A love of the game has seen a self-confessed netball nut net a prize for two to the next world cup in South Africa.
Claire Martin from Blenheim scooped a package for two to the Netball World Cup 2023 in Cape Town.
The huge netball fan is bringing her mum with her for the once in a lifetime trip.
Claire impressed International Netball Foundation with her tie-breaking skills to win the competition.
“I’m very stoked, and so is mum.
“They emailed me at the beginning of August. I couldn’t believe it – I thought it was a joke.
“I was going to go anyway, although I have no idea how I was going to get the money.
“It’s perfect for a netball nut like me.”
Claire, who has just moved to Lower Hutt where she works for a payroll company, went to the World Cup in Liverpool last year.
“It’s a bit of a tradition, now – I went to the Sydney World Cup four years prior,” she says.
After returning from Liverpool, Claire says she wanted to support the federation’s charity, Creating Choices.
It was her $10 donation that ultimately led to her big win.
“There was a box on the form – you could enter a competition – it was just 15 words about what netball means to you.
“I choose netball because it has given me the confidence to take challenges head-on and grab rare opportunities,” she wrote.
“I never thought I would win.”
The prize includes return flights, four-star hotel accommodation and two tickets for the duration of the competition.
“I was in complete shock and it’s taken a while to process the fact I’ve won such an incredible prize.
The first person I called was my mum; the who, how and why to my love of netball and the one that will be joining me on this experience of a lifetime.”
“I can’t wait for Cape Town 2023.”