OK! TALKS TO NETBALL PLAYER SERENA GUTHRIE
ENGLAND NETBALL CAPTAIN SERENA GUTHRIE TALKS TO ok!’s EMILY WHITWAM ABOUT HER HOPES FOR THE WORLD CUP
the summer of sport has begun, and in the words of Beyoncé: ‘Who runs the world? girls!’ While england’s Lionesses have impressed in France at the Fifa Women’s World Cup, July will see the world’s netball elite take over Liverpool for the Vitality netball World Cup 2019.
Leading the host nation is captain serena guthrie, who was a member of england’s gold medal-winning squad at last year’s Commonwealth games, and will no doubt be hoping to recreate her former skipper ama agbeze’s success. Cheering serena on from the sidelines will be her fiancé, Bob Kersten. the lovedup pair met in Bali three years ago and got engaged in may.
Here, serena, 29, shares her hopes of leading her squad to victory and reveals how she met her husband-to-be…
Congratulations on your engagement! How did your fiancé Bob propose?
He did it the right way, going back to Jersey to ask my parents. We had to catch an early boat back home with our dachshund Bobby, so i was pretty grumpy on the way. He got me out on a bike ride and we went to the beach that i used to play on when i was younger and he’d hidden the ring in some rocks. i had no idea! my parents were so excited. We haven’t started planning the wedding yet, but we’d love to do it in Jersey with an informal beach setting.
How did you meet? i met him in Bali three years ago. He was surfing and living out there at the time. He just came up to me at a beach party, and that’s how it all started. it’s a good story now that it’s all worked out. How do you feel about being selected as the captain ahead of the World Cup? nervous. after the call, i thought, oh god, what have i just signed myself up for? But my family and friends helped to rationalise my nerves and i’ve become more and more excited about playing a home World Cup with an amazing group of girls.
Is there competitiveness within the team? no, those that haven’t been chosen are so happy for the girls that have. We’re in a threeweek intensive training camp at the moment, which includes both selected and non-selected players. the non-selected girls are pushing the others so hard. they still play a part in the journey, which is pretty inspirational. i’ve been in positions before where i haven’t been selected, but you know deep down that the best group are going.
How would it feel for you to win on home turf? amazing! you’ve got to dare to dream but it is possible. i think it’s nice going into a competition knowing that you can do it. Being on home soil will drive us all the more.
How often do you train in the run-up?
We have four-day camps at the moment up in Loughborough, running monday to thursday. We train two or three times a day – we’re up at 8am and have video sessions as well. they’re quite informal but that’s just the group trying to get eyes on the opposition in the lead-up!
Who has been your main source of support throughout your career? my family support me massively. my fiancé is pretty amazing. i’m looking forward to seeing them out in the crowds – they ride the highs and lows with you. the Commonwealth games was a big moment for my family. i left home at 16 to pursue netball, and to achieve something was amazing for them as well.