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MACKAY’S NEED

FOR SPEED ON TRACK

Go fast and turn left, it’s not NASCAR, but the thrilling sport of track cycling, where cyclists on a fixed gear bicycle with no brakes propel themselves at speed along a velodrome. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, and when it goes wrong, it’s painful to watch. But thankfully at last weekend’s Mackay Cycling Club Track Carnival, the racing was fast and furious with no crashes.

Riders from across Queensland came to Mackay’s annual event, which attracts some of the speediest cyclists in the state. Mackay was well represented however, with local cyclists using their home advantage and knowledge of the velodrome to their advantage to place in most races. The feature races of the evening are the wheelraces, where riders are handicapped on ability in an effort to create an ‘any rider can win’ atmosphere. These are the big money races where winners take home a cool amount of cash.

The handicapper was kind to the local C-grade Men, with three local riders taking podium positions in the men’s feature race. Taking out the big prize was Luke Schatkowski, with Greg Shaw in third and Geoff Bennett in fourth.

WHEELRACE RESULTS

UNDER 9, UNDER 11, UNDER 13 COMBINED

First: Elijah Hoban Second: Hamish Brennan Third: Jack Bennett Fourth: Scott Bennett

UNDER 15 AND UNDER 17 COMBINED

First: George Tucker Second: Seth Piper Third: Kirra Rayner Fourth: Peter Shatkowski

UNDER 17 AND OPEN WOMEN

First: Petra Andersen Second: Renay Buchanan Third: Emylia Stjernquest Fourth: Hannah Kerswell

UNDER 19 AND OPEN MEN

First: Luke Schatkowski Second: Alex Murry Third: Greg Shaw Fourth: Geoff Bennett

Riders enjoyed a fast night of racing at the Mackay Cycling Club Track Cycling Carnival held last weekend in Walkerston. Photo credit: Amanda Wright

Two Track Records For Sprint Queen Mikayla

Meet the new Mackay flash, Mikayla Webb (pictured) who continues to light up the athletics track with record-breaking sprint performances. The 15-year-old Mercy College student smashed two long standing records when she won gold in both the 100m and 200m finals at the recent Capricornia Schools Athletics Championships staged at the Mackay Aquatic & Recreation Complex Athletics Facility. Fleet footed Mikayla scorched her rivals in the Girls 15yrs blue ribbon 100m event – clocking an impressive 12:12 sec to eclipse the previous mark of 12:30 sec in superb style. The sprint queen backed up that golden performance by also clinching the 200m title with a sizzling record time of 25:65 sec, bettering the previous best of 25:70 sec. Both sprint records had stood for two decades. But they are not the fastest times that Mikayla has produced over the 100m and 200m distance, having clocked a personal best 12:07 sec for the 100m and 24:84 sec for the 200m while competing for Mackay Athletics Club. Fresh from her record-breaking feats, Mikayla will compete at the Queensland Schools Athletics Championships to be staged in Brisbane during October. She will be joined by her 13-year-old kid sister Isabella – another Mercy College

Mackay sprint sensations Mikayla and Isabella Webb (pictured) will represent Mercy College at the Queensland Secondary Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane next month student - who collected a bronze medal at the Capricornia Schools Athletics Championships after finishing third in the 100m final and obtaining fourth spot in the 200m final. Both top four achievements have secured Isabella a spot in the Relay teams for the Queensland Schools Championships – a feat she can be proud of. The Webb sisters acknowledged the influence of their sprint coaches Tina and Luke Morse from ASSET (All Sports Speed Endurance Training) who have added speed and balance to the pair’s running technique. “We enjoy training with Tina and Luke and have put in a lot of hard work in preparation for the athletics meets,” Mikayla explained. “Both Isabella and I are now reaping the benefits and hopefully we can improve our PBs in the weeks to come” she added. By Chris Karas

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Mackay Rangers FC

Prepare To Host Annual Carnival

Mackay Rangers FC annual 8-a-side Carnival attracts some quality Men’s and Women teams

SOCCER

All roads lead to Eric Homan Park at Cremorne on the October long weekend when Mackay Rangers Football Club hosts its annual 8-a-side soccer tournament.

With $6000 in prize money and titles up for grabs, football enthusiasts are in for a treat when the two-day Carnival kicks off on Saturday October 1. The unique 8-a-side concept draws teams from far and wide including Sarina, Yeppoon, Rockhampton, Hall Creek, Emerald, Townsville, Innisfail, Cairns, Brisbane, Toowoomba and Sunshine Coast over the years and is an Open Men’s and Women’s competition for players aged 17 years and older.

Mercy College Mackay school teacher and Rangers stalwart Ashley Miles said the Carnival attracted 17 Men’s teams and eight Women’s sides last season which offered an $1800 winner’s purse for the triumphant Men’s side and $1000 for the victorious Women.

Runners up received $1000 (Men) and $600 (Women) with third and fourth placed teams collecting $500 (Men) and $300 (Women). “An added highlight is the Penalty Shootout competition which is traditionally staged on the Saturday night when participating teams put forward a goalkeeper and striker to compete for $150 cash,” revealed Ashley. Mackay Rangers boasts a proud 54-year history in the Football Queensland Whitsunday Coast Premier League Association where they have annexed numerous championship titles and produced a host of talent among the Men’s and Women’s grades. Origins of the 8-a-side tournament can be traced back to 1983 when the Rangers staged an invitational Carnival against Moranbah to celebrate their home ground improvements. This developed into the Taylors Hotel Invitational 1000 for the first four years of inception and was played as a senior 11-a-side team’s event.

Sponsorship was secured by Alcorns Bakery of Mackay for the next decade, then in the early 2000s the Carnival changed direction by adopting an 8-a-side format with long time sponsor RIMEX taking naming right sponsorship of the tournament.

The Carnival is traditionally run each year on the October long weekend with round fixtures and finals held over the Saturday and Sunday and is one of only a handful of senior competitive Football Gala events that are staged in Queensland. For further details and registration enquiries contact Mackay Rangers FC 8-a-side coordinator Andrew Susani 0400 000 990.

Jubilant players celebrate after winning the Mackay Rangers FC 8-a-side Men’s title last season By Chris Karas

Joel Khalu won the Club Person of the Year award. Photo credits: Keiron Place Photography

BASKETBALL

The Mackay Basketball NBL1 Presentations were held last month at the Northern Beaches Bowls Club.

Taking out the top award, the Club Person Award of the Year with the Mal Steindl Trophy, was coach Joel Khalu.

Mackay Basketball’s statement said, “Joel is one of our most dedicated, hardworking and humble members here at Mackay Basketball. “There is nothing you won’t find him doing, particularly on an NBL1 game day.

Junior Club Person of the Year winner: Lachlan Peach

Meteors MVP dual winners Kyrin Galloway and Jaylin Galloway

Meteorettes MVP Alisia Jenkins Meteors Best Defensive Player: Viliami Foketi Meteorettes Most Improved: Monique Bobongie

Coach Award Meteorettes - Courtney Virgo Coach Award Meteors - Sam Haughton

Marian Ladies Master 4s

BOWLS

The Marian Ladies Master 4s were held between August 15 and 17 and was a great success, with the team of Robyn Deveraux, Dealia Walsh, Val Pilcher and Gail Meng finishing as victors. The win continues Robyn Deveraux’s display of dominance as she has been a part of the winning team four years in a row. The team of Robyn Schatkowski, Dot Wise, Carol Savage and Vicky Spann were runners-up after a competitive competition. The tournament saw some amazing bowls played in great sportsmanship. Many thanks were given to the sponsor Our Retreat Station and Katie Moohin for once again making the tournament possible. The ladies section of the Mackay Bowling Club competed in the Annual Johnston Shield held at the Sarina Bowling Club between August 30 and September 1 last week.

Singles, pairs and fours matches were played throughout the event with the club having to win two of the three sections.

The Mackay ladies defeated Marian Club and South Suburban Club on the way to the finals against Northern Beaches. Mackay was off to a flying start when singles player Carol Savage defeated Leanne Lewis in the singles. The fours team of Janice Nelson, Denise Mezzen, Julie Caban and Robyn Schatkowski had a nail-biting game that could have gone either way with Mackay holding a two-shot lead going into the last end. Northern Beaches were holding four shots until Mackay’s third player Julie played a beautiful shot, cutting back to put Mackay only one shot down. The skips’ bowls couldn’t change the end, with the Mackay ladies finishing the victors.

Meanwhile, the pairs of Marie Mayfield and Dot McNamara were playing their game and were down against Northern Beaches but making a comeback with five ends to go. As the fours team had won, the pairs did not have to complete their game. Mackay players, enjoying the win, congratulated the Northern Beaches players on the hard-fought competition. The Annual Johnston Shield has been running for 74 years and, while the Mackay club has competed in the event since its formation in 1993, this is the club’s first win.

Mackay District Ladies Bowls Association President Lyn congratulated both teams and Alison, daughter of Naomi Graham and granddaughter of Alex and Margaret Johnston, made a congratulatory speech, presenting the Shield to the Mackay Club President Dot McNamara.

The club wishes to congratulate all players who took part in this event.

President and Sponsor Katie Moohin with winners Robyn Deveraux, Dealia Walsh, Val Pilcher and Gail Meng

Runners-up Vicky Spann, Dot Wise, Robyn Schatkowski and Katie Moohin - absent Carol Savage. Photos supplied: Lyn Jackson

Mackay Ladies Secure First Time Win

BOWLS

L-R Alison, J. Caban, J. Nelson, R. Schatkowski. D. McNamara C. Savage, D. Mezzen, M. Mayfield. Photo supplied: Robyn Schatkowski

BROWN’S STAR AT YEPPOON CONGRESS

Team Brown – Diane, Alan, Frances and Janet Geoff Taylor Director Noel Curran, Yeppoon President Lauren and Ted Cullinan

BRIDGE

Frances and Alan Brown starred at The Yeppoon Pairs and Teams Congress. Frances and Alan came third overall (Category A) pairs and the Brown team - Alan and Frances Brown, Janet Hanse and Diane Morgan came first in the team’s event. Noel Saunders and Ted Cullinan came first (Category C). Nine pairs from the Mackay Club attended the weekend competition, all other Mackay teams performing well. Mackay Club member Geoff Taylor was director for the Yeppoon Congress.

Weekly Results

Monday 29 August 22 – 6 Table Mitchell Trophy (Novice Players) Week 3 of 3

N/S E/W

1st David Ting / Eric Goodchild 1st Monica Darley / Nancy Martin 2nd Janelle Conroy / Terrence Sheedy 2nd Lorna Shuttlewood / Faye Wright 3rd Maria Setiyawan / Robert Carless 3rd Clare Wallace / Ming Ting

Eclectic for Tuesdays in August

N/S

1st Eric Goodchild 1st Noel Bugeia 3rd Terrence Sheedy

E/W

4th Janet Hansen 5th Diane Morgan

Wednesday 31 August 22 – 6 Table One Winner - Australian Wide Pairs

N/S E/W

1st Josie Cowley / Barbara Tait 4th Gwen Liddell / Anne Lutz 2nd Joy Robinson / Robert Carless 5th Debbie Ludkin / Cath Willis 3rd Monica Darley / Kath Poole 5th Terrence Sheedy / Eric Leisley

Thursday 1 September 2022 – 5 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S E/W

1st Terrence Sheedy / Noel Bugeia 1st David Ting / Ming Ting 2nd Debra Goodchild / Eric Goodchild 2nd Ken Seaniger / Robert Carless 3rd Mick King / Patricia Garner 3rd Mary Rose Ramsden / Marylin Wilson-Nicoll

Friday 2 September 22 – 6 Table Mitchell Green Points Nationwide Pairs 17 of 22

N/S E/W

1st Terrence Sheedy / Noel Bugeia 1st Janine Rogers / Richard Wix 2nd Monica Darley / Del Ryan 2nd Ian Cruickshank / Mary Cruickshank 3rd Helen Van Den Broek / Don Poole 3rd Robert Carless / Joy Robinson