Celebrating The People Behind Yorkshire Netball: The 2026 ONE Awards Winners

On Sunday 28th June, Yorkshire netball came together at York Sports Club to celebrate the 2026 Centenary ONE Awards, a chance to say thank you to the coaches, officials, volunteers and clubs who keep our sport growing, in a year that also marks 100 years of England Netball.

Guests were welcomed by Yorkshire RMB's Stacy Hopkinson, with an England Netball centenary video setting the tone for the afternoon before Yorkshire Netball Chair Patrick Hoyle took to the stage to reflect on a brilliant year on court, including some incredible regional league results.

The afternoon also included a talk from Sheelagh Redpath MBE, who has given over 50 years of voluntary service to netball and 30 years working for England Netball, reflecting on what the sport's centenary means to her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2026 ONE Award Winners

Rising Star Award 🏆 Emilia Graham

Emilia has given herself wholeheartedly to her club, coaching juniors, umpiring across South Yorkshire, managing the club's social media and serving as vice chair, all while finding time to support players with SEN and help others into coaching.

Outstanding Contribution Award — Delivering Great Sessions 🏆 Lucy Garrett

Lucy has turned a Back to Netball group into a thriving, structured club with a clear pathway for players, and did it all while recovering from an ACL injury. She now runs both Back to Netball and development sessions, creating a genuinely welcoming space for beginners and competitive players alike.

Outstanding Contribution Award — Delivering Great Sessions 🏆 Kelly Pritchard

Kelly coaches across juniors, seniors, mixed and walking netball in the Goole and Thorne areas. When her leisure centre closed, she found an alternative venue rather than let her walking netball group lose the connection they'd built, and continues to adapt her sessions to meet the needs of every individual who comes along.

Outstanding Contribution Award — Delivering Great Sessions🏆 Gemma Forshaw

In just a few years, Gemma has gone from player to qualified coach and umpire, delivering sessions across adult, mixed and walking netball that are always tailored to what her players need. She's brought mixed netball to a club outside Sheffield for the first time and personally encouraged three players to start their own umpiring journeys.

Outstanding Contribution Award — Making It All Happen 🏆 Kerrie Symmonds

Since Harrogate Challengers launched in 2022, Kerrie has been the person who keeps everything running. As Vice Chair, she's completed her Level 2 coaching and Into Officiating qualifications, supported coaches across every age group, and organised the club's awards evening, all without ever expecting anything in return.

Outstanding Contribution Award — Making It All Happen🏆 Kirsty Atkinson

Kirsty is a player, coach and qualified umpire within Sheffield Concord's Net4All inclusive programme, and completed her Into Officiating award through a course adapted around her individual needs. She recently travelled to Uganda to coach and umpire, donating kit and equipment from her own funds to a local club.

Outstanding Contribution Award — Making It All Happen🏆 Rachael Radford

Rachael has been involved in Yorkshire netball for over three decades as a player, Super League umpire, tutor, assessor, competitions lead and county treasurer. She's built a structured mentoring programme for trainee umpires and is currently supporting almost 50 trainees, with a 100% success rate in their practical assessments.

Thriving Collective Award 🏆 Louise Rutherford — 5 Ways

Louise has introduced netball to 5 Ways, a community supporting people in recovery from alcohol and drug dependency, working with local leisure providers to establish regular sessions and festivals. Participation has grown steadily, with real, measurable improvements in wellbeing and social connection among those involved.

Special Recognition Award 🏆 Janet Ivel

Janet has chaired York RI Netball for over 20 years, leading a club of 70 senior and 120 junior players with a grassroots ethos at the heart of everything she does. She never runs trials, never turns players away and has never once selected on talent alone, ensuring every player feels welcome and valued.

Special Recognition Award🏆 Sarah Watts

Sarah has been involved in officiating for over 25 years, progressing to international umpire level before moving into assessor and mentor roles to support the next generation. She umpired at Super League for six years and with the IUA for four, and still gives up evenings and weekends to help others develop.

Special Recognition Award🏆 Pauline Hardy

Pauline spent 11 years with England Netball before retiring and continuing her contribution as a volunteer, helping to establish some of the first Walking Netball sessions in Humberside. She remains a driving force behind participation for the over-50s and those coming to netball for the very first time.

Huge congratulations to all of our winners, and a massive thank you to every nominee, being put forward for these awards is recognition in itself, and we truly appreciate everything you do for Yorkshire netball.

The afternoon rounded off with a BBQ, raffle draw in aid of Welcome House, supporting asylum seekers and refugees in Hull and East Riding, and plenty of catching up across the Yorkshire netball community.

Here's to the next 100 years. 💛