The decision came after Travis Hair stepped down from the role after dedicating much of his time to running the association over the last couple of years, particularly last year, where he handled a lot singlehandedly. Without his passion, a season wouldn't have happened.

Hair was sensational for Horsham Cricket alongside his wife Kate, Tony Wills as treasurer, and Sam Leith as secretary. New president Justtin Combe praised him and the board for their efforts.

"I want to thank the past board for what they have done for Horsham Cricket. Travis Hair was sensational; without him, cricket wouldn't have run," Combe said.

Combe's aim in the interim is to establish stability in the league and determine how the new season will work.

"It's all about stabilising what we have and having a little more transparency between clubs and board level," Combe said.

"I go back to the early days when I was a club member; there would be two delegates from every club at each AGM, which had 50-70 people. Now you are only getting mid-20s, and a lot of people are sitting back."

Combe said there was not a lot of interest over the last few weeks, with only a couple organising a board behind the scenes. However, a lot of phone calls were made, certain people gained interest, and a board was established.

With the board having children/grandchildren in the junior competition, Combe said it was about the juniors and his decision to step up. He had his children involved in junior cricket, which also prompted him to put his hand up.

"The juniors are going great guns, so we need to keep developing them over the next two to three seasons and see them flow into senior cricket," Combe said.

"It's all about the juniors, and it's not their fault we got into this position where the association nearly folded."

The board will meet this week to discuss the upcoming season, and Combe will contact each club following the season to see how they are feeling ahead of the forthcoming season, where another meeting may be held in late August.

"There are other people interested in doing various roles for the association, such as media, country week, and other behind-the-scenes work which we need to work out over the coming weeks."

If anyone wants to help the association come cricket season on the field, they will seek more umpires. If you, or anyone you know, would like to umpire, contact the Horsham Cricket Association.

The 2023/2024 committee consisted of Travis Hair as president, Sam Leith as vice president, Kate Hair as treasurer, and Tony Wills as general committee.

Horsham Cricket was successful on the junior scale in the 2023/2024 season.

In January's Country Week, the under-15s won all four matches, narrowly missing out on the Grand Final. The under-17s won three of their five games and made the grand final, losing to Warrnambool by six wickets. The under-13s played in Portland, where they made the semi-finals and won three of their matches.

From their outstanding performances during Country Week, Luke Miller, Hugh Weidemann, Harry Hoffmann, Jobe Dickinson, and Holly Bird were selected to represent the HCA in the U15 and U14 all-star matches held at Horsham City Oval.

In the 2023/2024 HCA association season, the Horsham Saints won the u16 title, while Blackheath Dimboola claimed the u14.

West Wimmera and Homers won the A-grade one-day and two-day competitions in senior cricket, respectively. Colts won the B-grade one day against the Panthers, with the latter reversing the result in the two-day grand final, while Natimuk won the C-grade.

All board positions are open: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and 2x ordinary board member positions.

A committee is urgently needed to run a 2024/2025 season and assist in continuing the game's growth, especially the talented, rising star juniors. If you or anyone you know wants to join the Horsham Cricket Association board, please don't hesitate to contact the association.

The MVP award also included the bowling and batting aggregate. Paul Rowe won the batting average with 33.5 whilst Leigh Somers won the bowling with 13.13. Rowe scored 201 runs and Somers took eight wickets whilst scoring 150 runs.

The Tim Brennan Medal for best clubman was awarded to Nathan Priest.

President and A Grade captain Colby Schmidt said it was an easy decision to give Nathan Priest recognition.

"Priesty is down there five nights a week or more, either rolling the pitch or organising the bar," Schmidt said.

"He is also a big player in our social functions and helped organise sponsorship packages at the start of the year.

"It was pretty straightforward who we gave it to. Others also did a lot of work, but he was head and shoulders above and deserved it."

Callum Zanker has been involved in the club for over 16 years and has a variety of roles. Whilst there is no certain critieria for life membership, he was awarded it for many years of hard work.

"He has been secretary for the last five years and he is down at the club four or five nights a week doing what needs to be done," Schmidt said.

"There is not a whole lot we do without getting Callum's approval. He has been very loyal and does a lot of admin/secretary roles.

"It is not something we give out every year but he well and truly deserves it."In B Grade, Aiden Keys was awarded MVP as well as the batting aggregate with 153 runs. Nathan Priest had the best average with 26.25. Gary Fernandez was runner up in MVP.

Matthew Rhook won the bowling aggregate and average with seven wickets at an average of 22.57.

Jack Evans and Sailor Knorpp were named the most improved. Evans took five wickets at an average of 30.12 whilst scoring 13 runs and Knorpp took two wickets at an average of 33 whilst scoring 14 runs.

Knorpp played one A Grade match this season whilst Evans played two and scored seven runs.

Schmidt said they worked hard during the year and improved tremendously.

"They came over from Brim at the start of the year. Jack played previously for a bit, and Sailor played a few games for Brim," Schmidt said.

"Sailor worked hard all season. He took some things home from the club to help with his batting and it showed. He had a great innings where he dug in with Gary Fernandez and batted for 15 overs to save the game. At the start of the season, he wouldn't have done that.

"Jack on the other hand didn't have that much confidence at the start of the season other than block the ball which he was very good at. He then scored runs and played a few vital innings and was rewarded with an A Grade game later in the year."

West Wimmera won the toss and elected to bat and it was Baxter Perry who tore through their batting lineup securing the big scalps of Bradley Alexander, Jeremy Weeks, Brett Jensz and Luke Smith. Perry finished with figures of 6/17 off 14.2 overs.

The Homers' innings got off to a bad start losing Luke Miller and Logan Millar for a duck and one run respectively. They battled to 5/69 at stumps.

On Sunday, Monty Wynne was the star for the Homers, scoring 39 with help from Joey Nagorcka and Chaminda Gamage to bring them to a total of 120 and a lead of 28 runs.

The Warriors came out firing in their second innings to pile runs on quickly and did so with an unbelievable innings from Bradley Alexander. He scored 83 runs off 52 balls hitting seven fours and five sixes in the process and with help from Nathan Alexander, 30 (13) and an unbeaten 17 from Jobe Dickinson, they declared at 3/141 with a lead of 113.

With 20 overs left in the day, the Homers started their fourth innings but only managed an over before rain halted play. That's where the game ended as they couldn't get back on with the Homers running out victors after claiming the first innings. Baxter Perry was named Man of the Match.

Perry was happy with his performance but reiterated it was a team effort.

"It all fell into place. There was movement off the pitch and I put it in the right areas which helped," he said.

"It's pretty cool. The whole team has worked well together and have reaped the rewards for it."

Captain Adam Atwood was thrilled with the win and proud of his team.

"The most pleasing thing about it is the young guys did it and it was impressive what they did," Atwood said.

"We were nervous Sunday morning. We only needed to chase 23 but you can get into your shell and lose wickets and Monty Wynne and Joey Nagorcka did insanely well to get us a lead.

"In the end, the rain took away what would have been an exciting finish but I was confident we could have batted out the 20 overs. I didn't want to lose for the boys so I was happy to go out there and take some bruisers to the body if it meant we won."

What was impressive about the win is the Homers battled into the finals on the back of some big losses against the Warriors. Atwood said the young players were rewarded and never gave up.

"The Warriors gave us a proper touch-up in the two-day game at Nhill and then flogged us in the one-day grand final and to keep them to the score we did proves that they are battlers and they did well," Atwood said.

"It's a reward for perseverance. There is a lot of 'enthusiasm of youth' in the team. The bowlers bowled well against the Bullants not conceding a run in an hour and then backed it up a week later against the premier bastmen of the competition was good to see.

"Hopefully this is the first of many premierships with the young group we have. We have developed the juniors over 10 years and there will be natural improvement so we are excited moving forward."

Warriors captain Jeremy Weeks said the Homers deserved the victory and whilst the loss was disappointing, they can be proud of their efforts.

"It was a little bit of a shame the rain ruined a cracking game of cricket and it would have been nice to get a few more overs," Weeks said.

"It's a bit disappointing we couldn't win the two-dayer but it was still a successful season and the boys played well. Credit to the Homers, they played great cricket over the two days and deserved the win.

"Baxter was sensational with his line and length and having Chaminda bowl alongside him caused us a lot of trouble and they were very damaging."

"We are still a relatively young side in cricketing terms and we will have a similar team next year and will come back and give it another crack."

Daniel Schaper and Clint Midgley were the stars for the Panthers. Schaper scored an unbeaten 118 off 109 balls featuring eight fours and six sixes, as the Panthers scored 5/243 off their 65 overs.

Clinton Midgley scored 32, Hugh Weidemann, 27 and Gavin Young an unbeaten 37 in the huge total.

Midgley then dominated the bowling, taking 5/48 as they bowled the Colts out for 140. It was a remarkable effort from Midgley after his father passed away on Saturday night. Schaper was named man of the match.

Schaper said it was a memorable win.

"Two day cricket suits our game a little bit better with some of our younger kids and older experienced players as well," Schaper said.

"It took a little bit to get going at the start as they were bowling well and not giving us much room. After tea we had to get a wriggle on and I managed to capitilse on the opportunities that came to us.

"It was a very special day and a great win."

Schaper said it took tremendous courage for Midgley to step out onto the field on Sunday.

"For him to go out and bowl well is a credit to him. He would have been a deserving man of the match and was probably stiff to miss out," Schaper said.

"The ball that he got Josh McCluskey out with did a bit off the wicket and it got him excited and it probably helped him bowl well.

"I think he was pretty happy that we got the win for him," he said.

Natimuk bowled first after losing the toss and Jeremy Schmidt, 3/13 and Lachlan Hutchinson, 3/12 were the stars for Natimuk as they bowled the Colts out for 72. The Colts never got momentum as the Natimuk bowlers bowled tight lines and length.

It wasn't an easy chase as Natimuk fell to 4/24 after Austin Simpson rattled the top order.Ben Garwood and Jeremy Schmidt helped rebuild the innings, and it was Alex Baker who hit the winning runs in the 32nd over, finishing on 6/75.

Garwood scored 21 and Schmidt 19. Schmidt's innings with the bat and ball was enough to earn him man of the match honours.

For Natimuk, this was a massive victory as it was their second year back following an eight-year hiatus.

Jeremy Schmidt was captain for the last two weeks as Tom Murray got Covid ahead of the qualifying final against Lubeck Murtoa and decided not to change the winning team.Schmidt said it was a massive win as they are a close-knit group.

"It is exciting for the club to be able to get a premiership on the board, especially in our second year back," Schmidt said.

"I am proud of the group. There was a lot of excitement after the game. The best thing about the group of guys we have is that everyone is keen on training and we all are a group of mates.

"We have 13-14 players that train Tuesday's and Thursday's to enjoy each other's company and have a hit of cricket. We are a friendly team and have a lot of fun together and that helped with the success."

Schmidt praised Tom Murray for his decision not to play.

"He didn't want to change a winning team and it would have been a tough choice to drop someone, so he decided it was best for the team if he didn't play," he explained.

Schmidt said they knew they were always a chance with their best team on the park.

"I thought with our best team on the park we were good enough to beat anyone and we managed to do that to Lubeck Murtoa in the first final," he said.

"The bowling was our strength this year as we were able to keep teams to low totals. We just got over the mark in a close game but we will take it."

Schmidt said he felt good being able to perform for the team as man of the match.

"It felt good to perform, especially with the bowling. I haven't taken many wickets lately and to do it on the big stage was huge. It was good to get wickets at vital moments," he said.

"When we were four down, we had already faced most of their good bowlers so the plan was to keep out their good bowlers.

"When I got to the crease it was a plan to build a partnership and you just need to build little partnerships when chasing a low total and we did that."