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*WE ARE THE* *CHAMPIONS*

full report and pictures

Title Win for Cougars Medals in Cup

REPORT from Paul King photos by Mac

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****BREAKING NEWS*****

FATHER AND SON SCOOP AWARDS FOR WILDCATS

Dave Paul

Following the double success of winning EBL Division 3 North, and gaining promotion, the Durham Wildcats have gained further honours in England Basketball’s end of season Awards.
Each Division has two awards, one for Coach of the Year, and one for Player of the Year, and the Wildcats have scooped both titles for Division 3 North. Dave Elderkin has taken the coach award, while Paul Elderkin has captured the player’s – a unique achievement, as it is the first time a father and son have won the two awards in any division!
A delighted Paul, who is recognised around the league as one of its best defensive players, as well as a high scorer, says “It's an honour and a privilege to be voted most valuable player in a league which has so many good players”. It was a difficult year, for me with so many injuries, and that makes the award even more pleasing. I want to thank my team mates and the coaching staff for all the hard work and support that made the season such a success.”
While for Paul this is the first such award that he has gained, Dave’s last accolade came eighteen years ago, when he was BBL Coach of the Month for January, having just guided Sunderland to the National Cup.
“If anything, this one gives me even more satisfaction” he comments. “The Sunderland team was professional, but the success at Durham has been achieved with a squad of amateur players, most still young, and all still learning.
“I’m naturally delighted personally, but also I’m very pleased for the club. A coach can only be as good as the players with whom he works, and this award is a testament to the effort and commitment that they have put in throughout the season.”
Four years ago the Durham Club were playing Local League, but now only England Basketball Division 1 separates them from Elderkin senior’s first club Sunderland, now playing out of Newcastle Arena as Newcastle Eagles.
The partnership of the Wildcats, Durham University and Team Durham are already planning the programme for the next two years; could it just be that in the not too distant future we might be able to look forward to a local Derby!

 

DURHAM OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN

The Durham Wildcats partnership with Durham University continues to blossom with news that the University has secured funding for four £2,000 postgraduate scholarships for female players wishing to further their education whilst continuing to play basketball.
The emphasis during the first two years of the partnership was on men’s basketball where the university club have secured back to back promotions to BUCS Northern Conference Division 1 whilst the Durham Wildcats have recently secured promotion to England Basketball National League Division 2.
Despite further significant developments for the men’s programme expected within the next two months, both the University and the Wildcats are excited by the fact that the women’s programme is now equally well placed to develop. Thoughts have immediately shifted to the 2009/10 season where the focus for the women will be on securing promotion to the BUCS Northern Premier League and establishing a National League programme.
The scholarships apply to any postgraduate degree available at Durham University, an institution that is renowned throughout the world for academic excellence and enhancing career progression. With a full time coaching structure now in place for men’s and women’s basketball this should be an attractive option for female players who want to develop as players whilst also continuing their University education.

For further information on the scholarship opportunities please contact:
Quentin Sloper, Assistant Director of Sport
Tel: 0191 334 2193
Email: q.r.sloper@dur.ac.uk

Womens Basketball

 

 

***WILDCATS GOING UP*** 2 DIVISION 2

Durham Wildcats Basketball Club are today celebrating the news that they’ve been awaiting since they clinched the EBL Division 3 North title in mid-March. England Basketball have published the composition of the leagues for 2009-10, and have confirmed that the Wildcats have been promoted to Division 2.
“Naturally we’re delighted” commented coach Dave Elderkin. “We were always confident that we would meet the organisational criteria that are required for the move up, but it’s encouraging to find that the Association agrees with us.
“We’re now looking forward to playing not only at a higher level, but also in a Division which is truly national, not regionalised.”
With promotion confirmed, the Wildcats can now concentrate on preparation for the new season, which will begin in September.
Elderkin, again: “We would definitely have held our own against many of the Division 2 teams last season, but we recognise that we will need greater strength in depth to compete consistently.
“We’ll be aiming to retain the core of the team which won us promotion, but along with our partners at Durham University we’ll be looking to bring in strong young players, with experience, who can continue their personal development alongside ours.”
The fixture list will be produced by England Basketball later in the Summer, and two fixtures for which the Wildcats and their fans will be looking are the home and away games against near-neighbours, and old rivals Team Northumbria, especially as the Newcastle-based outfit won the Division 2 play-off Championship last month.
In addition to that local “derby”, Durham can look forward to visits by (and trips to) Mansfield, who finished second to the Wildcats in Division 3 North, two Birmingham teams, and five London area clubs, as well as one from North Wales and one from Devon.
“The travelling may well come as a shock to some of the players” concludes Elderkin, “but they’ll soon recognise that it’s an important part of increasing their understanding of the demands of playing any sport to as high a level as possible.
“That’s just one of the challenges we face, but everyone at the club is very excited at what lies ahead.
“This move should be good not only for us, and for Durham University, but also for Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, which provides the Wildcats with facilities which are the equal of any of the teams in Division 2.
“There will also be a benefit to our work in the local communities, through our partnership with the local authority. The higher profile that the club will have should increase interest in the sport, and encourage even more youngsters to benefit from our schemes.”

The sense of anticipation in the club makes September look a long way off, but with so much preparation required, once the season begins it will not seem to have been very long at all

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