Margaret nets York sporting honour

She received the coveted Service to Sport Award at a ceremony at the Mansion House to mark her contribution to the local netball scene.

After moving to the city from the North East, Long played for Knavesmire Netball Club before setting up the Rawcliffe club 14 years ago.

She is well-known in the area as a coach and persuaded three other club members to take a level one coaching course in an early move to develop the club.

Rawcliffe recently won the first bronze CAPS award in York for netball clubs.

Long takes a particularly keen interest in developing junior players and has run classes after school and in the holidays.

She also organised coaching and umpiring for York's Youth Games netball squad and her vision of setting up a club-based netball league for juniors became a reality in September last year when, in conjunction with Janet Ivel, the York and District Youth League was established.

It has got off to a great start with 120 girls taking part and a recent 'taster day' was a resounding success.

Long has recently become a mentor for young coaches to help spread netball's popularity in the York area.

She received her award from the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Janet Greenwood, who also handed out financial assistance from the Federation's Fund for the Gifted to 20 up-and-coming young sports people to help with their sporting development.

They were Andrew and Christopher Bilton (cricket); Victoria and Philip Graves (triathlon); Alice Lawrenson, Cheryl Fairclough, Rosemary Wright, Sarah and Jennifer Welsh (netball); Jemma Evenett and Katie Calvert (gymnastics); Michelle Moffatt and Sophie Glasby (swimming); Katie Boyes (basketball), Zoe Eagles and Adam Liddell (bowls), Daniel Snaith (football), Joe Stephenson (canoe slalom); James Pauw (badminton) and Thomas Feasby (hockey).

In addition to their funding the youngsters were also presented with certificates provided by the Evening Press.

Updated: 11:06 Friday, December 02, 2005