Nearly 500 athletes from across the state, travelled to Dubbo for the 75th NSW Country Championships over 3 days from January 17th to 19th and 45 of these athletes were from Nowra Athletics Club.
It was a family affair for many, with multiple members of some families competing across a range of track and field events. Many of these families were also first timers to Country Championships which was wonderful to see.
The Dyball family enjoyed a successful carnival with Gavin Dyball at the helm, leading the way and setting a fantastic example for his children. Gavin owned the 40-49 years 800m, leading the field for the entirety of the race and smashing his previous PB of 2.43.72 as he crossed for gold in 2.29.90. Gavin also backed up to take gold in 1500m with another PB of 5.21.23 and also took silver in 5000m. In addition, he was 5th in 400m with yet another PB.
Ella Dyball took home 4 gold medals with 1st place in the Under 17 3000m, 2000m steeplechase, 400m hurdles and 1500m as well as silver in the 800m. Will Dyball won gold in Under 16 800m, silver in 2000m steeple, 3000m and 400m, and was 4th in 1500m. Toby Dyball won silver in Under 14 1500m and was 4th in 400m, 200m, 800m and long jump; and 5th in 100m. Youngest Dyball family member, Noah, collected two bronze medals in under 10 800m and shot put, and was 4th in long jump, 100m and 200m.
In the O’Leary family, Mark O’Leary claimed silver in the 50-59 years discus and bronze in both the 200m and 400m. He was 4th in javelin and shot in the field and in the 100m he was also 4th; beaten by a whisker by fellow team mate Carl Heidke in a great spectacle of a race. Leanne O’Leary was busy in the field events, winning silver in the 30-39 years hammer and bronze in the javelin and shot as well as placing 4th in discus.
The O’Leary children had an exhausting array of events on their program (I get tired just writing about them! LOL)
Patrick O’Leary claimed bronze in Under 13 200m, 100m, javelin and discus. Patrick leapt to 4th place in high jump and 7th in long jump and was also 7th in 800m and shot. Flynn O’Leary won gold in Under 11 shot and bronze in 100m. In long jump Flynn was 4th then he was 5th in 200m, 6th in 800m and 10th in discus. Liam O’Leary was one of Nowra’s youngest competitors and he claimed gold in the Under 9 shot put, bronze in 200m and 800m and was 4th in 100m and long jump.
Erin Smart led the charge for her family scooping up gold in 30-39 years 100m, 200m and 400m. In the Opens race Erin Smart gave 22-year-old Rosie Davidson from Illawarra Blue Stars a run for her money, clocking 2.25.89 for silver just behind Rosie who snared the gold in 2.25.02. Evie Smart demonstrated great persistence and placed 5th in Under 10 800m and shot, 6th in 200m and 7th in 100m whilst also having a go in the long jump. Young Tom Smart also put in a great effort for his first competition and placed 4th in Under 9 800m and 5th in long jump.
In the Musgrove set Paul Musgrove jumped to gold in both the 40-49 years long jump and high jump. He then sprinted to 4th in 400m, and 5th in 100m and 200m. He also plodded to 5th in 800m after agreeing to a ‘dare’ with Glen Mustapic – something I doubt he will do again! Darlene Musgrove scored a gold medal for enduring the 40-49 years 5000m and certainly appreciated the loud cheering from the Nowra squad on every lap. Darlene was also 4th in 1500m and 5th in 800m. Cam Musgrove ran a strong 1500m to take the win in the Opens race and collected a silver in the 800m running home in under 2 minutes. Cam was also 5th in the 400m amongst a quick field.
Four members of the Barrett family contested a variety of events. Kane Barrett demonstrated his strength in the field, throwing the discus 32.48m and the hammer 23.41m for silver medals in the 40-49-year group. Kane was 4th in shot and 5th in javelin. Tracey Barrett tried her hand in both the field and on the track and was rewarded with a silver medal in the 40-49-year 400m as well as placing 4th in 800m, 5th in shot and 6th in discus. Cooper Barrett came away with a silver medal in Under 15 1500m and two bronze medals for 800m and discus. In addition, Cooper was 7th in the hotly contested 400m. Meanwhile brother Taj Barrett took silver in Under 13 discus and shot, and was 7th in both 100m and javelin.
Charlie Heidke collected two silver medals for his jumping efforts in the Under 15 high jump and long jump events. He also sprinted to bronze in 200m and placed 4th in 100m and 400m. Meanwhile dad Carl achieved a bronze medal trifecta with 3rd placing in 50-59 years shot, hammer and 100m. It was Carl’s 100m sprint that proved a highlight of the meet with his steely determination and what appeared to be a breath-holding exercise as he pumped his arms and legs to the finish line, just pipping teammate Mark O’Leary on the line with a last effort lunge. Carl was clocked at 14.97 in front of Mark’s 14.99.
Alisha Mustapic was the only junior Mustapic family representative this year. Alisha brought home a bronze medal in the Under 14 80m hurdles as well as placing 5th in javelin, 7th in 100m and 8th in 200m. Glen Mustapic took out the 40-49 years 5000m for gold and also bagged a silver in the 1500m, whilst in the 800m he placed 4th, just in front of fellow team mate Paul Musgrove.
Temporary Mustapic member, Mia Stevens, who travelled out to Dubbo with the Mustapic clan, had a smile on her face all weekend, clearly enjoying her first Country Champs. Mia was 6th in Under 14 100m, 7th in 200m and 4th in long jump.
The Goddard family made their debut at Country Champs and did so in winning style. Karly Goddard not only won the 30-39 years steeplechase she broke the Country Championship record in a winning time of 9.16.44. Karly also won silver in the 800m, 100m, shot and discus, and was 4th in 1500m. Jett Goddard speared gold in Under 13 javelin with 21.58m and won bronze in shot. He then placed 4th in 800m, 5th in 1500m and long jump and 6th in 200m. Taj Goddard had a winning streak with gold in Under 10 long jump, 800m, and shot put. In the 200m a runner from St George Club may have crossed the line first but Taj was awarded the gold medal because St George is not a Country Club. In the 100m it was a similar story with a Port Hacking athlete running, so again Taj took the gold medal. After bagging five gold medals Taj was also 11th in discus.
The Hay family were also debutantes at Country Champs. Nash Hay claimed gold in Under 17 800m and silver in 1500m and was 4th in 3000m and 400m where he achieved a PB. Brother Jack lined up in the Under 17 200m and sprinted to 5th place in a PB time of 25.55. Kalani Hay bagged three silver medals for 2nd place in Under 13 200m (PB), 800m and 1500m (PB) and was 4th in 400m with another PB.
Young Rose Atkins certainly demonstrated grit and determination, beyond her years. Her facial expression in the relay said it all, as she brought the baton home for the girls in the Under 16 event. Rose took silver in Under 10 800m, sprinting home to pass her Nowra team mate Elsie Proctor in the closing metres of the race. Rose leapt to a bronze medal in long jump and was 4th in both 200m and shot. Mum Tiffany Atkins won two medals at her first Country Champs, taking bronze in 40-49 years 800m and 1500m. Tiff also finished 4th in 200m, 6th in 100m and 7th in shot.
Jackson Jennings made the most of recent training collecting a silver medal in Under 18 triple jump and then three bronze medals for 100m, 200m and long jump as well as a 5th in 400m. Mel Jennings also collected three bronze medals, like mother, like son, with 3rd placing in 50-59 years hammer, discus and shot. Mel narrowly missed another medal for javelin after some contentious judging.
Newcomer Jonah Watson was a welcome addition to the Nowra Athletics Club team, with his enthusiasm and friendly support. It was fantastic to see Jonah claim silver in the Under 14 long jump, as well as placing 4th in 100m, 5th in 200m, and 5th in 90m hurdles in his very first competition.
Charlie Fay was another ‘newbie’ at Country. Charlie sailed through the air to take gold in Under 13 high jump and on the track, he took two silvers in 800m and 1500m. Charlie was also 5th in long jump and 9th in discus.
Jacob Pepper competed in four events and went home with four medals after placing 1st in Under 17 steeplechase, 2nd in both 800m and 1500m and 3rd in 3000m.
Elsie Proctor took bronze in the under 10 800m then stepped up to compete against the ‘big kids’ in the Under 13 1500m where she also collected a bronze medal. Elsie was also 5th in 100m and 6th in long jump.
Ruby Marshall had a busy program across track and field. Ruby hurdled her way to a bronze medal in the Under 15 90m hurdles and scored another bronze in long jump. In shot she was 5th, in javelin 6th, in 200m 7th and in 100m and 400m she was 8th.
Fourteen-year-old Henry Parrish sprinted his way to 6th in both Under 15 100m and 400m and was 8th in 200m whilst Riley Power finished 5th in Under 15 100m and 6th in 200m before succumbing to an injury.
Country Championships veteran Geoff Crook made the trek to Dubbo with the relay team as his priority, but whilst there he also competed in the field. For his efforts, he took home a bronze medal in the 50-59 years javelin after spearing 31.18m and was 4th in discus.
Another Country veteran of vast experience and winner of many past medals was Peter Dooley who once again scooped the pool in his events, winning both the 60-69 years 800m and 1500m, well ahead of any of his competition.
Ron Cox may be experienced at coaching but surprisingly not at competing but this year he decided to enter the 60-69 years discus and was rewarded with a silver medal after throwing 34.70m. We are sure this will not be his last medal now he’s crossed the line between coach and competitor.
In the Relays, Nowra dominated the track with numbers. In the Under 16 boys Nowra entered 4 teams. The “A” team won gold whilst our much younger teams ran in 4th, 5th and 7th. The girls Under 16’s had 2 teams, with Team “A” taking bronze and Team “B” running in 4th to particularly loud cheers as Rose Atkins gritted her teeth and gave it her all. In the Men’s Opens event Team “A” was 5th and “B” was 7th. In the Women’s 30+ our team of Tracey Barrett, Erin Smart, Tiff Atkins and Karly Goddard blitzed the field to take gold in 58.86. In the climax of the entire Championships, the Men’s 30+ beer challenge was contested and won, once again by Team “B”, regardless of the fact that Team “A” finished with a silver medal and Team “B” took bronze in the race. More details on these exciting relay escapades later.
The Committee would like to thank everyone for their efforts on the track, in the field, and in the crowd, cheering and supporting. Nowra placed 2nd in the Hooper Cup Pointscore at the Championships with 599.50 points which is something to be immensely proud of. Well done everyone on a great weekend of athletics and comradery!