Kellie Latham was the Queen of the Murray in the Ladies Open Sedans event. Image by Vern Parker Photography.
Wahgunyah Speedway delivered high drama, fast racing and festive-season thrills on December 27, as Kellie Latham and Dehne Sparrow emerged victorious in two of the meeting’s biggest feature events.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Kellie Latham from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs claimed the Queen of the Murray crown, while Dehne Sparrow of Hamilton in Victoria’s Western District took out the Noel McGrath Memorial.
The Queen of the Murray Ladies Open Sedans event has been a fixture on the calendar for 11 years.
Defending champion Felicity Roycroft was determined to retain her title, winning all three of her qualifying races, with Tara Johannesen taking the remaining heat.
Dehne Sparrow claimed victory in the feature Noel MCGrath Memorial race. Image by Vern Parker Photography.
The feature race proved chaotic, with multiple caution periods disrupting the race distance.
Roycroft and Larissa Ahearn engaged in a strong battle at the front until both Ahearn entries were sidelined on lap five.
Several competitors were eliminated by lap six, including Roycroft, who lost a wheel while leading down the back straight.
This elevated Tamieka Simpson and Kellie Latham to first and second.
A racing incident between turns three and four brought out the final caution, freezing the field.
After post-race deliberations by the stewarding team Kellie Lathamas the declared the winner then Tamieka Simpson, Tara Johannesen, Bree Simpson and Samantha Lord.
The Noel McGrath Memorial Production Sedans was contested across four heats and a 15-lap final. Heat wins were shared by Michael Sayers, Andrew Cunningham (Henty), Shane Roycroft, and Dehne Sparrow.
In the final, Sparrow led Roycroft for the opening eight laps before two-time Australian Champion Stephen Laidlaw moved into second and applied heavy pressure.
Laidlaw took the lead on lap 14, but Sparrow responded immediately, reclaiming the top spot and holding on to win. Scott Hawkins finished third, with Roycroft fourth and Cunningham fifth.
In the Goulburn Ovens Sedans track championship points round, Nathan Shortis of Mulwala dominated qualifying, winning all three heats. Brandan Lovell claimed two heat wins, while Ben Schmetzer took one.
The feature saw an intense battle among the heat winners, with Tom Schmetzer briefly joining the fight before retiring. Shortis went on to secure another series victory, followed by Ben Schmetzer, Lovell, Ryan Chant, and Daryl Joosten.
Brendan Miller won all three Sports Sedan heats and was awarded the class victory on points after the final was cancelled due to time constraints.
Notably, Miller’s car also won the Queen of the Murray, driven to victory by Kellie Latham. Miller finished ahead of Corey Lincoln, Brad Warren, Warren Alexander, and Garry Gapes.
Junior Sedan competitors continued their development with another strong outing. In the Top Stars category, Cruz Abela won on points after the final was cancelled.
In the New Stars (first two-year) class, Aidan Cunningham claimed the win from Kade Brockley, Amelia Henskens, Clay Paull, and Lilly Frost.
Corey McDonald dominated Unlimited Sedans, winning all three heat races.
The final was again cancelled due to time constraints, giving McDonald the overall win on points ahead of Peter Schmetzer and Paul Williams.
Standard Saloon heat wins were shared by Rhyse Lavender and Michael Fleming-Robertson, with Fleming-Robertson claiming two of the three qualifiers.
He went on to win the feature race convincingly, defeating Mick Neumann by nearly seven seconds. Harley Matthews finished third, with Russ Stone and James Brown completing the top five.
A tip competition added extra entertainment, involving Brad Warren, Shane Roycroft, Michael Fleming-Robertson, Corey Lincoln, and Nathan Shortis.
Funds raised from fans and sponsors supported the Country Hope Charity Rally, with proceeds going to the Balins Family “Adventure Crew” team.
Brad Warren won the competition, earning $450, with an additional $450 donated to the rally team. Warren generously handed over his winnings and added a further $100 to the Country Hope charity.
Racing returns to Wahgunyah Speedway on January 17, headlined by the Extreme Sports Sedan Series, supported by the Goulburn Ovens Sedans Association State Series and club classes.
The Corowa-Rutherglen Speedway Club thanks all sponsors and supporters for their continued backing of the 2025 season.
