Esperance Year in Review, Sport 2019

As 2019 draws to a close, we are taking a look back at the thrills, spills, wins and achievements that defined the year in sport.

January:

• Rory Blok won the Australia Day, 2019 Esperance Swim Thru with a time of 37:24, just seconds off 2018's record-breaking time of 37:07.

February:

• Local swimmers had the opportunity to compete alongside Olympian Tommaso D'Orsogna during the SunSmart Splash & Dash Carnival at the Bay of Isles Leisure Centre on February 16.

March:

• About 1500 people came through the gates of the Esperance Bay Turf Club for the 2019 Freight Lines Group Esperance Cup on March 3.
  
• Michael Godfrey's 17.845 kilogram Samson Fish saw him take away more than $13,500 in prize money at the Deep Sea Angling Club Classic.
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April:

• About 500 spectators poured into the Esperance Indoor Sports Stadium to watch the 2019 Esperance Senior Basketball Association's Grand Finals.
• The Esperance- Goldfields Surf Life Saving Club celebrated the end of the 2018/19 season. Dane Holdman and Lisa Julian were presented with the Red Anderson Award for performing a heroic rescue.

May:

• Esperance triumphed at the May 25, Women's Regional Football Carnival at Newtown Oval.
  

June:

• South East Runner and Esperance teenager Zoe Maccan took out the Open Mile race at the Leonora Golden Gift on June 2, with a time of five minutes and 40 seconds.
• The Esperance Golf Club hosted its annual cancer fundraiser, raising more than $300 for the Esperance Health Campus on June 5,

July:

• More than 60 participants and spectators braved the cool conditions at the Esperance Foreshore for the annual Southern Ports Tour d'Esperance on July 14.
  

August:

• Esperance came out victorious in the inaugural Women's Grand Final, scoring 4.2 (26) to Ports' 2.4 (16) on August 30.
  
• The Gibson Tigers took out their second consecutive premiership with a 27-point win over Esperance on August 31 at the Gibson Oval. The Berwyn Davies Medal went to Patch Jannings who completed the treble and Best Under 21 went to Sam Johnston.

September:

• The Esperance Netball Association celebrated its Diamond Jubilee. The Telstra Division 1 Fairest and Best was awarded to Alysha Castelli, with Ishah Powell being awarded both Runner Up and Player's Choice.
  
• A local football product, who moved on to play for the Subiaco Lions, finished his WAFL career on a high. Clancy Wheeler had his debut with the Subiaco Football Club in Round 11 against Perth in 2011 and played his last game on September 22 , with a 96-point win over South Fremantle.
• The Esperance Hockey Association saw both its men's and women's Grand Final matches come down to the wire. The women's final saw reigning premiers Furies triumph over Condingup (1-0). In the men's final, Castletown proved to be the stronger team, emerging victorious over the Sharks (3-2).
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October:

• Five talented netballers represented Esperance at the Netball WA 2019 State Cup in Perth from October 11 to October 13.

November:

• Hockey superstar Alli McArthur was named the 2019 Horizon Power Sports Star of the Year for the second year running and Michael Vickers of the Esperance Taekwondo Academy was inducted into the Sporting Hall of Fame.
  
• More than 3000 people flocked to the Edge of the Bay festival to watch the coveted Battle of the Bay competition on November 30. The competition attracted a record number of entrants from across the country who competed in BMX, scooter and skateboarding heats. Pro skater Keiran Woolley took out the Battle of the Bay men's open skateboard competition, followed closely by George Richards and Brendon Cross tied for second.

December:

• Star bowler Shyanne Thomas was selected to travel to Queensland to compete for the WA Country 11s side at the 2020 Toyota Australian Country Cricket Championships.