Hits and misses of 2004

Sportsperson of the year: How do you go past an Olympic gold medallist. Suzy Balogh achieved a lifelong dream when she won the Olympic trap event in Athens. She showed nerves of steel in the final and won many fans with her bubbly personality. Honourable mentions: tenpin bowler Jason Belmonte, a dual gold medallist at the world youth championships and Asian youth championships, and golfer Steve Conran who broke through for his first tournament win in Japan.

Team of the year: The Orange City fours team of Andrew Blimka, Steve Carr, Lyn Hodgins and Trevor Marsh. After winning the Zone 5 bowls title the quartet was beaten in the NSW fours final 25-11 by Oak Flats. Honourable mentions: Kinross Wolaroi open cricket side, beaten in the GHD Cup final by St Dominic's College. This effectively ranked Kinross as the second best school side in the state. Orange High girls' netball side – Orange A grade premiers and NSW Combined High Schools semi-finalists.

Club of the year: Orange Runners' Club – continues to go from strength to strength.

Thanks for the memories: Disabled shooter Peter Worsley, who retired after three Paralympics.

I owe you one: Dual Paralympic gold medallist Kurt Fearnley, who dedicated his Athens success to the people from his home town of Carcoar.

Long way from home: Orange born and bred Ian Rutledge who took the New Zealand Black Sticks women's hockey team all the way to the Olympics.

Mr versatile: Michael Dyer, a NSW under 13 hockey player who was also second in the NSW junior dirt track championships. Honourable mention: Daniel Carter, a NSW Country hockey representative who also played cricket for Western Zone.

Mrs versatile: Nicole Williamson, played for NSW Country in rugby union, made the final of the Australian long drive golf championships and was second in the Orange Eight Day Games Queen Of Sport competition.

No stopping us: Orange's State League netball side who won a record ninth straight title.

Marcel Marceau award: The Central West rugby coaches who were gagged from commenting on referees' performances.

Food for thought: Central West Rugby Union's invitation to put a side in the 2006 Shute Shield.

Biggest disappointment: Orange CYMS not fielding a Group 10 premier league (first grade) side for the first time in the club's history. A foundation Group 10 club in 1948, CYMS played in first division and under 18s this year.

Try and try again: Group 10 secretary Peter McDonald who drafted countless draws for season 2004 while clubs either dropped sides or dropped out altogether.

Great expectations: Bathurst Panthers, who fielded all three grades in the Group 10 rugby league grand finals only to go home empty-handed.

Dog tired: Peter Mortimer, who resigned from the Bulldogs' board after brother Steve's resignation and the Coffs Harbour scandal.

Best merger: Central West Australian Football League clubs Bathurst Eagles and CSU joined forces to form the Bathurst Bushrangers. The new club created history by winning all four premierships – a first for the CWAFL. Honourable mention: Women's hockey clubs Orange City and Canobolas joining forces. Five Orange clubs in the Western Premier League was too many.

The Holy Grail award: Dave Cleal for coming so close AGAIN to winning a first grade rugby union premiership with Orange Emus. Cleal has been a great servant at the club for over a decade but Emus' 30-13 grand final loss to CSU means he is still chasing that elusive crown.

Running amok: Cavaliers batsman Allen Sullivan, who scored a Bathurst Orange Inter-District Cricket record of 831 runs for the season.

Par for the course: Robert Payne, who continues to dominate golf tournaments in Orange and the Central West.

Business as usual: Orange Greyhound Club, who continue to race at Wade Park under a stay of proceedings until a 'regional' track is built at Kennerson Park in Bathurst.

They were here: NSW Waratahs rugby union team, NSW Rugby Union chairman Dilip Kumar, Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting and former Test cricketers Mark Taylor, Doug Walters and John Benaud, martial arts grand masters Barry Bradshaw and Pat McKean, premier league bowls teams Birrong, The Hills and Harbord, legendary Australian amateur golfer Tony Gresham, the Bulldogs' National Rugby League squad, former rugby league greats Johnny Raper and Reg Gasnier and ex-Australian internationals Darren Britt and Mark Coyne, Bathurst 1000 champions Greg Murphy and Rick Kelly, Hockeyroos Melanie Twitt, Rachel Imison and Peta Gallagher and former Hockeyroos captain Alyson Annan, Australian men's hockey player Matthew Wells and Olympic high jumper Petrina Price.