The event is considered by players to be the premier touch football event in North Queensland, and for referees it's no different.
The chance to receive coaching and feedback from the regional referee's coaching panel, as well the ability to referee higher standard games, has always been a drawing card for referees across the region.
Such is the appeal of the tournament, the referee contingent was joined by Central Queensland Touch Association referees Matt Manning and Michael Callow, and Touch Football West Australia referees Rob McKay and Allison Watters.
The event was also the first time the new NQTA regional referees uniform (pictured) was worn, with all referees being supplied a full on-field kit at no cost.
Level Upgrades
The added bonus for many is the chance to be considered for upgrade to Level Three and Four accreditations, with the tournament being the only regional-level event in the country considered of a high enough standard to assess Level Four candidate referees.
That opportunity paid-off for six of the region's referees, who were awarded their level upgrades in front of their peers.
Townsville's Taleisha Perfect and Darryl Lyon both received their Level Four upgrade after their performance over the two-day event.
For Perfect, it was an extra-special moment, as she became the first member of the Hurricanes Junior Referee Squad program to graduate, having achieved the program's exit criteria.
Fellow Hurricanes members also received upgrades, with Burdekin Touch Association's Josh Great and Townsville Castle Hill Touch Association's Andrew Burry, Hayden Hilyear and Danielle Maltby all upgraded to Level Three.
Hard Work Pays Off For Hurricanes
Joining the upgrades list was Cairns Pirates Touch Association's Konichi Shioji and Dean Ramsay (Level 2) and Townsville Castle Hill Touch Association's Jason Lynch (Level Three).
Upgrades:
Level Two: Konichi Shioji, Dean Ramsay
Level Three: Andrew Burry, Josh Great, Hayden Hilyear, Jason Lynch, Danielle Maltby
Level Four: Darryl Lyon, Taleisha Perfect
Finals Appointments
For the region's more experience referees, vying for coveted grand finals is a competition in itself.
The following referees were appointed to control grand finals at this year's tournament:
Men’s Open Tier 1: Paul Edmondson, Scott Marsh, Jason Miller
Men’s 30: Kerrod Hall, Marcus Muller, Chris Benstead
Women’s Open Tier 1: Denise Weier, Amanda Single, Renee Janes
Men’s Open Tier 2: Hayden Smith, Fiona Quinn, Hayden Hilyear
Women’s 27: Taleisha Perfect, Emily Marsh, Brayden Boske
Women’s Open Tier 2: Morgan Brough, Isis Symes, Karlie Riesen
Women’s 20: Danielle Maltby, Andrew, Burry, Brenton Murray
Women’s 35: Alison Watters, Rob McKay, Regan Cheetham
Men’s 40: John Viklund, Matt Manning, Darryl Lyon
Men’s 50: Andrew Watkins, Damion Johnston, Norm Thirkell