“Netball to me is important, both socially and competitively. I see it as a chance to keep active, challenge myself and be part of a team. I love the social side of it just as much as playing, having a laugh, catching up with the girls and making friendships. It’s also something that gives me a bit of balance outside of everyday life and studying while being something I genuinely look forward to each week.”
For any athlete, at any level, sport is a platform to escape for a period of time where nothing else matters besides competing.
Eleanor Horne’s escape is Netball. A relationship that is almost symbiotic with her time at the University of South Wales.
USW
“Playing for USW means being part of a team and a university community. I joined the BUCS 2s three years ago after not having played since school, so it allowed me to get back into a sport I enjoyed and meet lots of new people. It’s been a great way to make friends, have something social outside of university work and still enjoy the competitive side of netball. It’s also given me some really good memories and friendships along the way.”
Connection. What is so important about connection? Well, it is the base for everything. At our core, we all strive to connect. University is where bonds are forged; for Horne, this is true. The netball team has provided a steadfast foundation for this; it’s clear the side means a tremendous amount to her. Horne elaborates on the expectations for this season.
“Having been captain last year and continuing in the role again this year, I want to build on what we’ve achieved and keep creating a positive and welcoming team environment. I want to continue supporting the girls, bringing everyone together and making sure everyone enjoys being part of the team. Obviously, I also want us to be competitive, push ourselves and hopefully have a successful season. For me, it’s about continuing to grow as a team, developing as a captain and making the most of another year playing with the girls”
Much of her netball has been played at the USW sports park, and she recently embarked on a new challenge alongside uni netball, playing for the Pen-y-Bont Herons.
Pen-y-Bont Herons
“I started looking at local clubs because I wanted to get back into playing more netball alongside university. I trialled for both Leckwith in Cardiff and Pen-y-Bont Herons in Bridgend, but I felt that Herons was the right fit for me. Everyone was really friendly and welcoming, and it felt like a club where I could settle in and enjoy being part of the team.
“I now enjoy the opportunity to play BUCS 2s for both USW and Herons, as they offer slightly different experiences. I love the social side of playing locally, getting to know more girls and being part of a welcoming club, but I’m also naturally quite competitive and enjoy having that challenge each week.”
Different experiences and exposure to a wide range of environments are how an athlete grows. Along with this, there are plenty of lessons that will be learnt. Horne elaborates on the lesson she has learnt.
Lessons and the future
“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how important teamwork and communication are. You can be a good individual player, but netball is such a team sport that you need to trust the people around you, support each other and work together. I’ve also learned not to put too much pressure on myself, to learn from mistakes, and that confidence comes from giving things a go.”
Lessons about trust and confidence. Values not just to use in netball but in everyday life. Horne talks about her ambitions.
“My main ambition is to keep playing netball for as long as I can and continue improving as a player. I’d love to make the most of the opportunities I have through both USW and Herons, experience different levels of competition and make some more great memories along the way. Ultimately, I want to keep enjoying the sport, stay involved and maintain the friendships I’ve made through it.”
A story about friendship and a love for netball: a story of striving to be one’s best self; it’s still unfolding.
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