PERFECT POPPY – September 2
POPPY Austin has joined the ranks of the district’s elite champion sports people, winning the Australian Under-20 Female Cross Country Championship at Stromlo Forrest Park in the ACT last weekend.
The former Balmoral local represented South Australia after moving to Adelaide for university, grabbing her maiden national title in her second attempt.
EAGLES FLIES HIGH TO CLAIM TOP HONOUR – September 2
HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR is celebrating its latest victory, with Madison Kelly winning the Mininera and District Netball Association 2023 A grade best and fairest honour on Wednesday night.
Kelly was instrumental for the Eagles this season in goals, dominating to ensure Hawkesdale-Macarthur finished third on the ladder.
Kelly won the award with 27 votes, well clear of Rachael Mibus (Penshurst) on 21 votes and Faith Biddle (Ararat) in third place a further two votes back on 19 votes.
SEVIOR TOPS HFNL JUNIOR VOTE COUNT – September 9
THE Hampden Football Netball League recognised its best junior athletes on Monday night with the vote counts for both football and netball staged at the Warrnambool Racing Club.
Hamilton Kangaroos celebrated success this season with Molly Sevior finishing equal first (alongside Lexie Dwyer from Port Fairy) on 28 votes in the 13-and-Under netball grade, while Kangaroos teammate, Maddox Ryan, finished fourth with 24 votes in a strong season for the blue and white side.
KANGAROOS junior, Molly Sevior, topped the 13-and-Under votes. Photo: SUPPLIED.
GIANTS MAKE HISTORY – September 13
DARTMOOR has claimed its first ever South West District Netball League A grade premiership after a six-goal win against Tyrendarra in the grand final on Saturday, 39-33, at Hanlon Park, Portland.
The Giants rose to the occasion when it counted, with their ability to stay composed through the midcourt and work the ball into attack a key to Saturday’s win.
It is the first A grade premiership for the club who has been in a building phase across the past 10-years which culminated in a grand final berth last year and 2023 premiership honours.
MAROONS CAPTURE SOUTH WEST PREMIERSHIP – September 13
AT the end of a long and arduous 2023 campaign, Coleraine stands at the pinnacle of the South West District Football League having claimed the premiership off the back of a 9.7 (61) to 4.9 (33) victory over Cavendish at Portland’s Hanlon Park on Saturday.
The first quarter functioned primarily as a feel-out opening 20 minutes, as each side tried to shake the grand final nerves.
Cavendish drew first blood through Will Baulch, however Coleraine quickly responded by striking two blows of their own to take a slim advantage into the second term.
THOMAS TOP ROO – September 16
AFTER an extensive search, Hamilton Kangaroos has unveiled Brad Thomas as its new senior football coach for the Hampden Football Netball League 2024 season, as the club seeks to build upon the great work achieved by outgoing coach, Hamish Waldron.
Waldron placed an emphasis on the young players within the club handing many of these players their senior debuts over the course of his two-year stint in charge, and Thomas is looking to build upon that foundation.
CULLINANE AND VICS CLAIM NATIONAL TITLE – September 20
VICTORIA has claimed another national title with victory in the 9th Australian Bowling Arm Championships, which were held at the Devonport Country Club in Tasmania, and Simon Cullinane (Dunkeld) and Mick Swan (Heywood) were members of the team that lifted the trophy.
Bowlers Arm competition is one of the major growth areas of bowls in Victoria, with many bowlers competing successfully in open competition, pennant and in Bowlers Arm events throughout Victoria.
Competitors use a mechanical “arm” for a variety of reasons, including where injury stops a player from being able to compete as an able-bodied bowler.
CLASSY CUP WIN – October 4
STRONG stayer, Claidheamh Mor, proved too classy for his rivals, taking out the $50,000 Coleraine Cup last Friday.
On a lovely Spring Day in front of a healthy local crowd, the Gemma Rielly-trained five-year-old son of Dundeel was given a lovely ride by Will Gordon.
Settling fourth, Gordon made his move at the 600m mark and despite being challenged on the home turn, his staying prowess kicked in to win by over two lengths.
HAMMERS UNVEIL ENGLISH IMPORT FOR SUMMER – October 4
HAMILTON NORTH cricket club has unveiled its English import player for the 2023-24 Hamilton and District Cricket Association season, as Oscar Newell had his first look at an Australian ground at Monivae College on Monday.
At 18 years old, Newell is a young all-rounder who arrived in the country last week and immediately was immersed into the AFL grand final along with his new teammates.
COLERAINE CLAIMS AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP – October 7
COLERAINE is still celebrating the successful staging of the Australian Rope Quoits Championships at the Coleraine Mechanics Hall that saw the local club claim both the men’s and ladies team titles last weekend.
Not only did the locals grab both titles, but Sally Armstrong was also selected in the Australian team for her efforts in both singles and team play.
VALKA LEADS HURRICANES INTO SEASON OPENER – October 14
THE Hamilton Basketball Association (HBA) is set to return to Country Basketball League (CBL) action tonight when it hosts the Warrnambool Seahawks in round two action at HILAC.
The Hurricanes sat out round one with a bye, but will make up for it with a double header this weekend, following up tonight’s clash with another home game against Portland.
Erik Valka has been named captain of the team and said he was excited to get back on the court for senior representative basketball.
WINNING TIME – October 18
THE Matthew Williams-trained Win O’Clock produced a big finish to land this year’s $60,000 Hamilton Cup.
In front of an engaging Saturday crowd on a typically windy spring day, the former international galloper gave his rivals a start and a beating when coming from well back on the home turn.
Winning jockey, Tahlia Hope, was happy to settle back with the tailenders before angling wide for a run before the home turn.
PUNCHING POWER – October 21
PALACE Martial Arts continues to punch above its weight, with four members returning from the Australian Taekwondo National Championships in Perth with medals last weekend.
Will Sweeney and Taylor Crane competed in the red belt pairs 12-14 years, while Aisha Hendriks and Steph Farquharson competed in the women’s power breaking.
Farquharson topped the ranks to claim the gold medal, while Hendriks collected bronze, with Sweeney and Crane also collecting bronze in a strong first outing for the dojang.
WILL Sweeney, Steph Farquharson and Taylor Crane returned from the Australian Taekwondo National Championships with medals, along with Aisha Hendriks (absent). Photo: GLENN GUY.
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INTERNATIONAL DEBUT – October 25
MOCKA’S Boxing Club continues to have an impact, with local boxer, Donald ‘Duck’ Jones set to lead the Victoria team to Fiji this weekend.
Jones was captain of the Victorians at the national championships earlier this year and will hold the same role for the Victoria v Fiji series.
Jones, who will face the Fijian Light Heavyweight Champion in an 80kg bout, said he was looking forward to getting back in the ring again.
RECORD BREAKERS – October 28
FESTIVITIES are expected to last well into the evening today as St Andrew’s Cricket Club and Branxholme Cricket Club celebrate club records that rarely get broken, with both clubs’ games records set to be broken.
Craig Dimond (St Andrew’s) and Andrew McFarlane (Branxholme) will both pass the existing record for their respective clubs today, with Dimond playing game number 480 and surpassing Graeme Byrne, while McFarlane overtakes his uncle, John McFarlane, with 358.
SPORTSWOMEN OF THE YEAR – November 1
ZOE Addinsall has etched her name into the local record books once again, named the Sportswomen’s Association of Australia Hamilton branch Senior Sportswoman of the Year on Monday night.
The 16-year-old only became eligible for the senior award this year after winning the Junior Sportswoman of the Year award in 2021 and 2022.
The Junior Sportswoman of the Year for 2023 was awarded to rower and footballer, Jemima Ross, who held off runner-up, Emily Iredell, to claim the top junior award.
Ross had an impressive year, starting the year at The Hamilton and Alexandra College, before transitioning to Melbourne where she is boarding at Melbourne Girls Grammar, and was unable to attend the dinner.
WINNING FEELING – November 8
JUST one month shy of four years since the Hamilton Hurricanes last tasted Country Basketball League success, the side defeated Ararat Redbacks by 15 points in the round five clash at HILAC on Saturday night.
The home side had shown glimpses at different times so far this season and hosted an Ararat team which had two wins to date, and with almost a full squad to choose from to date this season, the Hurricanes were eyeing off a strong performance to cap off a five-game run at home.
GILL NAMED IN TEAM OF THE YEAR – November 8
HAMILTON Kangaroos junior, Frank Gill, continues to impress on the football field, named in the V/Line Cup Team of the Year.
Gill competed at the annual Under-15 carnival in Shepparton in September, with the Team of the Year announced late last month, with the local one of just three Greater Western Victoria Rebels selected in the Division 1 Boys team.
FRANK Gill was named in the V/Line Cup Team of the Year. Photo: GLENN GUY.
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LOCAL BOWLER EARNS PARA JACKAROO SQUAD SELECTION – November 8
GRANGEBURN Bowling Club bowler, Alison East, continues to shine in her chosen sport after being selected as a member of the Bowls Australia 2024 Para Jackaroos squad with ambitions of playing in the Commonwealth Games and the World Games.
East has earnt her way into the squad via the Emerging Para Jackaroos squad over the last 12 months with a commitment to training and playing at the highest level available and was the only member of the emerging squad to be selected in the full squad this year.
LOCAL SHARPSHOOTER – November 11
TAHARA’S James Humphries got more than he bargained for last weekend, returning home with a national title at the Field and Game Australia ASF National Championship in Clunes.
The Coleraine Field and Game Club life member returned with three medals, along with a pin for a perfect 25-target round, capping off a strong three-day performance just north of Ballarat.
RENTSCHS RETURN TO THE BOMBERS – November 11
PENSHURST is set for a big boost with Josh Rentsch headlining the recruits ahead of the Bombers’ 2024 Mininera and District Football League campaign.
Josh Rentsch joins Nathan Rentsch in the red and black after returning from SANFL side, Sturt, and Hampden side, Koroit, respectively. Josh returns to a club he spent his juniors at, before his career took him to the Greater Western Victoria Rebels and the SANFL in the past four years.
After two years at the Double Blues, Josh comes back and will also be an assistant coach alongside senior coach, Jayden Watson, and the key forward is excited about being back home.
BUCKIN’ GOOD TIME – November 15
IT was a huge night out, with a sell-out crowd for Saturday night’s Hamilton Rodeo.
It was a double header with the Hamilton Racing Club hosting a race meet on Friday, before backing up with the rodeo on Saturday.
Club manager, Peta Anderson said the event exceeded all expectations and will take on feedback on how to improve the event ahead of the 2024 edition.
WINNING STATION – November 22
THE Liam Howley-trained Station One narrowly won an exciting 2023 William Thomson Dunkeld Cup in a blanket finish involving four horses.
On a beautiful sunny day where approximately 7000 patrons welcomed back racing under the shadows of Mt Abrupt, the cup highlighted a day of exciting racing and close finishes.
After leading in the field in the 1800m feature race, Station One had to rally hard after appearing under pressure to finish in the placings on the home turn.
Winning rider, Alana Kelly, had to use all her strength to eventually hold off Blazerro, trained by Annabel Neasham, and race favourite, Pitchanun, for Danny O’Brien.
EAST CLAIMS INAUGURAL JIM BARKER PACE HONOUR – November 22
THE Hamilton Harness Racing Club had its final program for the year with nine races on the card for Monday’s schedule with a good crowd on hand for a special day for the club.
The day was highlighted by the Jim Barker Pace, which was set for race five, with the race named after local trainer, Jim Barker.
Local trainer, Bec East, claimed the inaugural honour, as Michael Bellman drove She Will Wantano to victory in a mile rate of 1:59.4 to claim the winning rug from Barker, who was in attendance.
HEYWOOD trainer, Bec East, driver, Michael Bellman, and Jim Barker celebrate the local’s success in the inaugural Jim Barker Pace on Monday. Photo: GLENN GUY.
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GOLDEN VICTORY – November 29
FORMER Irish jockey, Tom Madden, continued his recent success at country cup level, winning Saturday’s Penshurst Cup on Glitter ‘N’ Gold for Warrnambool trainer, Lindsey Smith.
In front of a good crowd despite the weather and a deteriorating track, Madden’s second cup success didn’t come without drama, especially after missing the start by three lengths.
Thankfully, on the back of the slow pace set by race favourite, Wetakemanhattan, the pair were quickly able to make up lost ground and settle just beyond midfield.
Approaching the home turn, Madden sliced through the field to be in a striking position at the top of the home straight.
FRENCH FINALE? – December 6
MILLY Tapper is in pursuit of a spot on Australia’s Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic teams, in what shapes to be her final year of international competition.
The Hamilton product recently returned from the Solomon Islands, where she made it through to the final of the ITTF Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships, but lost to Aussie teammate and world number one, Qian Yang.
The 33-year-old told The Spectator she still has avenues to qualify for Paris in what would be Tapper’s fourth consecutive Paralympic appearance, dating back to London in 2012.
MILLY Tapper is eyeing off a Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic spot, in what would be the perfect finale as an international table tennis player. Photo: GLENN GUY.
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