2024 has a lot in store for sport

Australia’s sportiest town has another big year in store in 2024, with Narrabri and the entire shire buzzing with the anticipation of more milestones and individual and team success, and most importantly – fun.

There is so much to look forward to this year across many different sports in Narrabri, Wee Waa, Boggabri and the other surrounding towns within the Narrabri Shire.

Starting at the golf course, Narrabri Golf Club has another action-packed year in store, which will be headlined by a three-day qualifying round of the Women’s NSW Open from Thursday to Saturday, March 14 to 16. Narrabri is one of six centres to host a $50,000 NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series event.

The 2023/24 season Narrabri District Cricket Association T20 champs will be crowned later this month when the grand finals of both the Namoi Super Slog and the second grade divisions are held at Hogan Oval on Saturday, January 20.

The one day competition will then resume in February and the red ball champs will be crowned on Saturday, March 9, at Collins Park and Hogan Oval.

The NDCA representative XI is also in the box seat to qualify for this year’s MA Connolly Cup decider on Sunday, February 11.

Narrabri Rugby Club’s pre-season will begin on Tuesday, January 30 (for the women) and Thursday, February 1 (for the men).

The Blue Boars qualified for finals footy in all three grades in 2023 and will be hoping to do so again in 2024, and the club’s women’s side is going into a new campaign as the defending champions for the first time ever.

The Narrabri Blues are aiming for a bounce back year after the local rugby league club finished at the bottom of the Group 4 ladders in all four grades last season, with just one win each.

They were building towards something much bigger right throughout 2023 though, and are now keen to put that together on the park in 2024.

Their noisy neighbours the Wee Waa Panthers are making a comeback in 2024 and are hoping they can make an instant impact when they take the field for the first time since 2017.

There will be plenty of action on the netball courts in 2024, with Narrabri Netball Association’s senior rep team and under-17s rep team to compete at the North West Regional League comp in Tamworth on Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24.

The local winter comp will then run throughout the year and the 12s, 13s, 15s and 17s rep teams will play at the 2024 NSW state titles later in the year.

The Narrabri Jockey Club has a fresh new committee on board and is ready to host an exciting race day in 2024.

The highly-anticipated annual event has only gone ahead three times in the past six years, the last being back in March 2022.

It will make what is expected to be a triumphant comeback at the Narrabri Racecourse on Saturday, March 23.

Sticking with horses, another huge polocrosse season is in store and once again, the Narrabri Shire will play a significant role.

Polocrosse Association of NSW put out the 2024 campaign draw late last year, with Narrabri Polocrosse Club’s carnival scheduled for the weekend of July 13 and 14, Cubbaroo Polocrosse Club’s carnival then scheduled for the weekend of July 20 and 21, and finally the Galloping Gully Polocrosse Club’s carnival scheduled for the weekend of August 10 and 11.

The North West Plains players will also be in action at away carnivals and will be looking to make a mark in the state and national arena as well.

Narrabri Harness racing Club is also excited about a fast start to the year, with preparations underway for the two meetings at the Narrabri Showground. The dates for the two TAB race days are Easter Monday, April 1, and then Sunday, April 7.

There will be a blockbuster start to the year at the WTC Group Speedway track when the Northwest Speedway Club Narrabri hosts three meetings on Saturday, March 9, Saturday, April 13 and Saturday, May 4.

A meeting later in the year in either October or November is also likely, and that will be known after the club’s 2024 annual general meeting and the 2024/25 season dates are released.

Senior soccer in the Narrabri Shire has a fresh new look in 2024, with the two Narrabri clubs joining up with Wee Waa and Moree to play as Namoi United in the Northern NSW Football Northern Inland Premier League.

That will see them challenge teams from Tamworth and Armidale, as well as defending Namoi Premier League champions Inverell.

There will still be a local competition between the four clubs for players who cannot commit to the travel involved or wish to play less competitively.

There is another smashing season in store for local tennis players, with a combination of coaching, clinics and tournaments scheduled for 2024.

The first North West Tennis Regional Matchplay Series event will be held in Armidale on Sunday, February 11.

Narrabri will host two tournaments, the first on Sunday, May 5, and the second on Sunday, August 18.

All that and much more will keep our sports people, teams and clubs busy this year, and you can read about all of the action right here in The Courier.