Net result

The Mayor's Award

Winner: Sleaford Netball Club

Winners: Sleaford Netball Club won the 2009 Mayor's Award for their world record-breaking marathon netball game. Members of the team are pictured with the Mayor, Coun George Grout.

"THIS is my chance to talk about one of the most spectacular events I have seen since becoming Mayor last May," said Coun Georger Grout in presenting The Mayor's Award.

He recalled how last July he had been to

a netball marathon at Northgate Sports Hall, organised by Sleaford Netball Club with the help of the Fenland Netball Club of Grantham, which lasted 58 hours, comfortably beating the previous world record of 54 hours.

The 24 players scored 3,231 goals and over the weekend raised more than £3,000 towards Wheelpower, the charity that provides sports wheelchairs.

Coun Grout said: "The girls had an anxious eight-week wait to find out if they'd been accepted by the Guinness World Records, but accepted they were and I'm delighted to announce our record breakers, Sleaford Netball Club, are the recipients of the 2009 Mayor's Award."

On stage to accept the award were team-members Sarah Brinkworth, Gemma Cope, Jackie Creedon, Helen Kirschner, Tracey Massingham, Rachel Scott and Debbie Smith.

Gemma said: "We had a few injuries – broken fingers, lost fingernails and shin splints – but it was well worth it.