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Player of the Year Awards Dinner 08/09
The Co-operative Netball Superleague
Supported by England Netball and Birmingham City Council
Elite netballers from across the country gathered in Birmingham on Friday April 17th to celebrate at The Co-operative Netball Superleagues Player of the Year Awards. Players, coaches, sponsors, officials and volunteers from The Co-operative Netball Superleague sat down to a special dinner, hosted by England Netball and supported by Birmingham City Council, at the city's International Convention Centre before the winners were announced.
TeamBath's captain Pamela Cookey fought off stiff competition to win the coveted Kukri Player of the Year Award for the second time, for her outstanding performance and contributions throughout the season. Pamela, currently in New Zealand competing in the ANZ Championships with five of Englands top class players, thanked everyone for her award in a pre-recorded interview. She said: "Thank you all so much for this award but I cant take all the credit and would like to say a special thanks to my team mates and strength conditioning coaches at TeamBath. "It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have played for TeamBath and England this year and I feel incredibly proud to have been chosen for this award."
The North West's franchise Northern Thunder took home The Co-operative Community Award, for making a difference in their community, helping and encouraging those less fortunate to grow and develop in the sport of netball. Liz Matkin, Head of Sponsorship at The Co-operative, said: "Northern Thunder has set up a regular format for netball camps across the north west, which attracts over 120 youngsters at each holiday camp throughout the school holidays. "The franchise works closely with counties throughout their region to deliver academy sessions to a variety of age groups. The team has also had great crowds this year with local supporters attending the games week in week out because of the fantastic rapport shown with players and the young fans. This has all been achieved this year."
The Birmingham City Council Players Player of the Year Award, was awarded to Loughborough Lightnings Jade Clarke for giving her all to her Superleague team and offering constant support and encouragement to her squad. Mavericks' Ella Clark was announced as the seasons best newcomer and was took home The Playface Rookie of the Year Award for her efforts and commitment to her team in her first season. A new addition to the awards was The Lucozade Sport Chairmans Award; won by Mavericks captain Karen Atkinson.
The Co-operative Netball Superleague Player of the Year Dinner also celebrated people involved in the Superleague by dedicating awards to coaches, umpires and volunteers. Glasgow Wildcats coach Denise Holland scooped the Televideo Coach of the Year Award, Tracy Smith was awarded the England Netball Umpire of the Year Award and TeamBaths Liz Bloor walked away with the Netball Pod Volunteer of the Year Award.
Mike Osborne, Senior Sports Events Manager at Birmingham City Council, said: "This is the second year we have hosted The Co-operative Netball Superleague Player of the Year Awards and we are proud to have such a strong association with netball. The speed and skill that is required to play at this elite level is phenomenal. "We are aspiring to, at some stage in the near future, have a team represent Birmingham in The Co-operative Netball Superleague. It has been a fantastic evening and I'd like to congratulate all the award winners and England Netball for bringing such a fantastic event to the city."
Paul Clark, CEO of England Netball, said: "It has been a thrilling season and tonight has been a celebration and an opportunity to thank those who have contributed to making it such a success. "The awards recognise the people who have gone out of their way to help raise netballs profile. Well done to all the winners."
The Co-operative Netball Superleague - Player of the Year Awards Dinner 2008/09
Kukri Player of the Year
Which individual has contributed most to the success of The Co-operative Netball Superleague this season? Who has been the outstanding competitor in the competition? Who has established herself as the "face" of The Co-operative Netball Superleague?Nominations
Pamela Cookey (TeamBath)
Jade Clarke (Loughborough Lightning)
Jo Harten (Loughborough Lightning)
Naida Hutchinson (Mavericks)
Sonia Mkoloma (Brunel Hurricanes)
Winner - Pamela Cookey (TeamBath)
(Kukri Player of the Year Pamela Cookey's acceptance speech via video. Pam is now playing in the ANZ Championships in Australia for Northern Mystics)
Birmingham City Council Players Player of the Year
Who does your squad respect the most? The player who gives her all - week in, week out for her team? The player who is the outstanding performer within her team and the one who provides the most support and encouragement for her squad? She need not be an international star, but a player who your squad believes to be the ultimate players' player.Nominations
Carla Dziwoki
Jade Clarke
Sara Bayman
Karen Atkinson
Lesley Macdonald
Becky Nash
Winner - Jade Clarke (Loughborough Lightning)
Playface Rookie of the Year
Who has emerged this season as the best new face? We are looking for a player who made her debut this season, either as a young player, or as a new name for the season, who has been influential in her team's success. Perhaps she has put in match winning performances, or has performed consistently and demonstrated that she is more than capable of matching her colleagues in The Co-operative Netball Superleague.Nominations
Kerry Almond
Ella Clark
Rachel Holmes
Winner - Ella Clark (Mavericks)
Televideo Coach of the Year
This award recognises the contribution made by the league's leading coach, who, in your opinion, has been the most influential in determining his/ her squad's success.Nominations
Mike Greenwood
Jess Garland
Denise Holland
Olivia Murphy
Kendra Slawinski
Winner - Denise Holland (Glasgow Wildcats)
England Netball Umpire of the Year
Umpires are an integral part of running a successful league competition, and this award recognises the commitment and contribution made by an official in The Co-operative Netball Superleague. This award goes to the umpire who has maintained consistency and who has been approachable throughout the season.
Nominations
Tracy Smith
Dawn Heron
Judith Groves
Winner - Tracy Smith
(Umpire Gary Burgess receiving the award on behalf of Tracy Smith)
The Co-operative Community Award
This award is to be judged by The Co-operative, and made to the franchise which has made the most significant contribution to its local community. This could be for work with schools or clubs, development of volunteers, building awareness of netball and The Co-operative Netball Superleague.Nominations
Team Northumbria
Northern Thunder
TeamBath
Loughborough Lightning
Mavericks
Winner - Northern Thunder
(Northern Thunder's Mike Greenwood and Debbie Hallas)
The Lucozade Sport Chairman's Award
What player has shown inspiration and lead by example throughout the season on and off the court?Nominations
Bev Lovatt
Pam Cookey
Olivia Murphy
Karen Atkinson
Claire Brownie
Winner - Karen Atkinson (Mavericks)
The Netball Pod Volunteer of the Year
Without volunteers, netball, and The Co-operative Netball Superleague in particular, could not be run effectively. This award recognises those people who selflessly give of their time and energy to ensure that all aspects of staging a significant sporting event can be covered seamlessly and without problems, leaving the players to get on with the actual games. All volunteers involved in the league are eligible for this award, from ball girl co-ordinators to ticket and programme sellers, timekeepers and statisticians, even kit co-ordinators.
Winner - Liz Bloor (TeamBath)
Mitre Dream Team
This team consists of the best player in each position across the court, from any team. The members of the Dream Team should be the very best player in their position across the whole league.GS - Jo Harten (Loughborough Lightning)
GA - Pamela Cookey (TeamBath)
WA - Karen Atkinson (Mavericks)
C - Jade Clarke (Loughborough Lightning)
WD - Sara Bayman (TeamBath)
GD - Sonia Mkoloma (Brunel Hurricanes)
GK - Eboni Beckford Chambers (TeamBath)
(two members of the Mitre Dream Team - TeamBath's Sara Bayman and Mavericks' Karen Atkinson)
Congratulations to all the award winners and to all those who received nominations. Thank you to all staff involved in making the evening such a success and for Birmingham City Council and The Co-operative for their support with this event.
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