As 2019 draws to a close so does the last decade of sport around the world and, of course, here in Orange and the Central West where the last 10 years, between 2010 and 2019, have largely been a story of success and celebration.
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Orange's teams, athletes, clubs, administrators and supporters have tasted success in virtually every sport and every level, a remarkable period by anyone's standards.
But with light comes dark too, and with the new year and new decade looming we'll be taking a look back at the good, the bad and the ugly - very ugly, in one case - from the last 10 years, with Part Two to be released online on December 30 and in the New Year's Eve edition of the Central Western Daily.
THE TEAM...
This was tough to narrow down considering the amount of trophies that have been won by Orange's rugby league, rugby union, Australian Rules, triathlon, touch football and netball outfits - just to name a few, they seem all but countless.
But it was impossible to look past the Orange City Lions' all-conquering sides of 2012 and 2013 and, in particular, the latter of those outfits.
Both sides won undefeated Blowes Clothing Cup premiership and while the 2012 side was probably a touch better on paper the 2013 side takes this mantle because, massive cliche alert, it's tough to win a premiership but it's far, far tougher to defend one.
With a massive target on their back the 2013 Lions - boasting names like Short, Tremain, Sparks, Barrett, Pearce, Brotherton, Coote, Lemoto and Dwyer - still managed to roll through the regular season undefeated before claiming their second consecutive premiership, beating Parkes in the decider.
Of course, the side was really headlined by Sione 'Junior' Lafo'ou on the wing - although he just popped up wherever he wanted - and was simply unstoppable with him as the attacking focal point.
WHAT WAS SAID: "It was a massive effort from the boys and one which ultimately won us the game." - Orange City co-coach Andy Hillan.
THE DYNASTY...
This one wasn't so difficult to narrow down, there was only two real contenders here and they both came from the netball court, not surprising considering Orange's status as a genuine nursery for the game.
Orange Netball Association's open representative side were a shout but their 21-year West-Central West Regional League streak was brought to an end in the decade's dying stages, although they have since claimed the throne back.
On the other hand Orange City - formerly known as Robin Hood - kept their unprecedented Toyota Cup run intact, with this year's title their 12th consecutive triumph. They've won every competition between 2010 and 2019, so this is a no-brainer.
WHAT WAS SAID: "I'm sure we'll lose one eventually, I'm glad it wasn't this one though." - Orange City coach Cindy Gilchrist.
THE SPORTSMAN...
Is, of course, Jason Belmonte, and I don't think I need to explain why, although I will for anyone who's been living under a rock.
It must be noted Belmonte claimed this mantle by way of a public vote - conducted by the Central Western Daily at the end of 2009 - for the previous decade too, despite the best part of his career coming after that.
In the last 10 years though he's completely revolutionised tenpin bowling and has become the sport's equivalent of Roger Federer, Jack Nicklaus or Tom Brady... the greatest-of-all-time basically.
He'll never genuinely claim that tag he's too modest to do that, but with 22 Professional Bowler's Association title and the most Major Championship wins in history, with 11, it's pretty tough to argue the 36-year-old, two-hander's status as the GOAT.
He skipped ahead in the Major stakes in 2019 and he also claimed his fifth PBA Player of the Year crown too, incredibly he shows no signs of slowing down and looks likely to continue his assault on the record books for several years to come.
WHAT WAS SAID: "I'm so overwhelmed right now that if I could express how I feel I don't know if anyone could understand me." - Jason Belmonte
THE SPORTSWOMEN...
There was so many to choose from at every level, just to name a few the likes of Helen Worland, Jade Warrender, Jess Richards and Christine Wolfson come to mind immediately.
But I can't split Hockeyroos veteran Eddie Bone and Wallaroos skipper Grace Hamilton.
Since debuting for the Hockeyroos in 2013 Bone has made 197 appearances for Australia and claimed medals all over the world in virtually every competition on offer, most notably helping the side to a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
She's played at the Olympics and will do so again in 2020, which will come after she makes her 200th appearance, expected to come in January during the FIH Pro League.
Hamilton's whirlwind rise to the top came in the later stages of the decade, of course it didn't, she didn't even start playing rugby union in 2013, she was on a university exchange in the US at the time.
She's won countless trophies since with Sydney University, helped the Waratahs to back-to-back Super W titles and more than made her presence felt at the international level since debuting for the Wallaroos in 2016.
After her performances at the 2017 World Cup in Ireland she looked destined to one day captain her country and was appointed to that role in 2019, her best so far in green and gold, after which she claimed the Wallaroos' Player of the Year award and the Rugby Union Players Association People's Choice Player of the Year award.
I'm loathe to go into this too much and perhaps I'm letting sentimentality come to the fore here, but it has to be noted Hamilton did all that while her father John, a NSW Country Rugby Union legend, was terminally ill.
Sadly, John passed away in November.
WHAT WAS SAID: "I was nervous at the start (after being given the captaincy) but the support I was shown by the girls in the squad and the general community, I was so thankful for that." - Wallaroos skipper Grace Hamilton.
THE MAGIC MOMENT...
This was produced by someone no one had ever heard of before he captured the cricketing community's imagination at Wade Park in December of 2016, that's Hong Kong's Nizakat Khan.
His side landed at Wade Park as cannon-fodder for the Sydney Thunder in the lead-up to their Big Bash League title defence and even with the likes of English captain Eoin Morgan, Shane Watson and Mike Hussey at the ground, Khan emerged from two practice games as Orange's new hero.
With #TheNizardOfOz trending worldwide - okay, maybe not, it gained some traction in Hong Kong though - Khan produced a back-to-the-wall ton which had almost 10,000 fans at Wade Park on the edge of their seat.
He was on 80 with four overs left in Hong Kong's chase - unsuccessful chase, too - and produced his magic moment in the final over, scooping a six over third man to reach a magical, underdog century and send the crowd into raptures.
WHAT WAS SAID: "I could (hear the crowd), I think they were with me and not the Thunder." - Hong Kong's Nizakat Khan.
THE GIANT SHOCK...
It came out of the blue when Sam Ah-See, who seemingly had the world at his feet, abruptly called time on his already-glittering professional career in 2017.
With a national belt in tow and an Australasian title shot on the cards Ah-See looked a world champion-in-waiting, with even the best of judges rating him among the nation's brightest prospects.
(The praise), I lapped all that shit up for years until now but reality kicks in, life slaps you in the face and you mature. You see the bigger picture, you see what life is really about.
- Sam Ah-See
At the time he was in America and had been sparring with Canelo Alvarez - widely considering one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of all-time - but with unseen battles behind-the-scenes, Ah-See had lost his passion for the sport.
He took the time to explain his decision in an exclusive interview with the Central Western Daily, from America, which made waves across the entire sporting community.
WHAT WAS SAID: "(The praise), I lapped all that shit up for years until now but reality kicks in, life slaps you in the face and you mature. You see the bigger picture, you see what life is really about." - Sam Ah-See
THE BIGGEST LOSS...
This is a personal reflection because while Carl Sharpe's death in 2016 rocked the wider sporting community, there's been far too much sadness in the past decade and no loss is more important than any other.
Sharpe's death was a tremendous loss to the Orange and Central West sporting communities though, he had an immeasurable influence on the sport of cricket in particular but was also a driving force in the formation of the Orange Sporting Hall of Fame and the Eight Day Games.
They're just two examples, put simply Carl Sharpe was a legend among men and that was proven by the almost 2,000 mourners who arrived to bid farewell to him at his funeral.
From a personal perspective, Sharpie offered me opportunities on and off the sporting field I'll be forever grateful for and he was a wonderful friend. We're far worse off without him.
WHAT WAS SAID: "Carl was a giant among men. He leaves behind an enormous legacy no one can fill. He inspired, encouraged, guided influenced and led. We loved him." - David Redden
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