Players got the chance to look back on their summer exploits as the Ashford Netball League held their presentation evening before switching attentions to the new winter season.

The Premier and First Divisions have new teams for the winter with Dolphins promoted to the Premier and Pick ‘n Mix moving from the Second to the First. Natasha Hirst was Dolphins’ star player while Alex Myskiewicz was Pick ‘n Mix’s top performer.

Winners of the Premier Division were Homewood, who were unbeaten throughout the season, with Goldwyn as runners-up. Star player was Emily Marambakuyana of Breakaways Gold.

Favourite umpires for the summer season were Julie Gill, Megan Blythe and Nicola Tsagarakis, while Nikki Barron was also awarded a voucher in recognition of her excellent work as umpiring secretary.

The first winter league games began on September 18 while Walking Netball recommenced at Courtside from September 20.

Meanwhile, three league stalwarts have been honoured at the Kent County Netball Association’s annual meeting.

Nikki Barron was presented with the Kent Netball administrator award by Dawn Cox, Kent Netball’s secretary.

As well as being a qualified C-award umpire and an assistant coach, Barron has been a committee member of the Ashford Netball League from 2003. Now umpiring secretary, her live spreadsheet of the umpiring schedule was highlighted as a great move forward for the league.

Denise Chittenden was presented with a Kent Netball life membership award by Marlene Wander, the president of Kent Netball.

Chittenden is an A-award umpire who officiated at county, regional and national level, including the Premier League, for more than 20 years. An Ashford Netball League committee member from 1989-91 and 2009-2012, she currently mentors and assesses C-award and B-umpire award learners in the county and region.

Wander also presented Sue Ellis with the Joyce Crust Salver to recognise her services to Kent Netball and netball in the county.

An Ashford Netball committee member from 2009 to 2019, Ellis is a reliable and respected C-award umpire who has also helped to assist with many on-court injuries with calmness and sensitivity. She has also been voted as one of the league’s favourite umpires.

Ellis has hosted walking netball in the town and helped support coaching youth netball, most recently with girls from the John Wallis Academy in Ashford.