Bendigo Sportsmen Association

It takes more than a muddy track to stop the 2025 BuildPro Junior Sports Star from having a good day out.
Milanke Haasbroek came away from the National Cross Country Championships in Ballarat with the following results:
Individual U14 - 7th place
Girls Team U14 - Bronze (top 3 in the state).
U14 Mixed Relay - Gold

Congratulations Mikanke.

A big few days for Harriet Caldwell. Last Thursday she was awarded the John Forbes Memorial Award and by the end of the weekend a silver medalist as a member of Victoria Wonders team in the 2026 Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League. Congratulations Harriet.

At the BSA we take our Bunnings BBQs very seriously. The more sausages we sell, the more money we have to support young athletes. The pace was hot today but many hands make light work. Many thanks to Flora Hill Bakehouse and Erindale Farm Butchery for supporting our fundraising efforts.

In the shadow of the MCG at the Police Association Building, the XLI Club and members from the BSA met for the John Forbes Memorial Luncheon.
The BSA committee had chosen wheelchair basketball player, Harriet Caldwell as a most deserving awardee.
Harriet is pictured with ex AFL players, Terry Daniher and Rodney Eade. It’s not often you have three legends in the same photo. Congratulations Harriet.

It might be the off season for athletics but 14 year old sprinter and hurdler Felix Burgess is clearly focused on training. At the monthly BSA bbq, quarterly BuildPro Junior Sports Star Felix made it very clear that he can’t wait to defend a suite of sprinting and hurdling records in the forthcoming season.
In the meantime Felix is concentrating his other sporting discipline- enduro motorcycle racing. Currently sitting third in the Victorian Off Roads Series, Felix will be racing Rounds 9/10 at Dartmoor. Good luck for the weekend’s racing.

BuildPro Junior Sports Star 2025, Milanke Haasbroek has just been crowned the Australian and Oceania Laser Run U15 Champion. During 2025 we learnt about this dynamic and challen ging sport where competitors do a series of 4x 600m runs to laser stations where they fire five times at a target with a laser pistol. This comes on the back of her previous U13 championship win in the World Laser Run in South Africa. Congratulations Milanke.

One day a BSA Junior Sports Star and before you know it representing their country in the Commonwealth Games. Its been so satisfying and exciting watching these amazing local athletes giving their absolute best in their chosen sport. Congratulations Alessia McCaig, Blake Agnoletto and Henry Allan.

The BSA Committee is pleased to announce the BuildPro Junior Sports Star for the third quarter 2026. Tennis player Willow Kelly first came to our attention after winning the Victorian State Masters Championship U14 in December 2024. She has continued in scintillating form recently representing Victoria at the Australian Teams Championships on the Gold Coast, as one of only three players selected in U15 girls. Willow also progressed through the School Sports Australia pathway, representing Victoria in the prestigious Pizzey Cup in Perth. She was also selected in the all Australian team on the final day of competition. Willow was recently also awarded Bendigo Academy of Sport Athlete of the Year-Tennis. Congratulations Willow.

Congratulations to Henry Allan, gold medalist as part of the Australian Men’s 4x 100m Medley team. What a giant step from being the BSA BuildPro Junior Sports Star 2024.

Last year BSA members met two amazing gymnasts from Palmer’s Gym. Spencer Price and Ruby Bath have just returned from the Australian Gymnastic Championships after a very successful campaign. Spencer is the National Champion Tumbling Male Level 7 Gold Medal and Ruby is Level 7 Tumbling Female Bronze Medal. Congratulations Ruby and Spencer!