Netball around the World

With 100 days to go to the start of the Mission Foods World Netball Championships 2011, Netball Singapore today (Friday) unveiled the mascot for the competition. Netalia, the lion club (pictured above) was named by Jody Harris of Australia after a world-wide competition. The mascot will now tour schools across Singapore to generate interest in the competition. Netball Singapore this week also confirmed that more than $S1million (£US795,000) has already been raised in sponsorship for the Championships, which get under way on 3 July.

The umpires for the Mission Foods World Netball Championships have also been announced this week. Those appointed by IFNA to officiate are: Rachel Ayre, Paula Ferguson, Sharon Kelly, Clare McCabe, Kate Wright (all from Australia), Marion Johnson Hurley (Barbados), Gary Burgess, Judith Groves, Louise Travis (all from England), Dalton Hinds (Jamaica), Liz Boon, Jonathan Bredin, Bobbi Brown, Bronwyn Meek, Mandy Nottingham (all from New Zealand), Theresa Prince (South Africa), Joel Young Strong (Trinidad and Tobago).

The venue for the 2015 World Netball Championships has been announced, with Sydney edging out Manchester for the right to host the event. Netball Australia has vowed to work with IFNA to further develop netball among the emerging nations in the run up to the championships while IFNA delegates considering the bid were impressed by Sydney's facilities, a legacy from the 2000 Olympics. The city last hosted the competition in 1991, the first time that the Championships were held in an indoor stadium, when Australia defeated New Zealand 53-52 in a thrilling final.

South Africa's selectors have this week named their squad to compete at the World Netball Championships, with six changes to the line up. Former captain Lizel Wium and vice captain Precious Mthembu have both been ruled out of the competition through injury, so Amanda Myndhardt has been named as captain, with Nthabiseng Moabi as vice captain. The full squad is: Claudia Basson, Christina Anna Bootha, Erin Burger, Zykelwa Cwaba, Nosiphiwo Goda, Maryka Hotzhausen, Tsakane Mbewe, Nthabiseng Moabi, Karla Mostert, Amanda Mynhardt (capt), Nokuthula Qegu, Carine Terblanche, Vaness-Mari Du Toit, Leigh-Ann Zackey.

The government of Tanzania has confirmed this week that it will work to iron out problems with the contract of new national coach Simone McKinnis, after she encountered problems on arriving in the country late last year. Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi has presented a car to Chaneta, the governing body for netball in Tanzania, to be provided to McKinnis on her return to the country, and he has committed the government to fulfilling the terms of her employment in full.

Fiji's netballers have enjoyed mixed results on their Australian tour, losing to Sydney University 40-48 and 38-52 to club side Eastwood Ryde before notching up their first win with a 38-37 victory over the New South Wales Institute of Sport. The week-long tour aims to provide the squad with high level competitive experience as well as giving the country's selectors the chance to view players in pressure situations ahead of naming the Fiji squad to take part in the World Netball Championships, and Pacific Series later this year.

The Canterbury Tactix will play their postponed ANZ Championship game against Northern Mystics in Auckland on 7 April, with all proceeds from admission fees to benefit the Tactix and Canterbury Netball. The game, originally postponed after it was scheduled to be played five days after the February 22 earthquake, will be played at Auckland's Vector Arena, after its owners offered the venue free of charge for the game.

This weekend sees the ANZ Championship's Rivalry Round, where each match features a trans-Tasman match up. Scores will be totalled at the end of play, with the country netting the largest number of aggregate goals taking the 2011 Rivalry Round trophy, currently held by Australia. Undefeated league leaders the Queensland Firebirds will travel to Auckland to face the LG Mystics while Melbourne Vixens host the Mercury Energy Tactix. The Haier Pulse will hope to repeat last week's winning ways when they welcome the NSW Swifts to Wellington. The final two matches of the competition match the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel against the Adelaide Thunderbirds and West Coast Fever against the First Windows Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic.

Northern Thunder remain undefeated at the top of this year's Fiat Netball SuperLeague in the UK, after a 69-39 win against Leeds Carnegie to make it eight games without loss. The Thunder now face a busy weekend with fixtures against Celtic Dragons tonight (Friday) and Mavericks on Monday.

International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) announces umpires appointed for Mission Foods World Netball Championships 2011

IFNA has now appointed the umpires who will officiate at the forthcoming Mission Foods World Netball Championships 2011.
The 13th World Netball Championships will be held in Singapore at the Singapore Indoor Stadium between 3rd to 10th July 2011. The Championships take place every four years.
The 16 Participating Teams in 2011 are: Australia, Barbados, Botswana, England, Fiji, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malawi, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Samoa, Trinidad & Tobago and Wales.
The umpires appointed are as follows:

Australia
Rachael Ayre
Paula Ferguson
Sharon Kelly
Clare McCabe
Kate Wright
Barbados
Marion Johnson-Hurley
England
Gary Burgess
Judith Groves
Louise Travis
Jamaica
Dalton Hinds
New Zealand
Liz Boon
Jonathan Bredin
Bobbi Brown
Bronwyn Meek
Mandy Nottingham
South Africa
Theresa Prince
Trinidad & Tobago
Joel Young Strong


Fans across the globe are being encouraged to buy tickets early to secure a place at the top class event. Tickets can be purchased from the event website http://www.wnc2011.com/

Further information available from IFNA
ifna@netball.org

IFNA announces host for World Netball Championships 2015

Sydney, Australia will host the 14th World Netball Championships in 2015. The decision was announced today by netball’s world governing body IFNA (International Federation of Netball Associations) following a meeting of the IFNA Board of Directors.

Sydney was competing against Manchester to host the Championships. The IFNA Board appointed an Evaluation Committee to visit both cities and undertake a comprehensive evaluation process.

The Evaluation Committee found that the standard of both bids was extremely high but Sydney had a number of features which were exceptional. The Sydney Olympic Park precinct will provide an extraordinary environment for the athletes, with world class accommodation, training and competition venues all within walking distance. This, in combination with a commitment to deliver “the most commercially successful World Netball Championships ever”, was central to the decision appointing Sydney as the successful host city for 2015.

Molly Rhone, President of IFNA commented: “I am delighted to confirm that the World Netball Championships 2015 will be held at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia. Sydney Olympic Park is truly magnificent and will provide unique infrastructure, facilities, venues and accommodation for our event. We are certain that athletes, officials and spectators will have an amazing experience in Sydney and we look forward to working with New South Wales Events and Netball Australia as they commence their preparations.”

Netball’s hottest competition returns to Liverpool!

International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) announces Echo Arena Liverpool to host World Netball Series 2011

This year the Echo Arena Liverpool will once again host the World Netball Series. IFNA announced the decision today on behalf of the event’s stakeholder group which includes England Netball, Liverpool City Council and the Echo Arena Liverpool.

The three day competition will commence on Friday 25thNovember and will conclude on Sunday 27thNovember with a celebratory Gala Dinner on the Sunday evening. Molly Rhone, President of IFNA commented: “I am delighted to confirm that this year’s World Netball Series will again be held at the Echo Arena Liverpool. Teams, officials and spectators really enjoyed the thrilling Fast Net competition last year. We know that this year will be even better and we look forward to another warm welcome from Liverpool City and the staff at the Echo Arena Liverpool. New Zealand has won the trophy for two years in a row and will be looking to defend their title but this tournament promises to be a very closely fought contest between the top six teams in the world”

The six countries competing in the competition, in IFNA World Ranking order are; New Zealand, Australia, England, Jamaica, South Africa and Fiji. According to the IFNA World Rankings the top teams in the world have shifted slightly with Fiji replacing Malawi from the event last year.

Another boisterous atmosphere is expected at the Echo Arena over the weekend with the event once again due to attract netball lovers in their thousands.

Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon said: “We are proud that this popular event is returning to the city for the second time. To be hosting the top six teams in the world means netball fans will be able to watch the sport at its very best. I’m sure the competitors and visitors, who will be arriving here from across the globe, will enjoy a typically warm Liverpool welcome.”

England Netball has taken the lead this year for the commercialisation of the event. Any parties interested in working with England Netball to deliver the commercial objectives of the stakeholder group should contact Joanna Adams, England Netball’s Head of Marketing joanna.adams@englandnetball.co.uk

Tickets for the event go on sale Friday 18th March. An early bird offer will be available until Sunday 8th May where you can save 17% on match tickets! To purchase your tickets and for further details visit http://www.echoarena.com/

Picture shows Jamaica v England last year.

Netball around the world

Namibian netballer Jatjinda “Toetsie” Kambatuku is to become her country's first representative in an overseas league competition, after accepting an invitation to join the Team Northumbria franchise in the UK's Superleague for the remainder of the season. Kambatuku, who arrived in England this week, first represented her country in 2006 and has since become a regular fixture in the Namibian side, playing in the African Nations Cup, COSANA Games and Nations Cup in Singapore. She is pictured receiving a cheque from the All Nambibia Netball Association (ANNA) as a contribution to her expenses while living in England.



Northern Thunder remains the only undefeated side in the Fiat Netball Superleague, after a thrilling 52-49 win over reigning champions TeamBath in front of a record crowd at the Bath University Training Village. However, last season's runners-up Mavericks are still on top of the league table, having played two games more than Thunder: this week, they recorded a 47-24 win over Glasgow Wildcats.



Scotiabank has this week renewed its support for the Jamaica Netball Association U13 and U16 development programmes with a $J12 million (approx $140,000) commitment over the next three years. The new sponsorship agreement will also cover the development of a new umpiring support programme as well as providing funding for one U21 player in the run up to the World Youth Championships in Glasgow in 2013.



Still in Jamaica, former Australian coach Jill McIntosh has now commenced her five month placement as technical director for the Sunshine Girls. Working alongside coach Connie Francis and assistant coaches Annette Daley, Oberon Pitterson and Minneth Reynolds, McIntosh is developing and implementing a strategic plan which aims to improve Jamaica's performances at international level.



Dubai A turned the tables on Abu Dhabi A to be crowned champions in the 25th annual Inter-Gulf Netball Championships, played at the Hilton Hotel, Al Ain. The Abu Dhabi side had won the tournament for the past two years, defeating Dubai on both occasions but this year, Dubai A were in no mood for defeat, leading from the start of the final and taking the title 14-7. The British School Al Khubairat's U19 A team won the Social Cup title. More than 200 players in 25 teams from across the Gulf took part in the competition.



24 coaches and students from Budehaven School in the UK will be travelling to Ethiopia later this month as part of a Dreams and Teams Project in association with the Youth Sport Trust. The Budehaven party will run workshops designed to improve a broad range of learning and literacy skills for players, coaches and umpires and will work with teachers from 15 districts in and around Assossa to extend netball's reach across the region.



The Queensland Firebirds and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic remain undefeated at the top of the ANZ Championship table, but the Magic were pushed all the way this week by a gritty performance from the Mercury Energy Tactix, before winning 63-56 after extra time. It was a poignant first game for the Tactix since the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February but the side showed no signs of missing out on training time, pushing the star-studded Magic side all the way in a thrilling encounter.

Netball Around the World

Former Netball Fiji coach Yvonne Willering and Melbourne Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg have agreed to assist Fiji with the national side's preparations for this summer's World Championships. Willering will be on the island in the next two weeks to help coach Gabriel Qoro in the run up to the Pacific Series while Hoornweg, who coached Fiji to sixth place at the 1999 World Netball Championships, will work closely with the squad in the run up to Singapore. Mai TV Fiji has announced this week that it has secured the rights to air the Mission Foods World Netball Championships live across Oceania. All 34 matches will be covered, with Samoa and Fiji's games aired free. Stations in Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Cook Islands are also expected to show coverage of the championships. Also this week IFNA announced the match schedule for the Championships. Ticket sales have been steady and fans are advised to book now to avoid disappointment.

Following last week's devastating earthquake in Christchurch, the Canterbury Tactix home game against Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic has been moved to Rotorua. The Tactix home venue, the CBS Canterbury Arena, sustained significant damage during the earthquake and is not expected to be ready to host events until after 15 March. After the costs of moving the match have been covered, it is expected that the Tactix will donate a proportion of the ticket sales revenue to the earthquake relief fund.

Australian defender Julie Corletto made a welcome return to the court this week, after missing the Commonwealth Games with a serious knee injury. Corletto, who has 20 international caps to date, successfully negotiated two quarters for Boondara in the Holden Cruze Cup and has been cleared by the Melbourne Vixens physio team to rejoin the ANZ squad for this weekend's crucial fixture against New Zealand's Northern Mystics. The Queensland Firebirds and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic are currently tied at the top of the table with three wins from three games, with the Vixens (2/2) and Mystics (2/3) right behind them.

The Namibian netball season starts this weekend with an Open tournament to be held in the Khomas region. Namibia's national side will play an exhibition match to open proceedings before the competition, which is open to all club and school sides, gets under way.

Hertfordshire Mavericks remain at the top of the UK's Fiat Netball Superleague, two points ahead of reigning champions TeamBath and the league's only undefeated side Northern Thunder. However, the team from the North West were given a scare this week by a fast improving Celtic Dragons squad, before finally taking the win 50-44. Dragons' head coach Melissa Hyndman was once again full of praise for her star Grenadan shooter Lottysha Cato, who netted 32 goals from 39 attempts to keep the Welsh side in contention right through to the final whistle.

Netball continues to make inroads in France, with news of two club sides which are now training and playing regularly in Paris and Montpellier. Any players or administrators interested in getting involved should email: ruthhelme@gmail.com or joya.belic@gmail.com.

Finally news from Ethiopia, who are now holding a local competition between the Nigat and Ruhama schools. The competition was very well attended and the Nigat school netball team was the winner so congratulations to them and to the organisers for getting Ethiopia netball well and truly on the map. Picture shows the girls in action.

International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) announce match schedule for Mission Foods World Netball Championships 2011

Netball fans world-wide are in for a treat as the playing schedule for the fast approaching World Netball Championships 2011 is announced.

The top sixteen netball nations in the world will come together in Singapore in July this year to compete in this key event.

Fans across the globe are being encouraged to buy tickets early to secure a place at the top class event. Tickets can be purchased from the event website http://www.wnc2011.com

The 13th World Netball Championships will be held in Singapore at the Singapore Indoor Stadium between 3rd – 10th July 2011. The Championships take place every four years. The last Championships took place in 2007 in New Zealand, the Gold medal was won by Australia with New Zealand taking silver and Jamaica bronze.

The 16 Participating Teams in 2011 are: Australia, Barbados, Botswana, England, Fiji, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malawi, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Samoa, Trinidad & Tobago and Wales.


For Full Match Schedule visit IFNA Website: http://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=461