Mount Isa Hockey got their season off with a bit of soapy fun. Soap hockey is played on a soap-slicked tarp and a craze sweeping the world and arrived in Mount Isa in early March as a way of welcoming the kids to the season.
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Also early in the morning the Queen’s Baton Relay came to the North West on its long trek ahead of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April. The baton arrived by RFDS plane in Cloncurry on a rainy Thursday morning. RFDS senior medical officer Dr Don Bowley accompanied the baton and he was welcomed by Mayor Greg Campbell at the airport. The relay started with assembly at Cloncurry State School before 12 relayers took it around town with a celebration at the Community Precinct.
Later that day the relay came to Mount Isa with 34 happy baton bearers undeterred by the rain and the need for a last minute re-route with the 23rd Ave crossing closed due to flooding. The day ended with a community celebration at Buchanan Park.
St Patrick’s Day might usually be green but in Mount Isa it was pink as the Panthers surprised heavy favourites and defending premiers Black Stars to win the Mount Isa T40 Cricket premiership. Starries batted first but their danger bats were contained and they finished with 6/233. Panthers chased the total down in the heat of the afternoon to win by five wickets with four balls to spare.
Meanwhile on the same day, a big crowd came to Buchanan Park for the St Patrick’s Day races. It was Mount Isa’s first meet for 2018 after two cancellations due to the weather. The Bob Burow (trainer) and Aaron Spradau combo came up with a double on the day.
Euros held the wood over rivals Warrigals as they won the rugby union grand final on March 24. The two sides battled it out in a nail-biter game in the rain with the final score 8-7 to Euros.
Boulia used its Easter Saturday races to open new facilities at the track. The half a million dollars worth of improvements include a new 1.5km running rail and an office that includes a jockey’s change room, steward’s room, kitchen and male and female amenities. There was also a new stewards tower.
The Easter Yelvertoft rodeo and campdraft had to be moved to Julia Creek due to the drought. Despite the venue change people came from far and wide and they watched Sam Woodard win the open bull ride.
South Australian Matt Hutchison made it back to back Julia Creek Dirt N Dust triathlons. Hutchison raced home to win in a sizzling time of 1:02:59 – ten minutes faster than last year and eight ahead of his nearest rival this year. Winning the women’s marathon was 16-year-old student, Emma Simpson, from Cairns in 1:15:53.