Sport
1 April, 2026
Families celebrate little aths season
CAMPERDOWN Little Athletics Club has celebrated its 2025/26 season with a presentation night last Friday.
Amid the celebrations were some sad goodbyes to the top age under 17 athletes, including Riley Beams, Lila Bennett, Lila Horspole and Pippa Kempton who have now competed their final year of little aths.
Those members were not just great athletes but also incredible role models.
Their commitment and spirit inspire others to show up, work hard, and believe in themselves every day.
Presentation night also saw acknowledgement of athletes who reached special milestones this season including Lila Bennett (seven year attendance), Charlie Unwin (10 years) and Lila Horspole (12 years).
Congratulations to all award winners - your dedication, hard work and achievements this season has been incredible.
Just as importantly, the club celebrated every athlete who showed up week after week.
True athletic achievement isn’t just about winning, it’s about the dedication to keep improving, even in the smallest steps.
Every training session, every effort to be just a little better than yesterday, builds the foundation of greatness.
Congratulations to all athletes who show up, put in the work, and who lead by example.
Being a role model isn’t about perfection it’s about commitment, resilience, and the courage to keep going.
In the end, it’s the quiet dedication behind the scenes that inspires others.
You all bring energy, positivity, and encouragement to everyone around you and make the centre a much brighter place.
The club thanks all athletes for being not just great athletes, but incredible role models. Their commitment and spirit inspire others to show up, work hard, and believe in themselves every day.
All track, field and shield awards are pointed on PB, attendance and placings calculated from every week through the season.
Participation awards:
Girls under 6-under 8:
Gold (100 per cent attendance) - Sadie Walsh; silver - Emma Hrebenyuk, Ivy Banks, Evelyn Tucker, Matilda Jones, Evie Smith, Roisin Blain and Ava Stace; bronze - Pyper Bannerman, Amelia Jones and Oakley Dickson.
Boys under 6-under 8:
Gold - Liam Cotton, Rex Plater and Dylan Hrebenyuk; silver - Ciaran Corrigan, Wilbur Spokes, Carter Merrett, Ryan Merrett, Zachy Conway, Maximino Stace and Noah Newey; bronze - Sonny Hall- White, Rocky Elsum, Jack Brown, Van Duynhoven and Axel Duynhoven.
Girls track
Under 6 - Sadie Walsh, Emma Hrebenyuk and Matilda Jones.
Under 7 - Roisin Blain, Evelyn Tucker and Evie Smith.
Under 8 - Ivy Banks, Amelia Jones and Pyper Bannerman.
Under 9 - Luca Unwin, Natalie Corrigan and Savannah Brooks.
Under 10 - Charlotte Quarrell, Anna Banks and Sophie Woodmason.
Under 11 - Georgina Blackford, Emily Menzies and Esther Couch.
Under 12 - Millie Bourke, Holly Brooks and Pippa Woodmason.
Under 13-17 - Zoe Unwin, Philippa Kempton and Annabella Blackford.
Boys track
Under 6 - Ryan Merrett gold, Jack Brown and Rocky Elsum silver, Sonny Hall-White bronze.
Under 7 - Rex Plater, Carter Merrett and Wilbur Spokes.
Under 8 - Dylan Hrebenyuk, Maximino Stace and Axel Duynhoven.
Under 9 - Harrison Plater, Ethan Cotton and Lenny Bourke.
Under 10 - Parker Whitehead, Callum Nicholls and Jude Smith.
Under 11 - Aaron Marshall, William Smith and Ruaraidh Menzies.
Under 12 - Blair OLeary, Nicholas Whitehead and Olly Dickinson, and Christopher Cronly.
Under 13 - Riley Beames, Charlie Unwin and Lukas Hrebenyuk.
Girls Field
Under 6 - Sadie Walsh, Emma Hrebenyuk and Matilda Jones.
Under 7 - Evelyn Tucker, Roisin Blain and Evie Smith.
Under 8 - Ivy Banks, Amelia Jones and Pyper Bannerman.
Under 9 - Luca Unwin, Savannah Brooks and Ruby Walsh, and Natalie Corrigan.
Under 10 - Charlotte Quarrell, Anna Banks and Isla Dickinson.
Under 11 - Lara Hooker, Georgina Blackford and Esther Couch.
Under 12 - Millie Bourke, Holly Brooks and Thea Whitehead.
Under 13-17 - Zoe Unwin, Philippa Kempton and Annabella Blackford.
Boys Field
Under 6 - Ryan Merrett, Sonny Hall-White and Rocky Elsum.
Under 7 - Rex Plater, Carter Merrett and Wilbur Spokes.
Under 8 - Dylan Hrebenyuk, Maximino Stace and Axel Duynhoven.
Under 9 - Harrison Plater, Ethan Cotton and Ethan Marshall.
Under 10 - Parker Whitehead, Callum Nicholls and Jude Smith.
Under 11 - William Smith, Aaron Marshall and Ruaraidh Menzies.
Under 12 - Blair OLeary, Nicholas Whitehead and Olly Dickinson.
Under 13-17 - Charlie Unwin, Riley Beames and Lukas Hrebenyuk.
Girls Shield
Gold - 1st Luca Unwin (under 9), 2nd Phillipa Kempton (under 17), 3rd Holly Brooks (under 12), 4th Savannah Brooks (under 9), 5th Zoe Unwin (under 13), 6th Ruby Walsh (under 9), 7th Lara Hooker (under 11).
Silver - 8th Millie Bourke (under 12), and Georgina Blackford (under 11), 9th Emily Menzies (under 11), 10th Natalie Corrigan (under 9), 11th Elise Nesseler (under 9), 12th Bailey Merrett (under 9) and Annabella Blackford (under 13), 13th Charlotte Quarrell (under 10) and Anna Banks (under 10), 14th Esther Couch (under 11).
Bronze - 15th Eliza Eagle (under 9), 16th Reagan Webb (under 14), 17th Thea Whitehead (under 12), 18th Pippa Woodmason (under 12), 19th Sophie Woodmason (under 10), 20th Stella Whitehead (under 14) and Lila Horspole (under 17).
Boys Shield
Gold - 1st Harrison Plater (under 9) and Charlie Unwin (under 15), 2nd Parker Whitehead (under 10), 3rd William Smith (under 11), 4th Ethan Marshall (under 9), 5th Ethan Cotton (under 9), 6th Riley Brames (under 17), 7th Callum Nicholls (under 10).
Silver - 8th Lukas Hrebenyuk (under 13), 9th Lenny Bourke (under 9), 10th Ruaraidh Menzies (under 11), 11th Henry Rowe (under 9), 12th Blair OLeary (under 12), 13th Jett Newey (under 9), 14th Jude Smith (under 10).
Bronze - 15th Nicholas Whitehead (under 12), 16th Daniel Stonehouse (under 15) and William Brown (under 10), 17th Jackson Whitehead (under 9),18th Ruben Perriss (under 12),19th Olly Dickinson (under 12) and 20th Christopher Cronly (under 12).
The club extends its thanks to all parents, guardians, and friends who support the Friday night competition and Monday night training sessions.
The association is run entirely by volunteers, and your ongoing support is truly appreciated.
The nights wouldn’t be possible without the help of our wonderful parent community.
Congratulations to the 2025/26 volunteer award recipients.
Dean Whitehead stepped up this season, generously giving his time to assist with running discs during Friday night competitions.
Casey, a long-time parent, is always willing to lend a hand wherever needed.
Often balancing the needs of her younger children, she still manages to support different age groups with enthusiasm and care.
A big thank you to both Casey and Dean for their continued dedication and support; it does not go unnoticed.
The winners of the Henk Gerbes Award were Kirsty and Mark Hooker.
Kirsty and Mark consistently go above and beyond in their support of the centre.
On Friday nights, they play a key role in ensuring competitions run smoothly.
They also contribute behind the scenes by marking lines, assisting with maintenance, and helping to build the overall capacity of the centre.
In addition, they generously give their time at a regional level in ways that often go unseen, as well as supporting Monday night training sessions.
Their dedication, reliability, and willingness to step in wherever needed make a significant impact on the centre’s community.
Congratulations and thank you, Kirsty and Mark, for your outstanding contribution.
A big thank you to the committee for being the backbone of getting the club’s nights up and running.
There is always a significant amount of planning happening behind the scenes, and without these dedicated volunteers stepping up, the centre would not be able to operate.
Your time, effort, and commitment are truly appreciated.
The centre is currently looking for enthusiastic helpers to join its 2026/27 committee.
Anyone able to offer support, big or small, would be much appreciated.
Please reach out to Kristy on 0408 584 044 for more information
Strong numbers at centre
THE figures are in….the Camperdown Little Athletics Centre achieved some remarkable results this season.
The centre had 101 athletes registered across a variety of age groups, ranging from under 6 through to under 17.
Together, they achieved 1,440 personal best records which was a true testament to their hard work and dedication.
The centre is also proud of the 32 athletes who represented Camperdown at regional events, along with all the special achievements accomplished throughout the season.
A special congratulations to the 19 athletes who went on to represent the centre at state events.
The centre is “extremely proud” of every athlete who participated and competed this season.