Promises of great things in '09

Matthew Lee | 2nd January 2009

Craig Warhurst

WITH New Year celebrations over and the remains of a good time cleared away, 2009 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years of local sport in Gympie.

And while reflections on a brilliant 2008 highlighted the incredible, and at times sheer inspirational, efforts our Gympie athletes, the arrival of 2009 is a time to consider what lies ahead.

Local cricket is one of the many sports played in Gympie district to start up again after the break, and the sport will be seeking to wrap up its second half of its season.

Gympie cricket fans can look forward to seeing how the Gympie Offroad's Gold XI cricket side manages to get their finals aspirations back on track after a less than perfect end to their 2008 season.

Gold player Cameron Quinn says the side is hopeful and positive, and prepared to put in the hard yards in the new year to achieve their objectives.

“We know that we cannot make the One Day final, so we are really just putting our focus on finishing in the top four to reach the Two Day final,” Quinn said.

And Quinn has every right to feel optimistic.

Against a number of the higher ranked sides in the Sunshine Coast Competition, the Gold has shown their ability to mix it with the best.

The talent is there, both in batting and bowling, and what really remains for the side to achieve is the ability to piece it all together on the field.

Meanwhile, 2008 saw a number of school athletes soar through the ranks to represent not only themselves but Queensland at a national level.

Included in this impressive list were track and field athletes such Tanika McClintock, Ryan Gear and Kierra Walters.

McClintock and Gear, both discus throwers, together with Walters, a high jumper, reached the upper echelon of school sport to participate in the Canberra Pacific School Games.

While the three did not return with medals, instead posting mid-field finishes in their respective events, nothing can detract from their achievements.

Not everyone can progress through the countless levels of competition required in order to reach the national tier, and the efforts of the three are commendable.

It will be with great interest over 2009 as these athletes continue to work hard at their craft, hoping to not only compete nationally again, but also to take that one step further.

“Hopefully in 2009 I can go further and continue to improve,” Gear said upon reflection of his journey to Canberra.

In another direction there is the incredible talent that is Jack Curran.

While Curran will no longer grace the training ovals of Gympie this year, instead making a life-altering move to Brisbane's Anglican Church Grammar School, his star is set to continue buring bright.

Last year saw Curran shatter numerous records and win many medals, stamping his position as a runner who is fast emerging through the ranks.

And so with Brisbane opening up a world of further opportunities, The Gympie Times will be keeping an eye on Curran to see what further success he unlocks.

Then there are the countless sporting teams across Gympie who will be using the new year to pursue their dreams of success and the chance to right the wrongs of the year that has been.

But while so much remains uncertain, one thing is clear - Gympie sport is alive and well and the coming year has the early hallmarks of being an exciting one.