Ripon City Netball Club’s Falcons, Kestrels, Ospreys Eagles and Hawks, flocked together for their social highlight of the year — the annual awards.
More than 40 members from the teams, which are each named after birds of prey, gathered at Ripon Bowling Club on Saturday for a sparkling evening of prize presentations, congratulations and celebration of the 2021-2022 season.
The event was compered by the club’s head coach, Helen Mackenzie who, at Christmas, received her own accolade from former BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration when the votes of readers of the Stray Ferret saw her win the Harry’s Heroes community award.
Thandi Mahlangu, winner of the players’ player award for the Eagles, received her award from Alastair Little of Biffa.
The club, which was formed seven years ago, is based at Ripon Grammar School and has teams playing in the Harrogate, Hambleton and the North Yorkshire Ambassador leagues.
Its focus, since formation, has been on inclusivity, providing the opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to join in both sporting and social activities.
Club member Jackie Laugher (left) mother of GB diving star and triple Olympic medal winner Jack, presented Helen Mackenzie with gifts on behalf of the club.
Ms Mackenzie said:
“The aim since we set off has been to create a club based on three words – participate, enjoy, succeed.
“We are inclusive, welcoming all-comers.
“This sees mothers play alongside their daughters and siblings enjoying training and playing together.”
The trophies that were presented.
The award recipients
Presentations were made by Alastair Little, Yorkshire regional general manager of waste management and recycling company Biffa, one of the club’s sponsors.
For each team, trophies were awarded to the most improved player, the coach’s selected player and the players’ player.
The award winners were:
Falcons: Steph Parker, Jo Wallace, Helen Peacock
Kestrels: Suzanne Armstrong, Jen Addyman, Alice Scurr
Ospreys: Lindsey Stockdale, Karen Ellam, Becky Ash
Eagles: Lesley Watkinson, Cat Walmsley, Thandi Mahlangu
Hawks: Rachel Cattley, Karen Dodds, Laura Cardin
Winners of other club awards were: Nicole Greenwood, Nicola Lymer, Michelle Ingham, Kirsteen Dixon, Anne Groves, Beth Beadle and Hayley Blaymires.
Read more:
Ripon netball awards go ahead despite covid
Ripon City Netball Club has held a socially distanced version of its annual awards due to covid.
The awards are the biggest event on the club’s calendar, but this year only award winners were invited to attend the presentation outside Ripon Grammar School, where the club trains.
Some of the award winners.
The club has five teams, each named after a different bird of prey, with three trophies given out per team for most improved player, coach’s player and players’ player.
The 2020 award winners were;
Hawks: Kerry Rich, Lindsey Stockdale, Karen Dodds.
Eagles: Carla Darbyshire, Thandiwe Mahlangu, Becky Stacey.
Ospreys: Rebecca Kirby, Claire Barnett, Jenny Addyman.
Kestrels: Kimberley Adele, Joanna Wallace, Hayley Blaymires.
Falcons: Frankie Louise, Sarah-Louise Norton, Jenna Sadler.
Other winners of individual prizes were: Lindsi Baldwin, Kirsteen Dixon, Helen Mackenzie, Georgina Roberts, Samantha Wilson, Karen Ellam, Cathy Simms, Jackie Laugher, Lindsey Virr, Rachael Clark, Suzanne Armstrong, Nicola Lymer, Louise Withy, Becky Ash and Tracy Chapman.
Knaresborough netballer aims to break world record for charityA Knaresborough woman will attempt to break a world record tomorrow for the most netball goals scored in one hour.
To set the record, Sue Hobson, who plays goal shooter for the Hawks netball club in Harrogate, needs to shoot more than 756 goals – more than 12 goals a minute.
Sue is aiming to reach more than 900 goals in total and has already raised more than £1,100 for Saint Michael’s Hospice in the process. To support Sue, click here.
Speaking about why she has chosen to fundraise for the charity, Sue said:
“It just felt too unusual or quirky an activity to not try and use it for something positive, especially when there’s not a lot of positivity in the world at the moment.
“Living in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area I know people that have been helped by Saint Michael’s Hospice, and it seems like a great local charity.”
Sue has been training for this challenge since the beginning of lockdown, when her regular netball training sessions and matches stopped.
After setting herself challenges in her back garden, such as scoring 100 goals in a row, she began researching world records for netball.
Sue said the support from other local organisations, such as King James’s School and Harrogate Netball League, have spurred her on to complete the challenge.
Read more:
- Nidderdale vicar sets new world record
- St Michael’s has doubled its November Superdraw to over £2000 to thanks its supporters.