Kate Ritchie (netballer)

Katie Ritchie is a retired National League netball player from New Zealand. Ritchie started her netball career at age 21 as a reserve for the Otago Rebels in the 1998 National Bank Cup. She carried on playing for the Rebels until 2000 when she left for the Canterbury Flames. She played for the Rebels again in 2002 and 2003 taking her team to the semi-finals and a victory in 2003 over eventual champions Southern Sting in round-robin play. In 2004 she was drafted into the Capital Shakers with Southern Sting's Megan Hutton as a dominant force averaging 87% in shooting. The 1.91 m shooter then moved back to Dunedin to play for Otago Rebels in 2005 before retiring from all aspects of netball in 2006 to travel. She has always cited her mentor and friend, Kelly Hutton, as her greatest influence in both life and sport.

International netball

Ritchie was part of New Zealand A from 2002 until 2004 and a member of the U21 team which travelled to the World Youth Netball Championships. She was also previously included in the Silver Ferns wider training squad in 2003.

External links

* [http://www.netballotago.co.nz Netball Otago]