OUR SAY: Sports stories worth another read

A collection of our favourite stories from 2019. Tales of hardship and mateship. Clinchers and sporting moments that made you go “wow”.

Mackay's Noah Gauci hit a career high at just 14 when he won gold for Australia. The Arsenals striker helped the All Australian Schoolboys touring team to an undefeated run against teams from Netherlands, Germany and Ireland.

Paro and Best ready for Mackay homecoming

Mackay boxer LIam Paro retained his WBO Global Super Lightweight Title against Italian Massimillano Ballisai at the Pride of the North Fightnight at the MECC on Saturday, February 16.

 

THEY must be feeding the children something different at the Pioneer Valley Boxing Club because they have produced three Australian champions in the past two years.

It was an interesting 'what if' to learn that Mackay could have one fewer Australian champ if a young Tysinn Best hadn't offered to take his across-the-road neighbour, Liam Paro, to boxing training.

World Super Lightweight champion and Asia Pacific Super Lightweight champion Liam Paro (age 22) and Australian Welterweight champion Tysinn Best (23) geared up for their Mackay homecoming in February and reflected on their shared early days.

While their boxing careers have taken them in different directions, the duo always swear by their friendship which started 10 years ago in Mackay.

A refreshing tale of mateship.

 

How a broken boot changed the Premier League grand final

Magpies defeated Lions 4-2 in the Mackay Premier League grand final on Saturday, September 14 at Mackay Regional Football Zone.

 

WHEN a Magpies forward ran around the pitch with mismatched boots, my curiosity was aroused.

When he belted two extraordinary goals and crushed the morale of Mackay Lions, he had my attention.

Athletes and superstition tend to go hand-in-hand. If you've played a team sport chances are you know that player who swears by his lucky boot, sock, headband or any item allowed on the pitch.

If you don't believe in lucky boots you might have changed your mind after seeing Rian Thompson in the Mackay Premier League grand final.

After a mid-match blowout, Thompson sported a gold-and-black Nike boot on one foot and on the other a white-and-faded red Adidas.

The Magpies midfielder said the ball refused to do what he wanted before he changed one of his boots. After he slipped on his old, reliable boot, the next kick was a screamer that slotted into the top right pocket of Lions' goal. He soon followed that one with another unlikely goal.

 

Few experiences top scoring a goal says Mackay striker

Three Mackay players, Claire Colwill, Noah Gauci and Keeley Walker, were sent to Europe to play with the Under-16s School boys and girls Australian field hockey teams. 24/05/19.

 

NOAH Gauci is the hot name on everyone's lips in the Mackay hockey community.

In many a story, Gauci's name was mentioned as one to keep an eye on, alongside Claire Colwill.

The teen striker was selected for the Queensland Under-18 team and helped the team bring back gold.

While he went onto bigger achievements in the year, this story stood out as it was when he came into his own.

At just 16 he became the highest goal scorer in the Under-18s championship.

For Gauci, who has scored while wearing the Australian green and gold, there are few experiences that rival the feeling of sinking the ball into the back of the net.

Next year will surely bring more excitement for the young star.

 

Quick-thinking nipper rescues race competitor

Lily Sayer at Mackay Harbour Beach, the same place where she rescued a struggling swimmer in the North Aussie surf lifesaving championship.

 

A NIPPER competing at a Mackay surf carnival had to make a split-second decision - finish the race or rescue a swimmer in distress.

When 12-year-old Lily Sayer saw someone flailing in the ocean, there was no hesitation.

Sayer's actions were the essence of what lifesaving is about when she tossed aside her chance of placing at the Surf Life Saving Queensland's North Australian Championships.

Despite her fair share of media attention, the next day the young nipper didn't think too much of her kind deed.

When walking along the beach to snap her front-page picture she simply said it was what anyone else would do.

I'm not entirely sure if that would be the case, but it was nice to see the young athlete had her heart in the right place

 

I never looked back': Father, son unite in fight of life

Father son team, Craig Sproule and Jaden Langwe-Sproule will both fight in the Battle in the Beaches fight night at the Northern Beaches Bowls Club this weekend. Picture: Aidan Cureton

 

THE power of sport is nothing to scoff at and this story was a strong reminder of that.

This Mackay father said boxing was what stopped his life from spiralling out of control.

Before the Battle of the Beaches fight night in October, Craig Sproule shared how his sporting pursuits put him on the straight and narrow to become a dedicated family man.

Sproule and his son, Jaden Langwe-Sproule, have been training for the past three years at the Mackay Boxing Club and the sport has become an integral part of their life.

The path has had its challenges and times where things looked dark, but Sproule said his relationship with his son had given him a new fighting spirit in life.

 

HALL OF FAME: The 'Wright' side of the story

Mackay's Pat Wright was inducted into the Australian Swim School Assocition Hall of Fame.

 

WHEN speaking to Pat Wright about her induction into the Australian Swim School Association Hall of Fame, I never expected she'd delve into her deepest battles in life.

Several battles with cancer stripped her chances of motherhood, but Wright found her family in her work.

Through her accomplished career Wright raised several Olympic athletes, but she said helping a tot jump in the water for the first time was just as rewarding as a former student on the world stage.

Teaching in Mackay for 51 years had not been an easy ride for the swimming instructor, but it was a journey she would never change.

 

Mackay brothers thrive in an uncommon Queensland sport

Tristan and Riley Smith competed in the Northern New South Wales/ Queensland Inter-schools Snow sports Championships at Perisher in July. Tristan will continue to the Austalian competition for his gold medal in Ski Cross and Bronze in Alpine.

 

SIBLING rivalry - we've all been there - but for these brothers it was a driving force that led to one of them representing Queensland.

When home is known for its great beaches and prickly heat, it was no easy ride for Tristan and Riley Smith to take the winter sports world by storm.

The locations these brothers had travelled to because of their sport was enough to inspire wanderlust in most.

In July the brothers competed in the New South Wales and Queensland inter-schools Snowsports Championship at Perisher where Tristan qualified to take on Australia's best on snow at Mount Buller, Victoria in September.

One brother was left home for the Nationals competition after rain dampened his qualifying run, but next year both will be in the same age group and the brotherly banter has already started on who's going to get the faster time.

 

Why our top sports stars are facing financial strain

Jacob Anderson of Brisbane Blaze in action during the Men's Hockey One Grand Final match between NSW Pride and Brisbane Blaze at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne, Saturday, November 16, 2019. (AAP Image/Sean Garnsworthy) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

 

THE glory of representing Australia in your chosen sport is an idea idolised by probably every young athlete in the country.

But not every code gets the celebrity lifestyle.

Mackay's Kookaburra Jacob Anderson gave us a look into what it's like to play for Australia in field hockey.

While hockey is one of his biggest passions in life, he said it can be hard to be part of the best team in the world and still have to work part-time.

Australia is an international powerhouse, but the athletes are significantly underpaid compared to their European counterparts.

Anderson hoped the fresh Hockey One series would ease some of the struggles ­Australian hockey players have and ultimately improve the quality of the sport in the country.

 

Miracle flick pass snatches victory from Magpies

The Mirani Heat snatched victory from Magpies Bombers in the A-Grade men's grand final last week. Picture: Dylan Oliver

 

TALK about not cracking under pressure.

I have no idea if Aaron ­Hughes is the most, or least, lucky footballer in Mackay after he had to save two teams from defeat in the final seconds of play.

The man responsible for ripping the Mackay reserve grade rugby league grand final win away from Wests went on to win his touch football final with another last-second nailbiter.

After some confusion, when the referee called the game too early while the ball was still in play, the resumption gave the Mirani Heat just one more play to make magic happen.

And, alakazam, that's what happened when Ryan Jenner sent a behind-the-back flick pass sailing into Hughes' hand.

The Heat player found a gap in the Magpies Bombers' line and sent his team into overtime where they sealed their win.

 

Why Mackay football needs NPL representation

Former Mackay player Jake Clancy said his football journey could have been much different if the Magpies Crusaders existed when he decided to pursue a career as a goal keeper.

WHEN the Magpies Crusaders United were struggling from relegation for the second year in a row Mackay had to think about a possible future without an NPL team.

Few could recognise the importance of the Magpies Crusaders as well as Jake Clancy, who had to travel south of the region at just 14 to pursue his football dreams.

Clancy and I played junior rep football together at a time with no clear pathway. Rep stopped after year eight and there were few opportunities to play at a higher level.

That lack of opportunity lead to a lot of players switching codes or like Clancy, needing to move away.

The NPL level goalkeeper understood that not everyone has the support to achieve that tall task, which is why he said losing the Magpies Crusaders team in the NPL would regress Mackay football back to the dark ages.

While the MCU lived to fight another year Clancy said Mackay had a duty to represent regional Queensland which has been evident by the broad group of signings already announced for 2020.