Sport is an important part of regional life and over the years we’ve turned out our fair share of champions. Take a look back at some of the sporting giants from yesteryear and some of the youngsters starting to make their mark.
12. 2000-plus games and still loving the sport: Phil Horwell is refereeing legend
by Jarryd Rowley
Phil Horwell has been a referee in more than 2000 games across five different decades and is now a Wagga Touch Association Life Member. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Phil Horwell has clocked up some impressive milestones in his 40-plus years touch football career, but none more so than gaining his National Referees’ Badge at the age of 73.
11. This is how more women are hitting their stride in trail running
by Dione David
Understanding physiological considerations specific to female runners can empower them to realise their potential. Photo: Stromlo Running Festival.
From hormonal cycles to injury prevention – rather than fight their physiology, women are learning to train with it. Here’s how.
10. Jindabyne pair takes precious snowboard gold in Australia/NZ Cup as Olympics loom
by Nicholas Ward
Jindabyne snowboarders Adam Lambert and Josie Baff have scored gold at Mt Hotham after stellar northern hemisphere seasons. Photo: Supplied – Vail Resorts.
Two Jindabyne snowboarders claimed gold at the 2025 ANC SBX competition at Mt Hotham. The three-race series was part of the International Ski Federation (FIS) Australia/New Zealand Cup.
9. Batemans Bay Seahawks win spot in AFL Canberra Premier Division from 2026
by Tim Gavel
Batemans Bay Seahawks Rising Stars Women’s team in April 2025. Photo: Batemans Bay Seahawks Football Club Facebook.
The Batemans Bay Seahawks have been included in the AFL Canberra Premier Division from the 2026 season, bringing the number of teams in the competition to seven.
The Seahawks will join Ainslie, Queanbeyan, Belconnen, Eastlake, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong next season.
Batemans Bay will field five teams in 2026: women’s first and Rising Stars, men’s first, second and Rising Stars teams.
8 Canberra Raiders legend ‘Slammin’ Sam Backo dies at the age of 64 years
by Tim Gavel
Sam Backo made an impact on and off the field during his time with the Raiders. Photo: TRACQS.
Sam Backo was more than a tough-as-nails front rower – he was a legend on and off the field. Tim Gavel remembers the man known to all as ‘Slammin Sam’.
7. Despite rare disease, Nangus student becomes national athletics record holder
by Marguerite McKinnon
National record holder and Nangus local Cody Wheeler with his medals. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.
Cody Wheeler asked his mum why God made him broken, but he’s far from it. The plucky 11-year-old has battled serious illness to become an Australian schoolboy athletics champion in four events.
6. Terry Snow’s legacy lives on at the Gold Buckle Campdraft Championship at Willinga Park
by Tim Gavel
Campdrafting at Willinga Park. Photo: Supplied.
Terry Snow had a vision to create a world-class equestrian centre on the coastal setting of Bawley Point on the NSW South Coast.
Terry poured plenty into the sport. The main beneficiaries are equestrian riders who came from near and far to compete at a facility regarded by many as the best of its kind in Australia.
5. From the Coota Bulldogs to the NSW Origin side without a single NRL appearance – meet a Riverina legend in a league of his own
by Jarryd Rowley
Paul Field remains the only man in State of Origin history to have never played an ARL/NRL game. Photo: Supplied.
State of Origin is the pinnacle of rugby league in Australia.
The best of the best from NSW and Queensland battle it out for 12 months of bragging rights over their clubmates. So you would expect someone chosen for the illustrious honour to have been hand-picked from the top competition in the country – the National Rugby League (NRL) or its state-based predecessor the NSWRL, or the QRL.
This wasn’t the case for Cootamundra legend Paul Field, who was chosen for the NSW representative team with no professional games in the NSWRL under his belt. He remains the only player, among the nearly 500 who have appeared in State of Origin since 1980, to have never played premiership football in the Sydney or Brisbane first-grade competitions.
4. Renovations proving the squash court the place to be, more than 50 years on
by Claire Sams
Cootamundra is proving a hit on the squash scene as its upgraded courts attract major regional competitions and new players. Photo: NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Renovated squash courts in Cootamundra are attracting people from far and wide – and not just for a game of squash.
Cootamundra Squash Association President Graeme Johnson said the facility, which is the only four-court facility for 90 kilometres, brought in competitors from around the state.
3. Four Merimbula dragon boaters to represent Australia on the world stage
by Marion Williams
Gillian McCallum is one of the members of the 380-strong Auroras, Australia’s national dragon boat team. Photo: Supplied.
Four members of the Merimbula Water Dragons went to Germany to represent Australia in the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships.
It was the third time for Gillian McCallum, who was also captain of the Senior C team (60 years plus).
2. Five-day festival sees South Coast mountain biking hit new heights
by Claire Sams
For five days, the NSW South Coast was home to thousands of bike riders of all kinds. Photo: Sea Otter Australia.
Sea Otter Australia was four days of cycling through the South Coast, and organisers couldn’t be happier with what they pulled off. They’re already planning for their next showing.
1. Nine Narooma girls make the cut for Canberra Raiders’ Under 17s and Under 19s teams
by Marion Williams
Narooma’s Heidi Brownlie, Kymiah Stewart, Chelsea Tyrrell, Halle Constable, Neha Smith, Layla Rix and Shanaya Harrison (rear) and Kaliyah Smith of Batemans Bay, and Narooma’s Meah Beecham and Bridie Hampshire have been selected for the elite Canberra Raiders’ female pathways program. Photo: Marion Williams.
Nine female rugby league players from Narooma have been accepted into this year’s elite Canberra Raiders’ female pathways program.
Six from the South Coast Marlins Under 15 team will play in the inaugural Under 17 Lisa Fiaola competition, while three members of the South Coast Marlins Under 19s will be competing for the Under 19 Tarsha Gale Cup.
