Sport
15 January, 2025
Year in review 2024
THIS week we take a look back at some of the sports stories, events and photos that shaped the western district in 2024 and appeared in the pages of the Cobden Timboon Coast Times.
JANUARY
Johno Benallack was appointed captain of South West Cricket’s Melbourne Country Week side.
Pomborneit took out the South West Cricket division one Twenty20 title, defeating the Cobden Knights.
Twelve local golfers banded to raise more than $9000 for the Cancer Council at ‘The Longest Day’ at Timboon Golf Club.
FEBRUARY
There was plenty of action at the Cobden track when South West Kart Club hosted round one of the 2024 Victorian Country Series.
Cobden’s Darnel Nguena and Leonard Walsh were named in Hampden League’s under 15 talent identification and development squad, along with Camperdown’s Paddy Hassett and Zavier Fowler.
Young Victorian Super Road champion Jacob Pitcher won the Trevor Podger Memorial at Simpson Speedway.
Combining with Mortlake to form a side in the Warrnambool and District under 15 competition, Cobden Knights cricketers brought home a premiership.
MARCH
Despite a challenging off-season, with three senior clubs moving to other associations, South West Cricket remained confident its future is secure.
Cobden Cricket Club celebrated another premiership for season 2023/24 with a win in the under 17 Warrnambool and District competition.
It was an exciting night at Simpson Speedway for the Victorian 410 Sprintcar title, which also saw the Gillin Boys Foundation donate a second $100,000 to the Murdoch Children’s Research.
Cobden Knights’ division one cricketers broke the club’s 23 year-drought with premiership glory, defeating Pomborneit by just 17 runs.
Cobden and District Tennis Association held its presentation night, with several awards given including most improved first year player to Oscar Zonneveld, and best first year player to William Plozza.
The 50th anniversary meeting at Simpson Speedway was enjoyed by a good crowd, with local fan-favourite Matthew Symons taking the chequered flag in the Pro Sprint series round.
APRIL
Stella Horspole became the first Camperdown Little Athletics Centre athlete to compete for the club from under six through to under 17s.
Cody Noonan won the monthly medal at Timboon Golf Club.
Cobden Bombers’ Open netball side showed its depth (after losing five of its 2023 team members due to pregnancy, illness and club transfers) defeating Hamilton by 33 goals in round one of Hampden League action.
Scotts Creek was home to some amazing riding when competitors showed off their skills during the 2024 Heytesbury Horse Trials.
South West Cricket announced its SCW Towards 2030 strategy which included implementing a female competition.
Round three of the Colac and District League proved a tough one for Simpson’s senior footballers, going down by 68 points to Lorne.
MAY
Former Cobden Bomber Zach Merrett was awarded the Anzac Medal at the MCG.
Cobden golfers took out the Barrett Shield, defeating Timboon, with C. Huffadine taking out the A grade competition on a countback from S. Rix.
Port Campbell Surf Life Saving Club was named a finalist in the 2023 Victorian Sport Awards.
Former Premier League player Matthew Love was appointed coach of Heytesbury Princetown Storm Cricket Club for the next two seasons.
Volunteers at the Port Campbell Recreation Reserve celebrated the end of a rewarding period, with the reserve to be taken over by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.
Two teens made their senior debut for Simpson Football Club, Jayden Gass and Bailey Vines and both held their own in the side’s 43-poitn win over Western Eagles.
JUNE
The Victorian Indoor Bias Bowls Association’s state titles proved successful for Heytesbury bowler Arthur Finch.
Cobden’s Luke Smith, Ben Berry and Ben McGlade were included in Hampden Football Netball League’s initial training squad for the under 23 interleague battle against Ballarat.
Simpson full forward Nick Harding backed eight goals in the club’s 106 point victory over Birregurra.
Hampden League broke a 21-year drought to be crowned state netball champions.
Thirty players enjoyed a left versus right handers stableford event at the Cobden Golf Club, with A grade going to G. Birnie from C. Horan.
JULY
Hampden League’s under 18 female footballers celebrated a 43-point victory over Ballarat at an interleague match, with Kate Noseda kicking three goals for the team.
Poachers took out the A grade premiership in the Corangamite Volleyball competition, while Pirates won B grade.
Geoff Norton finished on 37 points to take out A grade at the Timboon Golf Club’s stableford competition, with Fran Togni finishing first in B grade.
Pomborneit Cricket Club won its appeal to move its senior men’s teams out of the South West competition.
Grace Brown became the golden girl of the western district, winning a career-defining gold medal at the Olympic Games’ women’s individual time trial.
AUGUST
Cobden footballer Rhys Unwin was invited to attend the 2024 AFL Draft Combine. Unwin was one of 65 draft prospects selected from around the country.
Corangamite Hockey Club was well represented at the junior state hockey championships with Ava Cunningham, Taliyah Bishop and Seth Symons competing in the under 16s while Akeisha Bishop and Noah Boyd played in the under 14s.
Henry Wilkinson, Mateo Boyd, Maisie Cunningham, Annabelle Absolom, Harmoney Bishop and Zoe Symons all competed in the under 12 competition.
Ken Buck and Pam Wines took out the HIBBA drawn pairs championship.
Slugs broke through for their first win of the winter season in round four of Corangamite volleyball.
Penny Smith, after returning from Paris with an Olympic bronze medal, was special guest at the South West Zone school championships for clay target shooting.
SEPTEMBER
Cobden Technical School students have shone on the courts at the Netball Victoria Gala Netball Day for boys, facing some tough competition from some of the state’s biggest schools.
Timboon Demons’ 13 and under netballers earnt themselves a spot in the Warrnambool District League grand final after defeating Allansford by four goals in the semi-final. They went on to bring home the premiership flag.
With a nett score of 69, Geoff Norton won the A grade monthly medal at Timboon Golf Club.
Cobden Technical Scool students Felix NguenaNguena, Alan Warden, Adam Jopling and Kenzo Castano were named regional table tennis champions.
Cooriemungle Bulls capped off a brilliant winter volleyball season by defeating Poachers in the Corangamite Volleyball A grade grand final.
OCTOBER
Treasurer Joyce Roberts was presented with a life membership of the Heytesbury Indoor Bias Bowls Association.
Jamie Norton won the Bill Neal Memorial Trophy at Timboon Golf Club with a nett score of 67, taking home the A grade trophy.
Cobden’s Rhys Unwin continued to perform well at the AFL Draft Combine, recording some impressive results including the third fastest time in the 20 metre sprint with a time of 2.914 seconds.
Local driver Paul Verhoeven was among more than 50 who took the chance to test the new clay surface at Premier Speedway.
The Cobden Gift drew a bumper crowd, with the men’s 100m race won by Wollongong’s Mitchell O’Neill.
NOVEMBER
Sandra Mason finished on 37 points to take out the Dot Ibbs trophy at the Cobden Golf Course, closely followed by runner-up Judy Myers on countback.
Cobden sharp shooter Lenny Dobbins returned form the South West Middle Years clay target shooting competition on top of his division.
Rhys Sargood recorded two personal best performances at the School Sport Victoria state athletics championships, finishing seventh in the 100m event with a new PB, seventh in the 200m (PB) and a sixth in the high jump.
Cobden driver Tim Rankin took the chequered flag in an action-packed Jack Willsher Cup at Premier Speedway.
Cobden footballer Rhys Unwin was drafted to the Essendon Bombers at pick 61.
DECEMBER
Leo Beasley won the inaugural Robert Farrar junior boys golf trophy at the final round of the Western District Golf Association.
There was plenty of action at the season opener at the Simpson Speedway, with three drivers taken to hospital following major incidents.
Cobden’s Rusty Ponting took the chequered flag in the junior formula 500s, ahead of Paddy Lewis and Cody Malley.
Greg Beames had a strong round on the Timboon golf course to take the par event in division one.
Cobden Junior Football Club appointed its coaches for next season with Martin Darcy to lead the under 16s, Brad Couch the under 14s, Greg Darcy under 12s and Matty Robertson under 10s.
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