Lucy Stephan wins gold in Tokyo
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When compiling a list of 2021's great sporting moments it's hard to go past Nhill's golden girl, Lucy Stephan.
Stephan won gold for Australia in the women's four rowing team at the Tokyo Olympics in July.
She becomes the Wimmera's first ever Olympic gold medallist and told ACM before she boarded her flight back to Australia that she was "just excited to go back home".
"The best thing about winning a gold medal is being able to share it," Stephan said.
Ella Friend is drafted to St Kilda with pick number four in the AFLW Draft
In July, former Horsham Saint Ella Friend put her hand up as the Wimmera's next AFLW star when she was drafted to St Kilda with pick four in the 2021 AFLW Draft.
Friend's selection was a just reward for a great season with the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in 2021 where she played a multitude of positions and was noted as having a great set of hands and a classy left boot.
Friend told The Wimmera Mail-Times the morning after she was drafted that it was "pretty surreal still".
"I'm super excited to get down to the Saints and get started," Friend said.
Ben Hobbs is drafted to Essendon with pick 13 in the AFL Draft
Wimmera Essendon Bombers fans can get excited after Horsham's Ben Hobbs was selected at pick 13.
Touted as a high draft pick all year, the tough, inside midfielder was a star for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels and Victoria Country side.
Hobbs experienced success from a young age where he was part of a Horsham Demons WFNL senior premiership at just 15.
Speaking to the Mail-Times the day after the Draft Hobbs said "it was an amazing feeling" to be drafted by Essendon.
"It's something I'm really grateful for and my family and I are so happy with it," Hobbs said.
Tom McDonald wins an AFL premiership with the Melbourne Demons
Edenhope's Tom McDonald kicked two goals in the Melbourne Demons' 74-point grand final win over the Western Bulldogs in September, to help break a 57 year premiership drought.
The match was game number 193 for McDonald who was drafted in 2010, meaning it was the perfect reward for someone who had experienced firsthand the struggles the club has faced over the last decade or so.
Nature Strip wins the Everest
"It's just incredible."
Those were the words of an almost speechless Craig Garland, after star racehorse Nature Strip won The Everest in October; the world's richest race on turf.
Nature Strip is part-owned by Horsham residents Garland, Geoffrey Dumesny, Craig Bennett, Frank Giampaolo and the late David McCluskey.
It was the third attempt at the Everest for the Chris Waller-trained sprinter, who will now go down as one of the greats.
HDFNL chairman Fred Mellington retires
Few, if any, have done more for the Horsham District Football Netball League than Fred Mellington.
Over two decades, the now retired chairman, alongside other hardworking volunteers, worked tirelessly to promote, improve and ensure the smooth running of the HDFNL.
Richmond Tiger David Astbury calls it a day
During Richmond's final 2021 match, Tatyoon's finest footballing export David Astbury played his 155th and final game for the Richmond Football Club.
The defender announced his retirement in the leadup to the match, calling time on a stellar, yet sometimes unsung career that included three premierships for the Tigers.
Speaking to the Ararat Advertiser the following week Astbury was full of praise for his hometown of tatyoon.
"The people back there, they're just remarkable," Astbury said.
"I've got so much time and respect for that place and everything that it has done for me."
Mitch Creek plays his 250th NBL game
In May, Horsham basketball star Mitch Creek played his 250th NBL game during the South East Melbourne Phoenix's big win against the Cairns Taipans.
Creek put up 20 points in the win.
"Anytime you get a milestone game or achievement like that it's always very special," Creek told the Mailtimes the following week.
"To know that you've played a certain number of games doing what you love with your friends, that's always a really exciting thing to be a part of and the boys are fantastic."
Seb Ross plays game 150 for St Kilda in the AFL
Horsham's Seb Ross pulled on the famed St Kilda jersey for the 150th time in May, when the Saints played North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
Ross, originally taken by the Saints with pick 25 in the 2011 AFL Draft, has built quite the resume, with a list of accolades that includes winning the Trevor Barker Award for St Kilda's best and fairest twice (2017 and 2019), being selected in the All-Australian Squad in 2017 and holding the position of Saints' vice captain from 2017 to 2020.
Ross told the Mail-Times ahead of the game that game 150 had "snuck up on him".
"Particularly this year with my wife being pregnant with twins and now the boys are here," Ross said.
"There's been a lot happening off field so it's come round quick but yeah it's gonna be pretty cool to run out."
Noradjuha-Toolondo's HCA A Grade premiership win
The Bullants secured the premiership in March after defeating West Wimmera in the first two games of the grand final three game series.
In the first match it was a dominate performance by the Bullants bowlers, who rolled through West Wimmera and then chased down the 58 required runs.
In the second match, the Bullants were sent in to bat in tricky conditions and made 112.
West Wimmera fought hard but finished all out for 102.
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