Sports stars honoured

TALENTED teen cyclist Bentley Currell was guest speaker at the April meeting of the Corangamite Sportsmen’s Club.

Aidan Conheady.

Held at Camperdown’s Commercial Hotel last Tuesday night, a large crowd of summer winners enjoyed a night of recognition and celebration.

Despite his young age, 13 year-old Bentley has already completed extraordinary fundraising challenges.

Through a series of long-distance charity cycling events, he has helped raise $1500 for the Epilepsy Foundation.

He also raised $26,000 for brain cancer research after a 515km ride from Mildura to Camperdown (accompanied by family) in April last year.

Bentley was the proud recipient of the 2026 Young Citizen of the Year award on Australia Day and was honoured to meet with Sam McGuane who took him through the Brain Cancer Centre to see how his fundraising had made a difference.

Along with a talk from Bentley, guests enjoyed the presentation of several monthly sports awards.

James Green was awarded the committee ‘Macca’ #1 ticket holder award, while other awards were presented as follows:

January

Senior sports star – Aidan Conheady, men’s netball. Aiden was a member of the Australian under 20 men’s squad and also represented Victoria at the national championships.

February

Junior sports star – Harrison Glennen, clay target shooting. A member of the Noorat Gun Club, Harrison won various categories at the South Australian state titles and represented Victoria at the nationals in April.

Senior sports star – Tom Moran, golf. Tom was the Corangamite Veteran’s Golf Open champion and recently scored a hole-in-one on the par three, eighth hole at Port Fairy.

Junior sports team – Pomborneit Cricket Club under 13 girls. Premiership winners in the Colac and District Association competition.

The team (coached by Dave Murphy) comprised Pippa Murphy, Zoe Unwin, Millie Bourke, Emily Reynolds, Matilda Kerr, Scarlett Whitehead, Skarlette Wakeling and Scarlett Saarikallio.

March

Junior sports team – Derrinallum Cricket Club under 16s.

The team defeated Linton in the Grenville Cricket Association grand final.

Coached by Jayson Thompson and Aaron Henderson, the team included Eddie Gillie, Patrick Greig, Fletcher Greig, Alex Cronly, Neave Thompson, Finn Gellie, Charlie Turner, Emmett Henderson, Chris Cronly, Charlotte Henderson and Austin Price.

Junior sports team – Pomborneit Cricket Club under 16s.

The team defeated Cobden in the grand final, breaking a 22-year drought for the club.

Coached by Simon Tolland and Luke Reynolds, the team comprised George Sadler, Josh Reynolds, Jonty Raven, Max Rees, Bailey Fox, Hugo Saarikallio, Alex Huggins, Sam Tolland, Ollie West, Miller Murphy, Dermot Conheady and Noah Boyd.

Junior sports team – Pomborneit Cricket Club under 14s.

This side (coached by Stuart Boyd) defeated City United Gold by just one wicket to take home the under 14 division two premiership.

Players included Noah Boyd, Bailey Fox, Wally Rees, Basil Hunt, Max Rahles-Rabula, Crawford Dunn, Hamish Christensen, Hamish Bishop, Mateo Boyd, Jamie Grdiner, Angus Murphy and Lucas Place.

Senior sports team – Camperdown Magpies, midweek pennant bowls.

This division one side defeated Winchelsea in the midweek pennant final, winning all rinks on the day.

The team included Maria Van Someren’s rink (Len Searle, Henry Henderson and Greg Edwards) and Peter Reilley’s rink (Barry Atchison, Vicki Brebner and Janet Molan).

Senior sports team – Bookaar Cricket Club, women’s team.

This side became back-to-back South West Cricket Association women’s premiers, defeating Cobden Gold in the grand final.

The team comprised Tracey Baker, Maisie Cunningham, Taylor Cameron, Bree Daffy, Erin Hassett, Charlotte Hinds, Kayla Hooper, Kayla Loving, Jada Mahony and captain Audrey Ringe.

Senior sports team – Pomborneit Gold, women’s cricket.

This team defeated Birregurra in the grand final and included Samantha Coxon, Jess Moulden, Tayla Reynolds, Nellie Sadler, Jada Mahony, Neave Thompson, Lucia Clarke, Kaitlyn Ward, Lenise Mantell, Shelby Mahony, Lily Van Es and Lauren Murphy.

Senior sports star – Matthew Love, cricket. Matthew was named Colac South West’s division one Cricketer of the Year and also took out the leading runs award and was named in the team of the year.

Junior sports star – Bailey Fox, cricket.

Baily won the Colac District under 14 MVP award, scoring 428 runs at an average of 107 and took 10 wickets, 10 catches and had six stumpings for the season.