NET RETURN FOR PAIR – January 11
TWO Hamilton tennis players have impressed in recent weeks at opposite sides of the state.
Willow Sainsbury, 22, and Amelie Shrive, 12, contested the Warrnambool Grasscourt Open last month with both reaching the final.
Sainsbury said her efforts exceeded her expectations going into the event.
“I played in the Open singles and Open doubles in the women’s and came runner-up in singles and won the doubles,” she said.
XANDER PULLS A TRICK OUT OF HIS HAT - January 14
HAMILTON and District Junior Cricket Association is celebrating the latest star within its ranks after Xander McIntosh fulfilled every bowler’s dream in taking a hat-trick on the last day of the Portland Under-13 Country Week carnival.
The 12-year-old was playing in his first representative carnival this past week when he was thrown the ball against South West Green in the sixth and eighth overs which each cost only three runs.
The leg spin bowler was brough back into the attack for the fateful 22nd over with seven wickets down and him just looking to contain the opposition, but after a first ball dot, he struck like a viper with the next three deliveries.
XANDER McIntosh, 12, is all smiles after his country week hat-trick. Photo: SUPPLIED.
LEE'S CUP DOUBLE – January 18
IT was a day to remember for Ecklin South’s Margaret Lee, scooping the pool to win both the Hamilton Trotters Cup and Hamilton Pacing Cup on Sunday.
The Ecklin South-based trainer had five runners across the 11-race program, but it wasn’t until her third runner of the day, Keayang Livana, in the $20,000 Hamilton Trotters Cup where she broke through for her first win of the day.
Lee’s son, Jason, was guiding the mare from behind, to win by just over two metres.
He said it was a strong return to form for the seven-year-old.
POPPY'S PB – January 21
LOCAL, Poppy Austin has continued to reach great heights in her cross-country endeavours after finishing in the top 10 at the 2023 Australian Cross Country Selection Trials in Canberra last weekend.
The 18-year-old competed in the Under-20 Women’s 6km run and smashed her expectations, recording a personal best time of 22:42 to finish ninth, only 23 seconds short of qualifying for the World Cross Country Championships.
After beginning her running career just last year, Austin said she was over the moon with the way she ran on the day and to finish in the top 10 with a personal best time was a great result.
COOPER’S CHALLENGE – January 25
HAMILTON local, Charlize Cooper, stepped up and represented the Vic Country Goldminers at the 2023 Southern Cross Challenge over the weekend in the Under-14 Girls competition at Melbourne.
The Goldminers played six games beginning last Friday, as the finals wrapped up on Monday with Cooper’s side finishing fourth in their pool with one win and seventh overall.
The 12-year-old earnt selection in the tournament and performed well with a new team that she had just met.
The Hamilton Hurricanes player scored 12 points for the week and was very consistent, scoring four points against Vic Metro Green and NSW Country.
YOUNG gun, Charlize Cooper, represented the Vic Country Goldminers at the 2023 Southern Cross Challenge. Photo: GLENN GUY.
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PUMA PERFECTION – January 28
GRAMPIANS has continued its dominant season, collecting the Hamilton and District Cricket Association One-Day Shield with victory against Pigeon Ponds at Dahl Turf on Thursday.
It was a thrilling contest with late wickets giving both teams a chance at victory, with the Pumas reaching the target with less than three overs to spare.
Grampians skipper Will Collins called correctly at the toss and gave his bowlers first use of the pitch, with scoring tough for Ponds opening batsmen, Simon Close and skipper, Peter Staude.
It wasn’t until the 26th ball of the innings that the first run came off the bat, with Simon Close the only batsman in the top five to reach double figures.
Close was named man of the match for his 88 runs and one wicket.
GRAMPIANS celebrate its one-day final victory against Pigeon Ponds at Dahl Turf on Thursday. Photo: LARA FITZPATRICK.
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KNIGHT EMBRACES CHALLENGE AMID A BUSY WORK LOAD – January 28
ANGUS Knight has returned from the Southern Cross Challenge with an expanded knowledge of the game following his Under-14 Boys campaign which got underway last week.
Knight has developed as a player within the Hamilton Basketball Association and under academy coach, Adam Jennings, with the 12-year-old centre enjoying the chance to step up and play at a higher standard.
ATHLETES ASSEMBLE – February 4
MITCHELL Park was a hive of activity on Tuesday with the new Hamilton Little Athletics Club launching its new season.
Nearly 150 kids, ranging from Under-6 to Under-17 attended the first week with shot put, discus, long jump, and sprints among the activities on offer on the opening day.
Three-time Olympian, Lauren Hewitt, was on hand to officially launch the new season and said it was great to see such a strong turnout.
“It does definitely bring back memories, I grew up in Warracknabeal and we didn’t have little athletics but I was always involved during school,” she said.
“So seeing all these young kids being fit and healthy and enjoying being out in the sun is great.”
THREE-TIME Olympian, Lauren Hewitt, was on hand to officially launch the new little athletics season in Hamilton on Tuesday. Photo: GLENN GUY.
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BUNKER SHOTS (TOURNAMENT RESULTS) – February 4
THE Hamilton Golf Club has completed a successful tournament and it was great to welcome visitors to our course over the four-day tournament.
Saturday saw the men play in a 36-hole stroke championship event with 42 entrants.
Former local, Mat Walkenhorst, played off a handicap of -2 to claim the A grade scratch championship with 144 off the stick, five clear of runner-up, Heywood’s Noah McLeod, with Daniel Battista rounding out the placings with 157.
A grade 36-hole nett honours went to Daryl Stalker with 147, while B grade nett was won by Callem Mizzi with the same score.
A field of 72 players took part in Friday’s 4BBB par event, which was played in quite warm conditions.
The men’s winning pair was Tim Lloyd and Heath Cay, finishing with +9, ahead of runners-up, Trevor Wathen and Mark O’Brien +7, and third place went to James Marconi and Dale Pollock +6.
The women’s winners were Jo Forsyth and Robyn Holcombe with +7, sneaking home by one shot from runners-up, Judy Thornton and Val Linke, with third Lyn O’Brien and Nettie Purvis third on +5.
SEVEN SELECTED FOR WESTERN WAVES ALL STARS - February 4
FIVE young cricketers have been rewarded for their individual performances at the recent Junior Country Week carnivals during January within the Western Waves Region, selected to play in the Western Waves All Star teams.
Each player from all teams that participate in all the various carnivals is assessed across the length of the competition and from there the Region selectors invite 12 boys and 12 girls to play matches against the Sunraysia Suns in the coming weeks in Horsham.
The matches form part of the selection process for next season’s Youth Premier League teams in Under-16 Boys and Under-15 Girls carnivals, with the boys carnival held here in Hamilton each December.
Two boys and three girls have been invited to play from the Hamilton and District Cricket Association, with Isaac Shaw, Levi Templeton, Harry Austin and Brodie Phillips selected in the boys All Stars, while Grace Potter, Eloise Millard, Lillian Glazebrook and Kelsie Hunt are the girls selected to play in Horsham.
STRAIGHT SHOOTER – February 11
TEENAGE shooter, Harry Brown, has dominated the recent South Australian Clay Target Association State Titles, claiming not one but six titles to enhance his already burgeoning trophy cabinet.
Having only taken up the sport two years ago, Brown is making every post a winner as he continues to improve with each competition.
Brown is guided by South West Academy of Sport coach, Gary Hayden, who has coached the 15-year-old since he took up the sport.
AA Open and Overall Double Rise, Junior High Gun, Junior Double Rise, Junior Point Score, Junior Double Barrel and Junior Champion of Champions were Brown’s victories, with the AA Open and Overall Double Rise title the biggest achievement, competing against seven of the top 10 shooters in the nation.
The youngster will now set himself for the national titles in Wagga Wagga in March, representing Victoria in each event he won at the SA titles.
SWIMMING SUCCESS FOR LOCALS – February 11
HAMILTON Olympic Swimming Club members have been busy over the summer, competing at a number of state level events and achieving fantastic results.
The SA Country Championships were held in Mount Gambier, giving locals a great opportunity to attend a high calibre event close to home.
Over the four-day event, Lachlan Rees, Imogen Wedding, Zoe Rouse, Hayley Jellie and Stella Raymond all made various appearances in finals.
Rees finished the meet with a gold medal in the 50m Freestyle and silver in the 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly and 100m Freestyle.
Raymond relished the chance to be racing, making the 50m Breaststroke final and pushing all the way to the end to finish on the top step, while Rouse finished second in a timed 200m Freestyle final.
LOCAL PAIR HONOURED – February 15
THE Victorian Country Cricket League (VCCL) has unveiled its first Hall of Fame inductees, with the Hamilton and District Cricket Association (HDCA) represented with former long-serving president, Kevin Myers, and current executive committee member, John Donegan, honoured.
Both men enter the Hall of Fame as winners of the R.F. Merriman Service Medallion, which is awarded to one country volunteer administrator each year for “meritorious contributions to the conduct of VCCL programs and competitions”.
Myers was the recipient of the medal in 2007, while Donegan followed 12 months later, claiming the highest honour the VCCL bestows each year.
WATERS AND COURT MAKE SPRINTCAR DEBUT IN HAMILTON – February 18
IT will be one of the biggest nights in a while at Western Speedway with round nine of the Eureka Sprintcar Series going ahead tonight.
V8 Supercars driver, Cam Waters, will make his first appearance at the Hamilton track, while Dane Court will also be on debut on his home track, albeit in a different class to what he is used to driving.
Arguably one of the most exciting aspects of the night will be the debut of Court, usually favouring the Super Rods.
DANE Court will swap his Super Rod for a sprintcar at tonight’s Eureka Sprintcar Series round at Western Speedway. Photo: LARA FITZPATRICK.
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AFL UMPIRES SHARE TIPS WITH LOCALS – February 18
IT was a homecoming of sorts for Keiran Ferguson, as he returned to the region for the AFL Umpire Roadshow program.
The COVID period prevented any in-person visits, but the AFL boundary umpire was joined by field umpire, John Howorth for a session with the Western District Umpires Association on Tuesday night.
Ferguson was born in Coleraine before relocating to Warrnambool and said it was exciting to come back and share some of his experience with others in a familiar environment.
“It is really good to get back and see people I haven’t seen for a while, it is good to get back to Hamilton and see what has changed and what hasn’t,” he said.
TRIO LOOK TO FUTURE AFTER REBELS SELECTION – February 22
LOCAL footballers, Jessica Rentsch, Maddison Cotten and Amelia Thomas have gained selection in the Greater Western Victoria Rebels squads for the upcoming football season and all three are looking
ahead what the future holds for them in the sport.
After training across the summer months with the larger squad, before the final squads were announced this week.
The trio gained selection in the final Under-16 (Cotten and Thomas) and Under-18 (Rentsch) squads in a boost for their development prospects.
TITLES BOUND – February 25
HAMILTON Little Athletics Club is celebrating its first batch of participants to make their way to the next stage of their sporting journey after 13 athletes won their way to the state titles in Melbourne next
month.
It is a remarkable achievement for the club, with the club not even a month into its program, with the young athletes enjoying just three weeks of events in preparation for the Western Country Region Track and Field
Carnival.
The athletes had to compete at the regional level in Ballarat and win their events to progress straight to the state titles, with Holly Sweeney (Under-16 Girls 100m, 200m and long jump), Tess Lewis (Under-11 Girls long jump, shot put and triple jump), Georgia Lewis (Under-9 100m and 60m hurdles), Luke Hilsdon (Under-13 Boys 200m hurdles), Seamus McDonald (Under-11 Boys 80m hurdles) and Liam Pickford (Under-9 100m and 60m hurdles) all winning their various events to earn automatic qualification for the state-wide event.
HAMILTON Little Athletics Club members were among the placegetters at the Western Country Region Track and Field Carnival in Ballarat last weekend. Photo: GLENN GUY.
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TEMPLETON SELECTED IN VIC TEAM – February 25
TOM Templeton’s hockey development continues to go from strength to strength, selected in the Victorian Under-15 team as a bottom-age player.
The Glenelg Region Hockey Association player had a standout year last year in the Under-13 system, reaching the academy and playing in big games, giving him confidence to attack the trial process this time around.
“It was a nice reward to make it as a bottom ager,” the 13-year-old said.
“There was an academy and training all summer then there was two assessments and I got through.”
About 200 people went through the process and 80 people trialled with less than a quarter successful in gaining selection.
