Action-packed six months on the sporting calendar

JULY

Hedland BMX Club held a fundraiser to help two Pilbara teenagers who lost their parents in a tragic road incident and raised a total of $2700.

Hedland darts players hit the bullseye in an annual two-day competition at the Finucane Island Club (The fini-fest).

Roddy Hughes and Christina Stone took out first place, each taking home $1000, a generous amount of the cash pool.

Some 200 junior gymnasts from Port Hedland, Karratha, Broome and Carnarvon, ranging in skill levels from one to eight competed in the North West Regional Gymnastics Championships.

AUGUST

Hedland Sporting Shooters Club held the eighth metallic silhouette competition of the year.

Di Nicholls continued to dominate competition by shooting a score of 18 in the rimfire silhouette class.

Fishing enthusiasts converged on Hedland waters for the 25th annual Blue Water Fishing Competition.

Participants competed in the land, dinghy and water-based fishing in the Port Hedland Game Fishers Club event.

The Whim Creek Hotel was full to the brim for the North Pilbara Football League’s presentation lunch for the winner of the Colin Peter Matheson Medal and the De Grey Medal.

Wickham Wolves’ Tim Renton was awarded the De Grey Medal for the second time in his Wolves career with 19 votes for the season. Karratha Kats’ Braedon Allison, three votes behind, was runner-up.

Reserves player Josh Stanley of Karratha Falcons won the Colin Peter Matheson Medal with 10 votes, followed closely by Shaun Derschow and Anton Bilic with eight votes each.

SEPTEMBER

The Wickham Wolves broke their league premiership drought and claimed their first flag in North Pilbara Football League history.

Karratha Falcons’ Michael Formanczyk was honoured with a life membership after playing for more than a decade in the league.

Hedland Senior High School students received a visit on R U OK? Day from former national rugby league player Dan Hunt, who shared his personal experiences.

Hedland Teeball Association had a clean sweep at the 2017 North West Teeball Championships in Wickham, winning all three divisions of the championships.

OCTOBER

The Pilbara Kurrsi 9’s memorial rugby team claimed top honours at the annual Kununurra 9’s Rugby League Tournament.

Hedland Gymnastics Club took a team of 45 competitors to Broome for the 2017 North West Invitationals.

Munsaka Sianutete was the only level one competitor to receive a gold medal.

In a show of community spirit and support, the Hedland Riders Association raised $2500 to help the Hedland Gymnastics Club set up its future.

More than 40 riders took part in a poker run from Whim Creek to the association’s clubhouse.

A group of young aspiring female footballers from Port Hedland embarked on a trip to showcase their skills at a training camp in the Kimberley.

Hedland’s Iesha Bero won the judges’ votes to be named the most valuable participant on the camp.

NOVEMBER

The Home Hardware Homies took out the 16th annual Port Hedland Netball Association Corporate Cup.

The competition coincided with the official opening of the Port Hedland Netball Pavilion — a huge milestone for the association.

Port Hedland’s roller derby maidens celebrated a number of wins at a competition in Perth, where they defeated their Albany and Geraldton rivals in friendly competition.

DECEMBER

Weightlifting, chin-ups, push-ups and sprints were all in a day’s work for three Port Hedland athletes who pushed their bodies and minds to the limit at the WA F45 Playoffs.

Karlee Orr, Jayden Veljacich and Toby Wilson flew to Perth for the third annual competition, which attracted more than 250 State and nationally registered athletes over three days at City Beach.

Wheelchair basketball teams from across the region battled it out at Wanangkura Stadium on December 8 for the inaugural Anika Coppin Foley Cup.

Hedland Storm rose above the rest and were declared the winners from runners-up North West Alliance.

Hedlanders of all ages competed in the annual Goodline Amateur Hire Kart Championships at Hedland Kart Club.

Ten teams raced around the course in the two-hour endurance battle to prove who was the better driver on the night. Team Ramrod ended the night as the top dogs.