A trip down memory lane with…
Selina Hornibrook (nee Gilsenan) In each edition of Swifts Insider in 2014, we will be honouring past Swifts Club players by catching up with a former NSW representative from the NSW Swifts and/ or from the NSW teams in the former national league – Hunter Jaegars, Sydney Sandpipers and Sydney Swifts. Dynamic midcourter Selina Hornibrook (nee Gilsenan), played for the Sydney Swifts for nine years in the former national league, claiming four premierships (2001, 2004, 2006-2007) including a Grand Final MVP nod in 2007. After winning a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and claiming the crown at the 2007 World Championships she retired from international duties but played one more year of netball… helping the NSW Swifts claim the inaugural ANZ Championship title in 2008.
1. How did you get started in netball?
I first started netball because I wanted to play a team sport, I think I was 11 at that time. I did other sports like swimming and dance but I wanted to play a team
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sport and all my girlfriends at school played netball so it was the obvious choice.
2. Which player did you most admire and why?
When I was younger, probably Kath Harby-Williams, she was in the Australian team at the time and was in the position I played which was goal defence. As I got older I admired Liz Ellis (she’ll love that!), just because she was such an inspirational captain, a great person to have on the team and obviously she achieved everything you can possibly achieve in netball.
3. What do you remember of your National League debut?
It took me a while to get off the bench for starters, so what I remember is being excited to get into the Swifts but I think it was at least a year before I actually got my first real experience. I think it was overwhelming at first in that first game, overwhelming to be on court but I settled in not long after that.
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4. What was the highlight of your netball career?
The first highlight was being selected in my first Australian squad; that was my first highlight in netball because more than anything it was unexpected. The next highlight was probably my last year with the Swifts, my last year playing – winning the first ANZ Championship.
5. What is one thing you miss about netball and one thing you don’t?
One thing I miss is definitely the lifestyle of playing netball, being around girlfriends all the time, travelling, the whole lifestyle and everything involved with that, and what I don’t miss… the beep test! I could do preseason training but I did hate the beep test.