Congratulations Liz

Many Congratulations to Liz Broomhead who has been awarded an MBE in the Queen New Years Honours List 2011 for services to Netball. Very well deserved!

NETBALL AROUND THE WORLD

Netballers in Jamaica are celebrating this week after announcing another key sponsorship agreement. Jamaican lottery company Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) has announced a J$1.7 million (approx $20,000US) support package for Jamaica's senior netball team as it continues its preparation for the 2011 World Netball Championships with a three-Test series against Australia from January 12-16 at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC). Jamaica Netball Association president Marva Barnard is pictured receiving the cheque from Sonia Davidson of SVL (right) while team captain Simone Forbes and coach Connie Francis look on.

Following the success of the organisation's development programme in 2010, Vanuatu Netball Association (VNA) has announced it will be repeating its outreach activities in 2011, sending development officer Beverley Ligo and technical officer Sarah Murfett across the provinces to help develop players and officials in all areas. To encourage coach and official development as part of this activity, the VNA is offering scholarships to interested local coaches and umpires to accompany the officers as part of the annual programme. Applications for the scholarships close on 10 January 2011: for further information, please contact the VNA via its website: www.oceaniasport.com/vannetball or email vanuatunetball@gmail.com

England Netball has announced its squad to face New Zealand in January 2011 in a three match test series. Co-captains Karen Atkinson and Sonia Mkoloma will be supported by vice captain Pamela Cookey in the leadership role. The remaining members of the squad are: Sara Bayman, Eboni Beckford Chambers, Louisa Brownfield, Jade Clarke, Sasha Corbin, Rachel Dunn, Stacey Francis, Tamsin Greenway, Serena Guthrie, Jo Harten, Geva Mentor.

The Silver Ferns' dramatic double extra-time win over Australia in the Commonwealth Games gold medal match in Delhi has been rewarded by the New Zealand Olympic Committee. The Ferns have been awarded the Lonsdale Cup for 2010, the prestigious NZOC award made to an athlete or team that has made the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth sport in that year. Well done!

Congratulations, too, to England's Liz Broomhead, who was named as one of two national runners up at the prestigious BBC TV Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony in the Unsung Hero category. Broomhead, who attended the star-studded event and rubbed shoulders with many sporting greats, is now preparing for a trip to Zimbabwe in the new year to undertake further netball development work. Well done Liz!

Finally, Barbados Netball is searching for a new head coach, after the resignation of Alwyn Babb earlier this week. Babb, who masterminded the island's best ever finish - 7th - at the recent Commonwealth Games, cited disagreements with the new Barbados Netball Association president, Juanita Cordle, as the reason for his departure.

Netball Around the World

Netball Singapore has this week announced Mission Foods as the title sponsor of the Mission Foods World Netball Championships (WNC) 2011, in an agreement worth S$450,000 (approx $343,000US). The deal was concluded in recognition of the growing strength of netball in the Asia Pacific region and the global reach o fthe Mission Foods World Netball Championships. It also builds on the company’s existing support for netball, following its three year agreement as naming sponsor for the ANZ Queensland Firebirds earlier this year.

The draw for the Mission Foods WNC 2011 was made this week, with reigning champions Australia drawn with Sri Lanka, Northern Ireland and Samoa in the opening rounds. Commonwealth champions New Zealand will meet Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji and Wales while world number three side England have been placed with Malawi, Barbados and Malaysia. The final group sees the 2007 bronze medallists Jamaica up against Singapore, South Africa and Botswana. At the end of the round robin stages, the top eight teams will compete in the Grand Final series, while the bottom eight sides will play off for positions 9-16.

Wales gave themselves the best possible festive gift with an impressive 53-30 win over Scotland in the final of the NTUC Fairprice Foundations Nations Cup final, after losing 41-48 to the same opponents in the round robin stages of the competition. This was the first appearance in the competition for Wales, who overturned the world rankings to beat Scotland, ranked one place above them. Tanzania defeated hosts Singapore 54-41 to take third place. The team is pictured with IFNA President Molly Rhone at the presentation of the trophy.

Netball New Zealand has made one change to its Commonwealth gold medal winning squad for the three match test series against England, to be played in January. Anna Thompson, who starred for New Zealand’s Fastnet Ferns in their win at the World Netball Series, replaces Temepara George, who is unavailable following recent minor ankle surgery. The full squad for the series is: Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant, Joline Henry, Laura Langman, Liana Leota (nee Barrett-Chase), Grace Rasmussen, Anna Scarlett, Anna Thompson, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk, Casey Williams (Capt), Daneka Wipiiti.

England’s selectors have added two new names – Rosie Allison and Lindsay Keable – to the country’s national squad for 2011. Both players have gained experience on overseas tours and as training partners for international test series but this is the first official selection for both. The full England squad for 2011 is: Rosie Allison, Karen Atkinson, Sara Bayman, Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Louisa Brownfield, Jade Clarke, Pamela Cookey, Sasha Corbin, Rachel Dunn, Stacey Francis, Tamsin Greenway, Serena Guthrie, Jo Harten, Naida Hutchinson, Lindsay Keable, Geva Mentor, Sonia Mkoloma.

Netball Barbados has launched its new website – www.barbadosnetball.com which will be used to communicate information about the game at all levels across the island. Visit the site to find out more about netball in Barbados and to sign up for the regular newsletter.

Finally, back in England, Netball North West has teamed up with Cancer Research and Race for Life to raise money for the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer. All netball leagues, clubs and schools in the North West are being asked to support Netball Pink week (24-30 January 2011) by donating £1 per person and wearing something pink when playing netball during the week. Good luck to all the participants.