Sport
18 January, 2026
2025 In Review: January–March
We take a look at some of the big sport stories that happened in early 2025.
JANUARY
Under 17s impress at Country Week
Horsham Cricket Association’s under-17s cricketers impress at Country Week in Warrnambool.
They go through the group stage undefeated, with the highlight being a massive 10-wicket win over Warrnambool Blue.
After winning the toss and bowling, they dismiss Warrnambool for 123, Oliver Potter being the pick of the bowlers with 3/23 (5).
Matthew Kerr also takes multiple wickets, finishing with 2/12 (2.3).
In reply, HCA chases down the total in 39 overs, with Luke Miller and Dezi Carter unbeaten on 74 and 41, respectively.
Bowlers beat the heat
On a hot weekend in Hopetoun, pretending clouds and top-class bowls surround the prestigious men’s singles.
Precision bowling comes from all competitors.
In the end, Russell Huf and Terry Landrigan play off in the grand final, with Huf being the eventual victor after both display great steely confidence and concentration.
Squash a massive hit in Horsham
Horsham Squash Club hosts two major squash events: the Battle of the Border and the Horsham Silver.
In the Battle of the Border, a junior tournament between the best Victorian and South Australian squash players, South Australia wins 15-3.
The Horsham Silver is a Squash Victoria junior silver tournament featuring the best juniors around Victoria.
Oliver Doti of Horsham plays in both tournaments while Charlie Murray and Lakshith Chawla play in the Horsham Silver.
Albrecht, Watson crowned champs
Judith Albrecht (Dimboola Bowling Club) and Gavin Watson (Sunnyside Bowling Club) are crowned the Wimmera Playing Area Lawn Bowls Champion of Champions at Horsham City Bowling Club.
Albrecht defeats Jillian Coutts of Sunnyside Bowling Club while Watson defeats Allan Thompson of Coughlin Park Bowling Club.
The Champion of Champions competition is contested over a weekend between all Wimmera Playing Area Region club champions.
Best friends selected
Levi Munyard and Micah Livingstone, friends since kindergarten, look forward to embarking on a journey they’ve dreamed about for many years.
The pair have been selected for the Basketball Country Victoria state under-18 team for the national championships in Brisbane in April.
It’s the first time Horsham has had representation in the titles since Sam Breuer and Austin McKenzie were selected in 2020; they were subsequently unable to play due to Covid.
FEBRUARY
Champion of Champions
Champion of Champions bowls is played at Hopetoun in balmy conditions.
Decked out in their appropriate colours, the stars take to the stage, Hopetoun’s immaculate greens a tribute to the volunteers who work so diligently getting them into shape.
High-class action was a feature of the day as Edna Anderson from Warracknabeal Gold wins the women’s section, defeating homegrown champion Rhonda Whitford, who finished runner-up.
David Funcke is the winner of the men’s section.
Horsham City finish season on top
Horsham City, Nhill, Coughlin Park and Horsham Golf battle for the premiership in the Wimmera Playing Area Lawn Bowls pennant season after being confirmed finalists at the end of the regular season.
In round 14 Horsham City had a terrific 88-50 win over Coughlin Park at Coughlin Park, winning three rinks.
Smith honoured with award
At 66 years, Peter Smith shows that age is no barrier to achieving sporting dreams, being crowned 2024 Wimmera Sports Star of the Year.
In the past year Smith represented Australia at the World Over-35 Waterski Championships in Spain, where he won bronze in the individual jump competition and was part of the Australian team that finished second overall.
Additionally, he finished second overall in the 2024 National Championships at Mulwala, finishing second in the jump, third in tricks and third in slalom.
He is also the Victoria over-65 record holder in the jump.
Smith has been waterskiing for most of his life but only started competitive tournaments 10 years ago, aged 55.
MARCH
Smith second in state
Clear Lake farmer and race driver Danny Smith becomes Victoria’s number-two-ranked unlimited sedan race driver, finishing second at Blue Ribbon Raceway in Horsham in the Victorian championship.
Smith and the host club worked hard behind the scenes, dedicating enormous effort to putting together a night of racing that included two Victorian titles.
After the 2024 season Smith was keen to ensure the event’s success and was part of the process that saw the Victorian Speedway Council award the fixture to the Horsham club.
Revving up at Dooen
Riders from across the region descend on Horsham Motorcycle Club for the annual MX Amateurs event.
In all, 130 riders and 250 bikes take to the track, with competitors across A, B and C grades and juniors battled it out in a thrilling weekend of motocross action.
The event also features unique memorial races honouring former club members Maggie Stacey and Bronte Holland, with fierce competition for the coveted titles.
Raptors represented
The Nhill/Dimboola Raptors’ under 16 representative team reaches a grand final at the Victorian Basketball Country Championships in Melton.
Having been formed in September 2024, the Raptors contest the division 5 and 6 pool, going down 33-56 in the final to the Lakes Entrance Pelicans.
Homers brilliant back-to-back
Homers successfully defend their Horsham Cricket Association A-grade two-day crown with a brilliant win over the Noradjuha Toolondo Bullants at Horsham City Oval.
The Bullants win the toss and elect to bat, and openers Jamie Byrne and Justtin Combe play cautiously to try to see out the dangerous Perry brothers, Baxter and Gibson.
Byrne is first to fall, scoring only one run off 38 balls.
Despite Justtin and Matthew Combe trying to see off the opening bowlers, the Homers bowlers are too good, taking regular breakthroughs to have the Bullants at 4/40.
Rebels girls excited
The seven Wimmera female footballers playing for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the Coates Talent League – Violet McGennisken, Abbey Wiedermann, Greta Arnel, Poppy Peters, Scarlett Abbott, Amaya Woodward and Lara Purchase – are excited about the season ahead.
Purchase, Abbott and Wiedermann are in the under 16s squad, with Purchase as co-captain.
The under 14s have played two matches this season, losing both, but the girls have shown strong form.
Region’s best hit the pool
Cheers fill the air as Horsham hosts the 2025 School Sport Victoria swimming carnival.
The Greater Western Secondary Swimming Region Finals feature competitors aged 12-19 in various events at Horsham Aquatic Centre.
Schools from across the western region, including Horsham, Nhill, Stawell and Hopetoun, compete in the pool for bragging rights and a chance at qualifying for the state championships.