The Canberra smoke has done it again. This time forcing Softball Australia to relocate the men's national softball championships from Hawker to Sydney.
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And it's left a $60,000 hole in the Softball ACT budget.
It's a massive amount for the small organisation, which is why they've set up a GoFundMe page to try and limit the loss.
The nationals will still start on Sunday - just three hours away at Blacktown.
With only 1200 members, Softball ACT have used hosting events as a way to bolster their income.
Chief executive Ben Kirk said while it was nothing compared to what some people had lost, it was a blow nonetheless.
"We were supportive of [Softball Australia's] stance for the greater good of the sport, even though it's going to leave us in a pretty average spot," Kirk said.
"Obviously it's not anyone's fault and we don't want to put on the 'poor-me hat' because we're a sports organisation and there's people who have lost their houses and lives."
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The ACT 89ers are looking to defend the John Reid Shield they won for a record 16th time last year.
Kirk said they would again be strong under the guidance of captain-coach Andrew Kirkpatrick.
They open their campaign against NSW on Sunday.
"We're probably in a better spot than we were this time last year," Kirk said.
David Polkinghorne
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
