Queensland Country Water Polo Championships a Great Success

The 2020 Agonswim Australia Water Polo Queensland Country Championships were held over the weekend at the new FINA accredited 50m pool at the Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex.

Proudly supported by Mackay Regional Council and naming rights partner Agonswim Australia, the event was a great success attracting 11 teams and participants from across country Qld from as far south as the Gold Coast, as far west as Toowoomba, north to Cairns as well as Townsville, Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast. Almost 200 people from all over Queensland descended on Mackay for the event including players, coaches, managers, referees, officials, selectors, staff as well as families, friends and supporters.

This three day event showcased the best Country water polo has to offer with teams battling it out to be crowned champion region and players vying for Qld Country Team selection. In addition, a number of capacity building and training initiatives were offered to coaches and referees. Water Polo Qld representatives ran a Coach Development Course on Friday evening and Referees were offered mentoring and assessment opportunities during the course of the event.

CEO of Water Polo Queensland, Melanie Woosnam said “for participants to play in an event of this level at a world class FINA standard facility in a Regional centre such as Mackay was a wonderful experience. Mackay Regional Council and the Staff at the Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex were wonderful hosts and enabled the event to be delivered in professional manner. The competition was of a very high standard and being able to offer the added opportunity to mentor, develop and assess coaches and referees from regional centres was a bonus and will assist in building the capacity, capability and sustainability of water polo back in these country areas.”

In the Women’s competition, the Gold Coast Blue team took out the gold medal in a closely fought match with long time rivals the Sunshine Coast who took the silver whilst Rockhampton defeated Gold Coast Gold to take the bronze medal.

The Men’s competition was a close contest with the WPQ Barbarians Team securing gold over the Gold Coast in a very close encounter with the game being won in the final quarter. The Gold Coast/Townsville combined team took out the bronze medal in a tough battle against the Cairns Reef Sharks.

Mackay Regional Council Mayor, Greg Williamson was present for the medal presentations and also presented the player and officials awards to the following recipients:

Referee Encouragement Award – Lily Kele (Rockhampton)

Most Valuable Goalkeeper (Women) – Lillian Merlo (Sunshine Coast)

Most Valuable Goalkeeper (Men) – Xavier Clark (WPQ Barbarians)

Most Valuable Player (Women) - Jessica Lungdren (Sunshine Coast)

Most Valuable Player (Men) – Alex Pattersen (Rockhampton)

Later this week, Water Polo Qld will be naming the Qld Country Maroon and Black teams and Coaches that will participate in the National Country Championships at the Southport Aquatic Centre on the Gold Coast from 6-9 May.