STUDENTS at one York school said they were "exhausted yet delighted" after welcoming one of their sporting heroes on to court.

Former England international and now Leeds Rhinos netball assistant head coach, Maggie Birkinshaw was one of a team of Leeds Rhinos’ netball coaches who dropped in at The Mount School in Dalton Terrace for the first of their ongoing training and coaching sessions.

Maggie said: “It’s the first time that we have had the pleasure of coming to The Mount. Fabulous facilities, amazing assistance from staff and enthusiastic girls.

“The girls’ development and improvement was visible in each session.”

She led sessions with girls from the junior school through to the sixth form college.

Year 10 pupil and sports scholar, Alice, said: “The session was really good.

"The Leeds Rhinos coaches very quickly spotted various weaknesses and helped us all to improve. The quality of coaching was excellent.

"These coaches were faster thinking and it felt like the session was really centred on helping us. The players responded much better and quicker by the end of the session.

"The Leeds Rhinos coaches communicated incredibly well, and were very helpful to each of us.”

The Mount partnered over the Summer with the Superleague club, which holds a coveted place within the Vitality Netball Superleague and delivers Netball England’s Performance Pathway in Yorkshire for ages U15 to U21.

This partnership opens up exciting new opportunities for netball players in York and surrounding areas to have access to the very best coaching available. Future sessions will include masterclasses with current Leeds Rhinos players and England internationals. Autumn sessions will open to the public for players of senior school age.

Principal, Adrienne Richmond, said: “We are delighted to partner with Leeds Rhinos Netball to offer this programme to our girls and players in York. At The Mount we are fortunate to have world-class sports facilities, and having Leeds Rhinos Netball choose to partner with us recognises this.”