There were many great feats to watch, talk and write about
WHETHER it was on a court, oval, fairway, track or the water, sports stars from the Bendigo region again shone brightly in 2014.
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Some of Bendigo's best such as cyclist Glenn O'Shea and yachtsman Glenn Ashby, who are multiple world champions, just kept on racking up superb feats.
In what is the 50th year of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Advertiser Sports Star of the Year, Ashby and O'Shea are again in the race for the award, which is proudly supported by Prime 7.
This year will also be remembered for gold medal triumphs at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and some incredible upsets and firsts.
O'Shea and netball ace Caitlin Thwaites capped their first Commonwealth Games campaigns by winning gold.
Australia's teams pursuit line-up, coached by Tim Decker, who also has strong links to Bendigo, was a powerful force on the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.
Thwaites played a key role in Australia's unbeaten run by the Diamonds.
Success in Glasgow was the biggest high in which the Diamonds were unbeaten.
Closer to home and the Bendigo Spirit celebrated back-to-back Women's National Basketball League championship wins.
Hundreds packed the Bendigo Stadium on the Sunday of the Labour Day holiday weekend to watch Spirit beat Townsville Fire in the play-off.
The Bernie Harrower-coached Spirit won a great match by 11 points.
Later that night and another dramatic contest unfolded.
Bendigo's Sam Crome teamed with Dutch cyclist Roy Pieters to win the McCaig Daikin Airconditoning-backed Bendigo International Madison.
The victory by Crome and Pieters, pictured, showed all that's great about sport and how much the fans like to will the underdog to glory.
In a battle against the likes of Glenn O'Shea and Alex Edmondson, and Germany's Christian Grassman and Leif Lampater, it was Crome and Pieters who reigned supreme.
The charge to ultimate glory began when they lapped the field at 37 laps to go.
Many spirited attacks followed, but Crome and Pieters responded brilliantly.
The morning after his great triumph, Crome was in class for first-year nursing studies at Latrobe University Bendigo.
That's dedication.
As the year rolled on there were many great feats to watch, talk and write about.
There was a close connection to the Australian Opals tilt at the world basketball crown as the team included Bendigo Spirit team-mates Gabe Richards, Tessa Lavey and Belinda Snell.
On the golf course, Ravenswood's Lucas Herbert was joint leader during the final round of the Australian Masters at Metropolitan.
There's plenty to look forward to in 2015.
