Winners celebrate

Swifts club in Stawell is celebrating a rare double after two of its leading junior players won major awards at Horsham District Football Netball League’s junior vote count and presentation night.

Joshua Reid won an under-17 football best and fairest award and Darcy Crawford won the corresponding trophy in a 17 and under netball category.

Reid polled 33 votes to win the marquee football trophy from Jye Walter from Noradjuha-quantong, 22, and Dylan Bates, Natimuk United-pimpinio, 21.

Crawford had a narrower victory for her award, winning with 24 votes from Harrow-balmoral’s Amber Mcclure and Jeparit-rainbow’s Olivia Revell, who tied on 22. The next best was Chloe Kelm from Taylors Lake on 18.

A big junior awards night in Horsham helped launch Horsham District’s finals series, which starts this weekend.

Kayla Kelm from Taylors Lake was also a clear winner in 15 and under netball, winning from Ella Amos, Noradjuha-quantong, 26, and Pimpinio duo Beth Porter and Piper Brown, both on 21.

Taylors Lake also celebrated success in under-14 ranks with Riley Hall clinching the best and fairest trophy.

He polled 39 votes to win by six from Zac Filcock of Pimpinio, 33, and team-mate William Taylor, 29.

Hamish Smith of Swifts also polled strongly with 27 votes.

Pimpinio enjoyed success at netball’s 13 and under level, with Tahlia Thompson securing best and fairest honours with 39 votes from Samantha Gebert, 34, from Kalkee, and Edenhope-apsley’s Talia Iese and Laharum’s Rylee Hateley, both on 25.