Bathurst will play hosts to the Western Region Academy of Sport netball squad this Sunday 22 May for an intensive training day. Athletes from across the region will arrive at the Charles Sturt University gymnasium at 9.30am for a full day of training.

The 2011 squad consists of some of the most talented young sporting stars of the future from the region with the towns of Dubbo, Forbes, Gulgong, Millthorpe, Mudgee, Narromine, Orange and West Wyalong represented.

The 2010 NSW Netball State League Coach of the Year, Maree Phelps from the Blue Mountains Netball Association will be in attending to conduct the training day.  Last season Phelps coached the Blue Mountains State League Division 2 team to the State title which qualified the BMNA in the prestigious Waratah Cup for the first time. 

England International and NSW Swifts player Sonia Mkoloma will also be in attendance to pass on her goal keeping expertise to the squad. Mkoloma, who has just been named co-captain of the England National team for the 2011 World Netball Championships, is one of the most experienced players in International netball, having 105-test caps, with the upcoming tournament being her 4th World Championships.

The squad will be fitness tested from 9.30-10.30am. Two training sessions will then be held with the day’s activities concluding at 3pm.

Local netball players, coaches and parents are invited to watch the training sessions which will provide a great opportunity to witness the latest training techniques and drills.

The WRAS Athlete of the Month for April, sponsored by CSU, is Madison Boyce from Bathurst. Madison is a member of the WRAS hockey squad.

Madison has shown a total commitment this year to everything she has been involved in whether it is hockey, school or her personal life. An example of this commitment was her twice weekly appearances at the CSU gym to complete her strength and conditioning program. Whilst the WRAS hockey program is now finished for the year, Madison has continued to attend these sessions.

An attribute that Madison has developed is her organisational skills which have enabled her to complete all the activities she has done this year, whilst keeping on top of her school work. At school, Madison continues to show good progress by completing all of her assignments and doing well maintaining her grades given all of her sporting commitments. Her teachers have also commented on her leadership qualities and her willingness to put her hand up if needed. An example has been Madison’s willingness to take on billets from other towns across various sports, even attending their games to provide support.

In a sporting capacity, Madison has reached the Premier League level in her local club hockey and has represented her school culminating in her selection in the Western Region CHS hockey side which will be competing in June in Newcastle.  She is a member of the U15 Bathurst first side and also attended the U18 Championships this year at the age of 14.

Madison also gives back to her sport. This year she has taken on a coaching role for her club in the U13 age group.  She also umpired at the City vs Country carnival and has been asked to umpire senior level hockey this year as well as volunteering to do junior hockey.  She is a very proficient umpire and regularly officiates for A-grade and First grade games in men and women. Finally she has provided assistance to her local hockey club’s registrar and secretary on a regular basis.

Congratulations Madison!

Details regarding the 2011 WRAS Rookie camps are now available. This year WRAS will be operating rookie camps in the July school holidays for the sports of basketball, golf, hockey, lawn bowls and netball.

For information regarding the camps (including registration forms) go to the Rookie Camps section of the WRAS website.

The 2011 WRAS AGM will be held at the Bathurst Panthers Club on Monday 16 May at 7pm.  A motion to rescind the existing constitution and adopt a new constitution will be put forward. A copy of the revised constitution is available from the downloads section of the WRAS website.  The agenda for the meeting will be available next week.

Application forms for nominations for election to the Board will be placed on the WRAS website next week. Nominations for Board positions close  Monday 9 May.

The 2010 WRAS Year Book is now available for viewing. It gives a comprehensive report on the activities of WRAS throughout 2010, including all of the fantastic achievements by WRAS athletes and coaches. Just go to the “Downloads” section of the WRAS website to read your copy today!

Members of the Western Region Academy of Sport Lawn Bowls squad will be in action this Sunday 1 May at the Lithgow Workman’s Club for a packed day of training and competition.

WRAS Head Coach Ross Hunter of Grenfell is looking forward to assembling his squad again.

“Having the squad come together in Lithgow is a great chance for us to continue to build on our skill base following a very tough Academy Games Tournament held two weeks ago in Armidale. It will be good to get some more competition as well against the Workies Juniors” Hunter commented.

The day will commence at 10am with some training with the Lithgow Workmen’s Juniors, followed by some tournament play with the day concluding at 3pm.

The winners of the ASi Games Raffle have been drawn today at the WRAS office by Carol Woodruff.

First prize: $1000 Rebel Sport Gift Voucher (Winner: Bev Oxley – Bathurst)

Second prize: HP Photosmart A826 Touchscreen Home Photo centre (Winner: Renee Covington – Bathurst)

Third prize: HP Deskjet 1050 J410a Colour all-in-one printer, scanner, copier (Winner: Dean Oxley – Bathurst)