Herts Sports Partnership along with Hertfordshire Mavericks welcomed around 50 guests to the launch of their local support for Sports England’s This Girl Can 2017 last week.

The event took place at the Mavericks first game of the season where they beat Team Northumbria 53-48.

Guests at the day watched the competitive match before being entertained by a demonstration of walking netball by members of Hatfield Netball Club during half-time.

Paul Clark, who represented the Maverick’s, summed up on Friday, the links between grass roots and elite sport, the importance of mums becoming role models for their daughters, and the inspiration of This Girl Can.

Two ladies have brought the programme to life in the area after one managed to attract women to a traditionally male sport in Olympic weight lifting.

And the other, who is a leader on the Moving Mums school gate project, has been encouraging ladies to take up running and has witnessed many evolve from nervous beginners to running events such as London’s Winter Run 10k.

The new Sport England advert will broadcast from today with a number of local projects commencing over the next few weeks.

Herts Week commences from Saturday, June 3 to Sunday June 11 with the main focus on the This Girl Can initiative, which is now in it’s third year of the promotion.

The aim is to encourage around 5,000 women and girls to try something new through an imaginative, friendly and welcoming Hertfordshire-wide activity programme.

If any club is interested in hosting any activity sessions contact Lucy Carey at l.m.carey@herts.ac.uk.

For more information or if you want to take part or join one of the clubs that is on offer visit www.sportinherts.org.