Ten teams will battle in the first ever beach netball competition on day one of the 2023 Beach Games today at the Nikao beach courts.

The annual event will start with the official opening ceremony at 9am followed by beach netball matches starting at 10am.

Netball Cook Islands’ Tekura Moeka’a said: “We have a total of 10 teams in the Beach Games - a great number given it is new!”

Teams are divided into two pools of five. After the pool matches the top two progresses to semis and then final. 

“Given it’s the first of its kind will make for a fun filled and interesting day for players and officials. Rain or shine, we will continue.

“It is a bit of a mixed bag of teams with seasoned traditional netball players and some joining in for the fun of it. 

“Teams are made up of families, friends or work colleagues.

“Huge meitaki to our officials (bench officials and umpires) who will also be adapting to the new style of netball.”

Air badminton competition will be held on Monday followed by beach touch on Tuesday and Wednesday. Beach volleyball will be held from Thursday to Saturday.

On Monday and Tuesday, January 16 and 17, the beach handball competition will be held followed by 3x3 basketball from January 17 to 19. Beach football will kick start on January 19 and run until January 21.

Registrations are still open for volleyball, beach football and 3x3 basketball and will close on Monday, January 9. Contact CISNOC at 24095 for more information.

Fixtures

Pool A - Pineaparas, Given us a Bark, The Shady Bunch, Shine on Fiji Netters, Crax

Pool B - Black Rock, Lipstick Squad, 4 the LOL, Brew Crew, Just on time

Court 1: Pool A – 10am Give us a Bark vs Crax, 10:10 The Shady Bunch vs Shine on Fiji Netters, 10:20 Pineaparas vs Give us a Bark, 10:30 Shine on Fiji Netters vs Crax, 10:40 Pineaparas vs The Shady Bunch, 10:50 Shine on Fiji Netters vs Give us a Bark, 11:00 Pineaparas vs Shine on Fiji Netters, 11:10 Crax vs The Shady Bunch, 11:20 Pineaparas vs Crax, 11:30 Give us a Bark vs The Shady Bunch, 12pm Semi 1, 12:15pm Bronze playoff.

Court 2: pool B – 10am Brew Crew vs Just on me, 10:10 Black Rock vs 4 the LOL, 10:20 AM B Brew Crew vs Black Rock, 10:30 AM B Lipstick Squad vs Just on me, 10:40 Brew Crew vs Lipstick Squad, 10:50 4 the LOL vs Just on me, 11:00 4 the LOL vs Lipstick Squad, 11:10 Just on me vs Black Rock, 11:20 Brew Crew vs 4 the LOL, 11:30 Black Rock vs Lipstick Squad, 12pm Semi 2, 12:30pm Final