January
Ararat’s Lucas Hamilton won the silver medal in the men’s under-23 criterium at the Cycling Australia Road National Championships in Ballarat. Hamilton not only finished second overall but won the sprint classification during the annual event.
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Mark Bond topped the rankings in the South Australian Historic Road Racing Championships in Mount Gambier. Bond rode his 1976 Kawasaki Z900 to victory in the final round to claim the championship win by seven points.
Ararat brothers Caiden and Evan Hull teamed up to finish first and third overall in the men’s support category at the 2017 Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic. Caiden won the bunch sprint during the third stage of the race at Williamstown in Melbourne’s south-west. He finished second in the final race to claim first place overall.
Talented young cyclist Murray Culling rode a personal best time at the junior state track championships in Melbourne, finishing the 2000-metre individual pursuit in a time of 2:49.021.
The Grampians Cricket Association and Horsham representative sides played against each other in a Twenty20 game at Stawell’s Central Park.
February
Lucas Hamilton continued his impressive form early in the year, competing in the Herald Sun Tour. Hamilton spent much of the past month on the bike with the national championships, followed by the Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Road Race.
Ararat product Sarah Blizzard won the open 70-metre final at the Ballarat Gift. She won her heat and qualified for the final where she ran off 12.25m to record a winning time of 7.50 seconds.
The Grampians Cricket Association got a boost with $150,000 of state government funding allocated to upgrading Ararat’s Gordon Street Oval.
The Ararat Swimming Club returned to its spiritual home when it hosted the first event in six years at the city’s revamped outdoor pool. Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Colin Brooks officially opened the event.
Ararat Storm footballer Georgia Clarke continued to hone her craft as she attended an AFL Women’s Academy camp in Canberra.
March
Former Ararat Rat Tom Williamson got his first taste of AFL football when he played for Carlton against St Kilda in a preseason match. Williamson finished the game with 10 disposals along with two tackles in the Blues’ 92-point loss.
The Ararat Redbacks moved closer to joining the Country Basketball League with the club receiving interest from the community about getting a men’s and women’s team up and running.
Cyclist Alice Culling finished with two medals including her first under-19 gold medal at the Cycling Australia Track National Championships in Brisbane.
Buangor won the Grampians Cricket Association A Grade title after chasing 109 in the second innings against Aradale at Alexandra Oval while Youth Club won the B Grade premiership against Navarre at Stawell’s Central Park.
