Local netball coming of age

The sport of Netball remains the major sporting outlet for females and the colourful display at last Sunday’s opening of the LIME National Club Tournament at the Arnos Vale Netball Complex gave testimony to this.{{more}}

And, Gloria Ballantyne, who has been at the helm of netball for more than three decades, is pleased that the sport has survived the test of time.

Ballantyne, who began playing the sport from about the age of 10, disclosed to SEARCHLIGHT that netball has come a long way.

She recalled competitive netball being played at the Victoria Park, at the area of the court house in Kingstown; at the area which now houses LIME’s main office in Kingstown, as well as the area where the national library is located.

Records also show that netball was hosted in the vicinity where the Postal Corporation head office in Kingstown is located.

Ballantyne is delighted that she played a pivotal role in the St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association getting its own home, the Kingstown Netball Centre, formerly, the Nutricia Centre.

A delighted Ballantyne, who was present at last Sunday’s opening, said she was happy be in charge of the national association when the Arnos Vale Netball Complex was constructed to host the Caribbean Netball Association senior tournament in 1978.

And, among those who were present at Sunday’s proceedings, was the former St Vincent and the Grenadines captain, the iconic Stella Boyea-Ashby, who was part of the St Vincent and the Grenadines team that year.

Ballantyne said she was pleased with the strides made over the years, but thinks more can be done to take the sport forward.

At last Sunday’s opening, it was announced that the 2013 national tournament, which sees the return of LIME as title sponsor after a four year absence, marks 60 years since the formation of the national association.

At the opening and march past, 31 of the 33 registered teams were on parade.

Addresses were made by president of the SVG Netball Association Dellarice Duncan who expressed her gratitude to LIME for coming on board once again to partner with the association.

Duncan also commented on the elements of the partnership being extended to LIME’s scholarship programme, LIME’s internet summer programme and the Phenomenal Women Conference to be held here in April of this year.

Leslie Jack, general manager of LIME, in his address at the opening, praised the young women for the power they have and stressed that as long as the women are willing to commit to the development of the sport, his company will continue the sponsorship and development of netball in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Taking the best dressed award for the second year running was Courts Maple, with Western Union Mitres second.

In the best banner adjudication, Vita Malt Maple took the first place, ahead of Bank of SVG All Stars.

In the competition game which followed Sunday’s opening, Dutch Lady Clinchers beat ASCO 2: 29 — 13 and Barrouallie Sports Association All Stars defeated Prime Consulting 3J’s Valley Stars 54 to 38.

In the feature game, NBC Radio 705 outdid RSVG Police 45-39. (RT)