The 2023 Australian Beach Handball Club Championships concluded on Sunday in ‘perfect’ beach weather after four days of hard-fought close matches played through a variety of weather conditions.
In a clear indication of how closely matched the teams were across the entire championship, four of the six medal matches were decided by a penalty shootout.
Gold Coast Councillor Gail O’Neill presented the team and individual player awards in acknowledgement of their generous support of the event.
Queensland Galahs defeated Sydney Uni/Botany Bay (SU/BB) in a tense shootout to win the Women’s Division. In the Men’s Division East Melbourne Spartans defended their 2022 title defeating Melbourne rivals St Kilda. In the Mixed Division, the Victorian Pirates defended their 2022 title and completed an undefeated run to defeat fellow Melbourne team Mermaids in a much-anticipated contest.
Placings:
Mixed
Gold. Pirates (Victoria)
Silver. Mermaids (Victoria)
Bronze. Sandcat Fighters (Japan)
Men
Gold. East Melbourne Spartans (Victoria)
Silver. St Kilda Handball Club (Victoria)
Bronze. Knicks (Victoria)
Women
Gold. Galahs Handball Club (Queensland)
Silver. Sydney Uni/Botany Bay (NSW)
Bronze. Orcas (Victoria)
Congratulations to the M.S. Security individual award winners for Top Scorer, Goal Keeper and MVP.
Mixed
Top Scorer: Claudia Mitchell (Pirates)
Goal Keeper: Mitchell Cunningham (Excel Spreadsheets)
MVP: Claudia Mitchell (Pirates)
Men
Top Scorer: Ignacio Oleaga Ballester (St Kilda HC)
Gold Keeper: Koyo Shibata (Raptors)
MVP: Ignacio Oleaga Ballester (St Kilda HC)
Women
Top Scorer: Allira Hudson-Gofers (SU/BB)
Goal Keeper: Amy Thomas (UTS)
MVP: Gemma Buckett (UTS)
Thanks to our hosts Handball Queensland and our sponsors Major Events Gold Coast Council, M.S. Security, Redbull, Hercules Instant Shelter and the Prestige Group.
Reporter and photo credit: Chris Seen
