Pupils from schools across the Caerphilly county borough visited Caerphilly Leisure Centre this week to take part in a special coaching session for the sporting stars of the future.
The Celtic Dragons Netball Team kindly donated their time and knowledge to help out fellow team member and Netball Development Officer for Caerphilly County Borough Council, Suzy Drane. The event attracted 70 pupils from six local primary schools and during the three-hour session they learned how to perfect their netball skills and as a special treat, received tickets for the second match of the season in Cardiff and a signed ball for each school.
Suzy, who has played for the Dragons for four years, is hoping that the Dragons visit will encourage the pupils to actively participate in the sport that she has been so passionate about since the age of 10.
Goal shooter for the Dragons, Becky Neate said, “Participating in sessions like this gives the players an opportunity to interact with the community and to hopefully inspire the pupils to become the budding Celtic Dragons players of the future.”
The Celtic Dragons is the only team from Wales in the franchise of 9 teams competing in the Co-operative Netball Superleague. The team is relatively new to the netball scene having been running just four years, and with the help of the first full time coach Melissa Hyldman, the team are hoping for a fantastic season. During the visit the Dragons had an opportunity to show off their new kit provided by their sponsor Gilbert, in preparation for their first league game Saturday the 12th of December in Hatfield.
Cllr Phil Bevan, Cabinet member for Education and Leisure commented, I think it is important to demonstrate that playing sport is equally as social as it is beneficial to the health and wellbeing of the pupils, and seeing the Dragons camaraderie was a shining example to the youth of Caerphilly. It was fantastic to see so many pupils taking part and hopefully in the future with the help of Suzy and colleagues Caerphilly will once again form a competitive league.”
The schools involved were Ysgol Gymraeg Gynradd Caerphilly, Rhydri Primary, Ysgol Y Castell, Ysgol Ifor Bach, Plasyfelin Primary and Cwrt Rawlin Primary.
