Tasmanians have rallied behind the return of the Australian Masters Games to their state.
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In 1987 the state hosted the inaugural event and from Saturday the North-West Coast will be the focus for the 16th version.
The Confederation of Australian Sport said it was “with great pleasure” that the event was returning to Tasmania to mark its 30th anniversary.
“Our 16th Australian Masters Games will be unique and different,” said CAS president and CEO Rob Bradley.
“The 2017 version will still incorporate around 50 sports, however, it will be the engagement and social interaction with local people that will be a positive point of difference.”
More than 70 venues will play host to nearly 5000 competitors of which nearly half are from the host state.
And the 2134 Tasmanian contingent includes a who’s who of the state’s sporting past.
National Basketball League veteran Anthony Stewart, Olympic track cyclist Tim O’Shannessey, English Channel swimmer Anne Steele and marathon champion Jenny Gillard are all competing along with Northern soccer institutions John “Snowy” Compagne and Lynden “Big L” Prince.
Meanwhile Liz Dixon, Mandy Gibson, Sarah Veale, Shelley Clay and Gelinda Dell are getting the band back together to revive memories of the Launceston Tornadoes’ national title of 1995.
Competitors must meet the minimum age requirement, which in most sports is 30, and the oldest entrant is sailor Ted Moule, who recently turned 93.
In addition to mainstream sports like athletics, football, soccer, basketball and cycling, the event includes everything from archery at Parklands High School to volleyball at Somerset Recreation Centre.
Diverse venues from Devonport Tenpin Bowl to Wynyard BMX track are joining the fun along with more recognised locations like the Lake Barrington international rowing course, Devonport’s Meercroft Park hockey centre and Penguin’s Dial athletics complex.
While the North-West is hosting the majority of events, some Launceston venues are also being used including the Launceston Aquatic Centre which is staging both the swimming and pool lifesaving.
Tasmania’s regional and statewide sporting organisations have collectively stepped up to the plate with the likes of Cradle Coast Mountain Bike Club, Wynyard Yacht Club and Ulverstone Judo Club all playing their part.
Organisers said the event was a wonderful opportunity for athletes to prolong their sporting endeavors and also to showcase Tasmania.
“The Australian Masters Games remains a wonderful forum for committed and enthusiastic masters aged athletes to continue to challenge themselves in a competitive environment and against people within their own age group,” said general manager Scott Wade.
Participants will open the Games with a food and wine festival at Devonport’s Roundhouse Park on Saturday. Burnie’s waterfront will host the Games closing and volunteer thank you event a week later.
Schedule
- Archery – target, Parklands School Oct 22-23; field, Blythe Scout Camp Oct 25-26; clout, Frederick Street Reserve Oct 24
- Athletics – track and field, Dial Complex, Penguin Oct 22-24, 26-27; half marathon, River Road, Ulverstone Oct 28; street mile, Bi-Centennial Park, Ulverstone Oct 21; 10km, Burnie 10 Oct 22
- Badminton – Upper Burnie Sports Centre Oct 21-27
- Baseball – Maidstone Park Oct 21-28
- Basketball – Devonport, Ulverstone and Penguin sports centres Oct 21-28
- BMX – Wynyard Oct 27-28
- Bocce – beach, Bluff Beach Oct 26; grass, Mersey Bluff Oct 27-28
- Canoe/kayak – flatwater, Lake Barrington Oct 21-23; ocean, Wynyard Yacht Club Oct 28; outrigger flatwater, Lake Barrington Oct 24-25; outrigger ocean, Wynyard YC Oct 28
- Cricket – (various venues) Oct 22-24, Oct 26-27
- Croquet – Latrobe Croquet Club Oct 22-24, Oct 26-28
- Cue sports – Penguin Sports Club Oct 21-23
- Cycling – time trial, Ulverstone to Penguin Oct 26; road race, Stowport Oct 28
- Darts – Devonport Soccer Club Oct 21-22, Oct 24-25, Oct 27-28
- Dragon boating – Lake Barrington Oct 26-27
- Duathlon – Devonport Surf Club Oct 21
- Equestrian – show jumping, Batten Park Oct 27-28
- Fly Fishing – (various venues) Oct 24-27
- Football – (various venues) Oct 22-27
- Futsal – East Devonport Rec Centre Oct 21-23
- Golf – Woodrising GC Oct 23, 27; Ulverstone GC Oct 25
- Gymnastics – Zodiacs Gymnastics Club Oct 28
- Hockey – Meercroft Park, Devonport Oct 21-28; Mckenna Park, Burnie Oct 23-27
- Judo – Ulverstone Sports Centre Oct 21
- Karate – Sheffield High School Oct 27-28
- Lawn Bowls – Ulverstone BC Oct 22-27; Penguin BC Oct 22-26
- Motorsport hillclimb – Lake Barrington Oct 28
- Mountain biking – Kelsey Tier, Devonport Oct 21; Penguin MTB Park Oct 22
- Netball – Devon Netball Centre Oct 22-26
- Lifesaving – Launceston Aquatic Centre Oct 23
- Powerlifting – Ulverstone Sports Centre Oct 27-28
- Rowing – Lake Barrington Oct 21-22; indoor, Ulverstone RC Oct 24-5
- Sailing – Wynyard YC Oct 21-24, Oct 26-27
- Shooting – clay target, Mersey Clay Target Club Oct 26-28; smallbore – Devils Gate Range Oct 21-23; field rifle – SSAA Range Oct 22-23
- Soccer – Devonport SC Oct 22-27
- Softball – Ulverstone Showgrounds Oct 21-28
- Squash – Devonport RC Oct 21-24
- Swimming – Launceston AC Oct 21-22
- Table Tennis – Devonport RC Oct 21-23
- Tennis – Burnie Tennis Club Oct 23-28
- Tenpin bowling – Devonport Tenpin Bowl Oct 21-28
- Touch football – Meercroft Park, Devonport Oct 26-28
- Trail running – Corinna Wilderness Village Oct 27
- Volleyball – indoor, Somerset RC Oct 25-28; beach, West Beach, Burnie Oct 21-24