Sport
22 May, 2024
Sportsman’s Club honours athletes
CORANGAMITE Sportsmans Club has honoured local athletes at its Summer Sports Award night.
The evening, held at the Camperdown Golf Club last Tuesday (May 14) was enjoyed by 90 guests and club members.
Included among the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Rick Scroggie Award to Camperdown’s Tracey Baker, a life membership to Kevin Russell and the Allan McKenzie award to Michelle Elijah.
The Rick Scroggie Award (named in honour of the former sports journalist who died in the Ash Wednesday fires) is presented annual to someone who has made a huge contribution to local sport.
Tracey Baker was recognised for her work through netball, cricket and golf at various levels.
“It is an honour to win this award; sport has been a wonderful part of my life,” Baker said.
In receiving the Allan McKenzie Award (in honour of a man who made a valuable contribution to the sportsmans club over many years and followed his motto, it’s not what the club can do for you but what you can do for the club), Michelle Elijah said she too was honoured.
“With Brian Boyd and Max Wines as past recipients, I’m certainly in good company. I’m very proud to have won this,” Elijah said.
Sports Star awards were presented to recipients in various categories for the months of January through to April.
Congratulations to the following recipients:
Sports Star of the Month (January)
Junior Sports Star – Josh Reynolds.
Thirteen year-old Reynolds debuted in the Pomborneit division one side against Ecklin and in his first five over-spell he conceded just 15 runs, including two maidens.
During the game he also took his first catch and followed that up with two more wickets to finish the day with an impressive 3/23 from 8.5 overs.
He was also a member of the premiership under 17 team and won the Colac and District Cricket Association under 14 Cricketer of the Year award on 641 points.
Sports Star of the Month (February)
Junior Sports Star – Jake Burleigh.
Burleigh broke four records at his school’s swimming carnival and was later awarded age group champion after breaking more records at the inter-school carnival.
He has broken seven inter-school records in two years and qualified for the regional titles in Melbourne in March.
At the regionals he competed in four events and won three gold medals.
Junior Sports Star – Stella Horspole.
Adding to her growing list of achievements in the saddle, Horspole claimed another state championship title, winning the Barastoc Horse of the Year.
This earned her a ticket to the nationals, to be held at the end of the year, as Victoria’s number one representative.
Horspole also competed in the interschool ring riding on behalf of Camperdown College.
She won all her classes and was named overall champion with the highest points.
Junior Sports Team – Cobden 13 and under cricket side.
This team was premiers and champions this season, defeating Bookaar in the grand final.
Team members were Jack Couch, Clem Walsh, Sam Robertson, Rhys Darcy, Michael Benallack, Nathan Patullock, Jaybe Bailey, Ryan Bailey, Tyler Bailey, Nate LaFranchi, Lenny Murfett and Luke Paton (coached by Chris Walsh).
A highlight of the grand final match was Michael Benallack being named Man of the Match for his batting (20 retired) and bowling effort (0/2 off two overs).
Senior Sports Team – Timboon Maroon, lawn bowls.
This team won the Western District midweek pennant division one flag, which was their third win in four years.
They also claimed the division two title, after finishing second on the ladder after 14 home and away rounds.
Team members included Peter Rowe, Peter Baker, Peter Neal, Daryl Wiggins, Geoff Bedggood, Gary Duro, Fiona Newey, Arthur Finch, Brett Mungean, Pam Dwyer, John McIntosh and Sandra Trigg.
Unfortunately their hopes of playing state titles ended after being defeated by Corangamite.
Sports Star of the Month (March).
Senior Sports Star – Simon Baker and David Murphy.
Both were joint winners of the South West Cricket Association 2023/24 Cricketer of the Year award.
Baker, a 350-plus game legend of the Bookaar Cricket Club, won his fifth league award after making 677 runs for the season which included two centuries and three half-centuries.
Murphy, also a 350-plus game player, is the glue that keeps Pomborneit together – finishing second for runs after slamming home four half-centuries and being involved in many wickets each week behind the stumps.
Both players were named in the SWCA Team of the Year.
Junior Sports Team – Pomborneit girls under 17s team.
This side showed brilliance to defeat Colac in the grand final, giving them back-to-back premierships.
Team members were Nellie Sadler, Neave Thompson, Jada Mahony, Isla Nolan, Lucia Clarke, Lily Van Es, Lilli Saarikallio, Chloe Bridges, Elle Mahony, Sarah Bridges, Greta Darcy, Regan Norman, Gypsey Miller and Isabella Wain.
The team was coached by Jayson Thompson and Aaron Van Es.
Senior Sports Team – Cobden Knights Division One Cricket.
This team broke a 23-year premiership drought to win the 2023/24 premiership, defeating Pomborneit by a narrow 17 runs.
The team included Simon Murfett, Matty Boyle, Kaplan McCann, Johno Benallack, Angus Uwland, Matt Harkin, Jonty Robertson, Matthew Kemp, Campbell Walsh, Parker Walsh, Jackson Rock and Eddie Walsh.
Sports Star of the Month (April).
Junior Sports Star – Aidan Conheady.
Conheady was a valuable team member in Victoria’s 17 and under boys’ netball team that competed at the nationals in Brisbane.
The boys dominated the week and won a nail-biting grand final against South Australia, 62-61.
Conheady was awarded Most Valuable Player for his outstanding performance at goal attack and was also named in the All-Star team at the end of the tournament.
He was also selected to attend the Australian squad camp in Sydney in May.
