2019 Queensland Country Championships heading to Far North Queensland

Far North Queensland will welcome teams from across regional Queensland with Cairns announced as hosts of the 2019 Queensland Country Water Polo Championships. 

The annual three-day tournament will be held at Tobruk Memorial Pool from 15 - 17 February, with an estimated 230 competitors from the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton, Mackay, and Townsville joining the local Cairns Reef Sharks in the city to renew traditional rivalries. 

The Queensland Country Championships provides regional athletes with an opportunity to compete for regional supremacy and vie for selection into a Queensland Country Representative team that will compete at the Australian Country Championships on the Gold Coast in May 2019. 

"We're thrilled that next year's Country Championships will be hosted here in Cairns. We've achieved so much in our first year and we want to continue to grow and challenge ourselves as a club. It's a huge task hosting the tournament, but we have a fantastic club, facilities, and supporters that will make the 2019 competition the best yet." said Jesse O'Hara, President, Cairns Water Polo. 

In their first year of operation, Cairns Water Polo has sent junior and senior athletes to compete in Albury, Rockhampton, Townsville, and Tasmania. Now the Far North Association will welcome some of Queensland's top regional athletes, with many striving to follow in the footsteps of players such as Ashleigh Southern (2012, 2016 Olympian) and Kelsey Wakefield (2016 Olympian) who both hail from regional Queensland and have competed at this tournament. 

"Cairns put together a fantastic bid for the 2019 Queensland Country Championships, which really stood out. Not only are the facilities world class but there is a growing appetite for the sport here in the Far North. We're amazed at how much Cairns has achieved in their first year and they have ambitious plans for their second. Part of these plans is hosting a State Championships, which we hope will build awareness of our sport and attract new players to water polo. 

We also have an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy as the Championships provide us with the chance to continue to develop our regional players, coaches, and referees. We're looking forward to showcasing the skill and athleticism of our sport to the local community." said Robert Donaghue, Chief Executive Officer, Water Polo Queensland. 

It's set to be an exciting three days of competition with the Cairns Reef Sharks looking to take advantage of the home water and crowd. 

Fixtures for the 2019 Queensland Country Championships will be announced in the coming months.