The Home Hill Tennis Association will be proudly hosting the 43rd Annual Sugar Bowl iconic teams event this weekend. It is known as the sweet spot on the North Queensland tennis calendar. In 1981, Lex and Pat Anderson initiated the teams event by inviting captains from as far afield as Mackay and Ingham to form teams and come to the Burdekin and play off for the inaugural Sugar Bowl. Today, we have teams that travel from Brisbane to Mareeba and all places in between.
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Sugar Bowl Action Returns In 2024
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It is anticipated that Giru, Home Hill and Ayr Tennis courts will be used to cater for the 44 teams which have nominated. Each team has a minimum of 6 players with some teams having as many as 10 or more in their team allowing for members to have a bye. Play begins Saturday from 8 am and finishes around 2 pm on Monday. The Sugar Bowl famous Teabags with Dallan and Kurtis Garvey as members are looking to defend their title in A Grade. B Grade champions in 2023 were Ian Gould’s Goldin Aces and have subsequently moved into A2. All the teams will be out to win the highly sought after Woods Team Spirit Award named after David Woods who was the inaugural captain of the Teaspoons.
This weekend will see over 300 visitors flooding into the district for the long weekend providing economic benefits to the Burdekin with players frequenting local eateries, shops and accommodation venues. It is hoped that some of them will check out the Burdekin Craft Spectacular on Saturday morning at the Memorial Hall.
Members have been busy getting all their facilities so that they are in top class condition, with a coat of paint here and there. There will be the usual delicious array of food plus donated and home baked cakes and slices and a coffee stall at the entrance of Home Hill Tennis each day.
Sunday evening after play everyone is encouraged to stay and locals to come down and enjoy some good old Burdekin hospitality. There will be live music with Tammy Moxom singing from 5pm onwards. The Teaspoons are organized and will be cooking roast pork rolls amongst other delicious food for sale. A ride back to Ayr can be organized for those wishing to have a drink or two.
Ayr, Home Hill and Giru Tennis Associations would really like to thank all its volunteers, sponsors and donors for their contributions to the weekend. “We couldn’t do it without them,” said organizer Kate Casswell.
For more information look at Home Hill Tennis Facebook page. Life members, event sponsors, past and present members are invited to come along over weekend and to the presentations which will be around 2 pm on Monday.
Contributed by Home Hill Tennis Association
Sugar Bowl famous Tea Bags have won the tournament many times
Ian Gould's Goldin Aces from Ayr, Home Hill and Collinsville won the B grade section in 2023
