While you're nursing your New Year's Day hangover, we look back at the top 10 stories (in no particular order) from around the Hastings in 2019.
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From a chat with Shelley Watts to Ryley Batt's announcement as Australian team captain for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics it's been a busy year for our local sports stars.
Anna Gleeson won everything, Port United lost another grand final while Hastings Valley Vikings won another and Port Macquarie Magpies won their inaugural women's AFL North Coast title.
Sit back and enjoy a light read.
Ryley Batt accepts new role with Paralympic team
There isn't much that Ryley Batt hasn't achieved in a glittering sporting career that started more than 15 years ago.
His final hurrah could well be the Tokyo Olympics in September, so it was rather fitting Batt was named as co-captain of the Australian team.
Read more about the conversation between Ryley and Kurt Fearnley that resulted in the Port Macquarie product accepting the role.
Makos end drought as Gleeson caps off stellar year
It was the only piece of silverware that Anna Gleeson hadn't managed to get her hands on.
In a year where she achieved everything there was to achieve in sport at any level, Gleeson and the Port Macquarie Makos ended a drought stretching two decades in December.
Their 8-5 victory over Newcastle City in the NSW State Cup mixed masters grand final became the association's first victory in that division since 2001.
Magpies women hang on in AFL North Coast decider
Port Macquarie Magpies didn't kick a single goal in the second half, but they still managed to hang on to register a heartstopping one-point win in the AFL North Coast women's grand final.
They had twice the scoring shots and had to hold off a fast-finishing Sawtell-Toormina Saints to win their first women's title.
Read more about the Magpies 2.9 (21) to 3.2 (20) victory.
Vikings rediscover winning feeling on season's biggest day
Hastings Valley Vikings and grand finals are like tomato sauce on your meat pie - they just go together.
After two-straight grand final defeats, the Vikings were back on the right side of the ledger in August when they cruised past Coffs Harbour 41-10.
Read more about how they capped off an undefeated year.
Not again: Wallis again shatter United's grand final dreams
A few weeks after Hastings Valley celebrated grand final success, Port United again tasted grand final heartbreak.
It meant a Football Mid North Coast Premier League first grade drought will extend into a new decade.
Read more about how they suffered the cruelest of grand final defeats.
Blues fall short as Mustangs reach the top
Wauchope Blues hoped they would end their own lean run of success, but Macleay Valley had other ideas in the Group 3 decider.
The hosts led 12-0 early, but the visitors came home strong and held off the Blues to cap off their own remarkable season.
Read more about how the Mustangs proved too good.
Another year, another incredible Ironman
British superstar Laura Siddall claimed a hat-trick of wins around the Port Macquarie course when she cruised to a five-and-a-half minute victory in the women's race.
It's a special location for Siddall as it's the venue where she also completed her first half-distance event.
But will she be back? Time will tell.
Read more about how the Brit blitzed the field.
Meanwhile, on a history-making day for Port Macquarie, former resident Cameron Wurf became the first local to win an Ironman in the region.
All-Abilities futsal team wins inaugural national championship title
EAST COAST Eagles All Abilities saved their best performance for last to secure the inaugural 2019 national championship futsal title at Penrith.
They banged in 33 goals and conceded just 12 on the way to winning four-straight matches.
But it was what happened after the full-time siren where the best memories were created for the team, coordinator Chris Whitfield and the support crew.
Read more here.
Done and dusted: Magnussen calls it quits
IF James Magnussen could have a quiet word to his 17-year-old self he would simply say to "strap yourself in, you're in for a hell of a ride."
And what a ride it's been.
The 28-year-old finally decided to hang up his swimming cap on Wednesday, bringing to an end a career where he achieved almost everything the sport had to offer.
Read more about how he made his decision to call it quits after a decade involved in the sport.
Shelley sits down and chats with us
Shelley Watts has experienced a lot of the highs over her sporting career, but there have been a couple of lows along the way too.
In an enthralling chat with journalist Carla Mascarenhas, Shelley covered everything from mum life to Olympics and what happens next.
Read more: In My Life with Shelley Watts
