IT’s been another big year of sport on the Coffs Coast.

From the Woolgoolga Seahorses breaking their premiership drought, to the Woolgoolga Wolves doing the same to win North Coast Football’s premier competition, a number of sporting clubs triumphed throughout the year.

Here are the best sporting clubs of 2023.

Woolgoolga Seahorses: An historic season for the club winning their maiden Group 2 Rugby League first grade premiership.

Also won the Under 15s premiership, and finished runners up in both the reserve grade and League Tag competitions.

Coffs Harbour Snappers: Won the Mid North Coast Rugby Union Northern Division’s reserve grade premiership.

Also finished as runners up and minor premiers in the first grade competition.

SCU Marlins: Shone brightly in the juniors winning the Under 18s Boys, Under 16s Boys, and Under 14s Girls premierships.
Coffs Harbour Comets: Won the Group 2 Rugby League reserve grade and League Tag premierships.

Were also strong in the juniors winning the Under 14s premiership, and finished runners up in the Under 11s and Under 13s.

Sawtell Panthers: The Panthers women won the North Coast Women’s Rugby League premiership in their debut season in the competition.

The club also featured prominently in the junior ranks, winning the Under 16s League Tag premiership, and finishing runners up in the Under 15s and Under 16s.

Sawtell/Toormina Saints: Won the AFL North Coast’s Under 18s premiership, with both their men’s first grade and women’s teams playing finals, they and Port Macquarie the only clubs to feature in both finals series.

Beaches Hockey Club: Won the Women’s Division 1 and Under 16s premierships in the Hockey Coffs Coast season.

Urunga Hockey Club: Won Hockey Coffs Coast’s Men’s Division 1 and Men’s Division 2 premierships.

Woolgoolga United FC: Won their maiden first grade men’s grand final since the club’s formation in 1971.

Also finished as senior premiers in the Men’s reserves competition, and were strong in the juniors as season premiers in the 12 Boys 1st Division, 12 Girls 2nd Division, and 16 Girls.

Boambee FC: Produced arguably the two most dominant teams in North Coast Football competitions, as the Boambee Eagles lost just once on their way to winning the Women’s 1st Division season premiership and grand final double, while the Boambee B52 Bombers won all their matches to win the Over 35s competition.

Northern Storm FC: Finished as season premiers of the Men’s Premier League, and produced two unbeaten season premiers in the 16 Boys 1st Division and 12 Girls 1st Division.

Coffs Harbour Breakers: Became the first club to win the AFL North Coast’s women’s premiership for the second time since the competition’s inception in 2018.

Coffs Harbour Boardriders Club: Qualified for the grand final of the Australian Boardriders Battle series, after winning the NSW North event on their homebreak.

Three of its members also won national surfing titles.

Valleys Cricket Club: North Coast Cricket Council’s Premier League champions, and also won the Premier League’s T20 competition.

Nana Glen Lizards: Made three grand finals of Coffs Harbour District Cricket Association’s senior competitions.

Finished runners up in first and second grade, and won the third grade competition.

Also finished runners up in the Under 14s.

Sawtell Cricket Club: Produced the most dominant team in Coffs cricket, with the Sawtell Stingers going through undefeated to win the Under 12s premiership.

The club also took out the second grade senior premiership.

Bellingen Cricket Club: Won Coffs Harbour District Cricket Association’s first grade premiership for the first time.

The club also won the under 16s premiership and the Coffs Harbour District Cricket Association’s T20 Cup.

Sawtell Dodgers: Won both the A-grade and B-grade championships of Coffs Harbour Baseball Association’s season.

By Aiden BURGESS