By Eleanor Udall
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March 27, 2025
The Ashby Netball Club has pulled off a truly spectacular feat, combining record-breaking achievements with an awe-inspiring act of charity that has captured hearts far and wide. Their recent Ashby Netball Marathon not only saw players endure a jaw-dropping 75 hours of continuous play, but it also led to the smashing of three Guinness World Records and raising over £57,000 for charity! Determined to leave a lasting impact, multiple teams took on the challenge of breaking the World Record for the most goals scored in 60 minutes and the most goals scored in 3 minutes. The previous record of 1105 goals in an hour, set by Trinity Netball Club in 2021, was absolutely shattered when one of Ashby’s teams netted an incredible 1564 goals in just 60 minutes! If that wasn’t enough, the club also set a brand-new record for the most goals scored in 3 minutes, hitting an impressive 97 goals. But the excitement didn’t stop there!... A standout moment of the marathon came when Imogen Talbot took to the court with a singular mission – to beat the individual record for most goals scored in one minute. The record of 40 goals was held by Suzanne Hobson in North Yorkshire, but Imogen’s lightning-fast shooting saw her land a whopping 49 goals in just 60 seconds! That’s a goal every 1.25 seconds, an astonishing feat of skill and endurance. This incredible effort was more than just a show of athletic excellence. The 75-hour netball marathon was all in the name of charity, with funds raised set to make a real difference in the community. Over an astounding £57,000 was raised for Kids Village, a charity dedicated to providing free, life-enhancing respite holidays for critically ill children and their families. Kids Village is on a mission to build a unique holiday village in the heart of the UK, near Lichfield, Staffordshire. Their goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where families can escape the pressures of daily life, find joy in magical moments, and make lasting memories together. With no cost to the families, this initiative offers a much-needed break from the stress and challenges of ongoing treatments and hospital visits, providing a space of relaxation and happiness. This charity is close to the hearts of the club as Carla Garey (their club development lead) made a pledge to fundraise after seeing her inspirational little girl Evelyn, fight for her life after being born with a rare congenital condition causing a defect of her RET gene and one of the resulting factors was a condition called Hirschsprung's disease, and the amazing players at Ashby Netball stood up and wanted to help. You may remember their 24 hour netball event that raised over £20,400 back in 2023 for the same charity. Even Parliament took notice! The club’s local MP acknowledged their achievements in a House of Commons session, calling it an incredible act of charity and congratulating the players for their relentless dedication. From all of us, congratulations, Ashby Netball Club! You’ve shot your way into the record books and our hearts