MONMOUTH Netball Club invited their members to take part in a fun netball tournament to raise money for the club. Members asked their friends, work colleagues, mums and dads to play.
Sian Edwards, from Profile Hair Salon, sponsored the event which took place at Monmouth Leisure Centre.
Ten teams entered and players ranged in age from eight to the over forties and were all shapes and sizes!
There were two groups. Group One consisted of the Coolas (Year 10 from Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls), the Red Devils (Sixth Formers from Monmouth Comprehensive School), Ball Handlers, Hakalu BJs and Sevenstars (Year 7 from the Comprehensive). InGroup Two were Gillyweeds (read Harry Potter!), M and Ms, PinkLadies, Royal Jokes and the Baptist Ball Hoggers.
Sevenstars put up a good fight against their Sixth Formers and lost by only three goals. The BJs showed promise but Lucy and Hannah should have drafted their Dad, Mike Beeks, into their side instead of allowing the Baptist Ball Hoggers to poach him! The Coolas, captained by Anika Farrar, were the winners of the group, beating the Red Devils into second place.
Pink Ladies, captained by Anneka Haines and Kirsty Chorley, were winners of Group Two. Their secret tactic of drafting in Miss A Burns, their P.E. teacher, was a good move and Bryony Williams shot extremely well.
It was enjoyable to watch previous members of the club playing in the Gillyweed side, notably Sue Clark, Helen Curtis, Brenda and Hayley Christopher.
Lucy Ward's team from the Royal Oak played well in all their matches and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
The Baptist Hall Hoggers, captained by Rosie Whaley, had an extremely enthusiastic badminton player in their midst - Geoff Robinson! But although he tried his hand at various positions, he was unable to get his team through to the semi-finals.
The final was between the Coolas and the Red Devils, plus Byron Hapgood making his debut for the team as goalkeeper. He has previously been so impressed with his daughters' achievements at netball that he had decided to join them! However, despite good shooting from Katy Hapgood, the Red Devils were unable to beat the Coolas. They were undoubtedly the fittest team of the tournament and they played extremely well as a unit.
The Mayoress of Monmouth (Cllr Mrs Sue White) presented the Coolas with trophies and the Reds Devils with runners-up medals.
Thanks are expressed to Miss A Burns, Katy Hapgood and Heather Peachey who kindly helped with the umpiring and Londis and King's Fee Spa Shop for donating prizes for the draw. Thanks must also go to Monmouth Leisure Centre who were very supportive throughout the afternoon and understanding when the tournament overran by 30 minutes. Finally, thanks to Sian Edwards from Profile for sponsoring the event and to Mandy McDonald for all her hard work.