Kentish Express Ashford & District
Winners take a bow
The Winter League’s winners, runners-up and star players were called up to receive their awards at Ashford Netball League’s presentation night.
Those who help the league run smoothly were also recognised at the evening, staged at the Ashford International Sports and Social Club.
The Bev Homewood Award is awarded annually to a person who has made an ‘outstanding contribution to the league’. This year’s winner was Sharon Williams, who allocates umpires to games and keeps a record of changes throughout the season.
Members of the league vote every year for their favourite umpires.
The winners this year were Sally Baldock, Sue Ellis, Denise Chittenden, Jane Brown and Dawn Cox, who were noted for their fair and unbiased umpiring as well as stepping in to cover for absent umpires, often at the last minute.
The number of qualified umpires in ANL has dropped over recent years, so having covering umpires for games is essential for the league to continue. There is always an opening for existing C award umpires to join the league as either playing or non-playing umpires.
Allison Evans received the Unsung Heroes Award for her regular and long-standing support at the payand-play sessions.
Winners, runners-up and star players for the four winter leagues:
Pool Snap: Winners: HSD Black, runners-up: Goldwyn, star player: Leanne Nimmo (Pick n Mix).
Pool Crackle: Winners: Breakaways Gold, runners-up: Cherrytree Northstar, star player:Trudy Temple (Barretts) and Anna Hendry (Cherrytree).
Pool Pop: Winners: Homewood, runners-up: Dolphins, star player: Heather Langford-Smith (Tenterden Tornadoes).
Indoor league: Winners: Simply Red Rebels, runners-up: Break-ins, star player: Charlotte Reardon (Highly Strung Divas).
The floodlights and thermals will still be needed for the first matches of the Summer League which started this Monday and will continue on Monday and Tuesday nights at Courtside Sports facility on Stanhope Road.
The 27 teams will be playing in three divisions, until the end of July.
Walking netball in Ashford has been a great success and is continuing on Wednesday evenings from 7pm until 8.30pm at the Towers School.
Please see ashfordnetball.org. uk for further details. It is open to anyone of any age who would like to take part in a gentler version of the running netball.