Broome Sports Year in Review: July to December

The Advertiser resumes its look back on the fantastic sporting achievements of the Broome community for 2023. July — Broome boxer Ash Schaffer is the new State champion In July, Broome Boxing Club produced another State Champion in 16-year-old Ash Schaffer, with the talented young fighter taking down his opponent in spectacular fashion. Broome Marathon biggest and fastest yet It was a record turnout at Cable Beach for the Broome International Airport Marathon in July, with several new records set. Broome local Joel Hamling returns to the field Forgotten Fremantle defender and Broome boy Joel Hamling, affectionately known as Hammer to his teammates, played his first game of the season against Collingwood at the MCG in July — 475 days after his last. August — Broome fighter Tj Anderson wins gold at WAJJC State Championships in Perth In August the Advertiser reported that one of Broome’s rising martial arts stars, TJ Anderson, had returned home with the gold after competing in the WAJJC State Championship in Perth. Busy weekend for Kimberley livestock in Broome Rodeo One of the dustiest days on the Broome calendar was back in action in August with thousands gathering at the Jack Knox Arena Rodeo Ground for the annual Broome Rodeo. Karratha local Tui Magner had a successful winning streak on the horses in Broome, taking home gold in both the novice barrel and breakaway roping open. Broome’s Solei Arnott-Barker brings home Golden Gloves Broome Boxing Club produced yet another champion fighter in August after Solei Arnott-Barker came home with the National Golden Gloves in Queensland in August. September — Cable Beach wins gold in Broome Netball Association grand final For a second year in a row, Cable Beach emerged as the winner of the Broome Netball Association’s 2023 grand final in September, beating Pearlers Old Girls by 14 points. Cable Beach wins both men’s and women’s WKFL grand final The Cable Beach men’s team won their fourth premiership in a row after defeating the Broome Towns by nine points in a thrilling grand final at Haynes Oval in September, 11.7 (73) to 10.4 (64). Cable Beach now claims four premierships in a row, just one shy of the WKFL record of five held by Towns from 1974 to 1978. The Cable Beach women’s team also won their grand final match, defeating the Looma Eagles by 22 points in a heated contest, 7.4 (46) to 3.6 (24). Broome 11-year-old Jasper Barnett breaks seven records at State swimming championships In September, Broome swimming star 11-year-old Jasper Barnett broke seven records and won five gold medals at the 2023 WA Junior Short Course Swimming Championships. October — Dockers join students on Cable Beach for Kimberley 9s carnival Kimberley kids and the Fremantle Dockers took over Cable Beach for the third annual Kimberley 9s football carnival in October. The carnival, organised by the Purple Hands Foundation, brought together hundreds of Kimberley students from Halls Creek to Looma and everywhere in between for two days of football on the beach on October 23 and 24. Broome Eternal MMA champion, Quillan Salkilld, successfully defends lightweight title in dominant display Broome-raised mixed martial arts champion Quillan Salkilld successfully defended his Eternal MMA lightweight title from his first challenger, Brett Pastore, in a dominating display in the cage at Perth’s HBF Stadium in October. Ex-Eagle Brad Sheppard gives back with Kimberley Spirit Program coaching role In October, former West Coast Eagle Brad Sheppard got back out on the footy field in his new role as a Kimberley Spirit Program coach. It came after he stepped down from his job at Broome Toyota earlier in 2023 after having difficulty being in front of a computer screen due to a medical condition which occurred during his AFL career. November — Jordan Binns takes out Sports Star of the Year at Broome Sports Awards Hundreds gathered at the Broome Civic Centre for the Broome Sports Association’s gala event to celebrate the best sporting talent and achievements from across 2023. Jordan Binns was named Sports Star of the Year for his outstanding efforts on and off the cricket pitch. Broome Boxing Club won two awards with Ash Schaffer winning the Rising Sport Star of the Year award while the club as a whole was announced as Team of the Year. History-making moment in Broome cricket as fathers and sons unite on the pitch Dirty Dozen clinch A-grade grand final glory while Mangrove suffer double grand final defeat In a gripping finale at Nipper Roe Oval on November 27, the Dirty Dozen emerged victorious, claiming the Broome Cricket Association A grade premiership. December — Broome Barracudas take on Pilbara Swimming Championships Held in late November at the Karratha Leisureplex, the Broome Barracudas secured an impressive haul of 50 gold medals, 48 silver and 22 bronze. Broome’s TJ Anderson crowned State Jiu Jitsu champion despite fighting above weight class In December the Advertiser reported that Broome’s TJ Anderson was crowned the WA Jiu Jitsu Champion in the juvenile boys absolute No-Gi division at the State Championships despite fighting above his weight class. Faced with a shortage of opponents in his designated weight class on November 26, Anderson took on the challenge of competing against an opponent weighing 9kg more. Kings win Broome Basketball Association A-grade wet-season grand final In a repeat of the dry-season grand final, the Kings defeated the Gantheaume Pointers to claim the Broome Basketball Association’s A-grade wet-season grand final in December.