- Related – Wimmera stars align
SEVERAL Wimmera sporting sides had a successful 2016.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Some managed to go back-to-back while others broke droughts or saw their best players strive to compete at higher levels than ever before.
The Wimmera Mail-Times looked back at some of the most memorable team moments.
Horsham Saints Football Club
IT WAS a nail-biting Wimmera Football League grand final that saw the club win its second ever senior premiership just a year after winning its first.
Under the guidance of departing coach Shayne Breuer the side came from behind to defeat Minyip-Murtoa 6.9 (45) to 6.7 (43).
It was a match played in difficult conditions between the two best sides in the league. Throughout much of the year the Burras led the way on top of the ladder after defeating the defending premiers in dominant fashion in the first round of season.
The Saints continued to build throughout the season thanks to the likes of Sam Clyne and Jacob Cooke-Harrison.
While it was the club’s sole football premiership of the season, three out of its four side’s played off in grand finals, with its reserves side falling one win short of playing on the final day.
The Saints also tasted success in C Grade netball, with both games finishing off a hectic day of Wimmera league grand finals.
Individually, Clyne’s consistency through the midfield saw him poll the most votes in the league’s best and fairest award to take out the Toohey medal.
Cooke-Harrison was the side’s X-factor for much of the season and was again judged to be so in the grand final as he won the Binns medal for best on ground.
To cap off the success, the club also had its second first-round draft pick in two years when Jarrod Berry was taken pick number 17 by the Brisbane Lions.
Horsham Hornets under-14 boys
THE under-14 Horsham Hornets had a year to remember as the side finished top 10 at the Australian Club Championships at the end of September.
The side won the right to play in the championships at Newcastle and Maitland following success at the state championships in April.
Qualifying early in the year meant the side had plenty of time to prepare to play on the national stage while still busy playing other sports.
By the time the came to head to Newcastle, coach Damien Kilpatrick had the side fighting fit and ready to go but was still keen to downplay expectations.
But as the side began to win games new goals had to be set.
“We wanted to win a game – we did that. We wanted to finish top 12 – we did that. We then looked at top 10 – we did that,” Kilpatrick said.
“We couldn’t have asked for anything more.
“For Horsham to make it is such an amazing effort in itself.”
Ben Hobbs was a star for the Hornets at the championships. His 21.7 points per game placed him as the fourth most prolific scorer.
Kilpatrick had consistent praise during the championships for the defensive efforts of Sam Breuer, who also scored 83 points in the week.
Lady Hornets
HORSHAM’S Lady Hornets won the south-west conference Country Basketball League grand final against Colac Kookas in February.
It was a narrow win for the Horsham side, which had to come from behind before the game finished 76-69.
The win resulted from a deep playing roster that allowed coach Gareth Hiscock to be confident in anyone he put on the court.
But it was Ema Iredell who was deemed to be the difference on the day.
Her 21 points sparked the Hornets into action during the third quarter as the side fought hard to close a margin that extended out to as much as 11 points.
Still trailing by five points with a quarter to go, the side continued to rally and eventually overcame the visiting Colac side at the Horsham Basketball Stadium.
The win was the team’s second in the three seasons since the conference’s inception.
Harrow-Balmoral
HARROW-BALMORAL stamped its authority in the Horsham District Football Netball League this season with its netballers leading the way. The club took out both the A and B Grade finals as well as winning the under-13 grand final.
The A Grade team won its third title in the space of four years by defeating Natimuk United 59-37.
The win followed on from the 33-29 B Grade victory over the same opponents and the under-13 side winning 25-5 against Kalkee.
On the footy field, the senior side fell 25 points short in the grand final against the Southern Mallee Giants despite leading deep into the third quarter.
Taylors Lake
IT MIGHT have been a reserves premiership but a win in the grand final broke a 28-year drought at Taylors Lake.
The club defeated Southern Mallee Giants 14.14 (98) to 10.9 (69) to claim its third reserves premiership and just the fourth premiership in the club’s history.
Club president Brent Tough said the win sparked celebrations at the club that were a long time coming.
“Everyone was out partying. We went down to the White Hart and then out to the club to continue celebrations,” he said.
Wimmera Whippets
THE Wimmera Whippets continued to be a great team to follow in 2016 and got the chance to celebrate some of its best players at a higher level this year.
Josh Barry added to his swag of representative honours in a variety of sports, selected in the All-Abilities Vic Country football side along with Alfred Muller and Matt Taylor from the Grampians Giants. All three played well at the national championships where Taylor was named as an emergency in the All-Australian side.
Bianca Lauricella represented Victoria at the national all-ability netball championships in August.