BATHURST’S Clancy Best was named most valuable player in her pool during her Western Region Academy of Sport (WRAS) side’s strong Greater Bank Academy Challenge campaign in Orange over the long weekend.
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It was a memorable tournament for the home WRAS group who won the division one tournament, while Best and her division two squad finishing third.
The challenge, hosted in conjunction with Netball NSW, was the first of its kind in the region and welcomed athletes, coaches and officials from across the state.
Eleven regional academies and one metro Sydney academy participated in the event bringing with them up to 300 players.
Orange City Council’s Sport and Recreation Committee Chair, Councilor Jason Hamling, said he was proud council had donated $4,000 to make this event a reality in the city.
“It’s great for our young netballers to have this kind of training, experience and exposure,” he said.
“It’s also great for the local economy as each netballer generally brings with them a parent or two and a sibling.
“They all need to stay in the city and eat at our cafes and restaurants.
“Sport tourism is booming in regional NSW and we’re only too happy to reap that benefit.”
Up to 900 people travelled to Orange over the long weekend as spectators, athletes, coaches, officials and staff for the challenge.
Netball NSW Regional Development and Pathways Unit Manager, Mardi Aplin, said the Orange event would not have been possible without the support from all the Netball NSW umpire and coach mentors - Chris Hall, Bron Adams, Emma Corefield, Anita Keelan, Maria Lunch, Lenore Blades and Abby McCulloch.
The WRAS squad took full benefit of the home ground advantage.
“The squad really wanted to win this event given we were hosting the tournament and we had more than half our squad graduating from the program after this tournament,” WRAS Executive Officer Candice Boggs said.
“To top things off our Head Coach, Linda Macleod (Gulgong) was assessed by Netball NSW for her Elite Coaching Accreditation and passed.”