Congratulations to Jessica Fearnside who was a finalist in the “Young Official of the Year” at the recent 2011 NSW Sports Federation Awards held at the Waterview Convention Centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
(Thanks to Scott Fearnside who attended awards and filed this report).

Invitation to youth under 16s to learn or participate in handball. The initial two training sessions will be on Sunday 26/2 & 4/3 from 4-530pm with a third session possible on 11/3, depending on interest.
Venue: Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre, 150 Belmore Road, Riverwood
Cost: $20 per player for three sessions or $8 per player per session.

For booking and additional info, contact: Claire Dennerley on 0429 93 1107

NSW Women and the NSW Mixed team placed first and were were undefeated at the January 27-29 Beach Handball Club Championships at St Kilda Beach. The NSW men’s team placed third.

The final day of the Champonships also included 2 games between Australian and New Zealand women for the Oceania qualification place for the mid-year World Championships in Croatia. The Australian girls won won both games in a tight competition.

National squads were also selected at the event. Congratulations to NSW players selected: Allira Hudson-Gofers, Taylee Lewis, Emma van Bussel, Daniela Cook, Rachel Lowewijks, Alex Michalak, Tim Harvey and Michael Sullivan.

For details on Beach Handball on Sunday afternoons, follow the news on the NSW Beach Handball Facebook page.

Handballers Needed for ‘Girls Get Active’ Schools’ Gala Day. At least 8 handballers who have played in a national or NSW team to do a demo of handball, answer questions from the students and being the ambassadors of our sport on the day. This special event will be part of Sydney’s International Women’s Day celebrations. Girls from up to 20 high schools and primary schools will be participating in a variety of fun, safe and inclusive physical activities to highlight the importance of women and girls involvement in sport.

The event is Thursday 8th March 2012, 10:00am – 2:00pm at Sydney Olympic Park.

Those who are interested and available on the day, please email violigcalvert@gmail.com or bronwyn@nswhandball.com.au by February 7 please.

EOIs are being sought for boys and girls born 1997 and later for potential Australian squad tour to Sweden and Spain in late June/early July. Sponsorship is being sought to assist with costs but this is not yet confirmed. For players interested in trying out for the squads contact Paul Smith paulndebra2@optusnet.com.au or Bronwyn Thompson sec-gen@handballaustralia.org.au

NSW Men and women are participating in the Australian Beach Handball Championships at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne between January 27-29. The completion is preceded by a camp for national selection hopefuls, and the weekend concludes with the Oceania placement qualification for the 2012 World Championships, with Australian Women playing New Zealand. Best wishes to all NSW club participants and national selection hopefuls. Go NSW!

Plans are underway for a training camp/trials in Sydney later this month for upcoming mid-2012 Spain and Italian tour for boys born 1994 and later.

It is proposed to hold a session in Brisbane on the 17th and 18th of January and in Sydney on the 20 and 21st of January. It is estimated that the cost to cover court hire etc will be around $50 per person.

If you are interested in attending these nationals training sessions, please return email to team manager Paul Smith paulndebra2@optusnet.com.au by Sunday (8 Jan) so preparations can be made.

In lead up to the 2012 Beach Handball Nationals and National Team selections, a training camp is being held in Sydney on Sunday January 8 with current National Women’s Coach and former Men’s Coach Nanna Hedberg. The cost is $25 per player. There are 2 sessions; 11:00 – 13:00 and 15:00-17:00. For further information and RSVP, contact Rachel Lodewijks on secretary@utshandball.com or check details on NSW Beach Handball Facebook page.

The Australian Women’s team competing in the World Championships in Brazil have made frontage news on the IHF website for their commitment – well done girls!
http://www.ihf.info//MediaCenter/News/NewsDetails/tabid/130/Default.aspx?ID=915

NSW and AHF Media Officer Violi Calvert joined the team last night, so keep an eye on the AHF site for updates and the girls’ progress. Our best wishes to the team.
http://www.handballaustralia.org.au/

Nominations for NSW players/teams to particpate in the Australian Beach Handball Championships are due by Wednesday November 30 to to Rachel Lodewijks at secretary@utshandball.com The Australian Championships are to be held at St Kilda Beach Melbourne from January 27-29, 2012 followed by the Oceania quafication event for the the World Championships also on January 29 at St Kilda Beach.

The NSW HA congratulates the following NSW players and officials who will be participating at the Women’s World Championship to be held in Brazil in December 2011 – players Daniela Cook and Allira Hudson-Gofers and officials Violi Calvert and Vernon Cheung. We wish the whole Aussie team well.

Teams from 24 nations across 5 continents will particpate. The first Australian game is on December 3. Follow their progress via official Violi’s blog on the AHF site at www.handballaustralia.org.auThe AHF wishes to thank the AOC, ASC, Gerflor and hummel

The first of three ‘Come and Try Handball’ Clinics was held on November 26, 2011 at 3 – 5 pm at the Ryde Community Sports Centre. The players whose age groups are 12-15 and 16-18, comprised of a number of players who have participated in the u14 and u16 national championships and some who are beginners.

The clinic was conducted by Tomaz Szlarski [Coach, u14 boys team], Claire Dennerley and Lilly Maher, with assistance from Bronwyn Thompson and John Calvert.

The next clinics will be held on December 3 and 10 [tbc] at the same venue.

Also NSW Handball is planning a junior summer competition for January – March 2012 for teams across Sydney regions. Register you interest are and age group at: Bronwyn@nswhandball.com.au
[Report & Photos – Violi Calvert]

If you are between 12-15 and/or 16-18, Come and Try Handball 3-5pm Saturdays on November 26, December 3 and 10 (tbc). It planned for Ryde Community Sports Centre (YMCA) Kent Rd, Ryde and costs only $5 per week. RSVP and enquiries by Nov 22 to Bronwyn@nswhandball.com.au

NSW Handball is also planning a junior summer competition for January – March 2012 for teams across Sydney regions. Register your interest and age group via email address above

NSW Handball coaching volunteers ran handball workshops on November 16 for Panthers on the Prowl, a multisport project for various primary schools in the area. Around 400 students played short handball games with the help of Claire Dennerley, Mitch Hedges, Krissy Wright, Bronwyn Thompson and Rachel Lodewijks. A highlight of the day for Mitch and Krissy was meeting the Panthers Head Coach Ivan Cleary.
Term 4 is a busy time for schools clinics, with the team and other volunteers (Murray Ryan, John and Violi Calvert and Tammy Duker) also helping out with 110 students at Inaburra School last week. Workshops for Sydney Olympic Park start later this week.

Congratulations to the Sydney University Men’s team who won the Tiri Masters Oceania Club competition in Tahiti over locals Dragon 23:22 in a close and exciting final. Goalkeeper Thomas Gerstch injured his hand early on but continued to play. He was named as Best Goalkeeper, Tomasz Szklarzki as Top Scorer with 34 goals for the tournament and Tomasz Lasek as Best Player. Auckland (NZ) won the fair play team award. Well done to all teams, officals and organisers and thanks to our hosts.

Beach Handball ‘throws’ off at Queenscliff Beach near the SLS Clubhouse on Sunday November 6 from 3pm weather permitting. Check the ‘I love Beach Handball – Australia’ Facebook page for more details at www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=277192722315083&context=create.

NSW Handball is proud to announce that both Men and Women’s teams performed very well in the Senior/Open National Handball Championships held at Sydney Olympic Park between 27 – 30 October.

Congratulations to:
• the NSW Women’s Team for winning the Women’s championships
• the NSW Men’s Team for winning for the fourth time the ‘Aleksandar Sasha Dimitric Cup’ as the Senior National Champion, as well as the simultaneously the Open Senior Handball Championship
• Sally Potocki for highest goal scorer in the women’s division
• the players who participated as part of the AHF Development team.

Thanks all the referees, officials, volunteers and the Macquaire University Chiropractor Interns Group for their help which ensured the success of the tournament. Thanks too for those who helped in the conduct of the live webcast which was undertaken for the first time in the Australian handball history. See archived webcast at www.handballaustralia.org.au (Thanks to Violi Calvert for posting)

Sasha’s photos are coming soon and friends from Serena Photography have some on their website at http://tiny.cc/dpxec

NSW is hosting the Open and Senior Nationals at Sports Halls, Sydney Olympic Park starting at 5pm Thursday October 27 and running until Sunday 30th. Teams from Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, ACT and New Zealand will compete for the various titles. Visitors are welcome.

NSW U16 and U14 teams performed well at Championships. Teams from Queensland, ACT and NSW competed at the ACT hosted event on the weekend of 23-25 September. U1u NSW boys defeated Queensland in final 21:14, U16 girls were Runners up in tight 1 goal difference final and U14 boys showed remarkable improvement coming 3rd and being the youngest competitors on average. Thanks very much to our teams, officials, helpful families and loud supporters. Some photos can be seen courtesy of ACT Handball at http://www.flickr.com/photos/handballact/sets/72157627644204729/
NSW photos coming soon.

The NSW annual End of Season Dinner and Awards Night is planned for November 11 at the Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Clubs. Please save the date and plan your tables. Details with ticket prices and menus to follow soon.