New challenge: Courtney Barnes is off to the Indoor Netball World Cup with the New Zealand under-23 team this weekend. Courtney is pictured her playing netball for New Plymouth Old Boys in the Taranaki premier netball competition. Photo supplied
Country’s Courtney Barnes is counting down the days until she heads to Brisbane.
The talented netballer has been named in the New Zealand under-23 indoor netball team to compete at the World Cup in Brisbane this August.
Barnes, fresh off helping her New Plymouth Old Boys netball team win the premier competition in Taranaki, is excited at the opportunity ahead.
“It’s going to be a fantastic experience. I’m sure grateful for the opportunity and look forward to wearing the silver fern with pride.”
Barnes is a big fan of indoor netball and turned out for Taranaki earlier in the season at the national championships where her star performance throughout the tournament led to her nomination for the national team.
Barnes has been buzzing about the opportunity since being told of her inclusion in May.
“It’s such a fun sport to play. It’s so fast and completely different to outdoor netball, but many of the skills are transferable so that definitely makes it easier.”
She said playing in a netted off area was a lot different.
“We can bounce off the netting and carry on. There are no real stoppages. It’s all go, go, go but that’s why I love it.”
Barnes has met all of her team-mates during recent training camps and said they’ve bonded incredibly well.
“Hopefully we can beat Australia and South Africa. Any win over there would be great.”
In outdoor netball, Barnes is relied upon to score the goals and much the same will be expected of her in Brisbane.
“I am heading over as a shooter and more of an attacker, but I’m open to playing wherever they need me,” she said. “I enjoy the shooting side of the game; it’s a good challenge.”
Barnes played indoor netball through high school and thought it would be a good sport to carry on with, which she has done.
Supporting her in Brisbane will be her mum and brother.
Barnes grew up in Waitomo and spent many years honing her skills on the various netball courts in the King Country.
“I live in Taranaki now, but I was raised in Waitomo and King Country will always be where I grew up.”
She intends to carry on playing indoor netball and hopes to help the team do well in Australia so the game can continue to grow in New Zealand.
