_ It was a successful weekend for Will/Machado team representatives in North Queensland (NQ) last weekend. Travelling 350 km to Cairns to compete in an inaugural NQ AFBJJ event, the Townsville team of four from Sphere Martial Arts brought home three gold, two silver, four bronze and third overall in the team points standings.

  With competitors coming from all over North Queensland, the event was organised by Rob Moffat (Peter De Been. Cairns) and was the largest BJJ competition the region has seen.  Ten teams competed with nearly 100 competitors  on the day. Coach/Instructor Craig Cruickshank said that ranking third overall in the team points had come as an added surprise for the team at the end of a long day, and he was extremely proud of the guys. First in the team points was the host Cairns club with a strong showing from Mackay for second place.

  Of the four members from the Sphere Martial Arts team, Chris Cremona stamped his name on two of the gold on offer, winning both the white belt Gi an No Gi (85kg+) in a convincing manner. Christhian Baez fought hard to claim his silver and Bronze white belt Gi and No Gi in the 97 kg + division. Troy Mackenzie (105kg+) fought pitched battles against giants all day to come away with Gold in the white belt Gi, Silver in the no Gi and Bronze in the open. Coach/Instructor Craig Cruickshank came away with dual Bronze in the purple belt division.