Netball stars get helping hand

THE Humber Netball Academy has been the latest beneficiary of support from the Royal Navy.

The support comes in the form of a £500 donation towards the purchase of sweatshirts to be used by the under-14 Satellite Academy and under-16 County Academy.

The netball academies ran for 12 weeks during the summer months and the best young players were put forward from schools and clubs in Hull and the East Riding.

In all, 24 girls are involved in the under-14 academy and 11 girls attend the under-16 academy, with the talented young performers on the first step of the England Talent Pathway

Many performers from the academy system have gone on to Yorkshire regional squads and some onto the England squad.

The talent academies have developed greatly over the past three years, with 10 girls having progressed through to under-17 and under-19 England trials over this period.

Within the academies, who are coached by Jo Cunningham, Charlotte Cunningham, Imelda Duncan and Jenny Blythe, the young players are provided with a higher level of coaching than provided elsewhere.

Anne Peak, chair of the Humberside County Management Board admits she is delighted with the support offered by Chris Day and the Royal Navy careers service team.

She said: "I think it is fantastic they have shown an interest in netball.

"We are always keen to form links with partners and it is wonderful to be supported by the Royal Navy.

"Players attend these sessions from a variety of local schools and the very smart sweatshirts enable the girls to be identified as part of the Humber Netball Academy at all of our activities"

Day added: "It is nice to get away from the mainstream sports and offer this support to netball.

"We have sponsored a number of sports over the past few years and netball was fortunate to be put forward to receive the last payment of this scheme.

"We hope that this will contribute to the development of this sport."