Melksham netballers represent county at national awards

TWO Melksham walking netball hosts, Sue Mortimer and Caroline Hooper, represented Wiltshire Council who won the National Rose Award at this year’s National Goalden Globe Awards. 

At the annual Goalden Globe Awards, England Netball recognise and celebrate the contribution of its volunteers in the sport. This year’s presentation took place in Nottingham on Saturday 15th September. 

Wiltshire Council, who work alongside walking netball hosts in towns across the county, were awarded the National Rose Award  for their exceptional contribution to netball within the last 12 months. The award acknowledged the expansion of walking netball in Wiltshire, which has been instigated by Wiltshire Council and the efforts of a growing band of volunteers. 

Sue Mortimer said, “This is a highly prestigious win for the county and everyone involved in the setting up and running of the walking netball clubs in Wiltshire should be truly proud.”

Others involved included Becca Higgs, sports development officer at Wiltshire Council, hosts Janice Wright from Corsham, Hilary Lambson from Tidworth and Nikki Foote from Trowbridge.

Wiltshire Council delivers eight walking netball sessions across the county, with new sessions launched in Calne and Marlborough this month. Since the launch in 2016, more than 200 women aged from 31 to 83 years have tried the sport.   

John Thomson, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for leisure said, “This is a thrilling achievement, so much credit is due to all our brilliant volunteers who give up their time to encourage new players and to build the sport right across the county. 

“The walking netball programme allows people to return to sport, and opens doors to new friendships, improved fitness and is lots of fun. I’d encourage anybody looking to re-engage with sport to give walking netball a go,” said cllr Thomson. 

The walking netball programme runs alongside other Wiltshire Council walking sports sessions, including rugby, hockey and football. Visit www.wilt shire.gov.uk/leisure-return ing-to-sport to see the full range. 

For more information email SportsDevelopment@ wiltshire.gov.uk.