General News
10 January, 2025
SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS OF SPORTS STORIES IN YOUR LOCAL LODDON HERALD
January Queen of the Mountain Carly Isaac finishes second in the prestigious Hobart Marathon, beating her previous best for the 42km race by almost five minutes. It begins a year of remarkable performances from the multi-sport star. Maiden Gully YCW...
January
Queen of the Mountain Carly Isaac finishes second in the prestigious Hobart Marathon, beating her previous best for the 42km race by almost five minutes. It begins a year of remarkable performances from the multi-sport star. Maiden Gully YCW says it will enter an under 18 team in the Bendigo Football League. Earlier, the club had unsuccessfully tried to move its senior side away from the Loddon Valley league. The under 18 shift does not happen, and the club does not field an under 18 team in 2024, which leads to its senior side being penalised 12 points before the season starts.
February
AFL Central Victoria commissioner Leon Holt walks away from the role after 12 years with a call for football hierarchy to listen more to grassroots administrators. Inglewood lawn bowls champion Geoff Wilson skippers his team to a win over a side helmed by six-time world champion, Scotland’s Alex Marshall, who is playing a season with Moama. It is his first pennant defeat in seven years. Bridgewater Bowling Club switches on its new lights. Boort Yando wins the Upper Loddon Cricket Association junior crown after defeating Kingower. Arnold Cricket Club celebrates its 125th anniversary.
March
Jarklin-owned pacer Modern Bliss takes out the group one Tasmanian Cup. Wedderburn’s bowlers win the North Central playing area Division 1 flag, while in tennis Fentons Creek defeats local rivals Wedderburn to claim the Inglewood association pennant. Serpentine takes out the Bendigo playing area Division 3 bowls title. Cricket wooden spooners Arnold crowns its 125th year by also winning the senior grand final against Wedderburn Band. While the winners celebrated it becomes clear that extended football training commitments are impacting summer sports. North Central Netball League introduces rolling subs.
April
Charlie Sullivan, 13, wins the Rheola Gift at the annual Easter Monday charity carnival. Defending titleholder Jarrod Rodda wins the men’s tennis singles at Boort’s 65th Easter event. The AFL Central Victoria Commission is abolished, to be replaced by an independent council. Big-name recruits Josh Mellington (Bears Lagoon Serpentine) and Lachlan Sharp (Bridgewater) kick 10 goals and eight respectively as the football season begins. In round two, Mellington boots 10 and Sharp a dozen as they begin a race to the century. In netball, Serp wins its first A Grade match in five years when it beats Inglewood in style, 67-21.
May
Wedderburn wins the first derby clash against Boort in the North Central league. Josh Mellington and Lachlan Sharp each kick 15 in round three to continue their goal spree. But Mellington’s career is put in peril when he is reported for striking. The Bears successfully challenge his one-match suspension – an unsuccessful appeal would mean a two-game penalty, taking him to 16 matches in total and a lifetime ban under AFL rules. Upper Loddon Cricket Association announces a T20 competition for the summer. Bridgewater A Grade netball co-coach and player Caz Wood wins the Anzac medal for most courageous player.
June
In round eight, Lachlan Sharp’s 20th goal for the afternoon against Mitiamo is greeted by a streaker. Josh Mellington manages ‘only’ 17 against Maiden Gully. Five-time premiership player Adam Postle plays his 300th game for Wedderburn. Loddon Shire CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald is named on the new AFL Central Victoria council. Boort and Wedderburn harness racing clubs have meetings stripped for 2025 in a shakeup of the struggling sport. A big month for Mitiamo sees them back on top of the A Grade netball ladder. The Mellington-Sharp duel comes to an end, with the Serp star badly tearing a hamstring after 93 goals in nine matches.
July
Inglewood’s Geoff Wilson is named in the Victorian bowling arm team for the national titles. Lachlan Sharp kicks his 100th goal of the season against Inglewood, booting nine on the day, and celebrates on the ground with his children. Pyramid Hill ends Marong’s 42-game winning streak with a five-point victory. Monday night mixed netball returns to Pyramid Hill. Three Holt brothers play together for the first time as Wedderburn beats Boort. Kellie Anset plays her 500th netball match for Calivil, as does Kristen Gooding for Boort. Pyramid Hill motocross rider Judd Chislett, 16, remains undefeated in state C Grade ranks.
August
Boort champion Andrew Kane takes out the 103rd annual Wedderburn golf tournament. Redback veteran Danny Benaim plays his 350th career game at the age of 40. Trotter Blackstone Glory breaks the Horsham track record for Inglewood trainer Trevor Ralph. Maiden Gully’s 12-point ladder deduction is rescinded. Max Beattie wins the North Central under 17 best and fairest. Mitiamo takes out the A Grade netball minor premiership as the Superoos’ footy team ends a winless season. Bridgewater beats Newbridge and Pyramid Hill defeats Serp in the first weekend of footy finals. Wedderburn prevails over Donald in North Central.
September
Serp’s Justin Laird wins the league B&F by 10 votes. Bridgewater’s Carly Van Den Heuvel takes out the netball award. Rising Star nods go to Inglewood’s Gabe Nevins and Serp’s Ava Francis. Pyramid Hill beats Marong for the second successive time to move into the grand final. Serp goes out in straight sets with a loss to Bridgewater. Marong thumps Bridgewater in the preliminary final and goes on to turn the tables on the Bulldogs in the grand final for a third successive flag. Mitiamo wins the netball flag. Wedderburn’s footy season ends with a preliminary final loss, but the Redbacks win the A and B Grade netball grand finals.
October
Inglewood’s Blake Coffey, 17, wins a major woodchop event at the Melbourne Royal. Carly Isaac wins her second Queen of the Mountain title at Wycheproof. Pyramid Hill to launch a parkrun event next year. Arnold’s defence of its cricket premiership gets off to a rough start with a loss to Kingower, whose captain Jayden Leach takes 7-26 and makes 85. Bridgewater Bulls return to the competition after a year in recess. Wedderburn’s Hayley Smith wins a national ranch horse title with ‘Digger’. First T20 round played in Upper Loddon cricket. Loddon Eagles pull out of Inglewood and District tennis competition.
November
Junior tennis tournament makes return to Pyramid Hill. Kain Robins and Paul Thomson to lead Marong after three-time premiership coach Linton Jacobs moves on. Lachlan Sharp named as sole Bridgewater coach for 2025 after co-coach Rick Ladson rejects offer to stay on as an assistant. Wedderburn may turn to rugby convert Mark Robinson to fill the shoes of ruck star Jordan Hargreaves who has headed to the Heathcote league. Jayden Leach’s cricket season reaches new heights with a century. Luke Boyd scores 40 of his team’s 44 points as the Kings win Boort’s summer mixed basketball competition.
December
Torrential rain washes out all sport as the month begins. Carly Isaac wins the Loddon Herald Sport Star of the Year award. Bridgewater star junior Rachael Flood is chosen for the elite Netball Victoria Talent Academy. Kingower wins the first T20 cricket competition grand final, knocking over Wedderburn and taking home the Loddon Herald Cup. However, Wedderburn finishes the year on top of the cricket ladder ahead of Kingower as the two teams dominate the competition. Boort Yando remains undefeated in the juniors. Loddon Valley fixture for 2025 released, with grand finalists Marong and Pyramid Hill to meet in round two.Three new faces on league board.