Hamilton umpires at championship tournaments

From left: Umpires Andrea Hall, Wids Wilson, Ruth Robinson. Photo / Judy Macdonald

The current school holidays see a number of netball championships occurring.

Firstly, the Waste Management North Island Under 15 Championship starts on Sunday, 8 July and is hosted annually in New Plymouth by Netball Taranaki.

This is one of the biggest netball tournaments in the country with 56 teams entered in the three day tournament that will run until 10 July 2018.
Secondly, the Netball NZ U17 Champs which was established in 2009 is Netball New

Zealand's largest event with up to 40 Netball Centres competing in the four-day, outdoor tournament.

It is Netball NZ's only domestic event held outdoors and this year is being held in Palmerston North from 16 – 19 July 2018.

Thirdly, the Netball NZ U19 Champs which have occurred since 1993 and involves up to 20 Centres competing in this four-day, indoor tournament and this year is being held in Tauranga from 9 – 12 July 2018.

All the above mentioned championships are an excellent pathway not just for players, but also coaches, umpires and other officials to gain experience at the next level.

A number of qualified umpires from Trust Waikato Hamilton City Netball Centre (TWHCNC) are attending as follows:

•Waste Management U15 Championships in New Plymouth - Stacey King, Fiona Miller and Kira Morrison

•Netball NZ U17 Championships in Palmerston North - Andrea Hall, Ruth Robinson, Turanita Tipene, Shelly Harrison, Ella Higgins, Te Kaweora Enoka Barton

•Netball NZ U19 Championships in Tauranga - Ashlee Numa, Wids Wilson, Ceri Hills

For the U17s there are nine umpires going from the Waikato Bay of Plenty Zone and six of these umpire at TWHCNC which is a significant achievement and a credit to the coaching, mentoring and support provided at the centre.

Teams from TWHCNC will also be attending all events.