Llanelli netball club gets national accolade


A community netball club started on the school yard has received a glowing endorsement from the sport’s governing body.
The Llanelli Blues Netball Club has come runner-up in the Community Club of the Year category at the recent Welsh Netball awards night in Cardiff.
It has been an amazing rise for the club, which only started when a group of pupils formed a netball section in their 5x60 sport sessions at St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive School.
Linking with Carmarthenshire Sports Development’s 5x60 scheme, the club began taster sessions on the outdoor court at Parc Y Scarlets to give the community element a try.
In September 2012, with Sport Wales national lottery community chest funding, the club started up under 13 and under 15 sections.
But with mentoring from Carmarthenshire's Welsh Netball community coach, demand quickly grew to such an extent that they added a under 11 age group section.
Gracielle Fontarum, Year 9 pupil at St John Lloyd’s said:
“We decided to take our netball training from after school to an actual official netball club because we were encouraged by the people around us and knew that we could achieve greater things in netball if we took our training to the next level.
“We show sportsmanship during training and matches that will enable us to improve our attitude towards sports.
“The skills we have developed are teamwork by interacting with the members of Llanelli Blues and we have met new people who have taught us how to improve our socialising skills.”
Rhian Davies Carmarthenshire Council 5x60 Officer said:
“Llanelli Blues a young club but in such a short time have shown drive, determination, commitment and the willingness to offer netball for local people.
“The success of the club has be down to the players’ commitment and enthusiasm. To see them playing netball in and outside of school is fantastic.
“Llanelli Blues has embraced the 'whole package' of what a club should be, with a junior and senior pathway, which is great to see.”
5x60 is a Sport Wales programme aimed at increasing the number of sporting opportunities in secondary schools during lunchtime and before and after the school day.
For more information on 5x60 visit www.sportwales.org.uk

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