Netball legacy lives on in Blaenau Gwent

The annual Primary School Netball Tournament in Blaenau Gwent took on
an extra significance this year after the passing of local netball legend Ruth
Rossiter. The competition, which is run by the Blaenau Gwent’s Inspire Sports
Development team, was renamed the ‘Ruth Rossiter Cup’ in memory of Ruth and to
recognise the significant contribution she made to Netball across the whole of
Blaenau Gwent.

 Over 80 pupils from local primary schools attended the finals day that
was made up of 8 schools from across the borough. After some fantastic netball
skills on display from all schools, it came down to a very tense final between
Abertillery and Georgetown Primary Schools. Abertillery Primary, where Ruth had
previously worked at for a number of years, eventually came away winners in
what turned out to be a fitting and emotional tribute.

 A close friend of Ruth’s presented the winners’ trophy and took the
opportunity to say an emotional few words about Ruth. She talked about the
impact Ruth had on netball in the region, her love for the sport and how proud
she would have been to have the tournament named after her.

 Chris Garrett, Inspire Sport Development Officer, said “Ruth was very much a larger than life
character that always put her pupils first in netball and life…..We believe
that 35 year of positive impact on children in Blaenau Gwent needed to
remembered in a special way”.

 The winners and runners up of the competition will now progress to the
South-East Regional Finals where they will compete against schools from
Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen for a place in Welsh Netball’s
National Primary School Competition on 19^th May 2016.

 For further information please contact Claire Joll (Claire.Joll@Welshnetball.com) or
Chris Garrett (Chris.Garrett@aneurinleisure.org.uk).