It's been a big year for Port Macquarie-Hastings sports lovers.
In January the year started with a COVID cloud still hanging over community sport, but we got through most of the competitions.
Our very own Chris O'Neil was knocked off future Australian Open tennis trivia questions when Ash Barty took out the women's singles crown at Rod Laver Arena.
Drainage around sporting fields was an at-times emotional topic of conversation until the rain finally stopped, but by then it was too late to save the NSW Junior State Cup touch footy from being moved to Dubbo.
The rugby league community suffered three significant hits throughout the season when much-loved stalwarts Chuck Murray, Dudley Millard and Rocky Laurie all passed away.
Port Macquarie local Tim van Berkel finally got the monkey off his back in May when he claimed his first-ever Ironman Australia men's crown after finishing on the podium numerous times before.
Port City Bowling Club ended the club's title drought when they took out their first state open triples crown in three decades at Ettalong.
Golf prodigy Quedesha Golledge fell agonisingly short by one shot in the ladies Seaside Classic in July before Hastings Valley Vikings broke Port Macquarie Pirates' hearts in a 36-34 rugby union grand final win in August.
Port City Breakers crashed Old Bar Pirates' Group 3 rugby league grand final party in September when they overcame a 12-2 halftime deficit to register a 20-12 premiership victory at the Old Bar Reserve.
Ryley Batt and Andrew Edmondson took home the gold at the 2022 Wheelchair Rugby World Championships at Denmark while Aiden Nosworthy was crowned the Hastings sportsperson of the year.
In November, greyhounds returned to Wauchope for the first time in 12 months following a $1million upgrade to the track and Anna Gleeson, Peter Vincent and Louise McCourt were recognised for their services to NSW Touch.
Confirmation came through also in November that Ironman Australia would change the bike course for the full Ironman ahead of the 2023 event. The Coastal Premier League football competition collapsed and then Port Macquarie claimed the women's masters division at the NSW Senior State Cup.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and St Agnes Parish reached an agreement on the sale of Tuffins Lane in early December and Port Macquarie Race Club has a new face at the helm with bright ideas for the future.
Now it's time to take a breath, enjoy the festive season and look ahead to a 2023 sporting year that again promises to be a beauty.
Below is a brief look at the year, month-by-month. Enjoy!
January:
- Wauchope Blues' stalwart Wally Dylko joins the Group 3 rugby league hall of fame. Click here.
- NSW Junior State Cup organisers flag the event will look different in an effort to minimise the transmission of COVID-19. Click here.
- Port Macquarie Boxing Club moves to a new facility on Lake Road. Click here.
- Port Macquarie Golf Professional James Single takes out Australia's top golf award, winning Australia's golf club professional of the year title. Click here.
February
- Ash Barty knocks Port Macquarie's Christine O'Neil off the trivia list when she becomes the first Australian woman since O'Neil to take out the Australian Open tennis. Click here.
- Rugby league clubs discuss implementing player COVID-safe bubbles to guard against contracting the virus ahead of the Group 3 season. Click here.
- Wauchope Thunder withdraws from Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Union competition. Click here.
- Wauchope's Laicy Costigan selected in NSW under-17 netball side. Click here.
- NSW Touch and PMHC look at options on improving the drainage at Tuffins Lane following Junior State Cup washout. Click here.
- Mike Parsons steps aside as Football Mid North Coast chairman. Click here.
March
- Jon Binskin becomes the last remaining runner to complete the Treble Breakwall Buster at Port Macquarie Running Festival. Click here.
- Tributes flow in after the death of much-loved rugby league identity Chuck Murray. Click here.
- Camden Haven Eagles withdraw from Group 3 competition. Click here.
- Postponed NSW Senior State Cup (from December) officially cancelled due to ongoing wet weather. Click here.
- Mid North Coast announces new women's football competition. Click here.
April
- North Coast Bulldogs under-18s beaten by Illawarra South Coast in Laurie Daley Cup grand final. Click here.
- Wauchope-Bonny Hills under-23 women's crew make semi-finals of Australian Surf Life Saving Competition. Click here.
- Raelene Myers leaves Australian Surf Life Saving Competition with seven individual medals. Click here.
- Comboyne Tigers rally the troops and gather enough numbers to compete in 2022 Hastings League. Click here.
May
- Tim van Berkel wins Ironman Australia for the first time. Click here.
- Port City Breakers and Taree Red Rovers compete in first-ever under-16 girls tackle fixture. Click here.
- Talei Qaio Wilson becomes Hastings Valley Vikings' first-ever female rugby international. Click here.
- Port City Breakers' rocked by sudden death of club stalwart Dudley Millard. Click here.
- Taylah Debreceny qualifies for Australian Weightlifting Championships in Perth. Click here.
- Newcastle Jets chief executive Shane Mattiske throws support behind Sovereign Hills project. Click here.
June
- Port City Bowling Club ends 26-year state title drought with win at Ettalong. Click here.
- Imojen Enfield wins under-18 regional surf title in Port Macquarie. Click here.
- Michael Bowman prepares to sign off from Port Macquarie Race Club after 36 years. Click here.
- Cherie Green selected in NSW first-ever over-50 female touch football Origin team. Click here.
- Cooper Barnes registers first-ever podium finish at Morgan Park Raceway in Queensland. Click here.
- Rocky Laurie dies suddenly. Click here.
- Ironman local organising committee members Mike and Sue Reid retire after more than 30 years. Click here.
July
- Sporting presidents say drainage upgrades are needed to fix local fields. Click here.
- Cambridge McCormick drafted by GWS Giants AFL. Click here.
- Port Macquarie win under-14 girls NEJL basketball title. Click here.
- Group 3 rugby league take tough stance on swearing, dishing out $500 fines for anyone caught in the act. Click here.
- Quedesha Gollege falls one shot short of Seaside Classic golf victory. Click here.
- Horse racing columnist Doug Ryan retires. Click here.
August
- Hayden Copping's brush with a tiger shark during Hawaiian Paddleboarding competition. Click here.
- Laurieton Stingrays to benefit from one-and-a-half million dollar upgrade of Vince Inmon fields. Click here.
- Georgia Marino wins gold for New Zealand Kiwi Barbarians at International Tag Series. Click here.
- Hastings Valley claim a gripping 36-34 upper mid north coast rugby union premiership over Port Pirates. Click here.
- Laurieton Stingrays win Hastings League grand final. Click here.
September
- Port Macquarie loses Junior State Cup for 2023 with event handed to Dubbo. Click here.
- St Peter's become state primary school rugby league champs. Click here.
- Port Macquarie Magpies claim AFL North Coast grand final with win over Coffs Harbour. Click here.
- Port City beat Old Bar in Group 3 rugby league grand final. Click here.
- Port Macquarie swimming club announce new coach after 18-month search. Click here.
October
- Competitive rugby league matches to be abolished until under-13s under new rules from NSWRL. Click here.
- Chris Waller-trained Quality Time takes out 2022 Port Macquarie Cup. Click here.
- Port Macquarie Squash Club faces uncertain future. Click here.
- Charlie Maher creates history as the first Aboriginal man to run all six Abbot World Marathons. Click here.
- Ryley Batt and Andrew Edmondson take home gold in Wheelchair Rugby World Championships at Denmark. Click here.
- Aidan Nosworthy wins Hastings sportsperson of the year. Click here.
November
- Hastings River Greyhound Track returns as a trial track after $1million upgrade. Click here.
- Tacking Point Public School win bronze at state athletics championships. Click here.
- Anna Gleeson, Peter Vincent and Louise McCourt rewarded for their service to NSW Touch. Click here.
- Ironman Australia confirm bike course change for 2023 event. Story here.
- Ryley Batt wins adaptive crossfit division. Full story here.
December
- Coastal Premier League collapses after three years, with clubs citing travel as the main factor. Story here.
- Port Macquarie's women's masters division win NSW State Cup title, while mixed masters and mixed open's are defeated in grand finals. Story here.
- Port Macquarie Race Club announces new CEO with Nardi Beresford taking over from Michael Bowman. Story here.
- Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and St Agnes Parish reach an agreement on the sale of Tuffins Lane. Story here.
- Mike Parsons announced as Northern NSW Football chairman. Story here.
