DENNIS Comerford will return for another year as Bathurst Panthers president after being re-elected unopposed at Sunday’s club AGM.
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Comerford, who has held the position since 2009, still hunts for his first Group 10 premier league crown as club president but has been encouraged greatly by a title-winning season.
Panthers claimed first division glory and managed to get all four of their teams in the finals.
Every side managed to make it beyond the opening week of finals and the premier league and league tag sides came within one win of the decider.
It leaves Comerford, his committee and players all eager to get back underway in 2017.
“Over my time as president we’ve had great success in under 18s and more recently in league tag. Our first division have also enjoyed several wins,” Comerford said.
“The aim now is to add a premier league win to that. This year we came the closest to doing that since 2006 and 2007. We came within a whisker of hosting the grand final and then within a whisker of being in the grand final.
“It was disappointing at the time not to win but it was still a great season for the club.
“With the added experience of finals football for our younger players it puts us in a good position for next year. I think they really stepped up and will continue to improve.”
The premier league title continues to elude the club president.
However, in his time at the helm, Comerford has witnessed four first division titles, two under 18s titles and two league tag successes.
Joining Comerford for next year’s Group 10 tilt will be Bill Humphries (senior vice-president), Brett Bennett (junior vice-president), Wayne Boyd (secretary) and Danny Dwyer (treasurer).
The Panthers committee for the new season will consist of Wayne Loader, Jody Hodges, Ross Woolmington, Patrina and Brian Smith and John Fearnley.
Comerford is excited to see what the group will bring to the table.
“Brett returns in the junior vice-president role for next year, which will be a step up from the committee this year,” he said.
“We have a couple of new faces in the committee. Patrina Smith has joined and Wayne Loader has come back in. That will really help strengthen us. We’re looking forward to all the new ideas they will bring in.
“Patrina was our club person of the year. Her and Jody Hodges were big assets for our club over the seaon. The time and effort they put in to running the canteen and supporting the club is really appreciated.”