Lottie Signs For Australian Club!
Story: 20th December, 2011 | Words: Storm NC | Photos: Andrew Trenoweth

Storm's Lottie Richardson has just achieved what elite European netball players can only dream of; to be snapped up by one of Australia's top clubs, Manly Warringah, based at the Institute of Sport in Sydney. As the current New South Wales state champions, Manly has signed Lottie to play in their 1st Team for the 2012 season.

Lottie's move to play on the other side of the world began in August, when she caught the eye of some of Australia's most powerful netball coaches. When they subsequently discovered she was Australian by birth, the process began.

"Australia and New Zealand are the epicentre of world netball, so to be recognised at my age to play alongside senior international and ANZ players in the state championship is very flattering", she said. "My ambition is to be a professional, and currently the Southern Hemisphere is the only place where this is possible."

The huge media coverage and brand support of the ANZ Bank sponsored Australian and New Zealand Netball Championship is the lucrative driver for the professional sport down under. This is why most England netballers aspire to play there. "Netball is taken so much more seriously in Australia. And importantly, elite players are respected for being the athletes we have to be."

Lottie's move doesn't mean she's turning her back on Storm though. "Absolutely not", Lottie explained. "I plan to continue the association for years to come with Carn Brea Storm and I'll be able to play in the winter league as it's the off season in Australia. With what I can achieve in Australia, I hope to inspire youngsters at Storm to do the same."

Lottie is also continuing her studies here in Cornwall at Truro High School where she started as a 4 year old. "Falmouth will always be home as my parents live there and I am still studying for my A levels at Truro High School. But to complete those studies, I will commute several times throughout the year between Truro and Sydney. Yes, its going to be a bit more than my normal annual 30,000 miles for my sport. But time spent traveling will be similar, as I will be doing 500mph instead of 50! Plus, I cannot let my school down as they have been amazing. The Headmistress, Caroline Pascoe and all my teachers have made the decision very easy. They totally supported me to say yes to the opportunity, stating they will do what is necessary to get me through my A levels."

Another local association set to continue is with her personal trainer, Rob Smaldon, who is based at the Tremough Campus Gym in Penryn. When most people will be relaxing over the Christmas and New Year break, Rob will be pushing Lottie in her challenging daily fitness programme, before she jets off from the grip of winter for January training in the Australian sun. "There's no chance of sun bathing though. I've got to keep up the hard work in the gym and on court and show why they signed me. It is going to be challenging, but I am up to it", she added. "When I return at the end of January, I hope to have more exciting news".