This week it’s part two of our look back at sport in Port Macquarie and surrounds from the past year. There were plenty of highs, with the Port Macquarie Pirates winning the Mid-North Coast Rugby grand final, and night cricket hitting town.
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JULY
The Port Macquarie Magpies had a massive North Coast AFL win over the North Coffs Kangaroos. The Pies won 33-21-219 to 1-0-6 at Wayne Richards Park.
Russell Clucas packed his hockey stick for London, after being picked in the Master’s World Cup team.
Arlene Blencowe, who trained in Port Macquarie, became a star in the making, beating Queensland champion Nadine Brown in just her first professional boxing bout.
Port Macquarie hosted another Australian Schoolboys Rugby League Championships.
Hastings League team the Beechwood Shamrocks turns 90, but Long Flat Dragons spoiled the big celebration weekend, with a 48-10 win.
The oztag Blues completed a clean sweep of Queensland in that sport’s State of Origin series.
AUGUST
Port Macquarie Magpies crashed out of the North Coast AFL competition, losing 13-13-91 to 8-12-60 at the hands of Sawtell/Toormina Saints.
More surfers invade for the Australian Surf Festival.
Former Port Macquarie rugby league player Jeremy Cropper made his international debut playing for the Australian Schoolboys against an English touring team. The Aussies won 41-10.
Michael Page became the Australian formula 2 powerboat champion, securing the title at his home race in Port Macquarie.
Golfers came from everywhere to play at Port Macquarie’s Seaside Classic.
SEPTEMBER
Port Macquarie turned out in droves, packing the streets to pay tribute to our Olympian, James “The Missile” Magnussen, and Paralympians Ryley Batt and Janel Manns, after the games in London. Batt’s wheelchair rugby gold medal with the Steelers was the highlight, but they were all heroes.
Jockey Allan Chau farewelled Port Macquarie for a stint riding in Western Australia.
At last, the Blues won something. NSW, with plenty of Port Macquarie players, took out the State of Origin touch football series 7-6.
One of best surfers of all time, former world champ Tom Carroll, came to town for the premiere of his new film Storm Surfers 3D.
Boxer Luke Travers took on the best from the Pacific in the Oceania Games in Tahiti.
Hollywood came to Port, Kate Hollywood, that is. The Hockeyroo was a hit with the kids while she checked out our facilities.
Young rugby player Harry Hanley was selected to represent NSW.
Port Macquarie Pirates took out the Mid-North Coast Rugby grand final with a thrilling 26-22 win over Coffs Rugby.
Lake Cathie Raiders broke their Hastings League drought, with a 40-10 win over Lower Macleay Magpies in the grand final at Wauchope’s Lank Bain Complex.
Wauchope was singing the blues after beating Port City Breakers 24-20 in a dramatic Group 3 Rugby League decider.
OCTOBER
Port Macquarie swimmer Paige Leonhardt made a massive step towards being in the pool at the Rio Paralympics, setting a blistering pace in a discipline no-one else on earth has even competed in yet. Leonhardt swam 200m in the s14 disability class at the Multiclass Championships on October 20. The farthest anyone else has swum in that class and using that stroke is 100m.
Tim Berkel gets another second place at his home Ironman 70.3. Berkel finished behind Clayton Fettell. Kiwi Britta Martin won the women’s event.
Chase O’Leary was picked in the Australian bodyboarding team for the ISA World Games in Venezuela.
Touch footy stars Simone Smith, Paddy Coelho and Warren Lorger were selected to wear the green and gold for the Super Trans Tasman series in February.
Jason English triumphed at the Australian 24-hour Mountain Bike Championships in the ACT, continuing his dominance in the discipline.
Michael Boaden and Helen Cheers became Australia’s newest four-wheel drive rally champions.
Falkands takes the win in the Port Macquarie Cup for trainer Marc Quinn, jockeyed by Raymond Spokes.
NOVEMBER
Journalist, author and former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons dropped into Port Macquarie to spin some yarns for a business breakfast at Rydges.
Cyclist Sam Cox capped off a remarkable season in the saddle with a state madison title in Sydney. He also finished third at the NSW Country Track Championships in Coffs Harbour, and two gold medals and two bronze medals at the Australian All-Schools Championships in Shepparton, Victoria.
Lauren Kitchen joined Dream Team Professional Cycling, setting her up for a couple of super seasons in Europe and all over the world.
We had World Surf Lifesaving Championships gold, with Peter Hennessey triumphing in Adelaide. He won the beach run, and took silver in the surfski race. Bev Towle came within a whisker of a flags title, but was still thrilled with a silver medal.
The Mid-North Coast Sharks, made up of Port Macquarie players came back with yet another title from the National Oztag Championships in Coffs Harbour.
Damian King and Peter, Wayne and Grant Hudson are given the ultimate accolade, named Surfers of the Century.
Beach rugby came to Port Macquarie for the first time.
DECEMBER
Two legends of cricket made their way to Port Macquarie. Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose enthralled a big crowd at the Town Green Inn, with some great stories from their playing days.
Wauchope had a Test debutant, well, sort of. Monica Oriel sang the National Anthem at the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Port hosted another massive State Cup touch football tournament, with six teams doing the host town proud.
Isaac Evans was the toast of the town, after winning his first national bodyboarding title at Kiama.
The Coca Cola Sporting Fund Charity Golf Challenge raised more than $5000 for our up and coming athletes.
Twenty20 cricket hit town, with all four grades playing the shortest version of the game. Included in the comp were three night matches at Wayne Richards Park. After a hiccup involving the lights in the first week, bigger crowds came back to watch some great cricket, with a feast of fours and sixes.
