HILL RACES TO THE LEAD AT RED BULL RING – September 3

FROM crutching sheep to motorbike racing in Europe, Macarthur’s Lachlan Hill has made a successful international debut by winning two classic 250cc events at the famous Red Bull Ring track in Austria last weekend.

The lead rider of Team Ron Angel Classic Racing in Australia, the 48-year-old Western District farmer dominated the Class C Historic Motorcycles 250cc category at Spielberg.

He was riding a 1990 Yamaha TZ250-A, owned by Colin Sleigh (UK, NCL Racing), in the Rupert-Hollaus-Rennen 27/28 August Grand Prix Racing Days event.

RENTSCH TOPS A GRADE VOTES – September 3

LOCALS featured heavily in the Mininera and District Netball Association Best and Fairest awards on Wednesday night.

Penshurst’s Leah Mirtschin romped to a six-vote win in the A grade count, despite not polling in the first six rounds, finishing with 24 votes.

A four-game stretch between rounds 10 and 13 saw the defender poll maximum votes, also collecting three votes on three other occasions to finish clear of Ararat’s Taryn Kelly in second place with 18 votes.

WORLD CHAMPS CHANCE – September 3

AFTER focusing on running above other sports in 2022, the decision is already paying off with Poppy Austin, 18, finishing fourth at the Australian Cross Country National Championships in Adelaide last weekend.

Austin competed in the six-kilometre event, which included doing a loop three times, eventually finishing just off the podium in the Under-20 race on Saturday.

The local said she had no expectations but gained plenty of confidence from the result.

MULGA LIL LEADS FOR HEYWOOD CUP SUCCESS – September 7

A POSITIVE front-running ride by Jarrod Lorensini was the catalyst behind Mulga Lil’s dominant Heywood Cup win at Casterton on Sunday.

The Jamie Opperman-trained seven-year-old mare brought up her seventh career win, keeping her opposition at bay by just over one length.

Despite drawing wide, Lorensini made his intentions clear and was in front by the time the field had reached the winning post with a lap to go.

SIX SELECTED FOR GOLDEN NUGGET – September 10

HAMILTON Basketball Association will be well represented with six locals selected for the Basketball Victoria (BV) Golden Nugget Camp later this month.

Charlie Baker, Holly Rook and Saskia Gould were all selected as top-agers, while Angus Knight, Maddox Ryan and Charlize Cooper were chosed as bottom-aged participants.

BV south-west administrator, Kira Ryan said it was another strong showing from the Hamilton association during the selection process.

COLERAINE COLLECTS – September 14

COLERAINE Bulls are the Glenelg Region Hockey Association (GRHA) Men’s Division 1 premiers after grinding out a tough victory against Couldabeens at Pedrina Park on Saturday, 1-0.

On a very cool afternoon, the GRHA celebrated its 2022 season with some stunning skill work from the players, as the best two teams in the competition met head on.

Coleraine had to wait well after the final whistle sounded in the GRHA Women’s Division 1 Grand Final to be crowned premiers, as Dunkeld Red took the minor premiers all the way but ultimately went

down, 3-2, after a thrilling shootout to decide the victor.

Goals were scored at each end by both teams and at the full time whistle the score stood at 2-2.

ROSS CLAIMS DIV 2 RUNNER-UP AWARD – September 14

HAMILTON Kangaroos netballer, Tahlia Ross, has finished runner-up in the Hampden Football Netball League Division 2 netball vote count at the Maskell Medal awards on Sunday.

The 18-year-old goal-attack made every post a winner this season after stepping up to senior grade netball only last season, falling short of victory by one vote to Port Fairy’s Kym Goonan.

Having played the game since she was eight years old, her mother Kym Ross brought her into the game when she felt she could hold her own as started with her school team and then progressed to Hamilton.

BABY BOMBERS SALUTE IN DECIDER – September 14

PENSHURST capped off its stunning Mininera and District Football League (MDFL) Under-16.5 season with a comfortable 93-point win against Caramut in Saturday’s grand final at Glenthompson.

Bombers skipper, Henry Bensch, led from the front with a 10-goal haul to ensure his team collected the junior premiership.

STRONG OUTING FOR LOCAL BOXERS – September 17

MOCKA’S Boxing Club enjoyed another successful outing with Donald ‘Duck’ Jones winning the Victorian Light Heavyweight Title for the fourth time at Burwood on at the weekend.

Jones’ coach, Ray ‘Mocka’ McIntosh said it was another strong performance from the Coleraine boxer.

“Duck won by unanimous decision, he won every round convincingly,” he said.

“Even with Covid, he has been Victoria’s number one seed.

BARBER BOYS, TIGERS CELEBRATE DIV 1 TITLES – September 17

BARBER Boys has claimed their first Hamilton Basketball Association Division 1 Men’s title after they accounted for Minders White by 20 points on Wednesday night.

A stunning second half saw Barber Boys romp to a comfortable win, despite trailing at half time.

Tigers have overpowered minor premiers, Sportscene Minders, to claim top honours for the Division 1 Women’s season with a five-point win in the season decider.

Minders went into the game hopeful of reversing the preliminary final loss to Tigers but was unable to reel in the second-placed team late in the contest.

HISTORIC VICTORY – September 21

THE Hamilton Kangaroos Under-18.5 team created history, winning the club’s first Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) football premiership on Saturday.

The Kangaroos went into the decider as favourite, having beaten Koroit the last two times they played, as plenty of blue and white descended on Warrnambool’s Reid Oval in a bid to secure the ultimate honour.

Hamilton had an early win, winning the coin toss and kicking with the wind in the first quarter, but the town end saw little scoring action, as both teams took time to feel each other out.

THE Hamilton Kangaroos held on to defeat Koroit and claim the HFNL Under-18.5 premiership at Reid Oval on Saturday. Photo: ADAM HILL.

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SPONG’S CLUB GONG – September 24

COLERAINE Football Netball Club rewarded a long-standing servant of the club with life membership at its recent end of season awards evening.

Karen Spong was recognised for her 22 years of dedication to the club with her list of accomplishments listed in her nomination.

Joining the club in 2000, she has played 278 games for the Maroons, winning premierships in 2003 in the A Grade team and 2017 with the A Reserve team.

Not content with premiership medals, she also claimed many South West District Football Netball League (SWDFNL) awards, including many times being selected in the SWDFNL Team of the Year.

LOCALS SHINE IN V/LINE CUP – September 24

LOCAL footballers have shone on the big stage in Shepparton over the last few days in the 73rd V/Line Cup carnival for boys and girls.

In the boys, Hamilton Kangaroos had Brodie Phillips, Zac Elliot and Hugh Fitzgerald represent the region,

while Cooper Rentsch flew the flag for Penshurst, and in the girls, Amelia Thomas from Cavendish and Maddison Cotten who is a Hamilton local but played for Portland, also represented the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels at the carnival.

McEVOYS CLAIM CUP – September 28

FATHER and son trainers, Tony and Calvin McEvoy, claimed their first Coleraine Cup when smart six-year-old galloper, Sign Of Ussuri, grabbed gallant grey Sir Simon for a narrow victory last Friday.

Now fully operational in Ballarat, the stable is experiencing good results on country tracks they rarely visited in the past.

In front of a good-sized crowd, the 2021 Gawler Cup winner landed the $50,000 cup after a lovely ride by Madison Lloyd.

BRONZE BRILLIANCE – October 1

ZOE Addinsall’s international debut at the 2022 UIPM Laser Run World Championships has delivered a podium finish, collecting a bronze medal at last weekend’s event.

The 14-year-old took to the world stage in Lisbon, Portugal, and was one of more than 700 competitors from 26 countries participating, finishing top three in the Under-17 relay event.

Addinsall said she didn’t expect to get a medal but was happy to get on the podium.

PAIR REWARDED WITH LIFE MEMBERSHIPS – October 1

HAMILTON Kangaroos Football Netball Club has many people behind the scenes that put their heart and soul into the successful running of the club, both on and off field, and two of these club members were recognised at the recent presentation evening with life membership.

Hamish Waldron and Jon Manson were shocked when their names were called to come on stage to receive the accolade from club president, Lachy Patterson, and life member, Kevin Manson.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER FACE MARATHON TASK TOGETHER – October 1

THE marathon is regarded as the ultimate test for an athlete, and to achieve the feat of not only running the event but to also finish is a great accomplishment that many people strive for but not all complete.

To do so with a relative by your side is a special moment that mother-daughter team of Carolyn and Bec Van Kalken will share tomorrow when they run side-by-side in the Melbourne Marathon.

This will be Carolyn’s ninth time covering the 42.195km marathon distance while Bec will be attempting her first such distance.

ENGLISHMAN JOINS PUMAS FOR UPCOMING SEASON – October 1

GRAMPIANS has welcomed new recruit, Harrison Wood, with the Englishman offering a spin option for the Pumas’ A grade team.

Wood arrived two weeks ago and has already been training ahead of the season opener, as he looks to develop his game with a summer of cricket in the Hamilton and District Cricket Association.

The 21-year-old said he had been planning for the trip for a long time and was excited to finally get here.

VETERAN SELECTION – October 5

THE sound of ball on bat reverberates around one house in Tarrington in particular, as Michael and Billy Fitzpatrick continually practice at the family table tennis set up as each prepares for their individual representative careers in the sport.

The father and son combination have both been selected to represent Victoria this year with Billy having competed at the national Under-11 titles held in Caloundra in July, while Michael will head to Darwin this

week for the Table Tennis Australia National Veterans Championships, as part of Victoria’s Over 40s team.

MIKE Fitzpatrick will travel to Darwin to represent Victoria ant the Table Tennis Australia National Veterans Championships. Photo: GLENN GUY.

GREAT BRITAIN TEAM FACES OFF AGAINST LOCALS – October 5

HAMILTON Rifle Club welcomed some international visitors with the Great Britain match rifle team visiting the club in the lead-up to its shoot against Australia in Stawell later this month.

It has taken two years of planning for the internationals to visit and team captain, Nick Tremlett said it was a great opportunity to visit local clubs and support them.

“I think it is important we support the local clubs,” he said.

“We are usually out here about every seven years, so it is not every day the team is out here.

“Coming out to ranges like Hamilton is just a real treat for us.”

MELVILLE OVAL WORKS GO TO TENDER THIS MONTH – October 8

THE Melville Oval redevelopment is moving ahead with the construction project set to go to tender later this month.

Plans are all but finalised and it is hoped the tender will be awarded by Christmas with demolition and construction to begin soon after.

Southern Grampians Shire Council mayor, Bruach Colliton said the project delays were annoying, but was excited to push ahead to the next stage of the process.

“It’s taken a little longer than we’d hoped to get to this stage, but these designs are something we’re really proud of,” he said.

JUNIOR TOURNAMENT SHOWCASES HURRICANES TALENT – October 8

HAMILTON Basketball Association (HBA) will stage its annual junior tournament this weekend with   record 87 teams descending on Hamilton to get the squad season underway for 2022-23.

The tournament returns to its traditional October timeslot after having to be staged later in the season last year due to the COVID-19 restrictions placed on all sport by the State Government.

The HBA will field teams in the Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 age groups for both boys and girls with games being staged at HILAC, The Hamilton and Alexandra College and Monivae College today and tomorrow.

HAMILTON Hurricanes junior squad members are set for this weekend’s annual tournament on home courts. Photo: GLENN GUY.

MISSILE VICTORY – October 12

MUNTHAM MISSILE produced a dominant display to record her second Hamilton Cup on Saturday, adding to her 2020 triumph, as the Belinda O’Loughlin-trained veteran toyed with her four rivals.

In front of an exuberant racing crowd on a fine spring day, leading jockey, Dean Holland, took control of the race at the 600m mark, skipping away to set up an unassailable lead.

Runner-up, Pres De Toi, took ground late in the race, but notwithstanding Holland easing up on the winner to score by just under two lengths.

BOWLERS ON NATIONAL STAGE – October 15

GRANGEBURN Bowling Club members, Alison East and Robyn Thomassen, enjoyed their time at the seniors national championships on the Gold Coast recently, as both returned with medals for their efforts.

Both players are very experienced at this level, and they enjoyed great success in their chosen events.

Thomassen claimed the gold medal for the Over 60s Fours, while East grabbed the bronze medal in the B7-B8 section of the multi-disabilities singles competition.

EELS CLAIM TOP HONOURS AT CARNIVAL – October 15

IT was a weekend to remember for the Western Vic Eels, topping the VACSAL Statewide Senior Football Netball Carnival ranks for football.

Many current and former locals were part of the team, including Heywood’s Troy Lovett, who played in the ruck, with Richard Bamblett coaching the team for the two-day carnival.

Dakin Morris, Taine Morris and Ethan Knight were also among the locals in the team, which travelled to Keysborough in Melbourne’s southeast.

MID SOUTH EAST LEAGUE REJECTS CATS’ BID TO LEAVE BORDER COMP – October 15

MID South East Football League (MSEFL) has rejected Casterton-Sandford Football Netball Club’s application to join its ranks in 2023, but an official decision on the matter by the SANFL governing body is not expected until the end of the month.

It is understood the SANFL Community Football Board met in Adelaide this week to consider a report from its investigation subcommittee on Casterton-Sandford’s request to defect from the Western Border Football League (WBFL), however a final meeting and decision will not be made until later this month.

There are eight male and four female board members who will decide the fate of the Cats, who are looking to become the seventh club to leave the WBFL by making an unsolicited approach to join the MSEFL.

WORLD CUP DREAMS IN SIGHT FOR LOCAL REFEREE – October 19

LOCAL soccer referee, Courtney Van Diesen, is dreaming of one day taking control of a match on the biggest stage, the FIFA World Cup.

The former Heywood local has enjoyed several accolades recently for her performances on the national stage after overseeing the National Championships Under-16 Girls Grand Final at Coffs Harbour, leading to her being awarded the Young Female Official of the Year award by Football Victoria.

At only 23, the young official has been making every post a winner in her refereeing career after picking up the whistle back in 2014 while playing in the old Western Border League (now the Limestone Coast Football Association).

BULL BREAKS THROUGH FOR DOUBLE – October 22

MORGIANA trainer, James Bull, had a day to remember when saddling up a double at Casterton on Tuesday.

Cast among some of the state’s leading trainers, Bull took two horses to the races for a 100 per cent strike rate.

Raging Monkey showed his liking for the track with an all the way victory, while Greta Moon made it back-to-back wins, albeit by a nose in the final race.

TRIPLE TREAT – October 26

THIRD time’s a charm for Sue Walter, as she claimed her third Sportswoman of the Year award at the Hamilton branch’s annual Sportswoman Association of Australia awards on Monday night.

Walter once again impressed on the tennis court, claiming the top award ahead of runner-up, Robyn Thomassen.

ADDINSALL, MASON COLLECT JUNIOR AWARDS – October 26

IT was yet another award for local, Zoe Addinsall, after the 15-year-old was named the Hamilton Junior Sportswoman of the Year at the annual awards night on Monday.

Addinsall claimed the top award, but is in Melbourne this week, so her mum accepted the award on her behalf.

LOCAL PAIR RETURN WITH BRONZE MEDALS – October 26

NATHANIEL Schulz and Grace Cleaver faced off against the state’s best, finishing in the top three at the School Sports Victoria (SSV) track and field event at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium last week.

Schulz, a Year 12 student at Good Shepherd College and Cleaver, a Year 9 student at Monivae College, each contested a hurdles event on the day with both finishing on the podium to return with bronze medals.

NATIONAL CHAMPS BOUND – October 29

THE Hamilton and Alexandra College is celebrating another proud sporting achievement by one of its students after Chloe Adams qualified for the 2023 Australian Age Swimming Championships last weekend.

The 13-year-old set her sights on qualifying for the championships about 12 months ago when she started competitive swimming for the Warrnambool Swimming Club in the 50m backstroke event.

“I’ve been swimming since I was really young, but living in Port Fairy I couldn’t swim competitively as there wasn’t a club in Port Fairy and I’ve only been swimming competitively at the club level for about a year,” Adams said.

RACES DUNK’D – November 2

OCTOBER’S excess rain has claimed another event with next week’s Dunkeld Cup abandoned.

The Dunkeld Racing Club officially abandoned its 2022 event on Monday with about 190mm of rain falling during the month, and more than 90mm in the past week alone.

Dunkeld Racing Club manager, Lisa Evans told The Spectator on Monday it was a tough decision to make, but the condition of the course made it an easy decision less than two weeks out from race day.

3 BAY TRIPLE TREAT – November 5

LOCAL athletes took on the challenge of the annual 3 Bays Running Festival in Portland last weekend with great results across the board, claiming two first place finishes and a further podium placing.

Brendon Patterson, Claire Hilsdon and David Hilsdon impressed at the annual event, each taking home a special memory from the weekend.

LOCALS AT LAKESIDE – November 9

IT was a rare opportunity for local youngsters to compete on the big stage, with students from five Hamilton schools travelling down to Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne for the School Sports Victoria (SSV) State Track and Field Championships last Wednesday.

Hamilton North Primary School sent the biggest local contingent, with eight young athletes qualifying across multiple events.

ROSS RECEIVES LIFE MEMBERSHIP – November 9

GRANGEBURN Bowling Club has a new life member after Owen Ross was presented with the honour during Friday night’s official opening of the club’s ‘A’ green.

The 82-year-old had some warning it might happen, and said it was a special honour to receive the acknowledgement.

“It is very good, I thank them (the club) very much,” he said.

BELTS BECKONING – November 12

HISTORY is in the sights of Jayden Riddle, as he chases his first professional boxing belt when he takes on Bo Belbin tonight in Hobart.

The Hamilton local, who flew south on Thursday, will take on the Tasmanian in an eight-round bout for the ANBF Australasian Super Welterweight Title.

It is another big step up for the 31-year-old, in just his sixth professional bout, coming off his interstate debut in Newcastle in October.

FORMER PRES AWARDED LIFE MEMBERSHIP – November 16

HAMILTON Golf Club has a new life member with Ian Ferguson receiving the honour during last week’s annual general meeting.

The 82-year-old has spent about four decades at the club as a player and has also been club president across two stints in recent times, including in its recent centenary year.

Ferguson said it was humbling to be given the honour.

RACE READY – November 19

DESPITE about 200mm falling since the start of October, the Penshurst Cup will give locals a chance to get to a major race meet again.

Following the cancellation of the Dunkeld Cup last week, the Penshurst Racing Club remains confident a full program of races will proceed.

Club secretary, Brendan Kelly said the club had prepared well in advance for today’s meet.

“We have been in the lap of the Gods with the weather, there has been some doubt but we have taken it as we were always going to race and just keep preparing for the day,” he said.

CHANGE RATIFIED TO UNITE CLUB’S COMMITTEES – November 19

IT is a more united Hamilton Golf Club after a big box was ticked at last week’s annual general meeting, ratifying a new constitution which brings together the ladies and men’s committees.

The move is part of a bigger strategic plan the club has been working through over the past nearly two years, with the change also set to reduce the load on volunteers around the club.

The club’s acting president, Adam Manson, who will remain in the role to finish former president, Ian Ferguson’s term for the next 12 months, told The Spectator it was an important process to tick off.

ANIRISHMAN’S LUCK – November 23

ANIRISHMAN banked his second country cup’s win in the space of a month, winning the $30,000 Penshurst Cup on Saturday. In what could only be described as crazy weather, his owners had to be extra patient before adding this trophy to his St Arnaud success from last month.

On a track that was downgraded to a Heavy9 following the previous race, rain and lightning in the area delayed the start of the race by nearly an hour.

Despite having not won on a heavy track previously, the six-year-old was able to out-slog his rivals to record his fifth career win.

TAIMA’S TRIUMPH – November 26

HAMILTON athlete, Taima Thomas, has conquered another mountain in his sporting career, named national champion in the School Sports Australia track and field Under-11 combine event.

The combine is made up of four different events where the participants must compete in a 100m, 800m, shot put and long jump, with each earning the athlete points with the highest scorer deemed the winner think of the decathlon/heptathlon in the Olympics.

RENTSCH’S DRAFT HOPES IMPROVE WITH AFLW ACADEMY SELECTION – November 26

IT has been a sharp rise for Penshurst product, Jess Rentsch, with the 17-year-old recently named as part of the 30-girl AFLW Academy for 2023.

The former Hamilton Kangaroos junior, who played for Portland last season due to the Roos’ inability to field an underage team, said she was not expecting the selection after a broken leg cut her season short this year.

HERRMANN RETURNS TO RACING AFTER SEVEN-YEAR LAYOFF – November 26

IT had been more than seven years in the making, but former local, Amy Herrmann, is officially back in the saddle.

The 35-year-old spent more than seven years on the sidelines, before finally returning to racing action at Terang earlier in the month before taking to the track at Penshurst on Saturday.

The former Baimbridge College student was impressing in her career, before an accident at South Australia’s Morphettville track created a forced break.

SEVENTH SELECTION – November 30

IT has been another strong AFLW campaign for Cavendish product, Emma Kearney, who continues to defy the odds by keeping her perfect All-Australian record intact with a seventh selection last week.

The 33-year-old moved to the half-back line at the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos in recent seasons, earning the AFLW team of the year selection in each of the seven seasons to date.

NATIONAL HONOURS – December 3

IT is yet another big step in the polocrosse journey of Laura Michelmore, selected in the Australian Under-16 Female team.

It comes after a stellar season earlier in the year, where she represented Victoria at the national championships in April, resulting in last week’s selection in the national team.

LOCAL DUO SELECTED – December 14

BOTH Eliza Jagger (Balmoral) and Alyssa Humphries (Casterton) have been selected in a squad of 14 to represent Victoria and travel to Canberra in January 2023 to compete at the Australian Country Cricket Championships (ACCC).

The Victoria Country Cricket League (VCCL) announced the squad last week and both locals were among some of the best talent in the state.

SUNGOLD BOUND – December 17

DESPITE an early scare with the bat, College bounced back to win Thursday night’s Hamilton and District Cricket Association T20 final against Macarthur at PP1, to win back-to-back T20 titles.

The Eagles were sent to the crease after losing the toss, and were in early trouble at 3-31, with Jonathan Jenkin (16), Charles Murrie (zero) and Matthew Worsnop (zero) back in the pavilion.

DIV 1 DELIGHT – December 24

BASKETBALL Victoria has released the list of teams that will compete in the Junior Country Championships at Bendigo in February, with Hamilton Hurricanes boasting boys teams in the Under-18 and Under-16 competitions.

The Hurricanes’ Under-18 squad will be looking to take the next step after it won the division two section back in February at the 2022 championships.

HUF’S COUNTRY CONTRIBUTION – December 28

DUNKELD native, Vincent Huf, has helped Victoria Country to a third-placed finish at the Cricket Australia Under-19 National Championships in Adelaide last week, showcasing his skills with both bat and ball.

Having learnt his craft at Grampians Cricket Club in the Hamilton and District Cricket Association, the youngster now plies his trade at Geelong in the premier cricket competition, where he is making his mark in first grade.