Leading up to their participation in the forthcoming Vitality Netball World Cup the much-fancied Jamaica ‘Sunshine Girls’ national team was in Birmingham to meet and greet fans and also to be on hand for the Sunshine Netball Tournament at the University of Birmingham Sports & Fitness Centre.
With teams from around the country on hand, it was an unforgettable day for all there, who were able to take part in, and witness, the day-long competition indorsed by the world No.3 ranked team.
It was the perfect prelude to the upcoming Vitality World Cup, taking place in Liverpool, for fans to be ‘up close and personal’ with the ever-engaging Sunshine Girls, who were never afraid of connecting with the mass number of supporters, and those following the teams which took part in the competition, plus those who just wanted to rub shoulders with the legendary ‘Girls.
Following a Q&A and open training sessions, and with a Sunshine Girl designated to coach each of the teams that took part, it was the Redditch, in Worcestershire-based Panthers Netball Club who beat the Swanley team from Kent, in a conclusion to a day of fast-paced sporting endeavour, great family fun and an unforgettable chance to mingle freely with some sporting legends.
An overwhelmed Zena Wooldridge, Director of Sport at the University of Birmingham Sport and Fitness Club said: “We have a great relationship with Jamaica following the track and field team using here as their training camp leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
“For today, a big ‘Thank You’ goes out to Paulette Simpson, Executive, Corporate Affairs and Public Policy at The Jamaica National Group and Voice Newspaper for being at the heart of all this”.
Finishing off, she said: “We’ll be supporting England and Jamaica during the World Cup”.
“It’s a great privilege to shake the hands of legends”, said visiting Special Guest, Jamaica High Commissioner in London, His Excellence Seth George Ramocan, CD. “The University has great facilities and are fantastic supporters of Jamaica in every way.
“When you compare the budgets of the leading teams in the world, it just puts into perspective just how great our team is.
I am truly proud”.
The other teams who took part in the Sunshine Netball Tournament include; Ashanti, Malcolm X Ladies, Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer, Stockland Belles and City Treasurers.
Following England’s Gold Medal-winning performance in the Commonwealth Games, in the Gold Coast, in Australia, netball has taken-off massively, with more women and girls taking-up the sport at many levels.
With Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls fully behind a successful ‘Sunshine Netball Tournament’, the game has never been so engaging.
The Vitality Netball World Cup takes place in Liverpool, July 12- 21.
