The year that was in sport: January 2021

Jan 5, 2022

**PIC OF THE MONTH**: Isla Ho broke the Deniliquin Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club’s 13 years 100m butterfly record at its regional carnival held at the Deni Swim Centre. Isla finished the 100m with a time of 1:15:85, smashing the previous record of 1:17:44. Photo by Zoe McMaugh

Here is what made sporting headlines in January 2021.

‘Record swim’– Brenda Norman smashed records in the 34km Derwent River swim. She began her swim at 3.50am and finished in seven hours and four minutes, beating the previous record by a whopping 42 minutes.

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‘Seven Rhinos line up in Country Week sides’ – The Murray Valley Cricket Association had a tough week of competition, winless in all but one of the Country Week grades. Tom McCallum and his under 17s teammates were the only MVCA players to taste victory, winning three of six T20 matches and finishing fourth on the ladder. Also competing from Deni were Lochie Holloway (U15s); Jake Herberte and Charlie Paton (U14s); and Oscar Marshall, Charlie Bull and Andrew Smith (U13s).

‘Brooklyn among best in state’ – Brooklyn Barnes was one of 62 under 14s boys basketballers selected for the Basketball NSW U14 Sandslam Development Tournament. He attended the four day event at the Bankstown Basketball Stadium in Western Sydney.

‘RSL crowns champions’– Craig Taylor claimed back-to-back Deniliquin RSL Bowling Club Men’s Singles Championships with a 25-9 victory over Don Pearson. In the Ladies Singles Championships, Chris Taylor avenged her loss from the previous year after illness forced her opponent Robyn Ferry to retire early.

‘Jumping for joy’– Rachel Hare was named Junior Sportsperson of the Year at the Edward River Council Australia Day celebrations. Hare received the honour for her achievements in showjumping, having competed at state competitions and securing a place in the Australian Showjumping squad for 2020/2021.

‘Oz Day honour for swim teacher’ – Cheryl McMillan’s long commitment to teaching people to swim was rewarded on Australia Day, when she was named Edward River Council Senior Sportsperson of the Year. McMillan was actually nominated for Citizen of the Year, however the local judging committee decided she deserved to earn the sports award.

‘Brunker breaks course record’– Vicki Brunker made history during the Deniliquin Golf Club’s Summer Classic, breaking her own 18 year course record. Her impressive 71 off the stick, one below par, saw a three stroke improvement on the record she set on December 29, 2002.

‘Cooper hat-trick’ – The Cooper siblings’ threepeat was completed when Shaleah Cooper was awarded the Murray River Council Young Sportsperson of the Year. Her older brother Alvin won the same award in 2019, and sister Jemika twice — in 2017 and 2020.

By Deniliquin Pastoral Times

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