If there was a prize for the most enthusiastic team in Mid Canterbury Netball’s Midlands year 3-4 netball this season, one of the newest teams on the block would have definitely been a frontrunner.

That team was Fairton School’s year 3-4 team, and they had a right to be excited, because it was the first time that Fairton School had entered a team in a number of years.

A school of only 27 children, fielding any sports team under the school banner can be a huge challenge, but this year all of the stars aligned perfectly.

Fairton School teacher Angela Muckle was the one who reached out to Mid Canterbury Netball earlier this year to see if Fairton could enter a team after working on the HAL project (Healthy Active Learning) with Anna Holland and Sport Canterbury.

Last year they worked on getting the equipment right, with Sam Cullimore from Cullimore Engineering helping to lower their netball goal for them.

“This year the Fairton staff and students were keen to take it to the next step, by trying to field a team. We had just the right numbers to make it work,” Muckle said.

The last time they had a team was around 5 years ago, when they had their own team and some age groups combined with Ashburton Christian School.

“We have to have the right configuration of students to field teams in age groups, and this year the stars aligned,” Muckle said.

The Fairton Home and School committee organised playing tops and a year 13 student from Ashburton College, Torry Wilson-Brown, took on the role of coach while Mel Doyle and Kathryn Page were team managers.

Only two of the kids had played netball before, and they all loved it and grew so much as a team as the season progressed. Muckle asked the team to sum up their season, and they said it was great, fantastic, a good experience, terrific, super, and fun with friends. And do they want to play again next year? Absolutely!

Muckle said the team had learnt so much during the season, with the difference from start to finish noticeable.

“They understand the attack, defence and centre positions. Passing is much better and they’re passing much more quickly, and playing the game with some dodging and shooting,” Muckle said.

The aim now is to build on this year’s success and hopefully get Fairton back on court again in 2024.

Muckle said as a school they encourage all students to play sport and try hard to connect students with teams if they can’t field teams as a school, but when they can field a team as a school it’s great. 

Article added: Wednesday 05 July 2023