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BackNetball National finals - Here we come!
Ten very excited Buchan girls left the Isle of Man on Wednesday 3rd March 2010 for a three day tour to compete in the IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) regional netball qualifying rounds (a competition with over 200 schools playing at six different venues around the country) and to also return the annual fixture with Kirkham Grammar.
After arriving in Blackpool, we had a steady journey over to our hotel in Clumber Park where the girls had the opportunity to swim and eat too much chocolate before an early night! Thursday morning thankfully brought beautiful blue skies and temperatures much warmer than of late! After a good breakfast and just a ten minute drive to our tournament venue (Worksop College), we then met up with the 24 other teams that we were to compete against. Only the top four teams on the day would proceed to the national finals, so the pressure was on!
After a thorough warm-up and good team talk, the Buchan girls were ready to go out and give 100%. The day’s results were a follows:
V Stamford Won 8-1
V Ashdell Won 6-1
V Warwick Won 7-2
V Lincoln Minster Won 9-2
V Richmond House Won 4-2
V Rockport Won 11-0
V Old Hall Drew 3-3
Such fantastic results meant that Buchan had won their group and therefore automatically qualified for the National Finals. However, we still had to play off for the final positions of the day and despite the onset of heavy legs and glazed facial expressions, the girls went out fighting but lost the final two games to bigger and more experienced teams (4-7 to The Grammar, Leeds and 4-8 to Fairfield, Loughborough). Nonetheless, the Buchan girls had still excelled themselves and produced a set of results that they should be very proud of.
Due to the late finish of the tournament we decided not to travel back to Kirkham that evening, as it was a 2½ hour drive on top of a very long day. This did mean that the girls missed out on staying with their host families; however it was nice to be together as a team after such a successful day and we went on to celebrate in style at MacDonalds before returning to the hotel we had stayed in the night before.
On Friday morning (after a little lie in!), we travelled back to Kirkham Grammar to play against their under 12A/B team. Considering the amount of netball that our girls had played the day before, Buchan put in a superb performance to finish off the tour and won 5-2. Before returning to the airport, there was just enough time to have lunch at Ribby Hall and some time in the adventure playground!
A fantastic time was had by all and planning is now well underway to get the girls to Roedean in Brighton for the Finals on the 13th March! Well done girls and good luck!
