REGIONS YOUNGSTERS TAKE THEIR SHOT! Our regions U15, U17, U19 and U21 squads stepped onto the court after weeks of preparation from all the staff and players in July. The 2018 NPL tournament saw regional pathway squads battling it out to take first place. Our Team Northumria girls went to prove what they’ve got with England selectors watching on. U17 – 11th Place U19 – 10th Place U21 – 7th Place The 2018 School Games is set to take place with a 12 long squad selected to represent Team Northumbria. This will be the last time the girls will be heading out wearing the infamous Black and Red dressses. We wish the best of luck to all the girls selected: Team Northumbria Squad: Katharine Barrett
Kaia Harte
Isobel Burgess
Francesca Kardasz
Emily Burnett
Hannah Kurzyk
Tamzin Canham
Carla McKnight
Maria Chambers
Anya Snaith
Emma Grant
Ellie Stanley-Roberts
CURRIE HEADING DOWN UNDER England Netball will be returning to Canberra, Australia from September 26th to October 6th 2018. Oaksway Netball Clubs Alice Currie has been selected as part of the 12 player squad that will be based at the Australian Institute of Sport. After a successful season playing consistently as part of Oaksway’s Prem squad and a Team Northumbria NSL squad member, Alice will now have the opportunity to test herself against Australian U17 teams and New Zealand U18 Secondary Schools team. In other International news, Carla McKnight from the Team Northumbria pathway and Oaksway Netball Club has been selected as part of Scotland’s U17 long squad for 2018-19.
Go to www.northeastnetball.co.uk for more information!
This summer two local netballers Rebecca Edgar and Iman Thomas got the opportunity to visit Zambia as part of the Volunteer Zambia Project. This year the Hub Site Development Officer has been working with England Netball, the Zambia Netball Federation, Sport In Action, and with local schools and community groups to set up ‘hub sites’ for children to learn and play netball (delivered by the student coaches as part of the Volunteer Zambia Project). Rebecca and Iman are part of the student teams delivering weekly sessions and also work with members of the community and school teachers to upskill them in coaching and league administration so that they can carry on with the initiative after the final student group leave Zambia in the summer.
NETBALL ON THE RISE IN ZAMBIA On 15th August, a netball event was organised at the Olympic Youth Development Centre. UK Sport agreed to pay for the transport to and from the event from the hub sites at M’tendere and K-Town and pay for every child to receive lunch on the day. England Netball paid for 5 outdoor courts for the event to run and the International Netball Federation and Netball Africa are waiving the fees for 220 children from the hubs to watch Zambia v Zimbabwe for free at the World Cup event on the same day. For all those that helped Iman and Rebecca during the year to fundraise, your money has allowed the girls to be part of this exciting project. Rebecca has just finished in Zambia coaching at the K-Town hub site and Iman will be taking over from Rebecca this week to continue the work.
NORTHUMBERLAND END OF SEASON PRESENTATION Northumberland held there end of season presentation in July and it was great to see everyone who came along. The night started with presentation of league winners for Juniors and Adults. Presented next were the awards to the Satellite and County award winners. All players have made fantastic progress over the season and it was a hard decision for the coaches to pick out winners. County Academy Awards: Athlete of the Year – Jemma T Most Improved – Lucy C Best Attidude – Olivia C They introduced a new award this year, the Sports Personality of the Year. This went to Taylor E for all her fantastic input into everything she has done in the season.
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County Awards: Official of the Year – Iain Richardson, for his continued commitment to umpiring in the county and region over the season and achievement of his B award. Young Volunteer of the Year – Jemma T and Jenna A, both girls plucked up the courage to start both there coaching and officiating journeys this season, they have been regular volunteers at Ponteland Netball Club. Coach of the Year – Vicky Atkinson, for her continued commitment to Ponteland Netball Club. Special Recognition of the Year – Julie Patterson, for everything that she does in netball (there is so much), for officiating secretary, Astley Netball Club and Delliote. The final award of the night, The Loraine Netherton Unsung Hero of the Year, was presented in memory of Loraine who sadly passed away recently. The award itself has been donated by Loraine’s family and will be presented on an annual basis. The first winner was Sharon Bowerman of Morpeth Netball Club who keeps the club ticking over with her role as a coach and treasurer.
TYNE & WEAR PAY THEIR RESPECTS
At the recent T&W AGM, members took the opportunity to remember Loraine Netherton who sadly died very suddenly in May this year. Loraine setup Seaton Burn Netball Club around 1982 and developed it into a thriving club. Through the Club, and as a qualified Coach, she encouraged hundreds of players to get involved in the sport and helped them to develop and progress. As a B Award Umpire and Assessor she supported our county leagues and tournaments – senior and junior – and helped new umpires to qualify and gain their C Awards. Perhaps more importantly as a cheery face on the side-line, always willing to help or offer a witty comment, Loraine was a highly valued member of our T&W community and a great friend to many. She will be greatly missed.
B2N LEAGUE SUCCESS
COUNTY CHAMPS
Back to Netball sessions from across Tyne and Wear were given the opportunity to get their first taste of competition across June and July.
Tyne and Wear County presented to the winners of the Adult and Junior Leagues as follows:
Gemma Sandberg, NDCC for Tyne and Wear set up a Back to Netball league due to the demand for extra match play outside of sessions. The league ran for 6 weeks on a Monday Night at Longbenton High School with 4 teams from the Back to Netball sessions at Benfield School, Gosforth Academy, Sport Central and Whitley Bay High entering.
Winter Division Winners: League Winners – Stadium A Divisional Winners – Willington A, Alexandra, NESLC, Stanley Thunder, Vixens, Fusion, Great Park Blacks, EY Spring Division Winners: League Winners – Seatonians A Divisional Winners – Gateshead A, Newcastle Storm, Seatonians D, Riverside F, Stanley Thunder, Jesmond, Cobalt Vixens, Medics County Junior League Winners Under 11 – Riverside Under 12 – Riverside Under 14 – Riverside A Under 16 – Greencroft A
BABY BALLER There was a competitive yet very friendly atmosphere to the matches with everyone enjoying playing, some so much that they are now looking to join leagues in the future. The league also gave opportunity to some trainee umpires to practice their umpiring.
Tyne and Wear County Chair, Kerry Lessels welcomed her baby boy Albie Robert David Lessels on Friday 20th July. Weighing 8lb2oz, Albie will be stepping onto the court in no time to play mixed league with his sister Maggie!
Huge well done to the Whitley Bay Blazers who were the overall winners.
Congrats to Kerry and the family!
ND ACADEMY TEAM
WINNERS GALORE
The North Durham County and Satellite trails took place recently, with over 140 girls attending. For those who were successful training will commence in September at The Beacon of Light.
The senior County league ended in July, Congratulations to the winners:
With support from Gateshead College Netball Academy, the performance academy will include 2 x U14 Satellite Academies, U16 County Academy and a new U19 County Academy. There is a new pool of performance coaches for the year: Julie Kimber – Performance Lead and U16 & U19 County Head Coach Holly Swan – Assistant County Coach Adrienne Edwardson – Assistant County Coach Vince Robson - Satellite Academy 1 Coach Joanne Elliot – Satellite Academy 1 Assistant Coach Abbie Cleugh – Satellite Academy 1 Development Coach Faye Bateson – Satellite Academy 2 Head Coach Christine Sparks – Satellite Academy 2 Assistant Coach Alex Tate – Satellite Academy 2 Volunteer Coach
Division 1 – Durham Ladies 1 Division 2- Boldon 2 Division 3 – Property 1 The junior Spring league also came to a close: Under 11 – Oaksway White Under 12 – Oaksway Under 14 – Oaksway Blue Under 16 – Greencroft A The county also held a tournament at the new Beacon of Light which was a great success. 16 teams entered and the play was excellent. Congratulations to the winners, Allsorts.
HANNAH BRAVES THE SHAVE
One of Oaksway Netball Club young athletes recently took the opportunity to cut all her hair off for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Hannah Kurzyk O’Donnell raised over £5,000 for the charity. When she was younger Hannah and her mum had a joke that if they had a penny every time someone commented on her golden hair they would be millionaires. On her Just Giving Page she says she decided to shave her head to give an amazingly brave little princess the chance to get the compliments she had. Her head was shaved in May half term and sent to the ‘Little Princess Trust’ to make a wig for a beautiful little girl. All the money donated was given to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
You can still donate to Hannah’s cause at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hannahs -head-shave