The Castlemaine Junior Sports Star of the Week is talented Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club member and Bendigo Amateur Soccer League representative squad member Wilson Springate.
Wilson and his Castlemaine Goldfields Under 16A Mixed soccer side recently completed the treble winning the Bendigo League Championship and Super Cup trophies and Wilson claiming best on ground honours in the Super Cup Final.
Name: Wilson Springate
Age: 15
School: Castlemaine Secondary College.
How long have you been playing? Been playing soccer for 11 years.
Can you tell us about some of your sporting highlights? I was Man of the Match in Under 16’s soccer grand final in 2023. Winning player of the tournament for my Bendigo Amateur Soccer League rep squad 2023 at Country Champs tournament in Ballarat was also a highlight.
Who is an athlete you admire? Declan Rice, English Premier League player
Do you play any other sports? No
Wilson wins $50 cash from our new Sports Star sponsors Dominos and can pick up his certificate and prize money from our office at 13 Hargraves Street, Castlemaine.
Do you know a sports star Under 16 deserving of recognition? Nominate them by emailing ldennis@midnews.com.au or calling 5472 1788.
Castlemaine District Cricket Association senior sides kicked off the 2023-2024 season on Saturday with one day matches contested in A Grade and A Reserve. The highlights of the round were a century for Maiden Gully Lions A Reserve batsman Brodie Hogan with 104 against Castlemaine United, whilst Taradale A Reserve bowler Luke Cameron took 3-7 against Muckleford.
The B Grade competition is set to commence this Saturday October 21 with Heathcote joining the CDCA this season and Campbells Creek Colts making their return to senior cricket. C Grade (Under 16) sides also commence their 2023-2024 season this Saturday with Maryborough, Carisbrook and Colts Phelans joining the division. The Women’s competition is scheduled to begin tonight Friday evening October 20 with Campbells Creek Colts to join the comp.
Results were as follows:
A Grade
Barkers Creek 3-139 (Bodhi Robinson 76 not out, Nash Robinson 20) defeated Maiden Gully Lions 9-137 (Tim Bubb 60, Guy Moore 19; Darby Semmens 3-12, Kalan Huntly 3-27).
Muckleford 8-191 (John Watson 75, Edward Gingell 50; James Chaffey 2-38, David George 2-37) drew with Castlemaine United 10-191 (Levi Chaffey 54, Darin Rush 22, Owen Brasher 22; John Watson 3-33).
Guildford 7-261 (DS Wijemanna 98, Joshua Eastley 57, Nathan Webster 50; Louis Chapman 2-38, Nick Ebery 2-40, Henry Phoenix 2-56) defeated Newstead 10-121 (Samuel Winnard 56, Cameron Hepburn 13; DS Wijemanna 3-24, Matthew Manning 2-22, Cordie McKendry 2-16).
A Reserve
Maiden Gully Lions 4-297 (Brodie Hogan 104, William Vallely 74, Daniel Plowright 65; Darren Baker 2-43) defeated Castlemaine United 10-113 (Declan Brasher 32, Mokshara Wathsaranga Thilakasiri 16, Will Penrose 14; Robert Douglas 2-5, William Trew 2-8, Oliver McKenzie 2-18, Zac Justice 2-17).
Taradale 7-216 (Andrew Young 72, Leigh Bennett 44, Brock Fletch 26; Craig Tingay 2-29, Jack Smith 2-30) defeated Muckleford 10-104 (Neville Cooper 25, Craig Tingay 22, Stu Findlay 19; Luke Cameron 3-7, Steve Learmonth 2-10).
North Castlemaine 4-62 (Sandeep Brar 24 not out, Gavin James 19; Oscar Thomas 2-19, Kyle Gellatly 2-28) defeated Guildford 10-57 (Jordan Hardy 16, Angus Mychajlyszyn 15; Jamie Allan 2-2, Sandeep Brar 2-4, Tarshpreet Singh 2-11, Max Matheson 2-15).
Barkers Creek forfeited to Newstead.
Harcourt had the bye.
Castlemaine District Netball Association (CDNA) was proud to have five local representatives take part in the Netball Victoria State Titles 17 & Under Male division at the State Netball Centre in Parkville on October 7.
In a local first talented young sportsmen Jack Davidge, Caleb Mountford, Nick Lord, Liam Fletcher and Xave Guzzardi-Taylor were proud to represent the North Central region against five other regions from across the state in the 17 & Under competition.
The North Central side was led by respected local coach Vanessa Saunders with the CDNA providing the squad’s official team shirts for the competition.
It was a long held dream for Saunders to field a local men’s side in the state event and she was delighted to see it become a reality.
The North Central region were invited to field a team three weeks out from the event. Organisers had been impressed by the efforts of the local squad at the Association Championships in June where they made the grand final.
Ms Saunders said it was a quick turn around but the boys put their hands up, put in the work and did extremely well to record one win over Gippsland, one loss by the narrowest margin of just one goal against the LaTrobe Valley, and only just missed out on the finals finishing fifth overall.
“It was a terrific effort considering most of the other sides comprised state and national players which train and play on a weekly basis,” she said.
Local team member Jack Davidge was proud to captain the side and said that it was a good opportunity to play against some of the best players from across the state.
“It was a great experience and we learnt a lot to help us improve in the future,” Jack said.
Teammate Nick Lord said as a country side it was terrific to have the chance to play at that level.
“It was very inspiring and we hope to return and take the next step in 2024,” he said.
The CDNA was proud to also have local netballers Lani Taylor and Alanna Fletcher represent North Central in the 15 & Under Women’s and Eden Clifford and Megan Wilson in the 17 & Unders. Local coach Tegan Maddern was also assistant coach for the 15 & Under side, whilst Chantelle Ramsey did a terrific job as the 17 & Under Boys squad umpire.
The Australian Lancia Register will stage its 27th Castlemaine Rally this weekend October 20-22.
The event will see Lancisti descend on the local region for the premium biennial event.
The three day rally will culminate with a public car display at the Wattle Flat Reserve (Castlemaine Pony Club) in Richards Road Castlemaine this Sunday October 22 from 10am to 3pm.
This is a free event and the public are welcome to get along and view the cars ranging from the earliest 1920s Lancia Lambda to the more modern Lancia Beta’s and Delta Integrale.
Australian Lancia Register president Angelo Monteleone said this year Castlemaine 27 will celebrate 40 years since the magnificent Lancia 037 last won the ‘World Rally Championship’ in 1983.
“This was under the stewardship of signoro Cesere Fiorio manager of the Lancia Works team. There will be an actual 037 rally car on display on Sunday, which is quite a treat due to their rarity outside of Italy,” Mr Monteleone said.
The 2023 gathering also marks 50 years of the Beta 1972 -2022.
“The Lancia Beta was Lancia’s first new model after the FIAT takeover, commencing the line up with the 4-door fastback saloon (Beta Berlina), 2-door coupé (Beta Coupé), 2-door Targa (Beta Spyder Zagato), 3-door estate (Beta HPE) and improving with various facelifts and sophistication as the years rolled onward finally finishing about 1985 with the VX series of supercharged coupe and HPE,” Mr Monteleone said.
“Our Castlemaine 27 rally poster portrays the Lancia 037 in its Martini livery and the most popular Beta’s being the Coupe, HPE and Spyder versions in the colours of Italian flag,” he said.
As part of the rally Australian Lancia Register members will have the chance to visit Boomtown Wines, Balgownie Estate, enjoy catering by Togs and live entertainment from Meg Corson, and a lunch at Castlemaine Golf Club.
“We like to support local businesses and community groups as part of the rally and many participants enjoy the chance to make a weekend of it staying in local accommodation and touring the region,” he said.
“It will be a bumper weekend in Castlemaine with our event coinciding with the return of the Castlemaine Artists Market at the Western Reserve on the same date. So be sure to catch the Lancias at Wattle Flat and enjoy a jaunt around the market while you are at it!”
Renowned local poet, Dr Andy Jackson, will be the guest speaker at the Friends of Castlemaine Library (FOCAL) AGM to be held at the Castlemaine Library this Wednesday night, October 18.The winner of the Prime Ministers’ Literary Award for Poetry (the highest accolade in the land) for his collection “Human Looking” and the ALS Gold Medal, and potentially Australia’s next Poet Laureate. Andy has published five collections of poetry and featured in a number of literary festivals in Australia and overseas.
Long time lover of libraries and local legend Dr Andy Jackson will be talking to MainFM’s Suzanne Donisthorpe.
The AGM will be held at 5pm for refreshments and the meeting will start at 5.30pm.
