Khalu back to PNG
ACCLAIMED basketball coach Joel Khalu returned to Port Moresby to hold a coaching workshop this week to help Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea’s commitment in developing their national teams. Khalu was PNG’s national team head coach from 2012 to 2017 and is looking forward to seeing the improvement of the basketball scene in the last year. “It will be fantastic to catch up with so many familiar faces,” Khalu said.
Runners’ big test
FAR North athletes Deb Hegarty and Cyrus Morseu, alongside their 2018 indigenous Marathon Project squad, will face their greatest challenge yet: a 30km trial run through the tough desert terrain of Alice Springs. It is one of the most important steps in their preparation for the New York City Marathon in November, and will test their physical and mental endurance. It is the longest distance any of the squad have attempted.
Cheerleaders step up
TWO Townsville cheerleading squads have earned the chance to compete against Australia’s best. North Queensland Warriors Cheerleading club owner Leah Buchanan said one junior and senior team qualified for Pinnacle on November 26 after finishing top of their division at the Queensland Championships on the Gold Coast at the weekend.
Shire drivers win
AFTER trying for five years, and with last year’s heartbreaking one-point loss still fresh in their minds, the Douglas Shire Motor Sports Association again took on the Cairns-based FNQ Motor Sport Club in the annual interclub challenge. Over two days at the Reef and Rainforest Track at North Mossman, the club entered the second and final round trailing by 9 points to 11. The DSMSA built and held a 22-18 point lead to secure the win. Club president Bob Errey was ecstatic. “We have been trying for five years to win this thing and to finally do it is just fantastic” he said.”
Mia’s clean start
CAIRNS goalkeeper Mia Bailey has kicked-off her international career with a clean sheet. The 14-yearold JCU Strikers player is representing Australia with the Junior Matildas at the AFC Under16 Women’s Championship qualifiers in Central Asia. The Junior Matildas opened their campaign in Kyrgyzstan with an 11-0 win over Palestine, with Bailey starting in goal. They repeated the 11-0 dose against Indonesia yesterday, and tackle the host nation tomorrow.
Bowlers face off
NINETEEN of the Burdekin’s star junior bowlers will represent the district in the Allen Russell Junior Intercity Shield when it returns to the district this weekend. Teams from Cairns, Mackay and Townsville will compete in both scratch and handicap divisions. The annual event was held in Cairns last year.