Another chapter in Kathleen Henderson Memorial tournament

Back in the day: This shot of the 1961 Kathleen Henderson Memorial tournament is from the oldest set of netball — or basketball as it was known then — negatives in the photography department’s files. It is from a game between GMC and Te Karaka. Educats won the Kathleen Henderson trophy, beating HSOG A1 17-14 in the final. The 2018 edition is being held tomorrow at the Victoria Domain courts.

THE district’s netballers swing into action tomorrow for the first time this year when 30 teams take the Victoria Domain courts in the annual Kathleen Henderson Memorial tournament.

The pre-season hit-out before the senior competition starts next weekend has been popular since its inception in 1942.

“It’s a great opportunity for coaches and teams to test out combinations,” said Gisborne Netball Centre manager Allisa Hall. “The new entries to our Pak’nSave senior competition will have a good chance to test their skills against other teams.”

Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty zone umpire lead Jan Teesdale will also be here to conduct umpire assessments and workshops on Saturday.

“She will observe umpires during the tournament so this is a fantastic start to the season for them.”

Teams compete in four grades for various memorial shields.

A-grade teams compete for the Kathleen Henderson Memorial Shield, which was donated by the Henderson family in 1942 in memory of their daughter, a talented young sportswoman.

“Kathleen Henderson was a Gisborne Girls High’ School and Poverty Bay representative player who died at the age of 17,” said Hall.

“She was an all-round athlete and sister of All Black Peter Henderson.”

Tairawhiti Maori open team are back to defend the A-grade titleThe Tairawhiti Maori open team are back to defend the A-grade title and will be joined in the grade by Tairawhiti Maori under-19s.

“These teams are competing in preparation for the Aotearoa Maori nationals in Gisborne over Easter.”

Hall said last year’s runners-up Claydens Waikohu would also be back and looking to go one better, “so expect some great games in this grade”.”

B-grade teams compete for the Patsy Burke Memorial Shield in memory of a Poverty Bay representative who died when a ferry she was on sank in Tauranga.

“She was a stalwart of the St Mary’s Old Girls, Grey Wing and HSOG netball clubs.”

The 2017 winners, Gisborne Glass Ngatapa, have not entered but with runners-up Tatapouri Sportsfit returning and Tairawhiti Maori under-17s and 2017 C-grade winners Tairawhiti u15s in the mix, Hall also expects this to be closely contested.

C-grade teams compete for the Elizabeth Crawford Memorial Shield donated by the Crawford family and Grey Wing Netball Club in 1974.

Crawford was a founding member of the Grey Wing Club and competed at top level netball. She died of a blood disorder.

“This year the C-grade features our winter A reserve grade teams Whatatutu and XLR8, along with relatively new team combinations.

“With the 2017 winners and runners-up (Horouta Taimana) playing in B-grade this year, this grade is wide open for new winners,” Hall said.

The D-grade teams contest the Dawn Gallagher Shield, named after a top representative player and top New Zealand umpire, who died of meningitis.

“Gallagher was one of the driving forces behind the Poverty Bay umpires. During her reign, Gisborne had one of the strongest groups of national umpires per capita in New Zealand.”

“Hikurangi will be looking to defend the D-grade title, however, with two Claydens Waikohu teams, the Tairawhiti Maori under-13s and some new entries, this should also be a well-contested grade.”