SILVER FOR MILLY – September 4

MELISSA Tapper has created history, winning her first Paralympic medal in Tokyo after Australia claimed the women’s team class 9-10 silver medal on Friday morning.

Tapper competed alongside Qian Yang and Li Na Lei to take on Poland’s Natalia Partyka and Karolina Pek in the gold medal match with Poland winning 2-0.

Tapper’s teammates, Yang and Lei, opened the contest in the doubles, going down in a see-sawing contest.

They lost the first game, 6-11, while the second game remained on serve for much of the early points, before four consecutive points saw the Australians edge clear, 9-5, before winning, 11-7, to level the scoreboard.

TOUGH CALLS MADE – September 9

THE Hamilton Basketball Association (HBA) has been forced to cancel its season, ruling out the prospect of playing finals.

The association released a statement on Wednesday morning outlining the decision.

“It is with regret the HBA Board informs you that the finals for our winter season are cancelled, irrespective of the premier’s announcement regarding lockdown later in the week,” the statement read.

“There have been requests for rescheduled finals, and we understand our decision may cause some disappointment and frustration amongst our members.

ACADEMY INTAKE – September 11

THE Monivae College Sports Academy (MCSA) is set to launch next year with applications flowing in steadily.

The program will launch at the start of the 2022 school year for Year 9 students with the program set to expand to Years 9-12 by 2025.

The program will be a popular choice with both cricket and basketball the two sports offered.

Monivae College development officer, Kylie Schurmann said it was exciting for the school and the timing was right following the opening of the indoor cricket centre and cricket pavilion.

YPL IN TOWN – September 16

HAMILTON is set to host the Under-16 boys Youth Premier League (YPL) carnival in December, capitalising on the success of events during last cricket season. Cricket Victoria played an Under-17 and Under-19 series against South Australia, as the local facilities get put to the test earlier in the year. Monivae College, Melville Oval, Dahl Turf and College Turf will host games during the four-day carnival which gets underway on December 13. Cricket Victoria high performance manager, Dean Russ said the success of previous events in the region added to the appeal of bringing the YPL to Hamilton.

SWDFNL CALLS SEASON – September 21

ON Sunday afternoon the Victorian Government released a ‘roadmap’ for the release of coronavirus lockdown restrictions and with it, dashed all plans to conclude any remaining winter sport seasons.

Until 80 per cent of Victorians over the age of 16 have had a single dose of vaccine, the region is expected to continue under the current rules for community sport.

In terms of organised sports training, it is permitted outdoors with the minimum number required for training, and community recreational facilities are permitted outdoors with 20 people per venue.

RYAN’S STATE ROLE – September 23

HAMILTON local, Kira Ryan, has continued taking steps in her sports management career after receiving the team manager position with the Under-16 Victorian men’s team for the 2022 Australian Junior Basketball Championships.

Ryan has always loved the management side of the sport and has filled a number of different roles in the past with both the Hamilton Basketball Association (HBA) and Basketball Victoria.

She was meant to travel to Queensland earlier this year as team manager of the Under-20 Navy Blue Women’s team, however due to the ongoing pandemic, she missed out on the entire opportunity.

COMMANDING WIN – September 28

SILENT Command and Horsham-based apprentice, Tatum Bull scored a strong win in Friday’s 2021 Coleraine Cup, making it back-to-back cup successes for the seven-year-old gelding.

Trained by Geelong mentor, Nick Smart, the last race that Silent Command had actually won was the Coleraine Cup last year.

A clever ride by Bull allowed the pair to track up with other runners behind the two tearaway leaders.

Franquin was keen to hold out Faithful Diamond early, the pair clearing out before Franquin buckled at the 500m mark.

START DELAYED – September 30

THE Hamilton and District Cricket Association has been forced to postpone the start of its season following the recently released State Government roadmap and the subsequent guidance from Cricket Victoria (CV).

While all teams are now training ahead of the opening round, the initially scheduled start of A grade for October 2 has now been pushed back at least four weeks.

All grades will now start on the same day, as games against other clubs are not allowed to be played until the state reaches 80 per cent double dose vaccination levels; the estimated date of that is November 5 but could happen sooner with increased supply.

RENTSCH COLLECTS MORRISH – October 2

LOCAL draft prospect, Josh Rentsch has rounded out a stellar season with the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels to win the Under-19 NAB League’s highest honour, the Morrish Medal, with 12 votes.

The 18-year-old joins a coveted list of winners who have gone on to forge impressive careers at the top-level, including Lenny Hayes, Dyson Heppell, Clayton Oliver, Matthew Kreuzer and former Rebel, Hugh McCluggage.

 Rentsch co-captained the Rebels to a second-place finish on the ladder with an impressive season record of seven wins and three losses – a huge improvement on previous years.

BROWN PIPS HOGAN – October 5

FORMER local, Tyson Hogan, fell agonisingly close to winning a first W.J. Lewis Medal on Friday night, finishing runner-up in the Mininera and District Football League (MDFL) best and fairest count.

The Woorndoo-Mortlake midfielder polled 13 votes to finish one behind winner, Tatyoon’s Joshua Brown.

 Hogan opened the season with best-on-ground performances against Caramut in round one, SMW Rovers in round two, and Lismore-Derrinallum in round three.

Brown then took the lead in round nine, moving two votes clear of Hogan, who didn’t poll between round three and eight.

RUN RESCHEDULED – October 7

LOCAL endurance athletes, Brendon Paterson and Jonathan Rentsch, will have to wait a bit longer to compete in the 2021 Melbourne Marathon after it was postponed, previously planned for October 10, it has now been pushed back to December 11-12.

The event will be held across two days for the first time in its history and will be an important step towards getting the city of Melbourne back moving.

The full 42-kilometre marathon will go ahead on the Sunday and will start early at 6am to avoid the heat, as the weather warms up.

CAPTAIN SALUTES FOR NEW OWNERS – October 12

YULONG Captain, now trained by Matt Cumani, was quickly on the board for his new ownership group with an easy win in Saturday’s Hamilton Cup.

A recent $121,000 Inglis online purchase for the Shane Crawford inspired syndication Vic Husslers, the six-year-old son of Galileo gave his big group of owners no causes for concern.

Under his previous ownership, he won at Swan Hill in August, and despite seven weeks between runs, he was able to maintain that form under the expert guidance of Cumani.

DUNKELD “DEVASTATED” – October 14

SPECTATORS have officially been ruled out with the 2021 Dunkeld Cup set to go ahead without crowds.

The November 13 event was looking increasingly likely to have a limited crowd, but the club confirmed the event would be without racegoers for a second consecutive year.

Dunkeld Racing Club manager, Lisa Evans said it was a tough decision to make, but the community was at the forefront of the decision.

“The club went through a consultation process with the racing industry and consulting with the club and committee and assessed what restrictions could apply and how it could run,” she said.

PERKINS GOES AERIAL – October 16

FORMER gymnast, Miriana Perkins, has completed her first winter season in pursuit of an aerial skiing career. The Wannon-based athlete retired from gymnastics last year and signalled her intention to pursue the winter sport, gaining selection in the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) Aerial Skiing Program. The 18-year-old was set to spend fortnight blocks at Mt Buller, but with the lockdown closing the ski resorts to the public, the squad spent nearly three months at the popular snow spot. Perkins said she loved the experience and was grateful to the staff and others in the squad for such a positive time.

GOLDEN SQUAD – October 19

SIX locals have been selected to attend the Basketball Victoria Golden Nugget camp next month.

Matt Calvert, Jack Sobey, Charlie Baker, Holly Rook, Ruby Cleaver and Jobe Dunn will all represent the region in Bendigo and satellite coach, Adam Jennings said it was a fantastic result for Hamilton.

“I had a group of 10 kids in our sub hub, nine from Hamilton and one from Portland, and to get six of those 10 through to the next stage is an amazing effort,” he said.

“It just highlights the talent we have here in the south-west.”

BOX STEPS DOWN – October 21

A NEW face will take over at the helm of the Mininera and District Football League after John Box stepped down as league president recently.

Box has been president since 2017 and has helped build the league’s Under-16.5 program, along with guiding the MDFL through the past two coronavirus-interrupted seasons.

The outgoing league president said it was the right time to step away from the role.

“I thought it was the right time, can let someone a bit younger take over with some different ideas.

MAROON MCCLURE – October 23

THE Coleraine Football Netball Club (CFNC) will have a new senior football coach in 2022, with experienced local, Ryan McClure, taking the reins.

A three-time premiership player for Harrow-Balmoral in the early 2000s, McClure has since undertaken many coaching roles after retiring from playing at the early age of 24, yet the Coleraine position will be his first as a senior coach.

Spending time as a bench coach for Branxholme Wallacedale this past season gave McClure the opportunity to experience the South West Football Netball League (SWDFNL), saying the timing seemed right to become coach of his own side.

PAIR ACKNOWLEDGED – October 28

THE Hamilton Sportswomen’s Association has announced its 2020-21 award winners with Stephanie Farquharson and Zoe Addinsall winning the top awards on Monday night.

The awards were forced to be postponed last year, making this year’s nominees even more competitive with two years’ worth of achievements acknowledged at the event.

Farquharson was awarded the Senior Sportswoman of the Year honour for her efforts in taekwondo, competing at both international and state levels across the past two years.

DAVIS SIGNS TO LEAD LIONS – November 2

THE South West District Football Netball League will have a heated new rivalry in 2022 with former Heathmere coach, Leon Davis, signing with Heywood as senior coach for next year.

The future prospects for Heywood in 2022 are burning bright this week, with the former AFL star signing on as Lions’ senior coach alongside Nick Johnstone, who will be an assistant coach.

Heywood president, Darren McDowell said that the club was hoping to rebound out of the last two interrupted seasons in an exciting fashion.

MIGHTY MAROONS – November 6

COLERAINE has won the inaugural Greater South West Junior Football League Under-16.5 premiership with a decisive 59-point win against Heathmere Tigers at Silvester Oval on Thursday night.

The Maroons had home ground advantage for the postponed decider and made good use early on, jumping out of the blocks with a six-goal opening quarter, while the Combine could only manage three at the other end.

 Scoring dropped off after quarter time, but Coleraine still won the second term on the scoreboard, kicking two goals to one, to take a 32-point lead into the main break.

SEASON COMPLETE – November 9

FOOTBALL season is officially over after Hamilton Kangaroos Blue defeated Hamilton Kangaroos Orange by 13 points in the Greater South West Junior Football League (GSWJFL) Under-14 grand final on Friday night.

It was an accurate start from both teams early in the contest at Silvester Oval, with neither team kicking a behind, as both teams made the most of their chances in front of goal with Blue edging clear by a goal at the first break.

Orange closed the gap in the second term, reducing the deficit to just three points, as Blue took a 5.4 (34) to 5.1 (31) lead into the main break.

LATE CALL UP – November 11

AFTER sitting on the reserves list for months, Hamilton’s Maddie Mayne, received the news she had been hoping.

Mayne, 15, was initially scheduled as a reserve rider for the Victorian junior showjumping team for the Victorian Pony Club, but last week she got the call-up and will compete in Warragul this weekend.

The 15-year-old will take her horse, Alpha Tango Sierra, who is an off track thoroughbred and will compete at the championships following a gruelling selection process.

“We went to training days with coaches and the selectors and we had lessons with them to see how well we were going,” Mayne said.

BARRY ADDS DUNKELD CUP – November 16

BARRY The Baptist added another country cup to his resume with a strong victory in Saturday’s $50,000 Dunkeld Cup.

The veteran galloper, trained at Stawell by Paul Jones, added the Dunkeld feature to previous wins in the Stawell, Apsley and Sheep Hill Cups.

His latest win has taken a while with a tendon injury then recent bad luck, meaning it was his first success since the Apsley Cup in June 2019.

Now boasting eight career wins and multiple placings in other cups, including Hamilton in 2018, the durable eight-year-old has lifted his prizemoney to just over $470,000.

SQUAD SELECTION – November 18

DUNKELD’S Vincent Huf has taken a massive step in his quest to play cricket for Australia, selected in Cricket Australia’s 36-man Under-19 World Cup squad.

The 2022 event will be played in the West Indies and the 17-year-old former Grampians Cricket Club cricketer is among 12 Victorians to make the squad.

The all-rounder said he found out a while ago that he was included in the squad, but the recent official announcement means he can now focus on putting his best foot forward, as the selection process takes shape.

COURT DEEP’S CUP WIN – November 23

COURT Deep was able to provide the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable with its first Penshurst Cup after a stylish win in the club’s feature race on Saturday.

Favourite punters didn’t have any cause for alarm, the $2.05 chance winning by just over a length after a polished ride by stable rider, Jarrod Lorensini.

He was the only favourite to win on a competitive day’s racing.

Bringing strong form into the race, Lorensini took all risks out of the race by settling handy to the leaders throughout.

VACCINATION REQUIRED – November 25

AS the Hamilton COVID outbreak continues to grow, Southern Grampians Shire made the decision that patrons over the age of 12 years and two months attending the Hamilton Indoor Leisure and Aquatic Centre (HILAC) for community sport will now be required to show proof of double vaccination upon entry – this came into effect yesterday.

This is in addition to the restrictions already in place at the venue for gym, aquatic centre and courts.

All basketball has been cancelled for the remainder of the week while junior games of cricket scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday were also called off.

MACDONALD TAKES REINS – November 27

AFTER a period of more than 20 years away from the role, Hugh Macdonald has returned to the Hamilton Racing Club and was appointed as the new president, following the retirement of Helen Sobey.

Macdonald was asked to fill a casual role at the club back in September and from there he was elected as the right person to lead the club forward.

“I’m really excited about it, we’ve got a lot to look forward to - Helen Sobey, the past chair has started some really good work and we want to continue with that and build a lot more community engagement,” he said.

RIDING HIGH – November 30

HEYWOOD bull-rider, Sam Woodall, had a weekend to remember, taking out the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Australia Grand Finals event title on Saturday night in Townsville, Queensland.

All riders around Australia lock this event in the calendar at the start of the bull riding season and spend most of the year trying to get enough points to qualify for the event.

Out of 22 competitors for the title, Woodall was the only Victorian selected to compete and he did it in style, taking out the ultimate title.

HURRICANES PREPARED – December 2

AFTER a year off from tournaments, junior players from the Hamilton Basketball Association (HBA) will pull on their Hamilton Hurricanes gear and step back on the court next weekend for an action-packed two days of competitive basketball against hundreds of other kids.

The tournament will be contested on December 11 and 12 with games to be played at the Hamilton Indoor Leisure and Aquatic Centre (HILAC), The Hamilton and Alexandra College (THAC) and Monivae College stadiums.

HBA squad coordinator, Pene Baker said the tournament had been a long time coming after last year’s planned event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ROWERS READY – December 4

PLANNING continues for the Hamilton and Nestles Rowing Club Regatta, with the event scheduled for next weekend.

It will be the first regatta outside of Melbourne this season after the previous two events were cancelled, due to low registrations and restrictions.

Hamilton Rowing Club captain, Ashley Quinsey said she remained hopeful the local event would go ahead, despite a drop in entries compared to previous years.

“Entries have been slow and the club is expecting entries to flow in over the weekend,” she said.

PREMIER DEBUT – December 7

FORMER Grampians cricketer, Vincent Huf, has had a successful transition to Victorian Premier Cricket for Geelong Cricket Club, debuting in the Premier Firsts competition on Saturday.

Just three games after his permanent move from the Pumas, the 17-year-old got his opportunity thanks to a couple absences from the regular side and some good form in the seconds.

The Cats faced Richmond and while Huf didn’t claim a wicket, he bowled well, finishing with 0-24 off his five overs and didn’t bat.

NEW HFNL PRESIDENT – December 9

HAMPDEN Football Netball League (HFNL) has appointed Shane Threlfall as its new president to lead the league in 2022 for what is shaping up to be the first ‘normal’ season since the conclusion of 2019.

Threlfall was elected unopposed at Monday night’s league Annual General Meeting and steps into the role following the resignation of Garry Perrett after a tough period.

He has a significant coaching background, having been involved in some capacity for the last decade and was hoping to carry that experience into the presidential role.

EAGLES ON A HIGH – December 11

COLLEGE has broken through to finally claim the Hamilton and District Cricket Association (HDCA) Twenty20 title, smashing St Andrew’s by seven wickets at Haymes Paint Oval on Thursday night.

The Eagles were chasing 169 for victory after losing the toss and skipper, Charles Murrie, led from the front with a stunning knock of 86-not-out from just 43 balls to ensure College got the win.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Eagles though, with the Drews starting their innings with positive intent.

SANFL BOUND – December 14

PENSHURST’S Josh Rentsch has put pen to paper with Sturt Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) for the 2022 season in a bid to showcase his talent on the league stage and push his name at state level.

Following his non-selection in the AFL national draft, there were a number of clubs both from the Victorian Football League (VFL) and SANFL that expressed strong interest in the key forward – with Sturt securing his services.

Family ties has linked the 18-year-old interstate with his brother Sam living over in Adelaide, as well as having other relatives there.

RIDING THE WAVES – December 18

THE Youth Premier League (YPL) cricket carnival wrapped up on Thursday following four days of quality cricket on four different grounds around Hamilton.

College Cricket Club youngsters, Henry Bensch and Jack Austin, featured in the Western Waves team, and both made solid contributions to its overall success.

Bensch captained the side to finish the Under-16 YPL carnival with a record of 5-2, while Austin had the gloves early and then was moved to the outfield using his pace and good hands.

Bensch said it was an enjoyable week and to bring home five wins was something the team should’ve been very proud of.

COACHES ANNOUNCED – December 21

HAMILTON Kangaroos Football Netball Club (HKFNC) has announced its coaches who will lead the Hamilton teams in the Greater South West Junior Football League (GSWJFL) for the 2022 season.

Following his successful 2021 season in the Under-14 competition, Rhett Beattie has moved up to take the reins of the Hamilton Kangaroos’ Under-16.5 team.

Stuart Casey and Craig Templeton will coach the two Under-14 sides, with Josh Bell to lead the youngsters in the Under-11 age group.

Matt Dunn will move back to Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) coaching duties alongside Bernie Porter, will look after the Under-14 and Under-16 teams.

MEDAL STOPOVER – December 23

THIS year’s Mullagh Medal has been on display for the past few days at the Hamilton Gallery before it goes to Melbourne in preparation for the Boxing Day Test between Australia and England.

The medal recognises indigenous pioneer, Johnny Mullagh, and the first All-Aboriginal team that toured in England in 1868 – it was the first ever foreign tour.

Last year was the inaugural year of the medal presentation and it was awarded to the Man of the Match, India’s Ajinkya Rahane.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS – December 25

LOCAL duo, Zoe Addinsall and Matilda Mason have reached the pinnacle in their tetrathlon and show jumping endeavours as they were both awarded on the national stage in separate events at the Pony Club Australia (PCA) nationals.

Zoe was awarded as Australian Junior U17 female Champion at the Pony Club Australia (PCA) nationals in the tetrathlon.

While Matilda received her national recognition for show jumping at the PCA Thoroughbred Industry Careers National Championships.

BOLAND BRILLIANCE – December 30

INDIGENOUS Australian, Scott Boland has etched his name into the Ashes history books after ripping through England’s batting order in the second innings to finish with incredible figures of 6-7 and received the Mullagh Medal on debut.

The medal is named after Indigenous pioneer, Johnny Mullagh who was the star all-rounder of the first ever Australian cricket team that went on tour in 1868 and is an Australian Cricket Hall of Fame inductee.

Boland has a special connection with the story and was one of the cricketers that visited Harrow Discovery Centre in 2018 to learn more about the story.