Latest News
Grasshoppers Netball Club Charity Events posted 5th August 2011
When our friend and Grasshoppers team-mate Lynn Price was taken ill during a special holiday to celebrate her 50th birthday none of us could have forseen that she had a long battle with cancer ahead. Sadly this was a fight that she would ultimately lose at the end of 2010, without ever returning to don her GS bib and play again the game she loved so much.
In Lynn’s memory Grasshoppers NC set about fundraising for local charity The Mary Stevens Hospice. At the time of Lynn’s death club members gave personal donations and the proceeds of our Halloween raffle were added to this – resulting in £213 being given to the Hospice. Then in April 2011 we organised a pig racing night at a local pub. Thanks to race sponsorship, advertising and the shenanigans on the night involving battery operated pigs, a fabulous total was raised. We added to this the surplus from our summer league match fees and were recently able to invite Janet Jones, Fundraising Development Manager, to collect, on behalf of The Mary Stevens Hospice, a cheque for the fantastic total of £660!
Looking forward to the 2011-2012 season Grasshoppers have already agreed to continue fundraising for a local charity that is close to our hearts.
Dudley Leisure N.C. Two players achieving recognition posted 21st July 2011
Caroline Tarnowski was re-selected to the NTL recently and will be off to an England boot camp in late July. Following close behind Madison Grant was selected for the Regional group.
Both are still under 16 and are very talented players who work very hard and are looking to push their way up into Dudley ’s top teams. At present they play in the 3rd and 4th teams, but it will not be long before they find themselves moving up.
Oldbury Netball Club Receive a Community Club Link Award posted 19th July 2011
Oldbury Netball Club have just received a Community Club Link award for the work the club has done with the local and wider community to provide 'Netball for all'.
The Club works with the SSCO programme based at Oldbury College of Sport (primary school links) and attracts youngsters from the College itself, as well as from
Perryfields High School, Sandwell Academy, Alexandra High School, Ellowes Hall Sports College, King Edward School and Dudley and Halesowen Colleges.
The club has also successfully run 'Back to Netball' and 'Try Netball' sessions and have an excellent retention rate from school leavers.
The Award was formally presented to the club at a Sports Awards evening held at the West Bromwich Albion Football ground. The Club are very proud to receive this award in acknowledgement of the hard work and commitment from all the committee members involved in the running of the club who will continue to work with the community to provide opportunities for all ages and abilities to play netball, try netball and get back to netball maintaining the 'Netball for All' ethos. The club will also continue to provide pathways for players to progress to higher levels through the All England structure.
Oldbury Netball Club experience a series of successful outcomes posted 6th July 2011
15 year old Becky Tildesley is a pupil in Year 10 at Alexandra High School - Tipton and has been selected for NTL trials following her success at the regional trials. Becky has been in the county squad for the last two seasons and has gained a place in Oldbury’s second team moving out of the youth section of the club. Oldbury 2 which included Becky in the team were divisional winners this winter season, gaining promotion and they also reached the final of the cup in the winter league.
Becky also gained her Beginners umpiring award last year at the age of 14 and has recently completed a ‘C’ Award course with the view to being tested during the forthcoming winter season; this shows that Becky is not only a talented player she is also an aspirational umpire. Oldbury Netball Club is very proud of Becky and believes she is a star in the making. Certainly one to watch out for.
Laura Tildesley - also 15 years old and a pupil in Year 10 at Alexandra High School, has been selected for regionals. Laura has been in the county development squad since the age of 14. As part of Laura’s development she has gained a place in Oldbury’s first team, playing division 1 netball on a Saturday in the Walsall Netball League. Laura has also won player of the season for both the midweek and Saturday Walsall League which demonstrates her determination to succeed beating all other teams and players in the entire league. A fantastic achievement.
Liberty Philips is currently in year 6 and moving to Ellowes Hall Sports College – Lower Gornal, in September. Liberty has been training with Oldbury Netball Club since the age of 10. Liberty is a young talent in the making and has been selected for the County Under12 development squad. Oldbury Netball Club is very proud of Liberty and will continue to provide development opportunities for her. Well done Liberty! Ellowes Hall has a gifted and talented youngster joining them.
Dudley Girl Caroline selected for Under 17's at National Screening Day posted 17th April 2011
Caroline Tarnowski has been with Dudley Leisure Netball Club in the Junior Section for two seasons. She has been playing with the Under 16's in the County League and in the local league. She has now moved up to the Senior Section although still only 15 years old and is now playing in Dudley's third team in Division 2 of the local summer league.
Caroline has been in the South Staffs Under 14 Satellite and Under 16 Academy over the last two years, from where she was selected to go forward to the Regional Screening Programme, which then led to the National Screening Programme, where she was selected for the Under 17squad. She will be attending a training camp at Sheffield this week-end and then a further one at Bath in the summer. In between these camps she will be training with the other girls who were selected.
Caroline is a pupil at Windsor High School in Halesowen, the school must be proud of her.
Although Caroline does not have a netball background her parents are both keen for her to maintain her progress and enjoy whatever comes along.
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Another successful candidate from the Under 17’s was Kaya Wilson from Worcester.
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From the Under 19’s Lauren Massey and Jordan Moxey from Birmingham were also successful.
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The league would like to wish all the girls every success in the future.