Cook Islands News

Wednesday 17 June 2009:

The Jamaica Netball Association has announced the squads to represent the country at the inaugural Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) Games in Trinidad & Tobago in July, and the World Youth Netball Championships (WYNC) in the Cook Islands in August.
The July games squad will have to do without ANZ star Romelda Aiken, who will be allowed to rest before the start of the WYNC.
However, Sasher-Gaye Henry, Nichala Gibson, Tracey-Ann Robinson and Nicole Aiken are all included in the CANOC games.
Aiken, who is having a fantastic second season with the Queensland Firebirds in the ANZ Championship and was recently invited to be a part of a World Invitational team, will lead the Jamaican charge at the WYNC, along with Afrika Morris, Yanique Gordon and Patricia McCalla.
Coach Major C Lloyd Walker is confident in the ability of the players and is expecting them to do well at the championships.
“I’m satisfied that we have the best players at our disposal and while I won’t make any predictions, I’m expecting them to do well at the championships.”
Walker, who spent the weekend with the team on their second camp, is hoping the girls improve their readiness in the coming weeks as preparation intensifies.
“We’re hoping that these weekend camps will get them to focus more as we get closer to the tournament and will also draw them closer together as sisters and help with the camaraderie.”
“We’re hoping to work on a few areas and get them in top physical and mental shape,” Walker added.
Jamaica WYNC squad: shooters - Romelda Aiken, Crystal Gordon, Christina Solmon, Vanessa Walker; centre court - Lasania Mattis, Patricia McCalla, Sateva Taylor, Samantha White; defenders - Malysha Kelly, Sasha-Gay Lynch, Afrika Morris, Yanique Gordon. - Jamaica Observer

Cook Islands News:

Thursday 11 June 2009:

No case of influenza A (H1N1) has been confirmed in Rarotonga following the laboratory testing of samples from seven suspected cases.
Test results from seven nasal swabs carried out over the past week have come back negative for the new flu strain.
Six locals had been home quarantined after being diagnosed with possible cases of influenza A H1N1 (formerly called swine flu).
Of those six, five of the test results revealed they had seasonal flu. One visitor to the island had been quarantined at the hospital this week – they were found to be negative for both the new and seasonal flu.
Ministry of health spokesperson Heather Webber-Aitu says they will now be sending 10 swab samples to Wellington each week as an extra precaution against the new flu.
Webber-Aitu says the Blackrock clinic, which receives patients with influenza symptoms, is open seven days a week from 8am-4pm.
The World Health Organization is now reporting that 74 countries have reported 27,737 cases and 141 deaths.
“The situation has really evolved over the past few days,” says Keiji Fukuda, deputy director general of the WHO reports. “We are very close to admitting that we find ourselves in a pandemic situation.”
The WHO is reportedly bracing itself to declare the first ever global pandemic after increased infection rates in Australia and in parts of Canada. - HG

Cook Island News Saturday 30 May 2009:

National netballers (from left) Selina Napa, Luciana Matenga and Curly George model the Cook Islands ranking squad’s new training gears and tracksuits. The gears, supplied by Turtles Sportswear, were modelled by the three players during the netball awards evening on Wednesday night. Napa, Matenga and George are the only Rarotonga based players that make up the ranking team that will play in the Pacific Netball Series in Samoa between June 3 and 5.
The ranking outcome from the teams performance will determine if the Cook Islands qualifies for the Commonwealth Games in India next year.
The three local players led by Cook Islands Netball Association president Margharet Matenga left for New Zealand Thursday and will join their ranking squad members including Theresa Tairi, twins Puala and Patricia Te Huna, Ritua Petero-Lilivaa, Angela Tangimetua, Holly Solomona, Paula Marama and Clarister Andrew. - MW