From redemption stories to premiership victories, to stunning individual efforts and remarkable fairy tale endings, 2018 had it all across virtually every sport you can think of.

As usual in compiling this list I’ve left out any Orange products now on the international stage, preferring to focus locally, and these aren’t in any particular order either.

So without further adieu, here are my top 10 moments of 2018.

After handing over the Netball NSW West-Central West Regional League title for the first time in over two decades in 2017, Orange Netball Association was hell-bent on reclaiming their title as the region’s best.

The Thunder did just that this year, reclaiming the throne in emphatic fashion.

The side went through division one undefeated to win the title. They waltzed through the preliminary stages but were tested by Dubbo in the semi-final, before being forced to stifle an almighty Bathurst comeback in the decider.

Orange led by as many as nine goals in the first half and then seven at the main break, before Bathurst brought the gap back to five at three-quarter time. 

The reigning champions promptly scored four unanswered goals to open the final term, slashing the deficit to one and setting up a frantic, grandstand finish at Sir Neville Howse Stadium.

Although the final stages were sloppy – with plenty of turnovers, intercepts and a number of shots not dropping at both ends – Orange recovered, the side’s experience under pressure coming to the fore as they held on to win 39-36.

REPORT: Orange reclaims Regional League throne with stunning, undefeated campaign

Orange Emus’ Blowes Clothing Cup first grade win was a monumental victory, their third premiership in the last five years continuing the club’s top flight dominance.

But it’s actually the third grade grand final that produced the bigger moment, for me anyway, with greens legend Nik Granger finally tasting premiership success.

In 31 years of playing rugby the former Central West Blue Bull and NSW Country Cockatoo had never even played in a grand final, let alone won one. 

He’d played for several clubs that had tasted that rare success of a title triumph but, several times, those wins came in the season directly after he’d moved on.

Not this time.

Not only did he finally get his hands on a premiership trophy, he was the undeniable star of Emus’ 10-nil grand final win over Bathurst Bulldogs. He led with aplomb from five-eighth, and was lucky enough to score the match-winning try in the shadows of full-time too.

REPORT: Granger gets decider fairy tale as Emus hold off Bathurst in war of attrition

Mick Sullivan announced his time at the helm of Orange CYMS would come to an end when his side’s 2018 campaign did, which ultimately turned out to be on Saturday, August 25 at Wade Park.

Bathurst Panthers eliminated the green and golds in the minor semi-final on their way to the premiership, but it was what happened after that final appearance that touched Sullivan’s heart, slightly taking the sting of the defeat away

The former NRL star, who’s also Group 10’s most celebrated mentor, was given a guard of honour as he made his way from Wade Park that day, one that was lined with both CYMS and Panthers’ faithful.

“For our boys to do it, and for the Panthers boys to come over, it was great,” Sullivan said of the classy touch.

REPORT: Sayonara, Sully: Champion’s send-off for CYMS legend despite Saturday’s defeat

The 2018 Orange Netball Association Toyota Cup grand final – wow, just wow.

The fact it ended with the Lions’ winning an 11^th straight title has zero to do with the decider being included in this list either. That’s an incredible streak, for sure, but no matter the result this game would in this list.

Simply because it’s probably the best grand final I’ve witnessed live, full stop. Well, maybe outside South Sydney and Richmond's recent grand final wins, but you know what I mean.

For the first two-and-a-half quarters the result didn’t look in doubt. Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical dominated that period, to the point they led by 11 goals midway through the third quarter.

Vipers looked dead in the water. About Orange City, I’d written in my notepad “as dominant as I’ve seen in a final”.

Then the tide turned, and somehow Vipers forced the game into extra-time with an equalising goal in, literally, the last second of regular time.

Granted they faded a touch in extra-time and Orange City ended up winning 50-46, but it was some effort from Vipers.

Here’s an idea of how good it really was.

I brought my mate and Emus hooker Tom Goolagong along, he’d never seen a division one game, and as we walked out of Sir Neville Howse Stadium he said “I’ve never seen a game like that anywhere”.

REPORT: Lions stifle stunning Vipers’ comeback to triumph in decider for the ages

Mathew Cahill produced as close to a perfect run as you’ll see in the Inland Digital Orange Showcase Gold Cup (2100 metres) on board Letter to Juliette this year, a win that was Hawkesbury trainer Garry White’s fourth in Racing Orange’s marquee race.

That wrote White into the history books, the Hawkesbury trainer having tasted success twice before with Aussie Statesman and once with Peaceful Joe as well.

Having firmed as the $2.70 favourite the four-year-old proved why, sitting one wide mid-pack before working to the head of the field at the 300-mark, after that she didn’t look troubled and waltzed home from Mister Marmalade ($4.20) and Eerised ($6).

“This race has certainly been good to me … I genuinely love this track,” White said after the win.

REPORT: Delighted White writes himself into history books with fourth Orange Gold Cup success

Every club in every sport is always chasing silverware every season, but more so in an anniversary year and Orange City made no secret of their wish for a greenwash in a the 2017-18 Orange District Cricket Association summer – the Warriors’ 50^th.

While they didn’t quite get that, they went mighty close, winning first, second and third grade along with a trio of junior titles and the senior club championship too.

Fair to say it was a pretty successful summer for the club, with the top grade premiership Orange City’s first since 2012-13 and one secured on the back of a stunning, man-of-the-final performance from Taylor Beatty.

REPORT: Orange City’s top grade triumph caps off fairytale 2017-18 summer

Still, to this day, no one really knows how the Orange Tigers managed to do what they did on grand final day at Bathurst’s George Park.

While the Tigers certainly weren’t bad in the first three quarters they were well behind the eight-ball and on a gusty day had fallen almost five goals behind the Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels at the final break.

They were 27 points behind at that point, to be precise.

But somehow the Orange side fought back to win, piling on 37 points in a ridiculous, final-quarter effort and restricting the hosts to just seven of their own.

The final goal, the one that put Orange ahead with about two minutes to play, came from Andrew Henry.

REPORT: Tigers produced incredible fourth-quarter comeback to seal remarkable flag victory

The 2017 City of Orange Golden Eagle Classic Pairs final was immediately labelled one of the tournament’s best, but it was eclipsed in this year’s 50^th anniversary decider.

Molong’s Steve Shannon and Narromine’s Glen Miller emerged triumphant, but not before a topsy-turvy affair that ultimately needed an extra end to decide it.

Shannon and Miller were deadlocked with Blakehurst’s Geoff Frost and Leo Gore through 18 ends, at 17-all, but held their nerve under mountains of pressure to claim a one-shot advantage in the sudden-death 19th end and seal the win.

REPORT: Shannon, Miller seal maiden Golden Eagle crown in epic anniversary year final

Of course this one was a personal favourite because I got to suit up for the Classic Wallabies, but their visit to Orange was about far more than that, and far more than just playing the Central West Barbarians in an exhibition game.

It was about support, and giving back.

People at the top level spruik that kind of thing constantly but you needed only to look at the smiles on the hundreds of kids’ faces at Endeavour Oval to see how big an impact the likes of Stephen Hoiles, Stephen Moore, Radike Samo and co had on Orange and the region.

REPORT: Classic Wallabies’ visit about far more than just a game of rugby 

Orange CYMS made their comeback to women’s Premier League Hockey this year, the last time they played as a stand-alone club was back in 2007, and boy did they make a splash in a big way.

They boasted a star-studded side with the likes of former Hockeyroo Jade Georgiou and Canberra Strikers captain Meredith Bone in the mix, among a host of NSW and Australian Country stars, but even so, it was their first season playing together so I don’t think any truly expected them to be there when the whips were cracking.

They were though, after leading the competition at different times throughout the regular season they eventually bowed out in the preliminary final, at the hands of Bathurst St Pat’s.

“To go down the death in the preliminary final – that’s an amazing achievement. That’s an extraordinary reflection of the players and the effort they have put in during the year,” CYMS coach Pete Shea said at the end of his side’s campaign.

REPORT: CYMS’ comeback one to be proud of despite being edged out at penultimate hurdle