The Christchurch Netball Centre is preparing for another busy season of netball at its Hagley Park Centre and for its Indoor Premier Competition. The lead up pre-season squad Tournament is also just weeks away.

The Pre-Season Squad Tournament caters for Premier, Senior and Senior Reserve teams looking to test their squads prior to the start of the season. Competition is contested over two days at Pioneer Stadium on the weekend of 28 and 29 March.

Trials continue for a number of Clubs and age groups, though Premier and some Senior trials have already been completed. Trial dates and details are available from the new look Christchurch Netball Centre website, www.netballchristchurch.org.nz. The website is also the source of Premier Team announcements for 2015.

Kereru, Lincoln University, Technical, Hearts St Peters, St Nicholas and St Margaret’s will all start the season in Premier 1. Kereru will look to defend their title in 2015 under new coach John McCarthy and have retained star shooter, Julianna Naoupu who recently made her International debut for Samoa.

It will be St Margaret’s first competition in Premier 1 following success in the Premier 2 competition in 2014. In a positive start to their season, St Margaret’s won their first College Netball contest over Ashburton last week. Having left St Margaret’s at the end of 2014, star shooter Jess Prosser now lines up with Technical Netball.

The Christchurch Netball Centre Winter Competition involves clubs from both Christchurch and its environs, with an estimated 6000 visitors to the courts each Saturday.

Winter competition for senior teams starts on the afternoon of April 25 and for Premier teams on Tuesday, 21 April. All other grades start 2 May. Winter competition entries close 13 April.

Future Ferns for  years 3 to 5 commences on 7 May, with games on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Future Ferns for years 1 and 2 commence on Sunday 10 May alongside Nettabury netball for preschoolers.

* Further information on trials, registrations and netball for juniors is available from the Christchurch Netball Centre website, www.netballchristchurch.org.nz.

Premier 1 team announcements to 8 March:

Kereru A: Kereana Lonne't (c), TeRauoriwa Gapper, Julianna Na'oupu, Jen Na'oupu, Charlotte Cramond, Courtney Cramond, Harriet Somerville, Kayla Williams, Jenna Suckling, Erin McDuff, Lauren Robb

Technical A: Chelsea Bremner, Natalie Allen, Jess Prosser, Gemma Hazeldine, Anteisha O'Connell, Katelyn Inch, Mahara Feala, Neena Woodgate, Nicole Witterick, Hannah Blair, Liana Arnold, Louise Thayer

Hearts St Peters (Saints): Alex Priest, Casey Ashton, Alice Eddington, Courtney Wheeler, Makaila Powick, Hilary Jones, Charlene Porima, Teri Carlson, Natasha Van Koeverden, Kelsey Sheppard