THE CITY of champions had another stellar outing as an holistic sporting unit in 2015. There have been a slew of premierships secured by our town's various teams, locals have travelled abroad donning the green and gold, Mark Webber was finally the bride rather than the bridesmaid in securing his first world championship, legends were inducted into Halls of Fame and the community bid farewell to a number of influential and well-loved sporting characters.
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A winning town
Perhaps there is no better measure of a sporting club's success than the premiership notches on their belt, and if Queanbeyan were to be judged on it's 2015 efforts, it would receive a decisive stamp of approval. The Bluebags had a successful start to the year, with their unbeatable third grade squad finishing season 2014/15 with a triple premiership. But it was throughout winter when Queanbeyan's holistic sporting strength truly came to the fore. Both the Queanbeyan Tigers and Tigerettes won their respective AFL grand finals, with the Tigers taking down a previously undefeated Belconnen Magpies and the Tigerettes recording a triple-peat after securing their third consecutive premiership. Queanbeyan-based AFL club Harman Hogs also finished up the season as division four premiers, after defeating a valiant ANU Griffins unit. In Rugby, the second and third grade Whites found success where first grade fell, defeating their Tuggeranong Viking counterparts in two thrilling grand final matches, with the seconds match going right down to the wire with Queanbeyan's winning try coming after the siren. The Blues continued to be succesful in the Canberra Raiders Cup, and broke the hearts of Goulburn Workers fans when they beat the rugby league side in the final match of the year, making it the second season in a row where they had snatched the premiership away. In Karabar, hoop dreams became a reality for the Queanbeyan Yowies when their division one women's squad took out the Waratah League, becoming the first title in the clubs 38 year-strong history.
Always the bridesmaid
It wasn't the first time Mark Webber was in contention for a world title. Going into the final race of the 2010 Formula One drivers championship, it was looking as though he would take out the championship, but in Abu Dhabi he slipped to third and teammate Sebastian Vetell won the first of his four consecutive World Championships. But in November, Webber, along with Porsche team-mates Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard, secured his first World Championship at the World Endurance Championships in Bahrain. The trio prevailed by five points, becoming Porsche's first world sportscar champions since 1986.
Hall of Fame inductees
The ACT Sporting Hall of Fame welcomed nine new names into its annals, including Queanbeyan's John McIntyre and Adam Jeffery. McIntyre found himself inducted after a lengthy administrative career with the Canberra Raiders and the Queanbeyan Leagues Club, while Jeffery was recognised for his contributions to lawn bowls as a representative of both the ACT, NSW and Australia. Annie La Fleur was recognised by the NSW Sports Hall of Fame for her contributions to basketball. The Queanbeyan Yowie was once a member of the Australian Opals squad that competed at the Sydney Olympics, as well as an explosive member of the Sydney Flame WNBL outfit.
Donning green and gold
Former Queanbeyan White Lewis Holland has quickly become a stalwart of the Australian national rugby sevens side. Local lad Jason Aslimoski represented the country in football as a member of the 45-man Outback Gridiron Squad in America and competed at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championship. Para-skier Rob Oakley and Jennifer, Art and Parvo Soldo all gained selection in their respective squads after a solid performance at the Australian Waterski Championships. Year 11 Karabar student Andrea Thompson travelled to Colombia to compete at the IAAF World Championships. A contingent of Queanbeyan's current and former union players were selected as a part of the Indigenous Australian Invitational Rugby Team. Wade Smith was on board as a trainer, while Braeden Smith, Keith Morgan, Brandon Williams, Bryce Lee and Reuben House were all named as players for the tour of the United States.
Farewell
Both Queanbeyan's league and union fraternities were hit with the loss of stalwart legends this year when Dougy Crampton and Col Maxwell passed away.
Doug Crampton was farewelled on June 4, aged 69, after succumbing to a long battle with illness.
"At his best Dad was a quick-witted man with a comeback for everything, cheeky till the wee hours of the morning, a supportive son, brother, father and a bloody good mate to many," Crampton's son Dean eulogised.
In November, the community farewelled Queanbeyan Whites legend Col Maxwell.
"You are to be congratulated on a life very well lived," his grandson Oliver said.
"We are so proud of you and I hope you enjoy your well-earned rest, and that heaven has good scotch and enough pistachios to keep you happy."