. It was a big thrill for the girls and they were so excited to meet Preston. He is a really good role model for our kids.” The high achieving under-11s also won the Chairman’s Trophy against Beenleigh (18-6) in June. Corey Parkin coaches the under-11s with assistant coaches Kim Hammant and Col Kingston. Tonia Ladbrooke is the team’s assistant manager. Kelsey Parkin, Amy and Casey Karklis, members of the Sharks’ under-15s team assist with Touch Judge duties. The under-15s all-girl team is a recent start-up and has played a team from Beerwah, as well as a Bundaberg team. “Both the under-11s and under-16s teams are minor premiers this season and hoping to take out the grand finals,” Liz said.
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Weekend Warriors bring business to Straddie said the Salute was “exactly the type of event that the business community is seeking to help grow visitor numbers to Straddie, in what have been quiet times. We’re proud to support an event that is working hard to deliver some tangible results for the local tourism industry.” John Guise hopes the health and fitness of locals will also get a boost from his event and has thrown out a Get Active Straddie challenge to the community. “There is something on offer for all fitness levels,” he said. For more info visit www.weekendwarriorevents.com.au
Competitors in the 2010 Straddie Salute. ocal groups and the wider Island community will benefit from an influx of visitors to the Island for the Straddie Salute Multisport Festival, now in its third year. Organisers say more than 600 competitors have registered for the October 8-9 event, and estimate they will each bring an average of three supporters to the Island with them. Weekend Warrior Events, organisers of the Salute, have engaged the services of the Point Lookout Surf Lifesaving Club, the Straddie Sharks Allsports Club and Dunwich State School to assist in running the event, bringing welcome investment to those groups. Changes to traffic management, planned in conjunction with Dunwich Senior Sergeant, Peter Twort, should further shorten delays experienced last year.
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SPRING 2011
“Survey results revealed an average of three supporters travelled across with competitors in 2010 and that the average length of their stay was more than three nights,” John told SIN. “Bringing well over 2000 people to the Island for that length of time, the event certainly punches above its weight and provides a welcome boost for local tourism.” Guise says he expect to see competitors and their supporters arriving on Friday for a Straddie Beach Hotel Welcome Party, before taking to the water on Saturday in the Sibelco Straddie 1000 Ocean Swim. Sunday events include the Columbia Adventure Run and Walk and the main event, the Straddie Salute Offroad Triathlon. John says the new look multisport festival should fill “beds and boats” either side of typical Saturday-Sunday event traffic. David Thomson of Stradbroke Ferries 10 YEARS OF LIVING IN SIN — STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 31