Farewell
After 32 seasons with West Penno we bid farewell to one of our all-time great players.
Eric Junkkari joined us in the 1992/93 season and started in C1 Grade. Over the next 32 years he has played in A2 to C3 Grades and scored 6,128 runs and taken an amazing 520 wickets.
In terms of records, Eric is our:
- 3rd highest wicket taker in our 93 year history with a personal best of 5/31, bowling an amazing 3,152 overs
- 6th highest run scorer in our history
- Association B2 Grade 6th record partnership holder with a partnership of 248* between Brent Larkham (200* and Eric 57*) on 4/11/2017
- Equal 2nd highest hat-trick taker with 2 x hat-tricks.
Also, Eric is the ‘Founding Father’ of our prestigious Space Cadet Award, first awarded in 2016/17, for his attempt at assembling a sun shelter at Gilroy College.
Thanks for being such an important part of our great Club and for the amazing contribution you have made as a player and a great bloke.
Finally, a musical conclusion to our story – Time to say Goodbye – Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
Photos: 1). Eric with son Daniel (DJ) at Bradman Oval, 25 January 2009; 2) , Eric (left) and Brent Larkham after their B2 Grade 6th wicket Association record partnership of 248*on 4/11/2017; 3) Eric (centre) with James Makin & Phil Wurth – 400 wickets – 2 May 2014
Photo: 4) Eric Junkkari trying to assemble a sun shelter. This started the legend of the Space Cadet Award – Gilroy College – 9 October 2016; 5) Ryan Loveridge & Eric @ Kenthurst Park – 21 March 2021; 6) Eric (centre) after the B2 Grand Final of 2003/04 .
The ultimate Sheep Station Trophy
Over the years we have had a handful of Teams play against each other in Grand Finals. A couple that comes to mind are: the First Grade T20 GF (2014/15) & Juniors Mixed U15 2005/06.
The latest was in the U12 Grand Final played on Sunday 9th March 2025.
In this Comp of 22 Teams our Green’s (1st) played the Gold’s (2nd) with the game going down to the wire 7/92 Vs 8/69.
What made this even better was the amazing sportsmanship between the Teams and parents throughout the game. They set the bar on the standards expected in all Sheep Station Trophy games.
Well done boys + Coaches & Managers + Parents.
Photo: our U12 Gold & Green Grandfinalists – 9 March 2025
Finals records
Last weekend we had a record 10 x Senior Teams make it through to the Semi Finals with 5 advancing to the Big Dance.
The previous record was in 2020/21 when 9 of our 13 Teams made the Semi Finals with 5 x Grand Finalists where we had 4 wins and 1 loss.
With the Big Dance on this Saturday & Sunday we have 5 Teams playing in the GF’s – congratulations to these Teams – A1 (Cameron #25), B1 Red (Warren); C2 Red (Aniket); C4 White (Agniva) & D1 Blue (Nirav).
It is worth looking at our track record in the big games:
| Grand Final Record | ||||
| Grade | Wins | Losses | Total | Win % |
| A1 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 47% |
| A2 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 54% |
| Colts | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
| B1 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 33% |
| B2 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 38% |
| C1 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 62% |
| C2 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 65% |
| C3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 50% |
| C4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
| D1 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 58% |
| D2 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 55% |
| Sunday Premier League | 3 | 2 | 5 | 60% |
| T20 (1st to 5th Grades) | 17 | 6 | 23 | 74% |
| Total | 97 | 81 | 178 | 55% |
Photo: Premiership Trophies