Sport
19 December, 2025
Our top 25 sporting moments of 2025: 10-6
The year 2025 was a standout for the Wimmera and Mallee regions, highlighted by exceptional sporting achievements on the state, national and global stages.
To capture these successes, Wimmera Mallee News sportswriters MACKENZIE BOOK, ZOEY ANDREWS and BEN FRASER compiled a comprehensive list of the year's most significant sporting moments.
Their individual votes were tallied to create the definitive top 25 list.
In this issue we reveal the moments ranked 10 through 6.
Which monumental achievement do you think will ultimately secure the coveted number one spot?
10: Kelly Miller wins Ironman Cairns then competes at world championship
After an injury-interrupted 2024, Kelly Miller returned to form in style in 2025, winning the female 45-49 category at both Ironman New Zealand and Ironman Cairns.
"I was just so happy making the startline of the New Zealand event, overcoming the injuries from 2024," Miller said.
"I broke my ankle in March and had surgery in August as I tore the hamstring off my bone.
"To come away with the win in my age group was fantastic."
The Horsham endurance athlete then took on the challenging conditions in Kona, Hawaii, in October for the world championships, where Miller finished fourth to earn a podium position – her best placing ever on the highest stage.
"2019 was my first time competing at Kona at the world championships and I came sixth in my age group and that's kept the fire lit ever since to go back and make it on the podium, " Miller said.
"This year, I knew I was fourth at the 36km mark of the run and was running scared, but I was pretty confident I was going to make the podium, which was a lifelong dream."
Miller said she was grateful for the support she received for her performance.
"It was amazing to receive the supportive messages and phone calls after the race was really overwhelming," Miller said.
9: Chloe Bibby named Spanish National League MVP, signed to WNBA
Following an outstanding season wth Uni Giron CB, where she averaged 18.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, Chloe Bibby was named the Spanish National League Most Valuable Player for the 2024-25 season.
Bibby’s great 2025 continued as she made her WNBA debut with the Golden State Valkyries before signing with the Indiana Fever to finish the 2025 season.
Amidst Bibby’s breakout year, she also helped the Australian women’s basketball team claim the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
8: Harrow Balmoral senior football side wins a third consecutive premiership
After going undefeated in winning consecutive Horsham District Football Netball League senior football premierships in 2023 and 2024, Harrow Balmoral set its sights on a possible threepeat in 2025.
With injuries keeping multiple players out for extended periods and the historic winning streak ending, a third consecutive premiership seemed less possible.
But with a return to health and strong form entering the finals, Harrow Balmoral rebounded to their best, ultimately defeating Noradjuha Quantong 67-23 to claim the grand final victory and the premiership threepeat.
7: Levi Munyard, Micah Livingstone win under 18 national basketball championship with Vic Country
Having developed through the Horsham Hornets basketball program throughout the years, standout performances in 2024 and early 2025 from both Micah Livingstone and Levi Munyard saw them selected for the Victorian Country basketball team to compete at the 2025 under 18 national championships.
With Munyard captaining the squad, Victoria Country went on to defeat New South Wales Metro in the grand final to claim the national championship, the first time Victoria Country had won in 35 years.
Both players also had impressive seasons in the Victorian Youth Basketball League before representing Horsham Hornets in the 2025 Country Basketball League.
6: Shaun Bruce reaches 350 NBL games
Thirteen years after making his National Basketball League debut with the Cairns Taipans, Shaun Bruce played his 350th NBL game when the Sydney Kings faced the New Zealand Breakers on October 4.
The milestone marked an incredible achievement for the 34-year-old guard, who starred for Horsham in the Big V during his younger years.
Throughout his NBL career Bruce has played for the Taipans, the Brisbane Bullets, the Adelaide 36ers and the Sydney Kings.
Bruce has been a part of the Kings for the past seven seasons and won back-to-back premierships with them in 2022 and 2023.
