Over 70s National Cricket Championships - Sunshine Coast

The 2nd Australian Overs 70s Cricket Championships were held on the Sunshine Coast from 12-18 September 2018.

We left home on the Wednesday morning to fly to the Sunshine Coast. At Tullamarine Airport it was easy to recognise other players also heading north. At Maroochydore we collected a hire car and drove to our accommodation for the next week at Mooloolaba.

From our rooms at the Landmark Resort we had a great view of the beach.

 We also had a view of the Marina.

After buying provisions for the week we went to  Club Mooloolaba, around the corner from the apartments, for the Meet and Greet. We met other members of the Victorian team as well as catching up with players from the Australian Over 70s team with whom we had recently toured in England.

After the Welcome we had dinner at the club - Tuscany Penne (chicken, mushrooms and spinach) and fish 'n' chips. A good start for the week ahead.

Over 70s National Cricket Championships - Sunshine Coast - Day One

Another beautiful day in Queensland. Our first game was at Read Park, Tewantin, north of Moolaba near Noosaville.

The ground and surroundings were very Queensland.

When we arrived the grounds staff were finishing preparing the ground.

Meanwhile the Victorians relaxed before going out to play. Les Quarrell had decided to come and watch the over 70s in action.

The Queensland Stormers team photo.

The Victorian I team then had their team photo.

Back row from left to right: Joel McGlynn (team manager),  Wavell McPherson, Bruce Pooley, John Costello,  Ian Gibson, Robin Court, Ron Kasputtis
Front row from left to right: Ian Rowland, Ian Gibson, Arthur Pritchard (captain), Ian Longmuir, Ron Lovell, Wayne Warner
Victoria won the toss and put Queensland Stormers into bat. The Stormers were 6 for 109 at the end of the 40 overs. Ron Kasputtis, Ron Lovel, John Costello and Ian Longmuir all got one wicket while Bruce Pooley got 2 wickets.
Victoria won the game reaching 4 for 110 during the 32nd over. Ian A Gibson (37 runs) and Wayne Warner (27) were top scorers for Victoria.

Scorers for the game - Joel McGlynn scoring for Victoria. Jill Drescher was looking after the live scores for the match. Phil Drescher was a member of the 2015 Over 60s tour of England and it was to catch up with Phil and Jill at different times during the carnival.

During the afternoon I went for a walk into Trewantin and then down to the river.

The Noosa River

These pelicans were having a rest near the marina

A very pretty location.

From the marina there is a walking track by the water which I have been told is worth exploring but there was insufficient time on this occasion.

Back in Mooloolaba we had dinner at the Fish on Parkyn Restaurant on Parkyn Parade. We had enjoyed dinner there on our last vist to Mooloolaba so decided to have dinner there again. This time Bruce Pooley came with us. I had the special fish 'n' chips, Robin had the Mooloolaba prawn spaghetti while Bruce chose the crispy grilled atlantic salmon. Another good meal.

Over 70s National Cricket Championships - Sunshine Coast - Day Two

Another beautiful day and we once again drove north of Mooloolaba to Yandina.

Our opposition on this second day of the championships was South Australia. Their captain, Alan Reid, had been a player in the recent Australian Over 70s team in England so it was a different experience with him playing in the opposition team.

Before the game some of the ladies enjoyed a cup of tea or coffee and a chat.

From left: Helen Gibson, Shirley McPherson, Julie Warner, Jan Rowland, Lesley Pritchard, June Thornhill, Ann Edmunds

Victoria won the toss and batted first. At the end of the 40 overs Victoria was 6 for 129. Top scorers for Victoria were Ian A Gibson (40 retired), Ian Longmuir (35 n.o), Ian Rowland (22) and Arthur Pritchard (16).

In reply South Australia was all out for 88 off 37.4 overs. Ron Kasputtis and John Costello each took one wicket, Bruce Pooley 2 and Ron Lovel 6 wickets.

A happy Ron Lovel after the game.

South Australian captain, Alan Reid, presenting Ron with the Man of the Match award.

During the morning I went for a walk. Phil and Jill Drescher had called into the game in the morning and told me how to find the Buderim Ginger Factory.

I had heard of the ginger factory from when my grandparents lived at Buderim but had never visited it. The complex is entered via the shop where an array of ginger related products are available for purchase.

Tours of the factory itself are available at set times.

On part of the property, rainforest has been replanted and visitors can walk through these areas.

A small train is also available to take visitors on a tour of the complex and provide information about ginger.

Across the road from the Buderim Ginger Factory is Nutworks.

A range of macademia nut products can be purchased.

A number of interesting mountains overlook this area - Mt Ninderry (above) overlooking the Ginger Factory and looking along railway line towards Mt Cooroora (below).

Back in Mooloolaba we had dinner at Bella Venezia where we were served by Jacob - a waiter with plenty of personality. Robin had Spanner Crab Ravioli while I enjoyed Risotto all'Anatra (wild mushrooms and smoked duck).

A good end to a good day.

Over 70s National Cricket Championships - Sunshine Coast - Day Three and Four

Game 3, on Monday 17 September, was played at the John Blanck Oval at Maroochydore Cricket Club.

There are four cricket grounds at this complex and we had played games at this location in 2013.

Our opposition for this match was Tasmania. Roger Edmunds who toured in the Australian Over 70s team to England was a member of the Tasmanian team. During the match Kevin Meikle, a member of the Australian over 60s tour of England in 2015, came to watch the matches being played at the ground and stopped for a chat with Robin and me. It was good to see him again.

Tasmania batted first and were 9 for 99 at the end of their 40 overs. Ron Lovel and Ron Kasputtis each had two wickets. Bruce Pooley, John Costello, Ian Longmuir and Ian Rowland each had one wicket. In reply, Victoria was 1 for 100 in the 29th over. Ian Rowland (28 n.o.), Ian B Gibson (15), Wayne Warner (16) and Wavell McPherson (22 n.o.) were the main scorers.

It was another good win resulting in Victoria being clear winners in Pool A (Division 1).

As the game finished early the players went across to an adjoining ground to watch the end of the NSW game against the Queensland Cyclones.

Dinner that night was a fisherman's basket purchased from the Fish 'n' Chippery and enjoyed back at the apartment.

Next day we were back at the John Blanck Oval for the final against the Queensland Cyclones - winners of Pool B.

Members of the Queensland Cyclones team - three members of this team, Ian Petherick, John Stackpoole and Colin Cooke had been members of the recent Australian Over 70s tour to England.

Before the game our 'Two Ronnies' - Ron Lovel and Ron Kasputtis, inspected the pitch.

The Victorian team waiting for the game to start.

Queensland Cyclones won the toss and elected to bat. The Victorians bowled tightly and at the end of the 40 overs the Cyclones were 9 for 133. Ian Longmuir took 3 wickets, Ron Lovel and John Costello each took two and Robin 1. A good performance by the bowlers and fielders.
Unfortunately the Victorians could only manage 8 for 105 at the end of the 40 overs. Ian Rowland (29), Arthur Pritchard (19) and Ron Lovel (14 n.o.) were the best of the Victorian batsmen.

The Queensland Cyclones were therefore the winners of the Doug Turbill Trophy for 2018.

In the evening we attended the Championship Dinner at the Maroochy RSL Club in Maroochydore.

It was a great night with good food and entertainment. A fitting end to to the 2018 championships.

Over 70s National Championships - Sunshine Coast - Mooloolaba

Mooloolaba is an ideal place for a holiday in September. Beautiful weather, great views, places to walk and explore, good selection of restaurants - what more could you want?

 Views from our apartment balcony - the beach and the marina.

The Saturday morning was a rest day so I went for a walk along the beach towards Alexandra Headland.

The tide was out so it was possible to walk across the rocks at the end of the Mooloolaba Beach and around the headland.

In the 1950s and early 1960s people used to camp on the headland. Now it is parkland. There are a number of caravan parks in the area for campers.

 The beach at Alexandra Headland was busy as there was a surf carnival as well as normal swimming activities.

There were also people just out for a surf or a swim.

I then returned along the foreshore to Mooloolaba.

Later that morning Robin and I went for a walk along the foreshore and encountered some local residents.

This one posed for a photo. We also saw a sea eagle soaring overhead and a bush turkey running down the path.

A shadow covered the path as a paraglider passed over us.

In the evening we had dinner at Via Italia another good Italian restaurant. We shared Roasted garlic loaf and then had Gamberi Zafferona (safron spaghetti with Mooloolaba prawns) and Peposa Gnocchi (gnocchi with slow roasted beef cheek). Delicious meal served by Harriet.