The Hartpury University netball team is celebrating after winning the BUCS Netball 2B League and the Conference Cup. By winning the league, the team will now progress to the first division - Western 1, just one division under the prestigious Premier League.
This is the second consecutive year in which the team has won both the league and Conference Cup, this year overcoming Bournemouth to win 58-34.
Coached by Jess Shaw, herself a Severn Stars VNSL player, the team includes: Daisy Collett – BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Sciences, Florrie Grigg-Petit – BA (Hons) Sports Business Management, Charlotte Steer – BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Sciences, Poppy Jones – BSc (Hons) Sport Performance, Layla Brough – BA (Hons) Sports Business Management, and Maria Donovan – BSc (Hons) Equine Science. The transition from Hartpury College to Hartpury University is demonstrated by a significant number of players who progressed including Millie Lealan – BA (Hons) Sports Business Management, Fearne Maine – BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching, Elfie Robinson – BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Nutrition, Natasha Englefield – BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching and Jazz Genge – BSc (Hons) Physical Education and School Sport.
Holly Duerden, Netball Academy Manager at Hartpury said: “Since taking on the role in 2016, one of our targets for the Netball Academy has been to progress the university programme to compete with the many well-known netball universities in the country – and we’re well on our way to doing that.
“Players past and present have worked tirelessly to get the team to this point and the quality of student athletes we have wanting to study and play at Hartpury is exceptional. This team is a really special group of players and I’m so happy for them and their success.”
Elsewhere, Hartpury University’s 2nd team have their final game on 22 March and remain in the running to win the league potentially lining the Gloucestershire institution up for a double league win. Hartpury College 1st team have their National Schools finals on 11 March and National Colleges finals on 15 April.
WSP Solicitors were recently announced as sponsors of the Hartpury Netball Academy adding its name and branding to both University and College 1st teams. In return for their sponsorship, WSP Solicitors will receive kit sponsorship, onsite branding and signage, marketing activity and invitations to events and fixtures.
Silas Miller, Head of Marketing and Business Development at WSP Solicitors said: “Congratulations to the team and coaching staff on such a great success. In the short time we’ve been sponsoring the Hartpury Netball Academy, we’ve truly felt embraced by everyone involved.
“It really makes the support so worthwhile when teams achieve this highly on the national stage. Well done from us all at WSP Solicitors.”
Students on the Hartpury Netball Academy pathway benefit from access to qualified, experienced coaching staff who are involved at both national and international level as well as currently playing in the UK Netball Super League. With teams competing in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) leagues and the AoC National Leagues, there’s something for all levels of netball player – including those who want to simply play for fun and fitness while they study.
Over 100 athletes are currently enrolled within the Hartpury Netball programme, which is open to FE and HE student-athletes, male or female. Hartpury offers a dual pathway for talented athletes to develop in their sporting discipline with 10 competitive sports academies, whilst also studying for a degree.
The institution has a record for success with over 250 international athletes produced over the past 15 years, and 97% of sports graduates in employment, further study or other purposeful activity (Graduate Outcomes 2022).
