Sports teams converge for Gurrung Sports Carnival

Sports teams will converge at Jabiru’s sporting venues this weekend for the 8th annual Gurrung Sports Carnival.
Proudly hosted by West Arnhem Regional Council (WARC), the three-day sports carnival attracts teams from around West Arnhem, Darwin and surrounding regions and includes a men’s and women’s basketball competition, a men’s AFL competition and, this year will see the introduction of a mixed touch football competition.
WARC Sport and Recreation Coordinator Seide Ramadani said with 26 teams registered for this year’s carnival, there’s certainly going to be plenty of sporting action over the three days.
“All teams have been training hard in the lead up, and we can’t wait to kick off Gurrung for 2017,” Seide said.
The competition officially begins at 3.30pm on the newly-resurfaced Jabiru courts with seven women’s basketball teams from around the region competing for the Gurrung Sports Carnival perpetual cup. Jabiru Heat, Djagarna, Girls Academy Lightning, St Johns College, Warruwi Storm, Minjilang Falcons and Maningrida All Stars will kick off the competition which will continue on Saturday morning from 9am at the Jabiru Area School courts. 
Following on from the women’s competition on Friday afternoon, is the fierce men’s basketball which will begin at 6pm. The defending champions Jabiru Heat will once again compete on their own turf against St Johns College, Maningrida All Stars, Minjilang, Warruwi and Djagarna. Presentations will be held straight after the grand final.
In the men’s AFL, the 2016 defending champions the Minjilang Eagles are returning but will have to take on some tough competition from the 2016 runners up Jabiru Bombers, as well as the Maningrida All Stars, Warruwi Storm, Daly River Nauiyu, St Johns College, Gunbalanya and teams from Beswick.
WARC Youth, Sport and Recreation Assistance Shaun Watson said the Maningrida footy players have been training hard in the lead up to this weekend.
“The AFL boy’s are really excited for Gurrung. We have been training well and I hope everyone has a good time this weekend,” Shaun said.
This competition kicks off at 8am on Saturday, August 26 at the Brockman Oval and participants are reminded to be at the venue one hour prior to the start. The AFL grand final game will be played at 5pm and all supporters are encouraged to head to the field and cheer on the teams, with presentations held after the match.
The newest component of the competition, the mixed touch football, will be held on Sunday morning at Magela Oval from 9am. Four teams have nominated in the competition with two from Maningrida and one from both Jabiru and Gunbalanya. They will compete to  win the first ever Gurrung mixed touch football trophy.
West Arnhem Regional Council wishes to thank all supporters and sponsors of this year’s carnival, including the Northern Territory Government, Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Starwin Shopfront, Kakadu Lodge, Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel, Energy Resources of Australia, Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation, Jabiru Area School, Jabiru Sports & Social Club, BP Jabiru, Maningrida Progress Association Inc, ALPA, Jabiru Foodland and Malabam Health Board.