At QPuzzles, we’re all about bringing people together through the love of puzzling.
This is why we’re excited to welcome three incredible members of the Aussie All-Stars speed puzzling team to QPuzzles!
Rhianna Eriksen, Hannah Farthing, and Melissa Townsend have just returned from an inspiring journey to the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship in Valladolid, Spain, where they showcased their skill, teamwork, and passion on the international stage.
About the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship
The World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship brings together puzzlers from all over the globe to compete in a test of speed, precision, and collaboration. This year, teams from over 50 countries participated, challenging each other across several categories: solo, pairs, and team events. In each category, puzzlers were given complex puzzles to complete within strict time limits, pushing their problem-solving skills and teamwork to the limit.
For Australia, this year’s championship was a landmark moment. The Aussie All-Stars, a dedicated and talented local team, represented the country with pride, securing impressive results:
- Katrina Coleman achieved joint 7th place in the individual (solo) event, showcasing her remarkable speed and concentration.
- Melissa Townsend and Hannah Farthing earned 10th place in the pairs category, displaying their coordination and strategic thinking.
- The Aussie All-Stars team—comprised of Hannah, Melissa, Katrina, and Rhianna—achieved 6th place in the team event, making them one of the fastest teams in the world.
These achievements highlight the growing popularity of speed puzzling in Australia and the dedication of this team to their sport. It’s a testament to their hard work and focus, and we couldn’t be prouder of their success!
Bringing the World Together, One Puzzle at a Time
Beyond their success in the competition, Rhianna also brought home a keepsake that captures the spirit of international camaraderie and a momento. Rhianna took along two puzzles from QPuzzles, which she offered to the World Speed Puzzling community which were signed by puzzlers from various countries. This personal touch reflects the unity shared by puzzlers worldwide and serves as a unique reminder of the friendships and connections made during the event.
“It’s amazing to look back at those signatures and remember the people we met,” Rhianna shared. “Puzzling has a way of bringing people together, no matter where they’re from. This experience was about more than just competition; it was about community and shared passion.”
A Visit to QPuzzles
While we aren’t formally involved in the speed puzzling competitions, we are incredibly excited to welcome Rhianna, Hannah, and Melissa to our puzzle making factory - where we introduced the team to our manufacturing process where each made their own puzzle (see more on our socials).
The girls were taken on a tour of the factory, lead by Director/Founder, Jaime Dormer, who explained our business and the intricate details of puzzle making. With the girls now better understanding what's involved in production, they each had the task of making their very own QPuzzle puzzle!
Discussing the joy of speed puzzling at the World Championships and their preparations, die shapes for the speed, we all learned a lot about each unique experience.
It’s inspiring to see how much they’ve accomplished and to celebrate the positive impact of puzzling.
At QPuzzles, we’re passionate about all aspects of puzzling—whether as a relaxing pastime, a cognitive challenge, or a high-energy competition.
We’re thrilled to have been a small part of Rhianna’s journey, gifting puzzles that traveled to Spain and back, collecting signatures from puzzlers worldwide.
As Australia’s largest puzzle manufacturer, it’s a privilege to support our country’s puzzling community, connecting people through the joy and benefits of puzzling. Including speed puzzling, which we will be developing puzzles for in 2025.
The Future of Speed Puzzling in Australia
The Aussie All-Stars team achievements at the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship are a promising sign of what’s to come. As interest in speed puzzling grows, we look forward to seeing how Australia’s presence continues to develop on the international stage.
We’re very excited and grateful to Rhianna, Hannah, and Melissa to come to QPuzzles and sharing their journey with us, and we can’t wait to see where their passion for puzzling takes them next.
Speed puzzling is a growing sport, and the World Speed Puzzling Federation’s main objective is to spread speed-puzzling throughout the world a means of growing puzzle culture and its advantages on health, education, social cohesion and personal enrichment.
With the ABC and other local news, msn.com now picking up on the story and success of the girls, we will keep you updated with their achievements!
Stay tuned to our social media for more stories, updates, and insights from the puzzling world. Here’s to the Aussie All-Stars and the thriving community of puzzlers across Australia!
