WORLD CHAMPS – June 24

LOCAL duo, Zoe Addinsall and Matilda Mason will both pull on the green and gold to represent Australia at the Laser Run World Championships in August travelling to Bath, England for the two-day event.

The event offers direct qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympics for those athletes who perform best at the  Championships.

The laser run is an aspect of modern pentathlon which involves the competitor running as quick as they can over 600 metres and hitting a target five times at the shooting range.

Both Addinsall and Mason qualified on the back of strong performances throughout the year in laser run and modern pentathlon events – they will compete in the Under-17 section.

BOMBERS GROUND HAWKS – June 28

PENSHURST has claimed a stunning victory in round 10 of the Mininera and District Football League against previously undefeated Tatyoon as the Bombers celebrated its First Nations culture at Penshurst Recreation Reserve, 12.10 (82) – 8.5 (53).

With the home side featuring ex-AFL star Nathan Lovett-Murray among its ranks for the day, the team wasn’t going to be intimidated by Tatyoon and the record it brought into the round.

UMPIRING HISTORY – July 1

HAMILTON local, Bec Malseed has made history with the Western District Umpires Association (WDUA) as the first female field umpire to officiate a senior game.

It was just a few weeks ago that she got her opportunity to umpire a Mininera and District Football League  (MDFL) senior match.

After working her way up through the umpiring ranks which started with junior games, Malseed was presented the opportunity to umpire the senior game between Moyston-Willaura and Glenthompson-Dunkeld in the Mininera and District Football League (MDFL).

Malseed has been involved in football for a while, but running around with the whistle in hand has given her a new perspective on the game.

BEC Malseed is the first ever central umpire to officiate a senior game of football for the Western District Umpires Association (WDUA). Photo: GLENN GUY.

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ROOS TO STEP UP AGAINST BALLARAT TODAY – July 1

HAMILTON Kangaroos’ policy of promoting youth into its senior football teams will pay dividends today as four locals take the field at Mars Stadium for Hampden Football Netball League in both Under-23 and Under-17 Interleague matches against Ballarat FNL.

Hamish Cook and Rory Gill will line up for the Under-23 team, while Jack Jennings and Charlie Field will showcase their skills in the Under-17 team, with Roos’ Kyle Rhook as an emergency.

RACING RAPTOR – July 8

A LIFELONG love of waterskiing is what drives the members of Raptor Racing to better themselves as they strive for podium finishes in their chosen sport.

Having grown up in a family that was so involved in waterski racing, Frazer Donehue was always going to be involved in the sport he loves; he just had to wait until he was old enough to make the decision on his own and not have to ask his parents, as they didn’t want him to take it up.

Along with Ash Caruana (skier), Andrew Donehue (observer-driver) and Darren Isaacs (skier), Frazer forms a very special team that has carried all before them this race season having won the last five races.

The boat they race in is named ‘Raptor’ (what else) and the team competes in the SMOC EXPERT class which restricts the size of the engine to 250hp.

ROOS SEND MELVILLE OVAL OUT IN STYLE – July 12

HAMILTON Kangaroos has recorded its best win for the season with a thumping 52-point victory against Portland at Melville Oval, 13.14 (92) – 5.10 (40).

It was the last game that would be staged at the venue before the $8M redevelopment of Melville Oval begins in a couple of weeks’ time, and the home side had to battle not only their opponents but also the weather which was not conducive to skilful play.

WALDRON CALLS TIME – July 26

HAMILTON Kangaroos Football Netball Club (HKFNC) senior football coach, Hamish Waldron announced that he will not be seeking reappointment to the role for next season to the HKFNC playing group after their latest game against South Warrnambool at Reid Oval, on Saturday.

Waldron has held the reins at the Kangaroos for the past two years and during that time the club has been undergoing a rebuilding phase as it seeks to play finals in the Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL).

REPRESENTATIVE ROOS – July 29

FIVE local footballers from the Hamilton Kangaroos have been selected to in the Greater Western Victoria  (GWV) Rebels V-Line Cup squads with the opportunity to showcase their talent at a number of training sessions and the carnival in a couple months’ time.

Jack Sobey, Ryley Munro, Hunter Van Someren and Frank Gill were picked in the Under-15 Boys squad while bottom-ager, Ruby Cleaver was also recognised for her strong performances this season.

The GWV Rebels squads were announced recently and will take part in three training sessions in Stawell in the lead up to carnival to be played in Shepparton on September 25-26.

HAMILTON Kangaroos FNC is celebrating the selection of (from left) Ryley Munro, Jack Sobey (standing), Ruby Cleaver, Frank Gill and Hunter Van Someren in the V-Line Cup squads for the upcoming carnivals. Photo: GLENN GUY.

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FRENCH FANTASY – August 2

MOST school students enjoyed their recent break for the winter holidays by relaxing at home or undertaking their chosen sporting loves, and it was no different for Matilda Mason.

The only difference was that Mason spent her break in France, as one of a select few Modern Pentathletes chosen to participate in the 2023 France leg of the Global Amateur Tour (GAT), where riders from around the world are invited to train and compete to further their careers.

BUSHIES’ BIG WIN IN DARTS DECIDER – August 2

THE Hamilton and District Darts Association grand final was played at the Cally Wednesday night between two evenly matched sides, Bushrangers from Condah and Chuckers from the Commercial Hotel.

Chuckers jumped out to an early lead when they won the first two doubles, before a determined Leesa Humphries got bushies on the board with a determined 52 peg in the third.

EMERGING EXCELLENCE – August 5

WHILE most athletes are enjoying their winter sports, Grampians cricketer, Grace Potter, is involved in the Cricket Victoria 2023-2024 Under-16 Female Vic Country Emerging Players squad after gaining selection off the back of strong performances for both Hamilton and Western Waves during the 2022-23 season.

The 14-year-old Grampians opening batter-medium fast bowler is one of the youngest players chosen in the squad.

GRACE Potter is making a success of her fledgling cricket career, having been selected in the Cricket Victoria Under-16 Female Emerging Players Squad. Photo: LARA FITZPATRICK.

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GOLDEN OUTING – August 16

KATIE Riddle had an extra bit of weight in her baggage back from Perth on Sunday after winning a gold medal at the Australian Elite Boxing Championships in Perth.

Riddle was seeded number one and with some late pull outs of the 48kg late, the 30-year-old had an express path to the final, where she faced fellow Victorian, Kayla Savi.

It went to a split decision, with the local happy to claim the gold medal, but knows there is still plenty of improvement left.

BACK-TO-BACK FLAGS – August 16

IT was a case of déjà vu for the Hamilton Kangaroos, going into the Western Victoria Female Football League senior women’s grand final as heavy underdogs, but the blue and white destiny reigned supreme for the second straight year.

The Kangaroos travelled to Reid Oval to face South Warrnambool, having gone down to the Roosters in each contest during the season, but a contested ball dominance set the team up for its 13-point win on Sunday.

THE Hamilton Kangaroos celebrate their WVFFL senior women’s premiership win on Sunday, backing up their 2022 flag victory. Photo: ADAM HILL.

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CAT CLOSE – August 19

THE lawn bowls fraternity has another star on the rise with Dunkeld local, Darren “Cat” Gordon winning through to the grand final of the Australian Indoor Championships at Tweed Heads Bowls Club on Thursday

where he finished runner-up.

After winning his way through the four rounds of qualifying in Warrnambool earlier in the year, Gordon found  himself in the top 32 bowlers in Australia, gaining entry into the biggest tournament to date in his career.

To be one of the last 32 players from across Australia is a huge accomplishment, and Gordon was humble when asked how he felt about it.

Middleweight belt beckons for Riddle – August 19

JAYDEN Riddle will be hunting for his first title when he gets into the ring tonight. Riddle is locked in to face the undefeated Mitchell Leek, who has yet to lose after seven bouts, with the winner set to get the vacant Victorian Middleweight Title.

The step up in weight will mean the local won’t have to cut any weight, after last competing in May in a  Welterweight bout, which ended in a majority draw.

The 72.5kg bout at Melbourne Pavillion is scheduled for eight rounds, which should help Riddle according to his coach, Ray ‘Mocka’ McIntosh.

Cricket legend set for girls clinic – August 19

AUSTRALIAN cricket legend and Sport Australia Hall of Fame member, Karen Rolton, will visit Hamilton for a girls cricket clinic next month.

The clinic will be hosted by Tarrington Cricket Club and is open to all girls aged 10-17 at the Western Country Regional Cricket Hub.

MARTIAL ARTS – August 26

PALACE Martial Arts continue to reach new heights, with two local members returning from overseas with medals.

Stephanie Farquharson and Will Sweeney returned from the Kukkiwon Cup in Auckland with a gold and bronze medal, while Aisha Hendriks and Master Muhktar Kadiri also travelling to be a judge at the tournament.

Farquharson competed in the division two black belt and got through to the gold medal round, eventually claiming victory, while Will Sweeney finished third in the red belt division.

Aisha Hendriks competed in division one black belt, and while she missed out on a medal, she competed strongly.

WILL Sweeney and Stephanie Farquharson returned from New Zealand with a bronze and gold medal. Photo: ADAM HILL.

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NATIONAL CHAMP – August 30

HAMILTON has a new national champion in its midst, with Emily Iredell grabbing a gold medal as part of the School Sports Victoria Under-12 basketball team at the national championships in Perth last week.

Such was the dominance of the team during the carnival, they didn’t lose a game on the way to a grand final victory.

After being nominated to trial for the squad by Gray St Primary School Principal, Ben Kelson, Iredell had to work her way through the various stages of selection to reach the final squad of 13 players to participate in the championships.

That first selection stage was held in Ballarat where approximately 100 girls trialled for the next stage, where the players were culled to only 12 for the opportunity to be part of the final selection trial at Waverley Stadium in Melbourne.

Iredell was one of only three country-based players selected for the final squad, which involved a six-week commitment to travel to Melbourne each Sunday for a three-hour training session in the lead up to the carnival.