IN PICTURES: Strong crowd gathers to celebrate 2025 Upper Great Southern Hockey Association’s top talent

Swapping their sticks and shoes for fancy dress, the Upper Great Southern Hockey Association community gathered in celebration of a successful 2025 season at the annual awards night on Saturday. More than 100 players, coaches, club members and their supporters flocked to the Narrogin Regional Leisure Centre where they enjoyed dinner, drinks and dancing late into the night. For the A-grade competition, All Blacks men and women’s were minor premiers in both divisions. Warriors’ Nick Corner with an outstanding 24 votes claimed the men’s fairest and best from joint runners-up, All Blacks’ Kyle Angwin and Olympics’ Brock Francis who collected 13 each. All Blacks’ Zeta O’Rourke polled 20 votes to claim the women’s fairest and best honour ahead of runner-up, Warriors’ Issy Kilpatrick (15 votes). Warriors players succeeded as the league’s highest goal scorers with 11 goals from star female striker Nicki Evans and 10 goals to formidable attacker Trent Gumprich. The Sportspower women’s A-grade Vern Hall junior award acknowledged outstanding youngsters Jasmine Cronin, Tamzin Pederick and Gretel Tinley. The men’s A-grade Kevin Abbot junior award was received by Dylan Mulcahy. The tightly fought women’s B-grade Robins won minor premiers for the first time in decades and Williams took out the men’s. Williams’ player Oliver Harding was celebrated as the fairest and best with a staggering 24 votes beating teammate Michael Cowcher on 17. A two-vote difference separated winner Holly Dewing from Pingelly, 19, and Brookton’s Ashton George (17) in the women’s. Harding triumphed with a second trophy after an impressive 16 goals to claim highest goal scorer alongside Robins stellar junior and last year’s winner Mariah Edwards, who netted 11 in the season. UGSHA stalwart Lindsay Edwards presented the first ever Lindsay Edwards service award to Sophie Rosich for her admirable administration work and for single-handedly digitising the association’s scoring system. Matt Hough and life member Eddie Mason bestowed Andrew Corner life membership after four decades of dedication to the association. The senior umpire award was collected by Tate Barrett.