Yes, it's been said time and time again this year was one unlike any other.
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But you can't deny it's truth.
If someone was to say to you when the year began the local cricket season wouldn't finish, no Group 11 rugby league would be played at all, and the Astley Cup would be cancelled you would rightly think they were crazy.
But despite the huge and ongoing impact COVID had on our lives, there was still some incredible sporting moments in our region this year.
This week we'll bring you our top 20, five moments a day in no particular order that show why this year was another memorable one.
KODY PROVES TO BE KING OF THE WEST
This was the year Kody Nestor cemented himself as a trainer to watch in country racing.
The signs were already there heading into 2020 and it only continued trending upward.
At one point midway through this year the Dubbo trainer had a winning strike-rate of more than 22%, which at the time was better than the likes of track stars Chris Waller, Kris Lees, James Cummings, and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
While there was plenty of wins in the country and in the city this year, the highlight came in March at Coonamble where Nestor trained the quinella in the $150,000 Country Championships Qualifier.
Sneak Preview and Fast Talking went one-two for Nestor, making him the first person to win a qualifier as both a jockey and a trainer.
"I knew I had the right horses going into the race, both are sort of on par," Nestor said on the day, having ridden Dane De Lago to victory in the inaugural WRA heat at Dubbo Turf Club in 2015.
"There wasn't much between them."
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TANEKA HELPS FORGE A PATHWAY FOR WOMEN
Women's rugby league continues to boom in this region.
There's many moments that could be picked and a number of individuals whose efforts could be highlighted but Taneka Todhunter was one of the undoubted stars of 2020.
A hugely talented athlete, Todhunter even surprised herself a little earlier this year when she earned herself a spot in the Sydney Roosters' Tarsha Gale Cup squad.
The cup is a NSW Rugby League nines competition featuring the best under 18s players in the state and is a stepping stone towards the NRLW.
It wasn't always easy travelling from Dubbo to trial and train but it was further proof there is a genuine pathway for talented players to make a name for themselves.
The only issue for Todhunter was the fact she's a Rabbitohs fan.
"I'm happy to be playing for the Roosters but kind of shocked to say I play for them," she laughed after being selected in February.
"But it's a big opportunity and I'm very happy."
Todhunter was selected for the Roosters again later in the year ahead of the 2021 season.
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NATIONAL CALL-UP FOLLOWS LILLYANN'S STUNNING SEASON
Sport has an uncanny ability to make people feel the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in a short period of time.
That was particularly true for LillyAnn Mason-Spice this year.
Having made the move from Forbes to Dubbo, the highly-regarded rugby star was scintillating during the Dubbo Kangaroos unbeaten run to the Westfund Ferguson Cup grand final.
She scored seven tries in one match as the Roos passed triple figures and heading into th4e grand final against Bathurst Bulldogs the main question seemed to be how much would the Roos win by?
But Mason-Spice went down injured early and the Roos were beaten in one of the shocks of the season across any sport.
I think the World Cup will be on the mind of every girl there.
- LillyAnn Mason-Spice
But despite the blow Mason-Spice had still caught the eye and was chosen to be part of a Wallaroos training camp in Canberra alongside some of the game's best as the build-up towards the 2021 World Cup truly began.
"I think the World Cup will be on the mind of every girl there," Mason-Spice said ahead of the camp.
"But I'm just stoked to get into this camp.
"I'm surprised they let me in (after the injury) but it's going to be good to see where I'm at again."
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HIGH-PROFILE VISIT PROOF OF PROGRAM'S VALUE
Rarely has there been so many high-profile people from one sport in Dubbo at the one time.
John Moriarty Football has quickly developed into one of the most impactful sporting programs in the country.
It has made a real difference to the life of many Indigenous children around the country and one of its 13 programs is run in Dubbo.
The focus isn't purely on improving skills either, as Craig Foster so perfectly put while he was in Dubbo in November as part of a JMF community gala day run in conjunction with Indigenous Football Week.
"Yes, kids can kick a ball and, yes, we're sure some will go and play for the Matildas and Socceroos but we also want them to be raising their voice and demonstrating immense respect and understanding of their culture," the much-respected former Socceroo, pundit, and human rights advocate said.
Foster was joined at Apex Oval but Moriarty himself, Football Federation Australia chief executive James Johnson, and Matildas and JMF ambassadors Gema Simon and Jada Whyman.
Ans if further proof of JMF's success was needed, it was announced soon after Dubbo's own Bradley Boney-Chillie had been selected for the Australian under 17s after being part of the program.
The way the program continues to grow it's likely he won't be the last from this region to reach those kind of heights.
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NRL LOCKED IN FOR RETURN TO APEX
There might not have been any Group 11 footy this year but there was still plenty of major rugby league news.
None got people around the region as excited as the confirmation an NRL premiership match would be played in Dubbo for the very first time in 2021.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs will make Apex Oval a home ground for the next two years and the 2021 match is set to be a blockbuster as the foundation club will meet the Penrith Panthers, this year's grand finalists and a side with a strong connection to the region, in May.
"We're a club that when we move games away from Sydney, we do so on a long term basis," Souths CEO Blake Solly said.
"We believe it's incumbent on all NRL clubs to grow the sport in our regions, we're very proud to be bringing the game to Dubbo in 2021 and 2022."
The NRL match will be played out at Dubbo on Sunday, May 23, and is certain to be one of the biggest events in the region in 2021.
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