Sport
27 February, 2023
Country Cup brings big success to Maryborough
The Maryborough Eight-Ball Association successfully hosted the Victorian Country Cup Carnival on the weekend, with players taking in the sights and sounds of the town in the process. A competitive tournament saw Geelong Gold take out the division...

The Maryborough Eight-Ball Association successfully hosted the Victorian Country Cup Carnival on the weekend, with players taking in the sights and sounds of the town in the process.
A competitive tournament saw Geelong Gold take out the division one title, coming from third to beat previously undefeated Ballarat in the final, while Central Highlands 1 and 2, as well as Goldfields 8 Ball, took out divisions two, three and four respectively.
Maryborough were represented by two teams in the tournament, with Maryborough 2 finishing in eighth in division one, while Maryborough 1 finished in an impressive third in division four. Carisbrook also fielded a team, finishing in seventh in division four.
Maryborough Eight-Ball Association’s Andy Martin said he was thrilled that the tournament was a successful one for the town.
“We were thrilled to bits that everything went well. We didn’t have any major hiccups and everyone had fun. There was some great pool being played and it was great to catch up with good friends,” he said.
“We had a lot of great feedback. We were fighting the weather a little bit, but we tried our best to make everything comfortable in terms of the environment, parking, accommodation and everyone was happy with how the setup looked. The best feedback was with the minibuses we put on, as it took a lot of pressure off people, who could then relax. It turned out really, really good.”
Martin said that the town’s pubs and eateries enjoyed the benefits of the event.
“All the eateries and pubs were booked out. We deliberately shut the venue down so people could get out and explore the town, and spend money at the local businesses. Everybody benefits, really,” he said.
Martin believes that Maryborough’s players will be better off for their participation in the tournament, particularly with the local association’s finals about to start.
“It’s a great experience for anyone playing pool at such a high level. Division one is quite hard. There are some state players who play in division one, which makes it stiff competition. To get to division one, like Maryborough 2 did, is a feat in itself,” he said.
“There are a few Country Cup players that will be playing finals. It’s a great lift for your game and such a great experience playing players you haven’t played before. “That means there is exposure to different styles of play, which makes you a better player all-round.”