Hotel group in netball link-up

A hotel group with West Highland links has become an official sponsor of a leading netball team in Scotland.

Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, which runs three properties across Glencoe and Ballachulish, has sponsored the Strathclyde Sirens for 2021-22.

With its home court at the world-class Emirates Arena, Glasgow, and partnered with the University of Strathclyde, they are the country’s only semi-professional national female netball team and compete in the UK-wide Vitality Netball Superleague.

To kick start the partnership, the hotel group is supporting the roll out of nine summer camps and outdoor recreational leagues. The summer camps are taking place in the Emirates Arena Glasgow, Aberdeen Sports Village and at St George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh.

Aimed at girls and boys aged nine to 16, youngsters can challenge themselves with ball skills and fun fitness drills, as well as competing in friendly matches led by Sirens players.

Claire Nelson, chief executive officer of Sirens Netball and Netball Scotland, said sports helped with mental health and physical exercise but many young people had missed out. She said: ‘We can’t wait to be back out delivering more camps and events over the summer holidays. It’s fantastic to launch the partnership with Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels.’

Fiona Leckie, of the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, said: ‘The leagues and camps will give more than 2,000 people a much-needed escape from day-to-day life and a return to camaraderie and team games. In the last 12 months, families have been juggling work commitments and home schooling, having very little time outside the home so, in the same way that netball is good for mental health, we also see escaping to one of our eight locations across Scotland as good for the soul and wellbeing too.’

To find out more and book a slot visit www.netballscotland.com