HUNTLY mid-court player Kym Bell has won the Hawks’ first Heathcote District league Esther Cheatley Medal for 15 years.

Bell polled 21 votes to win a thrilling count for the A Grade netball best and fairest on Wednesday night.

Bell edged out last year’s winner, Colbinabbin’s Brydie Lawford (20), by one vote, while White Hills’ Anna-Grace Close (18) was third as she finished on the podium for the second year in a row.

Bell’s consistency was highlighted by her polling votes in nine of the Hawks’ 16 games, including being adjudged best-on-court in four matches.

Before Bell’s triumph on Wednesday night, the last Huntly player to have won the A Grade netball medal was Janelle Hobbs in 2003.

Bell will be back on court in this Sunday’s first semi-final when the Hawks take on Mount Pleasant at Elmore.

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• Other grades:

Winner – Alyssa Cole (White Hills), 21. 

Runner-up – Sarah Nash (White Hills), 19.

Winner – Julianne Baldock (White Hills), 23.

Runner-up – Katelyn Parry (White Hills), 21.

Winner – Sarah Makepeace (Elmore), 24.

Runner-up – Zahlia Turton (North Bendigo), 20.

Winner – Abbey Hromenko (Elmore), 22.

Runner-up – Gretal Hodge (Leitchville-Gunbower), Maeve Tupper (Mount Pleasant), 20.

Winner – Dominique Palmer (Colbinabbin), 25.

Runner-up – Jorja Whatley (Mount Pleasant), 24

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