Nipper District Carnival full wrap up

The RNP District nipper carnival hosted by Burning Palms last Saturday 14th January 2012 was a roaring success.

We had 88 nippers in attendance, 26 from Burning Palms (a club record), 26 from Era and 36 from Garie, and at least 100 adults in attendance. The track, beach and clubhouse were all busy.

Congratulations to the winning club on the day with 250 points, Era. Well done to runners up with 246 points, Garie and a huge effort by the Burning Palms nippers with 193 points. Most of the Burning Palms nippers competed in competition for the first time and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

It was a great day of competition and celebration afterwards complete with friendly club rivalry and good sportsmanship.

I would like to make a special mention of the nippers who achieved age champion or runner up or third place on the day.

Well done to:

• Under 7’s Girls age champion Erin Pike and toRani Chafei for not letting vision impairment slow her down. Thanks to the older nippers Chelsea Tiller and Josh Wright-Smith for supporting Rani in her races.
• Under 8’s girls runner up, by only 1 point and in her first year as a nipper, Ruby Lund.
• Under 9’s girls runner up , second year running and only by 1 point, Kassie Shearman.
• Under 9’s boys runner up, first time nipper and a natural, Isaac Chafei. And in 3rd place Sam Wright-Smith.
• Under 11’s girls 3rd place (and on her birthday too!) Elisha Wright-Smith.
• Under 12’s girls 3rd place, by only 1 point, Sarah Driver.
• Under 12’s boys 3rd place Tom Braithwaite-Young.
• Under 13’s girls runner up Alexandra Liss.
• Under 13’s boys age champion (with daylight between him and runner up) Josh Wright-Smith.

As you can see the Palms was very well represented in all age groups and managed quite a few close top three results. The clubs future is looking good.

It would be easy to say ‘well done and thanks to everyone who made the day such a success’ but I would like to be a bit more specific and list the names of those that assisted in the preparation, execution and clean up of the carnival. I think it will help you all come become familiar with the names of the new members who are prepared to take our great club forward into the future. Come say G’day to them if you see them at the clubhouse when you are next down the track!

So here goes in no specific order:

·         A huge thanks to Wayne Hammer Vaughan for his efforts in managing the largest nipper group in the clubs history, and for coordinating the beach clean-up, course set up, logistics, catering, and smooth running of the carnival last Saturday. It is as most of you know a logistical challenge to host an event of this scale at Burning Palms. Great job Hammer.

·         Gary Dalyfor his input and support to Hammer with the preparation of the event and for his skill as carnival referee, very smooth.

·         Steven Strangefor support and his role as assistant referee and chief recorder and training me, Melissa Vaughan, as a recorder.

·         All of the nippersfor cleaning and raking the beach in preparation for the carnival and of course for participating in events.

·         Matt and Annabel Braithwaite-Young for logistics, clubhouse preparation, raffles, beach preparation, hospitality, course set up, clean up of beach and clubhouse and assisting hammer in any way they could.

·         Kevin Tillerfor beach preparation and set up and pack down and carnival judge.

·         John and Sandra Whittingham for beach preparation, set up and carnival judge and clubhouse cleaning.

·         Fiona Shearman for beach clean-up course set up clubhouse preparation, carnival recorder and clubhouse clean up.

·         Christine Maniaty for logistics, clubhouse preparation, beach preparation, hospitality, course set up, clean up of beach and clubhouse and assisting Hammer in any way she could.

·         Leighton Howard clubhouse preparation, beach clean-up and course set up and water safety officer. (and his kids aren’t even old enough for nippers!)

·         Helen McDermott club catering and hospitality and clean up.

·         Noella Merrick catering and carnival judge and trying to assist Crebert.

·         Stuart Driver carnival judge.

·         Peter Driver and his friend jack carnival assistants to Hammer- his gofers.

·         Josephine and Christopher Driver beach set up, catering set up (including carrying in all the sausages for the day) and clean up and hospitality.

·         Peter Wright-Smith Chief water safety officer, beach clean-up and set up and pack down.

·         Corinne Wright-Smith beach clean-up and set up and pack down and being the carnival age manager for our biggest group, the under 9 boys (big job!)

·         Martin Chafei beach clean-up and set up, chief tent erectioneer and carnival age manager under 7 girls.

·         Brian Vassarotti forcarnival marathon marker and catering and support.

·         Janine Vassarotti forcatering and support.

·         Barry ‘Con’ Taylor for his amazingBBQ skills and support.

·         Shane Treanor and Bec BBQ, hospitality and catering

·         Klaus Dieter-Liss Water safety officer and pack down.

·         Keith Crebert Hospitality and support.

·         Patrol members Benny, Todd, Andrew and Chris and Klaus.

As you can see a long list full of new names, if I have neglected to mention anyone I apologise sincerely, but thanks again.

See you down the track.

Melissa Vaughan

Assistant to nipper coordinator Wayne Vaughn