College Netball

Villa Maria College Netball has a lengthy and proud history. Some famous former "Villa Girls" who have achieved top NZ netball representation and Silver Ferns honours include:

  • Pauline Knaggs (nee Flynn 1970-1973)
  • Bernice Nash (nee Mene 1988-1992) and
  • Anna Galvan (nee Veronese 1992-1996)

 

In 2008 our Senior A team made netball history when they became the first ever Christchurch team, and second only South Island team to win the NZ Secondary Schools' championship title. This was a major achievement for the team made up of the following players:

  • Philippa Dean(Captain), Ellen Halpenny, Hannah Poff, Joanna Trip, Nicole Brown, Stephanie Green, Grace Prendergast, Sophie Shingleton, Sam Robinson, Addie Keast and Jaime Bracewell.

These girls had an outstanding season, coming second in the Wednesday Supernet competition, playing in the highest grade (Premier) in the Christchurch Netball Centre Saturday competition and also winning the 2008 South Island Secondary Schools' Netball title.

 

Further individual achievements for 2008 players include:

  • Ellen Halpenny:      
    Canterbury Tactix, NZ Secondary Schools' team, NZ U21, Canterbury NPC, Canterbury U21
  • Hannah Poff:          
    NZ Secondary Schools' team, NZ U21, Canterbury NPC, Canterbury U19
  • Philippa Dean:        
    Canterbury B NPC, Canterbury U19

Watch out in the coming years for more news of these talented players!

 

After the hugely successful 2008 season of our senior A team, the 2009 season has been one of rebuilding and development as most of the 2008 team have now left school. The future looks bright for many of the 2009 senior A team players as seven of the nine players have been selected for Canterbury age group representation this season. These players are:

  • U19         Grace Prendergast
  • U17         Lauren Robb, Georgia Cassidy, Anna Hibberd, Michelle Barry
  • U16         Sophie Shingleton, Laura Foster

Other younger players who have achieved representative status in 2009 are:

  • U15                                     Natalie Cox
  • U14 Development Team        Bailey Jeffrey-Butler, Georgia Hale, Libby Bell, Lucy Shingleton, Naomi Williams
    Primary Schools Y7/8            Jessica Gorrie

During the 2009 July school holidays, Villa Year 9A and Year 10A teams played in the South Island Secondary Schools' Junior Netball Tournament. The Year 9 team placed 5th out of 32 teams with the Year 10 team placing 2nd out of 32 teams. Congratulations to Lucy Shingleton (Year 9) for being named as one of 10 identified talented players and to Katie Rasmussen (Year 12) for being named as one of five identified talented umpires.

 

The VMC Netball Club Committee is a group of volunteer parents who work to promote netball within the college. The committee oversees all trials, selections of teams, coaching, umpiring and registration.

Contact Details:     

  • President:        Maria Foster             Phone 3499 658
  • Vice President: Cathy Shingleton      Phone 3426 026
  • Secretary:       Carmel Brown          Phone 3328 912

 

Registration:          
Takes place early in Term 1 each year. All girls who register with VMC Netball play in the Christchurch Netball Centre Competition. Games are played each Saturday during the season, which runs from the start of Term 2 through to the end of Term 3.  In 2009 we have 27 teams registered with Christchurch Netball.

 

Trials:   
Trials are held in the College gymnasium from late February. For specific registration and trial dates, see the College's newsletter in February or phone one of the committee members.

 

Coaches/Managers:
We are always looking for volunteers who can help by coaching or managing a team. Contact one of the committee for more details.