TAKE A BOW, TEAM VALLEY – YOU WERE SIMPLY GREAT
Round 9 of the AVSL 2025/2026 season was a make or break day for the Diamond Valley Athletic Club. This day was the last chance for DVAC to challenge for the season Premiership with a come from behind victory. It was certainly time to employ the Power Play if there was any chance to make up the eight point deficit to the season leaders on the Premier Division ladder. It all relied on the support of the Valley athletes.
The Diamond Valley Athletic Club came out in strength in Round 9, topping the Premier Division for the round with a season high score of 71,868 points. This score was compiled through the determined efforts of exactly 100 DVAC athletes (43 Female & 57 Male).
The even spread of the Valley scores was evident with ten of the sixteen age group teams placing first (6), second (3) or third (1) in the Victoria wide competition. Each age group has an average of over thirty teams in the competition. The six DVAC Age group teams to win the top points for Round 9 were the Female U20, U18 & 40+ and the Male U18, U16 and 60+.
Take off the 5% of the 71,868 points that the DVAC club helpers earned for their efforts and that means that the average score for the DVAC team members was 682. It helps the average when 12 team members score a thousand points or better. Chelsea King (U14) led the scoring with a massive 1,293 points. Chelsea ran the 100m in 13.58 (413pts); cleared 1.45m in the High Jump (411pts); and landed a 4.05m Long Jump (381pts). As well, Chelsea ran in a 4 x 200m Relay team (88pts) and threw the Javelin.
There was an impressive spread of DVAC athletes among the top ten scoring athletes in their age group. These included:
Female: Open -; U20 Vanessa Smith 3rd (1090; pts); U18 Liv Nicholls 2nd (1,205pts); U16: -; U14: Chelsea King 5th (1,,293pts); 40+: Meg Nicholls 5th (908pts); Victoria Lindores 6th (867pts); Kate Ryan 10th (825pts); 50+: Debbie McKenzie 5th (1,095pts); 60+ -:
Male: Open: Caden Murray 10th (927pts); U20: Jordan Rudd 6th (1,014pts); U18: Janusz Kubicki 8th(1,088pts); U16: Zander Botha 4th (1,170pts); U14: -; 40+: -; 50+: Lalith Udugampala 5th (1,131pts); Darren Rudd 7th (1,077pts); 60+: Luke De Biasi 1st (1,204pts); Bruce Wood 9th (966pts); Greg Luck 10th (944pts)
VALLEY AGE GROUP TEAMS SUCCESS
If Round 9 was critical to the success of club Valley, Round 10 will be critical to the success of seven of the DVAC Age Group teams who are in the running to win a 2025/2026 season premiership. These teams are:
FEMALE U20: Five members of this team of 12 athletes picked up a massive 1,553 points on ladder leader, Eaglehawk in Round 9 and remain a mere 846 points behind. So close! Get behind the team in Round 10 and there’s every chance of a Premiership! (I will sweep Lane I at Willinda if it happens).
FEMALE U18: Started the day off 909 points behind Geelong Guild and finished Round 9 626 points ahead on top of the ladder! On Saturday 9 of the 13 team members competed & they will need that & more to keep Geelong Guild from knocking down the door. Win & I will plank for 90secs on the infield.
MALE U16: The mighty force of 21 DVAC M16 athletes unleashed it’s force in Rd 9 and came from 330points behind Casey/Cardinia to take the lead by 621 points. That’s close – very close, and Casey/Cardinia have a mighty strong line-up. It will go down to the wire & the Valley boys will all need to be on deck. A win & I will shout Donuts to all those who compete.
MALE U18: Another battle royale! This time it’s DVAC against Geelong Guild. The Valley team won the struggle in Round 9 but only gained 251 points on Geelong Guild but added to the lead of 935 points the Valley team already had. They will go into the final round with a lead of 1186 points. Just saying – as many of the 19 DVAC boys will need to turn out to hold GG off. A win & I will sing ‘I Walk the Line’ (Johnny Cash) at the next Dinner Night.
FEMALE 40+: Undefeated for the whole season, this team of 4 have had amazing results all season. Echuca_Moama pushed them in Round 9 so the challenge is to keep the perfect record in tact for one more round. Do that & I will shout a bottle of bubbles.
FEMALE 50+: This one is a long shot! The DVAC F50 team of 5 athletes will go into the final round next Saturday 610 points behind Keilor St Bernards. Mind you they did pick up 999 points on KSB last Saturday … so anything is possible. Awin & I will wash the windscreen of each car.
MEN 60+: Finishing the season in a blaze of glory but it seems to be too late for a victory. Scored a super impressive 6,268 points in Round 9 to win the day, but the lead over Collingwood of 384 still left a shortfall of 3152 points on the season ladder.
Other DVAC team results from Round 9 with Ladder positions at the end of Rd 8 in brackets:
Female: Open: 9th (2871pts) (7th); F16 2nd (5,066pts) (12th); F14 4th (4776pts) (11th); F60+: 7th (1,775pts) (6th)
Male: Open: 2nd (5,617pts) (6th); M20 (2,667pts) (5th); M14: 4th (3,202pts) (7th); M40+: 7th(1,582pts) (10th); M50+: 4th (4,487pts) (7th)
RING THE BELL
The PB Bell was constantly ringing at Doncaster last Saturday. Here is an incomplete list of pb’s but congratulations to all those who went above and beyond their expectations:
High Jump:Maddie Laws (F14):1.35m (was 1.32m)
Hammer Throw:Vanessa Smith (F20):38.72m (35something!)
Javelin:Vanessa Smith (F20):40.26m (39.90m)
100m:Liv Nicholls (F18):13.74 (13.96)
100m:Chelsea King (F14):13.58 (13.63)
100m:Angus Nicholls (M16):14.15 (14.58)
100m:Jordan Rudd (M20):12.94 (15.10)
1500m:Kate Ryan (F50):6:12.1 (6:17)
1500m:Rhodri Whelan (M20):4:21.2 (4:24)
1500m: BrodieBatt (M18):4:04.7 (4:08.25)
1500m:Jack Daley (M18):4:58.0 (5:06)
1500m:Glen Imbriano (M18): 4:19.1 (4:23)
1500m:Zoey Ryan (F18):5:32.5 (5:40)
400m:Kate Ryan (F50):77:48 (78.47)
DVAC CLUB HELPERS
It was hot work out at the Javelin where most of the DVAC Club Helpers worked in Round 9. Thanks to our Club Helpers, DVAC scored an extra 3,593 points & pushed the total up that bit more. Thanks go to the following:
Javelin: Jeffrey Young, Catherine Tomkins, Max Balchin (2 Shifts), Greg Luck, Luke Hamilton (2 Shifts), Jo Moxon, Belinda Willis, Kathryn Williams, Charmaine Smith (2 Shifts), Meg Nicholls, Tony Kenshole, Maryann Murray
Track Hurdles: Alexia Moxon
Track Relays: Alexia Moxon
THE FINAL ROUND
Saturday 28 February 2026:AVSL Rd 10:Aberfeldie/ Casey
Aberfeldie: Track: Long Hurdles; 200m; 800m; Steeple Chase – 2000m; 3000m; Field: Pole Vault; Triple Jump; Shot Put; Discus
Casey: Track: Walk – 2000m, 5000m; Sprint Hurdles; 100m; 400m; 1500m; Field: Pole Vault; Long Jump; Hammer Throw; Javelin
(Max Balchin)
AVSLRD 9 2026
Saturday 21 February 2026
Doncaster & Murrumbeena
DVAC RESULTS:
Female OP
100m: Keely Boyne 11.96; Sarah Papadopoulos 18.22 (-1.5);
400m: Jesse Mayne 66.62; Sarah Leeming 76.29;
1500m: Jesse Mayne 4:48.2h; Sarah Leeming 5:12.0h;
1500m Walk: Sarah Papadopoulos 10:47.6h;
4x200m: (Keely Boyne, Mackenzie Genders, Jesse Mayne, Liv Nicholls) 1:56.65;
Hammer: Sarah Papadopoulos 13.88m;
Long Jump: Sarah Papadopoulos 3.01m;
Female 20
400m: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 64.53; Matilda L'Estrange 71.58;
1500m: Matilda L'Estrange 5:36.4h; Ella Littlehales 5:37.1h;
4x200m: (Matilda L'Estrange, Ella Littlehales, Vanessa Smith, Poppy Scot-Dalgleish) 2:14.35;
Hammer: Vanessa Smith 38.72m; Tara Smith 41.69m;
High Jump: Vanessa Smith 1.35m;
Javelin: Vanessa Smith 40.26m; 40.14m; Tara Smith 29.82m;
Long Jump: Vanessa Smith 3.61m; Tara Smith SCR;
Female 18
100m: Elisha Blair 12.40 (2.5); Liv Nicholls 13.74; Kirra Wright 15.87;
400m: Georgia L'Estrange 72.23; Lucy Johns 81.98; Zoey Ryan DNS;
1500m: Zoey Ryan 5:32.5h;
4x200m: (Lucy Johns, Georgia L'Estrange, Maddie Laws, Chelsea King) 2:02.39;
Discus: Hanna Rowe 25.01m;
Hammer: Zoey Ryan 42.45m; Liv Nicholls 10.73m; Hanna Rowe 45.21m; 46.82m; Arianna Krebs 27.54m;
High Jump: Liv Nicholls 1.45m;
Javelin: Zoey Ryan 22.81m; Liv Nicholls 12.03m; Ines Caton-Smith 29.24m; Arianna Krebs 26.26m;
Long Jump: Liv Nicholls 4.51m; Ines Caton-Smith SCR;
Shot Put: Hanna Rowe 8.94m;
Female 16
100m: Jamie Ritchie 12.23; Bethany Krebs 14.10;
200m: Talise Botha 29.45 (-1.9);
400m: Matilda Johnson 61.54; Anu Conley 63.28; Isabella Napoletano 68.37; Sofia Norwood 72.51;
1500m: Matilda Johnson 4:39.7h; Isabella Napoletano 5:09.6h;
100m Hurdles: Bethany Krebs 17.28 (-0.9);
High Jump: Liezel Cilliers 1.50m;
Triple Jump: Talise Botha 10.44m;
Female 14
100m: Aria-Rose Cerqueira 13.32 (0.9); Chelsea King 13.58; Aylaa Arunan 14.34; Maddie Laws 14.71;
400m: Eadie Raso 66.14;
1500m: Skyla Batt 6:14.1h;
80m Hurdles: Isabella Evans 14.51 (-0.5);
High Jump: Aylaa Arunan 1.40m; Chelsea King 1.45m; Maddie Laws 1.35m;
Javelin: Aylaa Arunan 21.24m; Chelsea King 12.42m;
Long Jump: Aylaa Arunan 3.85m; Chelsea King 4.05m;
Female 40
100m: Victoria Lindores 14.59; Meg Nicholls 16.00;
400m: Kate Ryan 77.48;
1500m: Kate Ryan 6:12.1h;
4x200m: (Sarah Gittins, Meg Nicholls, Debbie McKenzie, Victoria Lindores) 2:28.71;
Hammer: Kate Ryan 17.78m;
High Jump: Meg Nicholls 1.10m;
Javelin: Kate Ryan 14.49m; Meg Nicholls 10.63m; Victoria Lindores 12.09m;
Long Jump: Meg Nicholls 3.40m; Victoria Lindores 3.70m;
Female 50
100m: Sarah Gittins 18.48 (-1.5);
400m: Sarah Gittins 1:44.40; Debbie McKenzie 82.08;
1500m: Debbie McKenzie 6:10.3h;
1500m Walk: Debbie McKenzie 9:47.4h;
Discus: Anni Rowe 22.32m;
Hammer: Maryann Murray 17.30m; Sarah Gittins 16.22m; Anni Rowe 34.65m;
Javelin: Maryann Murray 11.51m; Sarah Gittins 10.36m;
Long Jump: Sarah Gittins SCR;
Female 60
100m: Michelle King 18.83 (-0.5); Jo Moxon 21.07 (-0.5);
400m: Jo Moxon 1:35.28; Michelle King 88.99;
1500m: Jo Moxon 7:09.9h;
1500m Walk: Jo Moxon 11:22.8h;
Hammer: Michelle King 18.56m;
Male OP
100m: Hayden Moon 11.34 (0.1); Joshua Dowling 12.06 (3.0); James Hurley 12.10 (-0.8); Dillon Vidanapathirana 12.74 (2.1); Joshua Scott 12.77 (-0.9); Jesse Littlehales DNS;
400m: Caden Murray 55.72; Joshua Dowling 58.10; Dillon Vidanapathirana 60.33;
1500m: Caden Murray 3:58.7h; Jesse Littlehales 6:19.8h;
4x200m: Diamond Valley DNS;
High Jump: James Hurley 1.45m;
Javelin: Caden Murray 25.73m; Joshua Scott 27.70m;
Long Jump: Jesse Littlehales 3.60m; Joshua Scott 4.73m; James Hurley 5.65m;
Male 20
100m: Jordan Rudd 12.94 (+0.0);
400m: Jordan Rudd 59.04; Rhodri Whelan 60.75;
1500m: Rhodri Whelan 4:21.2h; Jordan Rudd 4:39.5h;
4x200m: (Angus Nicholls, Jack Daley, William Quigley, Rhodri Whelan) 1:57.61;
Hammer: Asher Andrews 21.78m; Matthew Casey 27.15m;
Javelin: Asher Andrews 43.69m;
Male 18
100m: Jaxon Latchman 11.46 (-0.7); Harvey McGregor 11.94 (-0.8); Janusz Kubicki 12.11 (3.0); Nicholas Tomkins 12.72 (-1.9); Elliot Williams DNS;
400m: Charlie Cooper 52.72; Jaxon Latchman 52.97; Nicholas Tomkins 54.67; Glen Imbriano 56.24;
1500m: Brodie Batt 4:04.7h; Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 4:08.1h; Thomas Short 4:12.2h; Glen Imbriano 4:19.1h; Nicholas Tomkins 4:26.0h; Jack Daley 4:58.0h;
110m Hurdles: Nicholas Tomkins 21.42 (-0.2);
Hammer: Chehan Udugampala 44.34m; 43.78m;
High Jump: Elliot Williams 1.60m; Janusz Kubicki 1.80m;
Javelin: Elliot Williams NM; Chehan Udugampala 42.22m; 42.86m;
Long Jump: Elliot Williams 5.42m; Janusz Kubicki 5.56m; Nicholas Tomkins DNS;
Male 16
100m: James D'Antonio 11.48 (0.6); Josh Koegler 11.75 (0.2); Christos Kozaris 11.81 (3.0); Zander Botha 12.20 (-2.2); Yorke Murray 12.81 (-2.3); Flynn Brockett 13.33 (-1.9); Angus Nicholls 14.15 (+0.0);
400m: Zander Botha 53.02; Josh Koegler 55.18; Yorke Murray 55.85; Asher Knuckey 58.58; William Quigley 59.29; Walter Somers 63.86; Wilson Riley DNS;
1500m: William Quigley 4:24.0h; Asher Knuckey 4:46.7h; Walter Somers 5:01.3h;
3000m: Myles Boyle 9:35.00; Samuel Reeve 9:43.73;
Discus: Jerome Nu'U 42.30m;
Hammer: Wilson Riley 39.90m; 42.05m;
High Jump: Toby Hamilton SCR; Wilson Riley 1.55m; Angus Nicholls 1.10m;
Javelin: Toby Hamilton 38.39m; Wilson Riley 30.89m; Angus Nicholls 14.67m; Walter Somers 30.20m;
Long Jump: Toby Hamilton SCR; Angus Nicholls 3.78m; Zander Botha 5.59m;
Shot Put: Jerome Nu'U 12.91m;
Male 14
100m: Jacob Guyett 12.41 (1.1); Tom Harrison 13.11 (-0.9);
400m: Liam Carroll 59.73;
3000m: Oskar Jacobson 10:47.48;
Hammer: Tommi Rowe 23.93m; Gabriel Kozaris 31.31m;
Javelin: Tommi Rowe 11.19m; Gabriel Kozaris 33.80m;
Long Jump: Liam Carroll 5.50m;
Shot Put: Tommi Rowe 7.72m;
Male 40
100m: Cyrus Wong 15.20 (+0.0);
1500m: Damien Cusack 5:09.0h; Cyrus Wong 6:04.0h;
Hammer: Arunan Arumainayagam 16.83m;
High Jump: Damien Cusack NM;
Javelin: Arunan Arumainayagam 18.19m; Cyrus Wong 25.79m; Damien Cusack 31.13m;
Long Jump: Cyrus Wong 3.03m;
Male 50
100m: Lalith Udugampala 12.90 (-0.9); Darren Rudd 13.87 (+0.0); Adam Scott 14.16 (+0.0);
400m: Adam Scott 62.89; Darren Rudd 65.24;
5000m: Scott Barnes 20:44.03;
4x200m: (Lalith Udugampala, Darren Rudd, Paul Schofield, Adam Scott) 1:57.57;
Hammer: Darren Casey 20.60m;
Javelin: Adam Scott 20.48m; Lalith Udugampala 38.34m;
Long Jump: Darren Rudd 4.62m; Lalith Udugampala 4.71m; Paul Schofield 4.62m;
Shot Put: Scott Barnes 7.99m;
Male 60
100m: Luke De Biasi 13.78 (+0.0); Greg Luck 14.83 (+0.0); Lyal Douglas 17.29 (-1.1);
400m: Lyal Douglas 71.70; Andrew McKenzie 75.67; Jeff Young 76.69; Rob Wendel 81.68; Greg Luck DNS;
800m: Andrew McKenzie 2:39.44;
1500m: Rob Wendel 6:14.8h; Jeff Young 6:40.1h; Lyal Douglas 7:01.0h;
1500m Walk: David Armstrong 10:12.7h; Bernie Keirl 9:43.3h;
4x200m: (Greg Luck, Lyal Douglas, Luke De Biasi, Rob Wendel) 2:13.44;
Discus: Bruce Wood 28.68m;
Hammer: Jeff Young 13.15m; Luke De Biasi SCR; Bruce Wood 25.73m;
High Jump: Greg Luck 1.25m;
Javelin: Luke De Biasi 34.02m; Bruce Wood 23.55m;
Long Jump: Greg Luck 3.41m; Luke De Biasi 4.87m;
Shot Put: Bruce Wood 10.59m;
Officials: Patrick Clarke; Jeff Hughes; Shania Murray; David Armstrong; Paul Schofield;
