She's reeled in accolades for her efforts on the hockey field, but landing a fish has proved to be a more difficult task for Canberra's Hockeyroos star Anna Flanagan. The 22-year-old posted a photo on Twitter of her enjoying some well deserved time off over the festive period, fishing with her dad, Fred. "Christmas Eve fishing with dad ... He caught 4 ... I caught 0 #loser", Flanagan tweeted. Given that everything Flanagan has touched this year has turned to gold, you'd expect the fish to jump out of the water and straight onto the line. Flanagan was a part of the Hockeyroos side that won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before losing to Argentina in the final of the Champions Trophy. She was also shortlisted as the International Female Rising Star of the Year at the International Hockey Federation awards.
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Slow ticket sales concerning for PM's XI game
Cricket ACT is making a strong push to promote next month's PM's XI game against England on January 14 amid concerns of slow ticket sales for the annual fixture. Cricket ACT chief executive Mark Vergano used his post-match speech at the Konica Minolta Regional Twenty20 Cup final to encourage people get behind the match. The PM's XI game has been overshadowed in a bumper summer of cricket in the national capital. The one-day international between Australia and South Africa in November kicked it off, while there is also the Big Bash League final on January 28 and three World Cup games in February and March. The presence of Australian great Mike Hussey is a major attraction, given not only his status in the game but also his strong form for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League. An ACT XI will also play England in a one-day game on January 12.
Kyrgios catches exciting Frenchman's attention
The Nick Kyrgios fan club continues to grow, with French tennis star Gael Monfils also a fan. When asked in a Twitter chat session who he would pay money to watch play, Monfils had one name: "I would pay to watch @NickKyrgios play," he tweeted. The world No. 18 joined a growing group of Kyrgios fans, which also includes former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and former world No. 1 Roger Federer. Kyrgios can also count Aussie veteran Lleyton Hewitt as a mentor. In a sign of his growing popularity, the name "Nick Kyrgios" was the seventh-most searched Australian on Google this year. "Very honoured to be the 7th most searched Aussie on Google too. Just crazy really, what a year!" Kyrgios tweeted. He will partner Casey Dellacqua in the Australian team at the Hopman Cup in Perth from January 4-10. - David Polkinghorne
Royal Canberra tees off on sporting team golf series
While they might not have an annual professional tournament any more, Royal Canberra has come up with a golf series consisting of six corporate events based around some of the ACT's national sporting teams. They'll host a golf day in the lead-up to home games for the Canberra Raiders (March 19), the GWS Giants (April 23), ACT Brumbies (May 28), Canberra United (September 24), the Canberra Capitals (October 29) and the Canberra Cavalry (November 26) throughout 2015. Each event will also have a sportspersons lunch and will look to bring in guest speakers relating to each sport - someone like Laurie Daley for the Raiders day or Leigh Matthews for the Giants one. - David Polkinghorne
Former Raiders pay tribute to Campese
It was great to see some of Terry Campese's former Raiders teammates come out for his unofficial farewell at the Queanbeyan Boxing Day races. They included hooker Glen Buttriss and two players now at other clubs - St George Illawarra second-rower Joel Thompson and Sydney Roosters utility forward Matt McIlwrick. McIlwrick joined the Roosters earlier this month on a one-year deal in search of more regular opportunities to play first grade. He was in Canberra last weekend with the Roosters on a training camp at the AIS. McIlwrick was in Canberra for the Christmas break with his dad and younger brother Jared, who is in the Raiders' Holden Cup (under-20s) squad.
Zac's a chip off the Haddin block
Seeing Queanbeyan product Brad Haddin thrash balls to all parts on Saturday wasn't a surprise to anyone who saw his son Zac do the same in the MCG nets on Christmas Day. Zac showed he's got his old man's skill with the bat as he put on a batting masterclass with Australian players watching on. Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon and David Warner were among those to cheer on the youngster. Great stuff. Hopefully we'll see Zac do his thing in the Manuka Oval nets before too long.
Mills getting close to NBA return
He's back, baby. Well, almost. Canberra's basketball superstar Patty Mills is set to be unleashed back into the NBA after missing the first two months of the NBA season recovering from shoulder surgery. Mills has been cleared for 5-on-5, but has to prove to San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich that he's ready to handle contact. "I'm going to hold him off as long as I can," Popovich told SB Nation. "There will be a point where he won't allow me to do that any more and that's fine. But for now I'm winning the battle. At some point I'll lose it." One thing's for sure, it won't be Mills' countryman Aron Baynes testing out Mills' shoulder.
Daggy Christmas fashion for sports stars
Christmas fashion is the best. We've all received those shirts from grandma that go straight into the closet for the rest of the year. Well, Andy Murray decided to wear his. This top-notch item came with this message from the Scottish tennis superstar, "As you can see I'm chuffed to bits with my Christmas jumper #FireInTheBelly." But the winner is Los Angeles Clippers centre Spencer Hawes. Although he missed the Clippers' Christmas Day game with the Golden State Warriors, Hawes stole the limelight with this spectacular Christmas-themed suit. I'll take two.
Buchanan back on the bike over Christmas break
There's no rest for the wicked, or for those who are determined on success. BMX star Caroline Buchanan proved that theory correct, showing up at an otherwise empty gym at the AIS on Saturday when everyone else was on their festive break. Buchanan is back in Canberra catching up with family before hitting the ground running in the new year, ramping up the pace ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.