7:40pm Sunday 5th September 2010
PENSIONERS have proved they are on the ball after forming a netball team.
The women, who earlier this year formed a band called the Golden Oldies, have again wowed other residents by proving that age is nothing but a number by returning to netball.
With an average age of 90 years, the team members, who live at Holcroft Grange on Jackson Avenue, Culcheth, have been polishing their throwing, catching and shooting skills twice a week in training sessions run by Christine Carroll, activity co-ordinator.
At 101 years old, Olive Cook is the oldest player and describes herself as a ‘netball all-rounder’.
Coach Christine said: “The idea for the team came about when we were doing the residents’ usual exercise session and one of our residents, Rose Page, threw the ball to me as if she was shooting it into a net. The residents burst into stories of how they loved playing netball and other sports when they were younger, so we set up practice and then a team.”
The women have shown that practice makes perfect as they have progressed from shooting into floor nets to taller ones.
Ethel Lee, a former seamstress, has been putting her talents to use by helping other residents to make homemade netball bibs, which have each position written in glitter.
The group hopes to play matches against other homes.
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