Nearly 200 families travel to Coast for statewide touch competition
Almost 200 families have been staying on the Coast since Thursday, with the Junior State Cup wrapping up their three-day event this afternoon.
Fraser Coast
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A statewide competition has brought in almost 200 participants as this year’s three-day event marks the 25th year since it kicked off.
The touch football Junior State Cup, which got underway on Thursday, July 8, is being held at the Hervey Bay Sports Complex, located at 133-149 Tavistock Street in Torquay, with the competition wrapping up this afternoon.
With hundreds of cars filling the surrounding streets, families have gathered from across the state to watch their children compete in the annual event.
Gladstone resident Kerry Harris told the Chronicle this event is “so big” she books her accommodation in Hervey Bay “a year in advance”.
“(My son) is playing in the under 16s for Rockhampton this year, we couldn't get him in for Gladstone ... he purely joined the team just so he could come to this event, he's been playing in this tournament since he was in the under 10s,” Ms Harris said.
“The first few years we ever came, we were just blown out of the water by how long it took me to find accommodation for us ... from then on, we decided that as soon as we get here, we pretty much try and book somewhere for the next year straight away.”
A few years back, Ms Harris thought she had a booking set, but was told the day her family was arriving to Hervey Bay for the tournament, she didn’t.
“I had to ring around and I ended up finding two separate places to stay for the three days, so we'd have a place for two nights and then we had to pack up and move for the next couple of nights ... it cost us an arm and a leg but it was so worth it, we would pay that money again just to watch our kids play sports,” she told the Chronicle.
“It‘s just such a nice opportunity to see a lot of good quality touch played by a lot of great kids around the area.”
Queensland Touch Football ambassador Scott Prince told the Chronicle this year’s event, marking 25 years since it began, had brought 189 players to the region.
“I've been coming here myself, not only as an ambassador, but also as a father of two daughters who played in the junior state cup,” he said.
And, the rainy weather which arrived for Friday’s games was only a “minor hiccup”.
“The weather is just a minor hiccup, it doesn't stop anyone from playing touch footy ... but we’re praying for good weather for finals (today),” he said.
The first games of the finals commenced at 8.05am this morning, with presentations and awards being announced at 3.45pm this afternoon on the grounds.
See action shots from the Junior State Cup here.
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