Review of the sporting year

Jimmy Robertson clutches the European Masters trophy. Picture courtesy World Snooker/Tai Chengzhe

With 2018 having drawn to a close, we've decided to take a look back at the sporting highlights from the year that was.

Here are some of the memorable moments from the final six months of 2018.

l A well-respected and successful football coach is celebrates global glory. Dan Collins, from Catsfield, is the head coach of the Great Britain team which is victorious at the World Medical Football Championship 2018 in Prague.

Dame Kelly Holmes (second-right) with Run Together's Jess Austen, Jacqueline Scott and Karen Williams

* A golfing talent from St Leonards produces a superb performance to finish runner-up in the 2018 Sussex Amateur Championship. Joshua Davis, an 18-year-old from Sedlescombe Golf Club, achieves the finest feat of his young career to date.

l A Hastings & Rother Triathlon Club member wins a national age group title. Gail Wright is victorious in the 35-39 age group at the British Triathlon National Aquathlon (Swim/Run) Championships.

l Elliot Hooper returns superb bowling figures of 8-50 for Hastings Priory Cricket Club during its Sussex League Premier Division game away to Brighton & Hove.

l The locality enjoys plenty of success at the county bowls finals. Sidley Martlets BC wins the men’s pairs and triples championships, the under-25 men’s singles goes to Spartan & Lakeside player Ajay Morphett, and Polegrove ladies talent Jo Watt clinches the under-25 women’s singles.

Rye Cricket Club celebrates securing promotion from Sussex Division Four East

l Emma Cooper helps England to victory in the British Isles Women’s Bowls Council (BIWBC) Junior International Series at Royal Leamington Spa.

AUGUST

l A Hastings Athletic Club talent clocks the fastest 10k time in the country by an under-17 athlete this year. Hot prospect George Pool runs a superb personal best of 32 minutes and 38 seconds in race two of the 13th Rye Summer Classic Series.

l Dame Kelly Holmes pays a surprise visit to Hastings parkrun. The double Olympic champion at Athens 2004 finishes third in a time of 17 minutes and 48 seconds, shattering the previous VW45-49 course record.

Hastings United captain Sam Adams receives a framed shirt from president Dave Ormerod (left) and manager Chris Agutter (right) in recognition of his 500 appearances for the football club. Picture courtesy Scott White

l Little Common Football Club goalkeeper Matt Cruttwell scores a dramatic last gasp equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw at home to higher grade Bedfont Sports in the Emirates FA Cup.

l Rob Cross claims his maiden World Series of Darts title - and first televised title since the World Championship - by winning the Brisbane Darts Masters, beating the world’s top two ranked players in the semi-finals and final.

l Two locally-based bowls players help Sussex win a prestigious national competition for the first time. Denise Hodd and Emma Cooper are part of the Sussex side which clinches the Walker Cup double rink event in Royal Leamington Spa.

l Jack Shonk scores hat-tricks in each of his first two appearances for Bexhill United Football Club, both of which were 7-1 victories away from home.

Review of the sporting year - part two