Super week for netball ace Clare

Clare was a member of the Northern Ireland U21 team which finished eighth in the World Youth Championships in Cook Islands last July. With her studies at Durham her trips home have not fitted into club matches regularily so both she and her caoch were delighted that she made Saturday’s big final.

The venue was Lisburn Racquets club and Clare helped them win the big double, Premier League and Shield.

In the Senior Shield Larkfield were once again against old rivals Belfast Ladies and this successful club entered their 50th year in style, winning the Shield to add to the Premier League Cup won last month.

The oldest netball club in netball first lifted the Margaret Shaw Shield in the 1966-67 season, well before Clare was born, and they continued to dominate the competition for eight years before Pegasus entered the scene.

They have since disbanded and the big three are Larkfield, Belfast Ladies and Graduates. Another three titles came to Larkfield in the nineties and then in their 40th year in 2004 their 12th title was added.

Coach Denise Prue praised her team captain and the squad for their tenacity leading throughout the first half. It was not until there were only six minutes left that they stretched their lead to seven goals finally winning by 51-41 and allowed the end of season celebrations to begin.

Results: Senior Shield - Larkfield 51 Belfast Ladies 41; Senior Plate - Graduates Thirds 54 Laganside Firsts 39; Intermediate Shield: Grads 4ths 54 Laganside Seconds 29; Intermediate Plate - Banbridge 39 Valley 33; Junior Shield - Clan Eireann 50 Valley Seconds 29; Junior Plate - Seven Towers 31 Holywood Seconds 25.

Clare will attend a Civic reception hosted by Lisburn's Mayor this week to recognise the success of the Northern Ireland U21 team at the World Youth Championships last July when they came eighth.