Jan Cochrane from Ashburton has been surprised with a Mid Canterbury Netball life membership honour.
Cochrane’s award was presented at the annual general meeting of Mid Canterbury Netball.
She joins other life members including Rosemary Adlam, Sheena Tyrrell and Audrey Leath.
‘‘I am honoured to have received the life membership and thank Mid Canterbury netball for their recognition, and the contributions of others in the netball community who have influenced my work ,’’ Cochrane said.
Cochrane acknowledged family, friends, mentors, and colleagues, who have supported and inspired her, especially husband Trevor and children Charlotte and James, who encouraged her to pursue her passion.
Cochrane grew up surrounded by sport. From a young age she had a passion for pursuits including basketball, tennis and netball.
When she married Ashburton athlete Trevor, she had to choose a sport that allowed her to spend time with him and their family. She chose netball.
Cochrane found it hard to recall one highlight that stood out from her stellar service and coaching results, as there were so many.
‘‘Some of the highlights have included coaching successful club, representative, and Ashburton College Senior A netball teams, especially qualifying for nationals on five occasions with college.
‘‘It was a remarkable feat particularly considering only eight teams qualified for National Secondary Schools. Now there are 16 teams.
‘‘Coaching Ashburton A representative senior team to win the Hanan Shield for the first time in 17 years was another highlight.
‘‘Coaching teams and being on many committees over the years, was enjoyable due to the commitment and focus of everyone with similar goals.
‘‘More recently in 2023, leading the Mid Canterbury netball centenary committee, resulting in an outstanding weekend of celebrations,’’ Cochrane said.
Cochrane never tires of seeing young people play netball and still supports netball in any way she can.
Claire Tappin of Ashburton was also recognised at the annual meeting with the presentation of a service award for more than 20 years’ involvement with the United club.
Tappin stepped down as the club’s president in 2021, having begun her time with United as a formidable player for the club’s A side not long after moving to New Zealand from England.
She went on to represent both Mid Canterbury and Canterbury Country, but in more recent years she has made a name for herself as a coach, and over the past two years coaching first the College Y9As and then the 10As to top five placing at the Junior South Island Secondary Schools tournaments.
Off the court she served as president of United for seven years, and over the years has given much to United, College, and Mid Canterbury Netball, through multiple voluntary roles – coach, selector, player, umpire, media liaison – and is currently employed by Mid Canterbury Netball as a coach developer.
Others to be recognised were outgoing president and board member Ange Mitchell for her work on the board with the Sport Canterbury trophy for a volunteer, Nicole Hands, the Elsie Adlam Memorial trophy for administrative excellence within Mid Canterbury Netball.
Methven Netball Club was presented with the Pat Craig trophy for administrative excellence within a club.
United Netball Club received the Anstiss Paper Plus trophy for administrative excellence within a club.
