By CASEY O’CONNOR
STANTHORPE residents were overjoyed this morning when a plan hatched four years ago came to fruition today for members of the Pearls – the Australian Women’s Rugby Sevens team.
The Pearls defeated the Kiwis to win gold at Rio and no-one was more excited than Stanthorpe’s Costanzo family.
There is a strong Stanthorpe family connection, Pearls champion Charlotte Caslick (number 7) is the niece of Leah Costanzo (nee Caslick) of Stanthorpe, who is herself a top class shooter.
An excited Leah travelled to Rio along with her mother Beryl, a former long- time Stanthorpe resident, joining her brother Don and his wife Tracy (Charlotte’s parents) and extended family in the stand as the Pearls realised a golden dream.
Prior to the gold medal game Leah described the atmosphere as nerve-racking but exciting.
There were plenty of supporters glued to their televisions in Stanthorpe as celebrations extended from Rio to Stanthorpe following the historic win.
Many Stanthorpe cricketers who would remember Don Caslick from his younger days as a local cricketer.
