THE CARNIVALS 2008

Throughout the 2008 season athletes are able to nominate and compete in various meets/carnivals hosted by us and other Centres. While these carnivals are optional it is strongly recommended that Athletes nominate and compete as they are good fun and expose Athletes to some good competition. Nominations for each Carnival generally close one month prior to the competition. Check with our registration desk and listen for our announcements each week. Carnivals advertised as Little Athletics your child will compete in the age group as they do at Club competition. ANQ Carnivals (All Registered Athletes) your athletes age is calculated as at 31st December 2008.
These are some of them………..

Intercentre Day
Sunday 11th May 2008
Hosted by Cairns Athletics.

Each year within the FNQ Zone we hold an Intercentre day for all registered athletes within our FNQ Region. This year Cairns Athletics will be hosting this day with a lot of help from all the clubs in the area, so please come along and join in the fun. This day is basically a normal club day, but other clubs will be attending and each club is responsible for recording their own times etc.

Barrier Reef Carnival
ANQ Carnival (All Registered Athletes)
Sat 7th & 8th June 2008 – Hosted by Townsville Northstar Club
Townsville Sports Reserve

This carnival is open to all registered athletes from 4 Years to Veterans and is considered to be another major carnival to attend. The Far North has always sent a good contingent of athletes who have competed successfully. The Sports Reserve is great to compete on and also Townsville has a lot to offer for the traveller with the upgrade to the Strand. It’s less than 4hrs away and a great weekend.

CORAL COAST CARNIVAL
ANQ Carnival (All Registered Athletes)
Saturday/Sunday 21st & 22nd June 2008
Barlow Park, Cairns

This carnival is hosted by Cairns Athletics and is held at Barlow Park. It is open to all athletes of all age groups from 4 Years to Veterans from all clubs anywhere (including overseas). This is a great meet to compete against athletes from other centres with varying ranges of experience. Athletes compete in their age group with their age calculated as at 31st December 2008.

Winter Championships
(Qld Little Athletic Members Only)
Saturday & Sunday 19th & 20th July 2008
Mackay Sports Reserve - Mackay.

Held in Townsville every second year. These Championships are open to Qld Little Athletic Members only from Rockhampton to Cooktown. The Championships include a modified U/7 & U/8 Carnival. These young Athletes run heats only, medals are not awarded to place getters, but ALL ATHLETES receive a Commemorative Medallion at the end of the Carnival. Under 9’s to Under 15’s compete in their nominated events and medals are presented to all place getters. Under 15’s can also choose to participate in the Pentathlon. Winters are considered to be the meeting that all Athletes should compete in, so this one is a must.

Bendigo Bank Student Invitational Carnival
(ANQ Specifications)
Saturday/Sunday 9th & 10th August 2008 Barlow Park

Held on our track at Barlow Park over two days. School age Athletes will complete for their school. All students will compete in their school sports uniforms and don’t have to be a member of an athletics club to be eligible to nominate. Medals are awarded to all place getters and each school competes for Primary and Secondary Trophies. Each winning school will be awarded a Sporting Goods voucher to the value of $500.00 to purchase equipment for their sports departments. It’s a carnival that is run by Cairns Athletics and a good one to invite your friends to.

Mulgrave Relay Day
(All Registered Athletes)
Sunday 17th August 2008
Johnson Park, Gordonvale

Hosted by the Mulgrave Club this is their sixth year at running this event. Mulgrave Athletics club is a huge supporter of all carnivals. We need to give them our full support and attend this Relay Day. It is a lot of fun and a highlight of the day is watching a few Mums and Dads race around the track, the kids talked about it for weeks afterwards. This carnival works on the basis of athletes nominating as pairs to form a team to compete against other teams in events. Their combined results are given points to which at the end of the day are tallied with winning teams receiving medals. (This one is close to home so not far to travel.)

Pentathlon Day (All Registered Athletes)
Hosted by Tableland Athletics Club
Sunday 31st August 2008
Tolga Recreational Reserve

Hosted every year by the Tablelands Athletics Club, this day is considered by most to be the best family day on the FNQ Athletics Calendar. Held at the Tolga Recreational Reserve it’s a great carnival with a real country atmosphere. Make sure to pack your deck chairs, blankets, eskies and picnic baskets. Note: It is winter so it can get cold and has been known to rain - frost was a first for some a couple of years ago. Food is great (typical tablelands hospitality, it’s the best) and everyone has a great day.

The day runs by a set programme for each individual age group, 5 events each. Points are calculated according to place and times for each athlete’s performance. Points are tallied and trophies are awarded to 1st, 2nd & 3rd for each age group (boys and girls), with overall trophies for Junior, Intermediate and Senior 1st, 2nd and 3rd places (boys and girls) also being awarded.

Highlight for the kids is the huge Athletes draw. All athletes’ names are placed in the draw and then drawn out for a chance to take home some great prizes. This is all-inclusive in the nomination fee.

Peninsula School Sport Trials
Primary – Friday 15th August
Seconday – Friday 5th September
Hosted by Peninsula School Sport
Barlow Park Cairns

Hosted by Peninsula School Sport, these trials are conducted to select the athletes from Primary and Secondary Schools to compete at the State Championships. Cairns Athletics assists with providing officials for these trials as well as running of the Canteen over the two days. Parental Assistance is needed in the Canteen. Canteen opens from 8.00am to 3.30pm. There is also preparation work prior to the day. If you can help, please contact Meegan on 40320875 with your offer of help.

ANQ Track & Field Championships
(ANQ Registered Athletes)
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
26th, 27th & 28th September, 2008
Hosted by Athletics North Queensland
at Townsville Sports Reserve

This is the major carnival on the ANQ calendar for 2008 for all ANQ registered athletes (Cairns Athletes - Under 11 to Masters and Other Dual Registered Club Athletes). Athletes are eligible to nominate to compete for medals and is where athletes can qualify for the Oceania Games. This is a Premier Carnival held in North Qld every year and in the past has seen members of the Commonwealth Games Team and Para-Olympians compete. This level of competition is generally not seen outside the major capital cities. We would hope many of our athletes take the opportunity to attend this premier carnival.

Tropical North Regional Championships
(Little Athletic Members Only)
(for U7 - U15’s)
18th & 19th October, 2008
Hosted by Cassowary Coast Athletics, Innisfail

Any athlete who wishes to compete in the 2009 Queensland State Titles must compete at the Regional Intercentre Games. This is also the last major carnival in the Little Athletics calendar for the year. We encourage ALL ATHLETES to attend this carnival. Athlete’s who compete in this carnival are eligible for Regional Trophies, which are presented at our Presentation Day. If you don’t compete you are not eligible and cannot qualify for State Titles which will be held in March 2009 in Brisbane.

This event is open to all registered QLAA athletes from U7 to U15's, each of whom may compete in up to seven events of their choice. Events offered to the UI5 age group include a pentathlon which comprises 100m, 800m, 100m hurdles/ 90m hurdles (boys/girls), Long Jump and Discus. Athletes nominating for the pentathlon may also compete in any two individual events.

All competitors receive performance certificates detailing all events they contest. Athletes in the U9 – U15’s that place 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the finals receive medals. Athletes in the U7 – U8’s receive participation medals only.

Queensland is divided into nine Little Athletics Regions, and each of these hosts a Regional Championships. There are two Regions in the North of the State, which conduct their Championships around the beginning of September. The remaining seven Summer Centres Regions conduct their Regional Championships in February. (Please refer to the notes on U16 & U17's participation).

State Championships (for U9 - U15’s)
March 2009 - Brisbane

The State Championships is the major competition in our Queensland calendar year. Athletes in the U9 - U15’s age groups who place in the first four at their Regional Championships are eligible to compete. Typically, some 2000 athletes from all corners of the State take part in this annual event.

Competitors will receive performance certificates detailing their event/s and performances. The first three placegetters from the finals receive medals.

A State Team of 26 children is selected at these Championships. The team is normally comprised of twenty-two U13 Boys and Girls, and four U15 Pentathletes (two boys and two girls). The performance of the U13's at this event plays a significant part in their selection. (Please refer to the notes on U18 participation).