26 THE COURIER Thursday August 20, 2020 thecourier.com.au SPORT Tributes flow for striped SEARCHING: Ballarat City are on the hunt for a new coach. Picture: Adam Tarfford legend Club in Community mourns search passing of referee of new BASKETBALL "He always helped out coach BY KYLE EVANS when we were short, he would come in on weekends SOCCER THE Ballarat basketball to help with our juniors," BALLARAT City FC is on community is in mourning Dunmore said. the hunt for a new senior following the passing of local "He was always there to men's coach. identity Kelvin Short. help out and an all-around The club took to Facebook Tributes flowed on Bas- unreal person." on Wednesday to advertise ketball Ballarat's Facebook Short's experience and the position for the 2021 page on Tuesday, with many ability as a game manager National Premier League paying homage to Short, who made him a favorite among three season. served as a coach, referee players and coaches. His in- It comes after the club and score table official for depth knowledge of the rules appointed Jonathan Davey many years. allowed him to educate play- to the position, following Basketball Ballarat referee ers, and often reduced ten- the resignation of former manager Chloe Dunmore sion and prevented tempers boss James Robinson, said he will be greatly missed from flaring on the court. who stepped down earlier by the Ballarat basket- Dunmore said he was able this year. ball community. to explain and communicate Davey was set to coach the "He was not only a refer- with players very well. senior side during the 2020 ee but a referee coach and "He was patient, he was TRIBUTES FLOW: Kelvin Short served as a mentor for Ballarat's junior referees for NPL3 campaign, however would mentor other juniors," definitely one of the most many years. Pictures: Supplied the season was cancelled she said. well-respected referees," due to a spike in COVID-19 "His wealth of knowl- she said. cases in Victoria. edge and the experience he "He knew everybody's It is not known why Davey brought to our referee pro- name and was not quick to has stepped down from gram is something that you penalise or hand out techni- the position. can't really replace. He will cal fouls." Ballarat City was set to be greatly missed." In a social media post, turn over a new leaf in the Short served as an elite Basketball Ballarat said he newly-formed NPL3 divi- referee on the association's was a valuable part of the sion, after finishing at the A-Grade panel and was a association. bottom of the ladder in the two-time recipient of the "Kelvin kept himself busy NPL2 competition last year. Gary Ebell senior referee of across all aspects of basket- The club only got to play the year award. He umpired ball, being involved in refer- one FFA Cup match in 2020 at an elite representative eeing, referee coaching, and before play was called off. level, and served as a scoring score table duties," it read. Those interested in the po- official for the Ballarat Min- "He was a well respect- sition can contact the club at ers and Rush in the Big-V and ed mentor across all levels WELL SERVED: Long-time referee and scoring official Kelvin Short (right) has passed [email protected] NBL1 up until 2019. of referees." away at the age of 60. – KYLE EVANS Ballarat Gold named ninth best in state SWIMMING year last year. Our swimmers which held our swimmers in BALLARAT Gold Swim- performed really well and good stead." ming Club has been named our club probably had more The club returned to the one of the best performing people qualify than in pre- pool at the Ballarat Aquatic Victorian Swimming Clubs vious years, so it was really and Lifestyle Centre briefly for the 2019-20 champion- exciting," she said. in June, but has since ceased ship season. The club was one of only all activity following stage The club came in the ninth three regional clubs to crack three lockdown measures. in the rankings released the top 10. Howe said it Howe said the club was by Swimming Victoria last marked the first time ever the doing its best to keep its week. The rankings are based club had finished this high. members engaged during on results at major meets "The club as a whole has the lockdown period. throughout the Victorian been working really hard and "We were back in the pool championship season. the kids have been training for a few weeks. At the mo- Ballarat Gold committee really hard," she said. ment our squads do weekly member Sally Howe said "Mark Stahl, our head zoom calls and everyone is the news came as a pleas- coach, has been doing a great trying to keep their fitness GOLD STANDARD: Ballarat Gold Swimming Club's Anna Leighton at the Victorian ant surprise. job. We ran a special per- levels up at home," she said. Country Short Course Championships last year. Picture: Kate Healy "We did have a really good formance camp in January – KYLE EVANS.