Sport
9 January, 2023
Sporting Highlights of 2022 - April to June
Read about local's best sporting highlights from April to June in 2022
April saw long-time face of the Tinaroo Barra Bash Ann Leighton step down and welcome Melissa Wilson in as the new organiser while The Express explored the history of the east coast’s most dominant sailing family, the Wadleys.
In May Mareeba’s own rising rugby league star Aerielle “May May” Hobbler was selected to represent Queensland and play in the under 19 Women’s National Championships while the Mareeba Turf Club held a never before seen 150 race day, bringing a new level of class to a local race day. Members of the Northern Region Barefoot Water-ski Club Mark and Justin Molford, Katina Davis, Lindsie Jack and Geoff Riesen skimmed past the competition at both state and national competitions to be crowned champions.
To finish off the Tablelands saw its first slice of Great Northern Bullriding Series action as Rockhampton’s Lane Mellers took out the win in Mareeba.
In June Mareeba gymnast Frank Tulloch returned from a state gymnastics championship a Level 8 Open Floor champion and we asked him what pushed him to great heights and why he continues to be a gymnast. Atherton man Darren Lydeamore took on his first ever full Ironman challenge after a long weight loss journey that saw him lose 33kg and we discovered that one of the country’s top Esports players was residing in Mutchilba. Kyle Muccignat spoke about his experiences growing up and what pushed him to turn a gaming hobby into a career.
Crankworx made landfall at Smithfield’s downhill tracks and local born Toby Greenwood decided to test his mettle in the world-renowned competition while local Mareeba gymnast Myles Dobbs Brown was selected to represent Queensland in the Australian Gymnastics Border Challenge, returning with a gold medal.
Aerielle “May May” Hobbler was chosen to don Maroon and represent her state after being selected to play in the Australian Schoolgirl Rugby League Challenge after which she was selected for the Australian side and went on to play in Fiji in July and Port Douglas based judo club Coral Coast Judo tested their mettle at the Judo Australia National Championships, 10 of their 12 judoka returned with either bronze, silver or gold medals.
Eagle-eyed Atherton shooter 16-year-old Grace Grandcourt claimed her second national championship title, which would not be her last for the year.
