Long-serving South Otago netball volunteer Cheryl Blair has been named the country's top volunteer coach for her contribution to the sport over nearly three decades.
She was named winner of the coaching category at the 2009 national netball volunteer awards.
Netball Otago regional manager Nicki Paterson said it was "a tremendous honour" which Mrs Blair thoroughly deserved.
"Cheryl has been coaching netball for 27 years, starting with school and club teams and then also . . . representative teams every year since 1995."
The representative teams included Otago age-group sides.
Mrs Blair was also an apprentice coach for the Otago national provincial championship squad in 2006.
She will receive her award at a function before the final netball test match between the Silver Ferns and Australia in Auckland on September 23.
