Sport
23 October, 2024
Sports stars recognised
SPORTS stars from across the district have been recognised at a special presentation evening for the Corangamite Sportsman’s Club.
The presentation night, held at the Cobden Golf Club last week, recognised award winners from May through to September.
Congratulations to the following monthly award winners:
May
Junior Sports Star – Indiana Cameron (basketball).
Talented 16 year-old Indiana has played in three premiership teams in three different competitions; Camperdown, Terang and Colac in one season.
She was named MVP in her grand final at Camperdown and also won a best and fairest award in the Tuesday under 17 competition and top scored for the season with 622 points.
In Terang, Indiana was MVP in her grand final, won the best and fairest in the senior women’s competition and top scored with 216 points.
She also played in Colac where, as a member of the under 18 squad, again won a best and fairest award and placed second in scoring with 242 points.
Senior Team Award – Cobden division four pennant (golf).
This side won the Western District Golf Association division four pennant in Portland and includes Rhonda Alexander, Janine Stevens, Jeannine White, Sherine Healy (captain) and Carmel Darcy, along with emergency Di McKenzie.
June
Junior Sports Star – Aidan Conheady (netball).
Aidan was selected for the Australian’s Men’s and Mixed Netball Association’s 17 and under men’s side to play in New Zealand in November.
He attended a training camp in Melbourne as a member of the squad and follows a program for strength and conditioning, drills and running to keep him fit and ready to play.
Aidan also travels to Melbourne each Wednesday to play state league competition.
Junior Team Award – Mercy Regional College (football).
The college’s football side entered the Ballarat schools competition this year and won the premiership, on June 19, defeating Damascus College by one point, 6.6.42 to 6.5.41.
The team, comprising 40 boys throughout the season, was coached by Wayne Robertson (former Cobden coach and Maskell Medal winner) and included joint captains Wilba Cheeseman and Myles Sinnott.
Aidan Conheady, Gus Walsh, Jacan Brooks and Darcy Vick were named best players for Mercy at the tournament.
July
Senior Sports Stars – Pam Dwyer and Lyndon Rogerson (indoor bowls).
HIBBA held its Champion of Champions at Simpson Hall in July, with both women winning their games.
Senior Sports Star – Fiona Dobbins (shooting).
Fiona won a bronze medal with a score of 279 targets from 300 at the Bywell International Challenge in England and was the emergency for the Australian women’s team at the World Down the Line Titles.
At the titles she entered the ladies’ championship and is ranked in the top 10 in the world.
August
Junior Sports Star – Piper Stephens (netball).
Piper played in Hampden League’s under 15 state titles team which made the semi-final and was selected in Victoria’s 50-member under 17 squad.
She won Camperdown’s 17 and under best and fairest award and was runner-up in the Open division.
She also won the Rebekah Moroney Medal for Hampden’s 17 and under netball side.
Senior Sports Star – Arthur Finch (indoor bowls).
Arthur this year added another indoor bowls singles championship to his huge collection of awards, winning his fourth title.
He also won the Ballarat Intergroup singles this year in the lead-up to the national title.
September
Junior Team – Kolora Noorat 17 and under (netball).
This side is the 2024 Warrnambool and District Football Netball League premiers after winning the grand final on September 7.
The team comprises Rose Beasley (captain), Nellie Sadler, Keely Vaughan, Matilda Curran, Taleah Murfett, Layla Gleeson, Lucy Molan, Meg Pekin and Meg Arklay and is coached by Abby Carlin.
Best players on grand final day were Keely, Nellie and Rose.
Junior Sports Star – Keely Vaughan (netball).
Keely was name best on court by umpires after Kolora Noorat’s impressive grand final win over Allansford.
She has played in the Power’s 17 and under side for the past two years and is a versatile and talented defender.
Keely also played in the club’s A reserve side this season, bringing a positive attitude to both training and games.
Guest speaker at last week’s presentation night was Olympian Penny Smith.
Penny thrilled the crowd with an inspirational speech outlining her journey to date.
Penny was a previous award winner, taking out the Sportsman’s Junior Star of the Year in both 2006 (for equestrian) and 2013 (shooting).
She was presented with the sportsman’s club’s newest award, the Peter Burke Award for outstanding athlete/sportsperson.
Peter spoke passionately about Penny’s career and said he was thrilled to make last week’s presentation.
The annual Sports Star of the Year awards will be held in Cobden on Tuesday, December 10.
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