GUS’ SPORT SNAPS

Peter Learmonth and his son Bohden are not the first father-son combination to play in senior premiership teams with the Kyabram Bombers, after all.

Bohden was in the premiership side that beat Rochester for the flag three weeks ago, while his father played in Kyabram’s 1996 flag-winning side under Peter White.

It was thought the Learmonths had established a club record with their double, but it has since surfaced Trevor Coulstock and his son Nic had achieved the feat in 2013 when Nic played in the Dave Williams-coached Kyabram side that accounted for Shepparton United in the season decider.

Forty-two years earlier, in 1975, noted Kyabram goalkicker Trevor Coulstock, Nic’s father, was a member of the Peter Lyon-coached Bombers side that ended a 17-year flag drought when it upset Euroa in the season decider.

Trevor recalls at the time nobody could verify the accomplishment ever occurring at the club previously, so it was acclaimed a club ‘first’.

From what has transpired since, it is obviously a record and honour Trevor and Nic will now always hold.

Nic, who runs a personal trainer business on the Gold Coast these days, was also in two other Kyabram premiership sides, in 2017 and 2019, under legendary coach Paul Newman.

Kyabram’s 2026 football coaches unveiled

It’s an as-you-were set-up in Kyabram football club’s coaching scene for next season.

All positions have now been filled with the finalisation of the thirds coaching panel.

Mark Patten, who shared the role with Peter Ryan this year, will be the head coach next year. with Ryan and senior player Charlie Barnett his assistants.

Non-playing coach Scott Hearn will share the reserves coaching post again with Abikhair medallist Sean Dillon.

This season’s premiership coaches, Corey Carver and Kaine Herbert, have been entrusted with the challenge of leading the seniors to successive flags.

Tenured Seymour coach to set record

Seymour football co-coach Ben Davey will establish a club record as the club’s longest-serving senior coach next season.

It will be Davey’s seventh term at the helm.

Davey, a former senior premiership player and reserves premiership coach with the GVL Lions, will eclipse the club record held by Bernie Habermann, who spent six years as coach of the club.

Davey will again share the coaching role with star player Jack Murphy, a best-and-fairest award winner in his first season with the club last season.

The Lions are also busily recruiting after a disappointing season this year, with former player Xavier Dimasi making a return to the club after a stint with VFL club Box Hill and also Whittlesea.

Last year’s leading GVL goal kicker, Riley Mason, who was tipped to be a pick-up but was overlooked in this season’s mid-year AFL draft, and another VFL-listed talent, Jack Peris, have also recommitted for next season.

Cats lock down coach

Murray Football League club Finley has named its new coach for next season, and he is well known around the club.

Jack Sexton, who came through Finley’s junior program, has returned to the club on a two-year contract.

He is the son of legendary player and coach Damian Sexton, and has had stints with VFL clubs Richmond and Southport.

Sexton takes over from Jordan Taylor, who has led Finley for the past two seasons.

Finley lost last year’s grand final to Congupna by a straight kick.

Blackmore confident in star pacer

Kyabram trots trainer Mick Blackmore reckons he has got his stable star pacer Hoorah Philtra in the right headspace at present.

The four-year-old Betterthancheddar pacing gelding posted his seventh career win with a last-to-first performance at last week’s Shepparton trots meeting.

Regular reinsman James Herbertson was in the sulky and Hoorah Philtra pipped the Shane Sanderson-trained and Ryan Sanderson-driven Norms Lady in 1.57.4 mile rate time.

Blackmore said Hoorah Philtra was a contented horse and was enjoying his racing.

‘‘We will probably be looking now to getting a concession claim for his next start,’’ he said.

Blackmore also produced Hoorah Philtra’s two-year-old stablemate Dusty Philtra for a promising second-place finish at the Melton meeting the previous Friday night.

Hall of Fame nod for Caldow

Former Echucaite John Caldow has been inducted into the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame.

He received the honour at a recent HRV function at Melton.

Caldow cut his teeth in the harness racing game when his late trainer father, Jack, and star reinsman brother, the late Peter Caldow, were based in Echuca in the 1980s and 1990s.

Caldow has driven 4072 career winners, including 23 Group 1 winners, in his time in the sulky and has been a great ambassador for the industry.

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Tuesday, 6th January 2026

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