McClintock on top of game

Snaring the Whangarei Netballer of the Year Award topped off a challenging but rewarding year for Jess McClintock Maihi.
The bubbly 19-year-old was awarded the prestigious prize for her contribution as a player to Whangarei Netball during the 2010 season at the annual prizegiving, held recently at the Kensington Park Pavilion.
"I wasn't expecting to win this award but it's a great thing to have achieved," she said.
Not only did McClintock play premier grade netball for Fideliter 2, she was also a Whangarei Under-19 representative, part of the High Performance Centre, as well as coaching the Whangarei Year 7 representative team. She also helped co-ordinate V Ball - five a-side netball - at Whangarei Netball Centre, along with spending many Saturdays umpiring senior and intermediate games.
"It was a good year of netball, very busy but it was cool. Fideliter 2 didn't place so well coming seventh in the premier grade but the team got along really well and we enjoyed our season - some of the score lines didn't reflect how well we played. It was a high standard of competition in premier grade this year," the goal attack/goal shoot said.
Meanwhile, her under-19 representative side placed second at a tournament in Auckland.
This year, McClintock coached her first team, the Whangarei Year 7.
She said: "It was rewarding - the team did really well - they placed third at two tournaments in their first year competing at them."
At this stage, McClintock was not sure of her plans for next year, but if she was still based in Whangarei, she would be more than happy to keep coaching, playing and improving her own netball.
Whangarei Netball president Judy Macdonald said McClintock was a no-brainer for the award.
"Jess is willing, reliable, conscientious, committed and is a good role model for younger players," she said.
Whangarei Netball's Outstanding Player of the Year went to Whangarei Girls High School's Sian Telfer for the second consecutive year.
The award was chosen from the three Best All Round trophy winners Defence was won by Sophie Tua, Mid Court went to Telfer and Shooter was taken out by Loren Weekes.
The 17-year-old centre had another impressive year with the Wghs 1 premier team, helping them to a third place in the preliminary round, which the side backed up to win the 2010 championship.
Telfer was an Under-21 Netball North representative as well as reserve for the Transtasman Secondary Schools team.
She was also an identified leader and part of the High Performance Centre.
Macdonald said Telfer won the award as she was the best netballer in her respective position, exhibiting fair play.
This Wednesday Whangarei Netball Centre are hosting the V Ball Challenge, at the Kensington Park courts. The competition is for Years 5-8 and it kicks off from 5.30pm. Phone Sue Cresswell on (09) 4371950 for information.