Harrogate Phoenix Junior Trip PGL Netball Tournament Weekend at Boreatton Park, Shropshire

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Lindsay Robbins
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Harrogate Phoenix Junior Trip 2018 Friday 18 th May Sunday 20 th May 21, 2018 PGL Netball Tournament Weekend at Boreatton Park, Shropshire After a lot of planning and decision making, the time for

1 Harrogate Phoenix Junior Trip 2018 Friday 18 th May Sunday 20 th May 21, 2018 PGL Netball Tournament Weekend at Boreatton Park, Shropshire After a lot of planning and decision making, the time for the first Harrogate Phoenix Junior Netball trip arrived. A party of twelve Under-12 players and twenty six Under-14 players accompanied by seven excited Coaches set off from Harrogate at 2.20pm for what we thought would be a journey of under 3 hours. We were duped! The motorways were jammed packed with traffic and to say that we crawled along would be very accurate. Well done must go to the Year 8 and Year 7 girls who did not bring mobile phones ( as requested) but instead chattered away and stars of the journey were Erin Nattress and Annie Meehan who played puzzles, drew and entertained themselves with good old fashioned paper and pencil! The air conditioning on the coach was temperamental and the country roads up to the PGL Centre were extremely narrow, slowing the journey even more, so we were VERY pleased to get to Boreatton Park. We had all arrived safely if not very hot and tired. It was a lovely setting and the sunny weather promised to continue for us for the entire weekend. The Phoenix has landed! We were met by our PGL representative, Emily who briefed us all and ushered us off to meals at a pace! That seemed to be the theme for the weekend a rush from one activity to another. The girls seemed to cope with that; the Coaches not so well! We needed some breathing space sometimes. The facilities, food and accommodation were all really very good. We ate, unpacked and then the girls went off with Emily for

2 Ents a new dictionary word which we realised meant entertainment ( along with sick which didn t necessitate rushing off for a bucket after all!) In the meantime, the staff had a meeting about the Netball Tournaments. Then, all too soon the time was after 9.00pm and bedtime. It was then that we discovered four girls hadn t actually brought their sleeping bags but we soon sorted this with the very accommodating PGL staff. As always on the first night away, there was lots of chatter and giggling but after much patrolling by Christine and Kate, the girls did settle to sleep. They all drifted off with thoughts and excitement of a busy day ahead. Saturday morning was an early start with some bleary eyes and a charge to breakfast at 7.30am. A room inspection was done and rooms given a mark for tidiness. Shame about those rooms that scored a measly 3 and 4!! Well done to Room H2 for winning the Phoenix best room award: Daisy, Betsy, Annie, Erin, Agnes, Sacha. Then the Year 9s had the morning free for activities. Too cool for school! The Year 7s (Under-12s) and Year 8s(Under-13s) got on with the main business of playing netball. We had entered one team in the Under-12 Section; 1 team in the Under-13 section and two teams in the Under-14 section. Both the Under-12 and Under-13 team got off to a promising and pleasing start. The courts were very playable and the weather just superb. Come on Phoenix! There was lots of nagging by the coaches for the girls to drink lots, put hats on and reapply their suncream.

different styles of play; not better but certainly tougher!

3 Sun Cream goes on And the hats! The teams in the Tournaments were mostly from the North West Region and there was a contingency from Wales. It was exciting and very good experience for our girls to have different opposition and handle different styles of play; not better but certainly tougher! At some point during the morning, Coach Lisa decided to fall in a hole and twist her ankle. From that moment she was treated ( and behaved) like royalty, being ferried everywhere by a private PGL car! At least it wasn t one of the girls, we said. Under-12s ready to take those courts!

It was soon lunchtime and a changeover for the Under-12s and Under-14s whilst the Under-13s played their remaining

Each team played 6 games and then the top four teams in each age groups played again in the Semi finals on Sunday.

Saturday s play ended with the knowledge that the Under-13s had qualified for the Semi finals by winning 4 games

4 It was soon lunchtime and a changeover for the Under-12s and Under-14s whilst the Under-13s played their remaining matches. Each team played 6 games and then the top four teams in each age groups played again in the Semi finals on Sunday. Under-14B showing a new warm up routine! Under-14A bonding! Saturday s play ended with the knowledge that the Under-13s had qualified for the Semi finals by winning 4 games and losing 2 and that both the Under-12s and the Under-14A team were well placed to join them. The Under-13s Saturday evening provided a different Ents for the girls whilst the staff met with PGL staff for feedback under the guise of a wine and cheese evening ( not quite a nice

piece of Stilton but never mind!). At 9.

Christine s patrolling produced some very interesting episodes as she approached Room H6 ( Evie and Kitty!

she was able to scare the naughty culprits by announcing She s here! One fast way to get girls finally settled!

5 piece of Stilton but never mind!). At 9.00pm, the girls were handed back over to the Coaches ready to settle for the night. Christine s patrolling produced some very interesting episodes as she approached Room H6 ( Evie and Kitty!!) and Room H8 ( Delphine, Pernille, Izzi and Annabel!!!). As Christine heard the words Where is Christine? she was able to scare the naughty culprits by announcing She s here! One fast way to get girls finally settled! Sunday morning and an early start for even more bleary- eyed girls. The Under-14A team were on court at 8.30am with the Under-12s and Under-14B team not long after. The Under-14 As Under-12 Betsy shoots And Under-14B Elisia gets a Penalty pass

The Under-13s had a more leisurely morning of activities on the Trapeze jump and Giant swing etc.

The Under-12s started their play well but were unsettled by some negative umpiring and then an injury to Betsy who travelled to

Thankfully, there was no long lasting damage but it did mean no more play for her that day.

6 The Under-13s had a more leisurely morning of activities on the Trapeze jump and Giant swing etc. Huddled together and all harnessed ready to fly! Kitty shows them how! The Under-12s started their play well but were unsettled by some negative umpiring and then an injury to Betsy who travelled to hospital to have her ankle checked over. Thankfully, there was no long lasting damage but it did mean no more play for her that day. Under-12 coaches certainly look pleased! By lunchtime, we knew that the Under-14 B team had finished a creditable 6 th position out of 8; that the Under-14A team ( by winning 4 games and losing 2 games) had qualified for the Semi finals and that the Under-12s narrowly missed out on a place in the semi finals, finishing 5 th overall.

The very vocal support earned Pia and Milli the Phoenix award for the most enthusiastic cheering!

7 The Under-14B team may not have won through to the semis but they certainly made up for it in their support for their team. The very vocal support earned Pia and Milli the Phoenix award for the most enthusiastic cheering! Always look on the bright side. Let s go Under-14Bs! But don t fall over Rose! The Under-12s enjoying lunch with PGL Rep Emily After lunch the Phoenix teams regrouped to watch the Semi finals and Final of each age group.

Some of the coaches got a front row seat! The Under-14s were up first against a very strong Wilmslow Lightning team. Despite a valiant fight, the opposition were too strong and beat the Phoenix girls.

8 Some of the coaches got a front row seat! The Under-14s were up first against a very strong Wilmslow Lightning team. Despite a valiant fight, the opposition were too strong and beat the Phoenix girls. The Under-13s then took to the court to play Chorley Infernos. Great effort with some dazzling parts but, again, the different and more physical style beat our girls. After the Finals, there were the presentations with the Under-14 A and Under-13 teams gaining Bronze medals for finishing equal 3 rd and then it was time to load up our coach for the journey home. We made excellent time on our homeward joourney; even stopping for the quickest and most slick toilet break ever to arrive back in Harrogate just after 7 pm. A great weekend with great girls- and all thanks go to the wonderful coaches for taking them. The only question now is: Next year?... The answer : We will see! Chs 05/2018

9 Action from the courts Or not! Delphine shoots not sure what Pernille is up to! Elisia shoots and scores! That looks better positioning!

10 Evie shoots Great distance and hands Kitty Chorley cheer for Phoenix! Wow Nicola- what a jump!

11 Under-13 Bronze medallists Under-14 Bronze medallists

USAV Girls Junior Nationals ~ 15 National Division Shockwave 15-1

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