FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (embargoed till release date)
Date: / 18 November, 2016Media Contacts: / Felicity Wilson, TFA Media and Communications Manager
0411 825 128
Julian Buckmaster General manager, Business Development and Marketing 0438777993
Bundaberg Cup Beckons!
The wait is finally over. The richest knock-out on the touch football calendar is set to light up the Bundaberg-North Burnett region this weekend building on the initial year’s success.Over 30 teams will converge to Bundaberg to take part in the second annual Bundaberg Cup event at the Greg Duncan Touch Fields; with returning players, teams and some very welcome inclusions into the event: one from across the Coral Sea and another two from Penrith in NSW,particular highlights.
Teams from across Queensland, the country and overseaswill all be vying for the $20,000 prizemoney on offer across Men’s and Mixed divisions. In a massive development for the event, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the first international team to compete for the Cup and rich prize purse. Followingtheir strong performances in the 2015 Touch World Cup,the PNG development team are ready to make their mark in Bundaberg and stake their claim for the title; heralding a new international dimension and their distinctive and very exciting brand of touch football at the event.
PNG will face some tough competition from the Rockhampton contingent and the Bundaberg locals, as the ‘Rocky’ and ‘Bundy’ teams are looking to repeat their success from last year’s event. Bundy’s northern cousins from the Beef capital, took the title and all before them in the Men’s division in 2015 while the Bundy teamsfinished in the top two in five of the six finals.
This year’s event features two interstate teams; both from the Sydney region.
NADO, a not for profit organisation delivering services to people with a disability, formed their first touch football team for people with disabilities three years ago, and are now four teams strong, with a waitlist to join. Playing every Tuesday night, the teams love the opportunity to developtheir skills and compete in local and interstate events and are looking forward to their return visit to Bundaberg.
“We entered one team last year, and as our league has expanded, we were able to enter two mixed social teams this year,” Operations Manager and NADO Touch Football Founder, Brooke Wilkie said ahead of the event.
“This year we’ll have the NADO Dragons and the NADO Panthers who are both very excited and ready for the experience.
“We have some old hands who played last year, but many of the players will experience Bundy Cup for the first time.
“Bundaberg Touch and all event convenors and players were really welcoming last year, and we’re looking forward to seeing them again.”
The NADO teams will be sure to give the other teams another run for their money, after making it to the
Grand Final in the Premier Inclusion League of Vawdon Cup in Sydney earlier this month.
The draw for the round robin matches on Saturday 19 November is available now on the Bundaberg Cup website. Check in to see regular updates and scores through the weekend.
In addition to providing a wonderful prizemoney knockout opportunity for players, officials and volunteers in regional Queensland, the Bundaberg Cup also promises to provide a major boost to the region’s tourism industry over time.
Queensland Touch Football (QTF) CEO, Jamie O’Connor, was strong in his praise for all partners involved in building the event from a concept to reality in recent years.
“First and foremost, I would like to pass on my thanks and gratitude to the event’s partners Touch Football Australia, the Queensland Government though Tourism and Events Queensland, Bundaberg Touch Association, Bundaberg Regional Council and Bundaberg and North Burnett Tourism for their support in making this event come to life,” he said on tournament eve.
“These events are quite rare on the Touch Football calendar; particularly with such a large prize purse on offer.
“We all see great potential for the Bundaberg Cup for this and in future years; building significantly on the team numbers year-on-year and drawing in the best talent across Queensland and the country and importantly catering for social players too in a real carnival atmosphere.
“To all of those who will compete in and deliver the Bundaberg Cup this weekend I would like to welcome and thank them for supporting the inaugural event. Particularly to those who have travelled significant distances to do so.
“I hope all participants take the opportunity to experience some of the wonderful local attractions while in Bundaberg and look forward to seeing everyone back again next year and spread the word for an even bigger and better Bundaberg Cup in 2017 and beyond.”
The Bundaberg Cup is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland’s It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. The event is also supported by the Bundaberg Regional Council and Bundaberg and North Burnett Tourism.
For all media requests over the weekend, please contact Felicity Wilson, TFA Media and Communications Manager on 0411 825 128 or TFA General Manager, Business Development and Marketing, Julian Buckmaster on 0438 777 993.
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