The Hunter Academy of Sport cycling talent development squad presently has regular track training
sessions held on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at the Newcastle Velodrome at Adamstown.
Coaches Ross Hayter, Craig Chapman and Olivia Gollan are generally very happy with the progress
being made by the squad members.
Following further recent discussions with Cycling NSW assurances of increasing support by Cycling
NSW for regional academy programmes have been given. A clear development pathway has been
established with further focus on skill development and race tactics.
Academy squads are being encouraged to compete in a number of competition events each year with
squad coaches providing tactical advice, general support and post race feedback.
The members of the 2012-2013 Hunter Academy cycling squad are:
Alexander Baker (East Maitland), Austin Bond (Edgeworth), Carsten Chapman (Cardiff Heights), Kai
Chapman (Cardiff Heights), Amelia Follett (Hawkes Nest), Hayley Follett (Hawkes Nest), Christopher
Greentree (Muswellbrook), Charles Hoffman (Muswellbrook), Oscar Hourn (Jewells), Kodie Howard
(Glenning Valley), Jonathon Logan (Muswellbrook), Alicia McDonald (Merewether), Nicola
McDonald (Merewether), Tyler Nicholson (Koorainehat), Logan Olive (Cameron Park) and Michael
Scott (Muswellbrook).
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The members of the Hunter Academy of Sport netball talent development squad have a busy training
schedule leading in to their 2013 programmes of club and representative competitions.
After a rain affected training day at Forster late in January, the squad has had training sessions at the
Forum at the University of Newcastle and at the Hunter Valley Grammar School during February, and
will have a further session at the Grammar School this Thursday from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
Members of the Hunter Academy squad are also involved with the Netball NSW Netball Education
2013 Programme which (over three Sundays) will cover various aspects of coaching, development,
management, administration and umpiring of netball. This programme will be hosted by the Lakeside
Association (at Belmont) on Sunday 3 March, by Maitland Association on 10 March and by Singleton
Association on 17 March. The girls in the Hunter Academy squad will be participating in the various
coaching and skills sessions during the three days.
The girls in the Hunter Academy squad are;
Ofa Afu (Port Stephens), Clare Akauma (Scone), Chloe Arens (Taree), Viana Bianivalu (Newcastle),
Alex Brown (Lakeside), Hollie Collison (Scone), Emma Gifford (Lakeside), Kaitlin Harcus (Lakeside),
Kadisha Haynes (Lakeside), Maddison Ingram (Maitland), Makala Johnston (Maitland), Mikenzie
McManus (Newcastle), Ellie McVey (Newcastle), Dominique Murphy (Newcastle), Akanete Ngatuvai
(Newcastle), Natasha Robards (Newcastle), Veronica Smith (Newcastle), Leilani Soli (Lakeside),
Katelyn Stansfield (Newcastle), Madeleine Taylor (Charlestown), Kimberley Williams (Newcastle),
Sharece Willis (Wests).
Members of the Hunter Academy of Sport netball umpires talent development squad are attending some
of the netball squad training sessions and are participating in some of the skills work as well as umpiring
the practice games.
The girls in the netball umpires squad are;
Carissa Corradi, Abby McDonald, Toni Shearman, Grace Eldridge, Gabbie Loades, Hannah Brands,
Siobhan Pickard and their activities are supervised by programme co-ordinator Dell Saunders.
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The Hunter Academy of Sport this year continuing its small but very successful clay target shooting
talent development program. This programme will again be based at the Newcastle Lake Macquarie
Clay Target Shooting Club at Awaba and co-ordinated by Graham Gosling who will be assisted by Rick
Bannerman.
The youngsters selected in the Hunter Academy 2013 Clay Target Squad are:
Cejay Alsop (Silverwater), Ethan Dial (Long Jetty), Travis Edwards (Sawyers Gully), Toby George
(Branxton), Maddison McCloy (Cardiff), Teegan McCloy (Cardiff), Frank Morris (Mt White), Kimberly
Pearce (Singleton), Thomas Richardson (Cessnock).
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The Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame has its 2013 Induction Ceremony set down for Sunday 19
May at South Newcastle Leagues Club (Llewellyn Street, Merewether). This ceremony will start at
10:30 am, admission is free, and members of the public are welcomed to attend.
Twelve of the region’s outstanding sports people will be inducted:
Paul Cannon (motor sport), Anthony Ekert (rugby union), Heath Francis (track and field), Bill Gardner
(rugby union), Herb Jefferson (motor sport), Sam Laguzza (lawn bowls), Tobie McGann (rugby union),
Ernie Patfield (rugby league), John Roberts (football), Ron Russ (baseball), John Wade (horse racing),
June Walsh (badminton).