Backers needs for good s(p)orts
QUEENSLAND beach volleyball stars Justine and Jordan Mowen are perfect examples Brisbane athletes struggling for sponsors. The Mowen sisters have linked with professional coach and former Olympian Matt Grinlaubs. He is helping them develop towards the world tour for future seeding and 2016 Olympic qualification. Previously the girls coached themselves and are seeded the No. 1 players in Queensland. They are competing at the National Championships and are ranked fourth in Australia. But it is only through playing on the world tour that they achieve a world ranking which then allows them to qualify for the Olympics. Sponsorship is the key as Australian Volleyball only provide support for their AIS-based players in Adelaide. The girls want to play together based out of Brisbane so need to pay for everything themselves. It is amazing because if anyone is marketable it is them.
Sponsorship beefs up Maggies
ON the subject of sponsors, Souths Magpies rugby league have signed a new major backer in CFRB, Certified Free Range Beef Company. The company is owned by Bill Rae, who was originally a major driver behind the Brisbane NRL bid for a second team, the Brisbane Bombers. We mention it because it is good news at a time when we hear a lot of the Queensland Cup teams are looking to bolster their sponsorships in what are difficult times.
Brisbane base? You bet
RUMOURS abound that one of the biggest corporate betting agencies in the world is setting up an office on Brisbane's northside. The story goes it will be registered in the Northern Territory but have a Brisbane base. As we keep rabbiting, the decision to link Queensland racing's future exclusively to the one TAB has had some interesting consequences for prizemoney. But watch for TattsBet to also come up with some new benefits for punters soon.
Swapping whistle for clipboard
WE can't find anyone else who has done this. Brisbane and Sunshine Coast senior rugby union referee Simon Lewis has switched to coaching Maroochydore A grade this year. We can find plenty of coaches who have become referees. We can find plenty of referees who have coached junior and lower grade sides. But we can't find anyone to match his effort. At least Lewis will know all the good ways to sledge referees.
How's this for openers
AND several readers have asked us if it was a first when Valley opener Andrew Gode was run out for 98 in first grade. We can find several players who were run out for 99 in grade cricket but none who have been on 98. In fact we can't find anyone in rep cricket to be run out on 98. But we are sure someone will let us known if there is another.
Big boots to fill
THE Queensland U/19 cricket side won the national championship for the first time in 11 years this week. The Ear hopes this team produces as many stars as the 2000-01 winning side which was: Chris Simpson, Nick Kruger, Aaron Maynard, Craig Philipson, Nathan Hauritz, Chris Hartley, Mitchell Chapman, Luke Davis, John Dellit, Scott Brant, Nathan Rimmington, Chris Summers, and Chris McCabe.
Fan has a blond moment
THE T20 Big Bash not only drew a new audience but also saw the return of some older fans - even if they were slightly confused. A senior QC official was stunned when a fan at the T20 who proclaimed: "Mr Rackemann I am so glad to see you back at the cricket." It caused great mirth because while Graham Dixon does have blond hair (what is left) he is a good few centimetres shorter than Big Carl.
Caring for lonesome Cowboys
THE Cowboys released promising young player Michael Parker-Walshe in what our men in the north say is an increasing problem for the club. Parker-Walshe isn't the only Cowboy to cite homesickness as a reason for leaving. But it is funny because of all the NRL cubs the Cowboys probably try to the hardest to make imports feel welcome. But in an unusual spinoff this week I got an email from a reader claiming it was another example of why a NRL team wouldn't work in Rockhampton. But for starters the CQ bid wants to use at least 70 per cent home grown players.
Memories to flow at City
HAPPY memories will be revived this year when Brisbane City Football Club celebrates its 60th anniversary. Originally known as Azzurri the club was founded in 1952 by a group of Italian migrants. At its height in the 1960-70s it dominated local soccer and in the late 1970s entered the National Soccer League, winning the Phillips Cup in 1977 and 1978 and were grand finalists in 1979. The club will be running a series of events staying with a Premier League match against traditional rivals Queensland Lions on February 17. Email secretary@brisbanecityfc.com.au or phone 0412 748 801.
Golfers from far and wide
WE recently mentioned how the wide spread of hometowns for players in the Queensland womens' junior cricket side showed how the sport was pushing its horizons. Our golf chappies emailed this week pointing out the same could be said for golf. The Junior Queensland boys and girls teams announced this week include players from Indooroopilly, Burleigh, Coolangatta Tweed, Pacific, Peregian Springs, Mossman, Horton Park and Warwick.
Brumbies in for good ride
A COUPLE of the Queensland members of the Brumbies squad were in Brisbane over Christmas and report things are going well under new coach Jake White. We hear former Reds and Waratahs player Ben Mowen has dropped about 7kg under Dean Benton's training. We only mention it for those wanting a sneaky Super 15 bet.
DIARY DATES
SANDGATE Redcliffe's cricket's 50th Anniversary dinner on March 10 at the Geebung-Zillmere RSL Club.
UNIVERSITY rugby club's annual breakfast at Tattersall's Club on March 2. Guest speaker Ewen McKenzie with James Holbeck as MC.
UNIVERSITY of Queensland Women's Hockey Club is celebrating its 100th year and is seeking contact details for past players, officials, committee members and supporters, as well as club memorabilia.
TRUTH HURTS
NOT surprisingly, I am a great fan of the Brisbane Race Club's initiative in paying appearance money for national stars to race here in the winter. I say not surprisingly, because I first suggested a variation on the promotion about 10 years ago. It can only generate interest and turnover. But there a few who reckon prizemoney should have been the first priority. However, that is nothing to do with the BRC and is Racing Queensland's job. There needs to be a complete overhaul of the prizemoney and race program systems.
RQ has consistently shown it is incapable of adequately meetings the challenges. Whoever wins the state election the first thing done should be recruiting people who can meet those challenges. PS: When the Sunday Mail correctly runs Ballarat as its main form guide meeting instead of the woeful Sunshine Coast card yesterday it is time for action and quick action.
HIGH FLYERS
REDS player Beau Robinson is behind the drive to encourage Australians to take a break from the booze in February, while raising funds for young people with drug-alcohol problems.
TITANS star Greg Bird really is tough. He lined up as target on the dunk machine at a fundraiser last week and we hear didn't blink an eye when repeatedly dunked.
THE Cowboys showed as poker players they were good footballers at a charity function at the Townsville casino. Our northern men report apart from Ashton Sims and Glenn Hall the boys were, well, duds.
ALLROUNDER Worrin Williams will captain the Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander XI for the first time next month in the annual clash with the QAS at Allan Border Field.
ON NOTICE
WE hear league great Norm Provan's Rydges Oasis Resort, at Caloundra, which is a popular place with sport and racing folk is getting closer to being sold.
BASKETBALL Queensland is doing its bit to boost the sport with changes to its High Performance program. It should encourage more young players to stay in the sport.
RUGBY union has some interesting figures - Queensland has a record 15,726 juniors, 1033 junior teams and 458 competitive schools. AND good to see the Toowoomba Clydesdales are back in the FOGS Challenge this year.
GOOD OIL
REDS boss Rod McCall has done such a good job we hear he is on a secret list for an even higher gig.
SMART move with the Queensland Cup league to have an inaugural Country Week with all six matches on the weekend of July 14-15 to be played at regional and outback grounds.
FOR the 50th time, the career crim who appeared in the magistrates court this week is not the former star rugby league player. They have the same name and are even the same age.
PERHAPS they will revert to an old tin Cup for the Australian women's T20 cricket trophy after the ornate crystal model was dropped within five minutes of last week final finishing.
RACING WHISPERS
IT rained so heavily during the third at Ipswich on Friday jockey Tony Pattillo had to empty a half litre of water out of his boots after the race. BLOOPER of the year candidate. A Chinchilla lad sat beside a stylish lass in the Magic Millions VIP marquee and asked her if she had an interest in racing. Yes, Francesca Cumani does.
IT must have been some party at the Millions. We hear there were thousands of dollars in unclaimed winning bets.
THERE is a meeting at Deagon at 7.30am today to discuss the proposed redevelopment or demise of it.
JOCKEY Bobby El-Issa's application to the Court of Appeal over his 18-month disqualification has been dismissed by consent.