Two members of Penryn Netball Club have been recognised in the South West Regional Goalden Globe Awards 2017, held at Somerset County Cricket Club.

Debbie Ashworth and Jackie Tresidder received their awards at a ceremony to celebrate the hard work and contribution of netball coaches, umpires, administrators and all other volunteers across the region,

Debbie, who lives in Perranarworthal, won the ‘Grassroots Officials Award’.

She is an A award umpire and described by her peers as the ‘umpiring guru’ of Cornwall.

Her work has moved umpiring in Cornwall from the difficult position of not having sufficient umpires for the level of games to a point where there are now not enough top level games to support the ever increasing number of talented umpires.

Debbie was recognised for developing more than 50 new umpires and continually going above and beyond to support umpires across the region.

Her nominators said: "Debbie inspires others to get involved in umpiring and encourages them to develop and improve."

Debbie also went on to be awarded the Heather Crouch Award, which is selected from the winners of the other eight categories and presented to the individual who has made an outstanding contribution to netball in the South West.

Jackie, from Falmouth, won the ‘Unsung Hero’ award and has been a coach at Penryn Netball Club for 20 years as well as club chair and secretary.

She has been chair of Cornwall Netball and coached the Cornwall netball youth teams as well as supporting a number of local schools.

Jackie was recognised for her efforts to promote the pathway from school to club netball, encouraging girls to join clubs, which has increased participation.

Her peers said: "For over 40 years Jackie has dedicated her life to ensure the development of netball in Cornwall. She is seen as a mother figure and is a well-respected member of the Cornwall netball community."

This award follows on from her recent success in the in the Cornwall Sports Awards where she won ‘Lifetime Services to Sport Award’ for her volunteer work at the club.

A spokesperson from Penryn Netball Club said: "We are incredibly proud of both of these women who are huge ambassadors for Netball in Cornwall.

"They have been pivotal in the success of Penryn Netball Club and have paved the way for many more generations of players to have the opportunity to play netball at a high level here in Cornwall."