Harry Allanby stands down as Clarence coach, underwater hockey 12-year first

A history making cricket coach making a huge call on his future and the Tassie sporting association set for a 12-year first. It’s all in The Mercury’s Sport Shorts.

Harry Allanby will stand down as Clarence coach. Picture : Mireille Merlet

Welcome to The Mercury’s Sport Shorts.

This is our new weekly column looking at some of the fantastic achievements from across the local region.

CLARENCE COACH SET TO DEPART

Change is coming to Clarence at the end of the Cricket Tasmania Premier League season.

The Roos have announced the longest serving coach in club history, Harry Allanby, will step down from his position at the end of the season.

Allanby has guided Clarence for the past six seasons and is still a player for the club.

“The club’s longest serving head coach, Harry has successfully overseen a period of significant transition of the men’s playing group highlighted by the development and progression of numerous players moving through the club’s pathway,” a Clarence social media post said.

“The committee thanks Harry for his outstanding service and dedication to the role, recognises the outstanding values Harry brings to the position and club more broadly, and looks forward to Harry’s continued involvement as a player.”

The announcement comes with Clarence currently locked in battle with North Hobart after the CTPL returned on the weekend.

On day one, the Roos posted 7-361 declared as Sam Rainbird hit an unbeaten century with 101 runs off 70 balls in an innings which included 14 fours and three 6s.

Allanby hit an unbeaten 54 himself with skipper Michael Jones and Lawrence Neil-Smith other players to pass 50.

North Hobart reached stumps at 1-20 on Saturday as Kieran Elliott claimed the wicket of Harry McHugh to finish the day’s play.

A FIRST SINCE 2013

Tasmania is set to have a strong presence at the 2025 Australian Underwater Hockey Championships in Victoria starting next week.

The Tasmanian Underwater Hockey Association (TUHA) has announced five teams will compete at the tournament in Ballarat, the largest contingent the state has sent since 2013.

Teams will include under-15s, under-19s open, under-19 women, elite women and elite open with only the masters category not featuring a Tassie team.

The elite women’s team is considered a strong medal hope with the squad highlighted by Australian representatives.

TUHA development officer Nathan Whelan, who will coach the under-15s team, said the five teams entered came on the back of strong recruiting and development in recent years.

“As is the case in all sports, it’s the juniors who are the key to success. Keeping up the flow of new, keen players coming into our sport and developing their individual and team skills has been so important to the future growth of underwater hockey in Tasmania,” he said.

Tasmania has been in training for the Underwater Hockey national titles.

TUHA president Chris Wright said he was excited to see what the teams could produce.

“Tasmania will again be punching above its weight being very competitive against the larger states of Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria,” Wright said.

“We benefit greatly from having all our teams play at the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre, and the Clarence YMCA Aquatic Centre for juniors, and the players not having to travel long distances as is the case for many in the other states.”

Games get underway on January 13.

YOUNG GUNS TEST THEMSELVES AT U16 NATIONALS

Tasmania has sent its best female cricket talents to the under-16 national championships in Ballarat this week.

Teenage young gun Mia Barwick, who was called into the Hobart Hurricanes squad during the T20 Spring Challenge, has been named captain for the tournament in Ballarat.

Many players have played in the Cricket Tasmania Premier League women’s first grade competition this season.

Harry Allanby has been named as head coach with former Tassie Tigers fast bowler Sam Rainbird his assistant.

Mia Barwick will captain the team.

“The under-16 national championships provides the girls with a great opportunity to showcase their skills whilst representing their state,” Allanby said.

“The girls have put in a huge amount of work since our program started in June and we have seen so much improvement, we are excited to see them put their practices into a match environment.

“Mia Barwick (captain), Chloe Casey, Maggie Rogers and Hannah Scott will lean on their learnings from the recent U19 championships where they had some good performances.”

Squad: Mia Barwick, Chloe Casey, Charlotte Clayton, Makenzie Giffard, Angel Green, Stevie Johns, Payton Fulton, Julia Phillips, Izzy Purves, Maggie Rogers, Hannah Scott, Mackenzie Stewart, Payton Stewart, Alexis Weeding.