Gippsland has hosted the NBL and Bash Bash cricket with AFLW and AFL pre-season games heading to the valley in the next few months.
Up in Bendigo the 2017 ARU National Senior Rugby 7s saw the world’s best hit the turf including the traditional rivalry clash of the Australian Women's Sevens against New Zealand. Across in Shepparton, the 2017 Challenge Triathlon rolled into town, one of Australia’s biggest again saw a great crowd take part on the day.
Out on the water we cheered as the Head of the Yarra was crowned on Nov 25, watched the waves crash on the Phillip Island Pro QS1000 surfing and saw the next generation of Olympic champions hit the water out at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club as part of the Sail Melbourne International 2017 .
For those looking for more glamour the 72nd Australian DanceSport Championship lit up Hisense Arena, featuring more eye catching turns than the Albert Park GP track.
These international and regional events has been locked in thanks to funding from the Regional Events Fund and the Significant Sporting Events Program, ensuing Victoria really is the Australian home of sport.
The $20 million Regional Events Fund is helping rural and regional communities stage events like these that attract visitors in their thousands.
To date the 2014-2018 Significant Sporting Events Program has provided $6.2m in funding to secure 280 big sporting events to Victoria. More than half of these events have been held in regional Victoria.
And there is plenty more coming up in the next few months, so get out and take part, or cheer at some outstanding sporting events across Victoria this summer.
For more information on these funds visit the Significant Sporting Events Program page.
Upcoming events
December
- 2017 Australian Adult Tenpin Bowling Championships
Wyndham , 7 – 28 December - 2017 Austral Wheelrace
Melbourne, 16 December - Junior Victorian Open
Barwon Heads, 18 – 21 December - 56th International Cadets Australian Championships
East Gippsland, 26 Dec – 4 January
January
- 2018 Cycling Australia Road National Championships
Ballarat, 3 – 7 January - Men’s and Women’s Big Bash League Cricket Double Header - Melbourne Renegades V Sydney Sixers
Geelong, 3 January - Australian Canoe Kayak National Junior and Open Championship
Murrindindi, 4 – 14 January - A League Soccer Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners
Geelong, 6 January - 9th International Musto Skiff World Championship
Mornington, 6 – 14 January - 2018 Australian Master of the Amatuers Golf
Royal Melbourne Golf Club, 9 – 12 January - 2018 AGL Traralgon International
Traralgon, 12 – 19 January - Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Open
Craigieburn, 16-20 January - 2018 Tennis Victoria Players with an Intellectual Disability (PWID) Tournament
Albert Park, 24-27 January - 2018 International Contender Australian and World Championships - Sailing
Mornington, 16 – 25 January - 2018 Australian Deaf Games
Wodonga, 20 – 27 January - 2018 National Inclusion Cricket Championships
Geelong, 21 – 27 January
February
- 2018 Victorian Open Golf Championship
Geelong, 1 – 4 February - Australian Closed Championships 2018
Port Phillip, 13 – 15 February - 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong
Geelong, 16-18 February - International Petanque Open Doubles Championships
Caulfield, 17-18 February - Paragliding World Cup
Bright, 17 – 24 February - 2018 Ede Clendinnen Sheild/Australian National Championships
Albert Park, 25 February – 3 March