Now a student at the Ralph Allen School in Bath, 16-year-old Guthrie is coping with the new challenge of mixing studying with an increased training schedule of around 18 hours a week and, rather ironically, after being told she was too short for goal defence, she has also found the time to take up the offer of a netball modelling shoot.
She admits she is thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to study for her A-Levels whilst at the same time being able to put in more training towards her netball – ‘I really like it here, I’m enjoying being in Bath and there’s a lot more flexibility and independence,’ she said.
It is the flexibility that Guthrie, a former pupil at Le Rocqier School is taking full advantage of – a typical day allows for her to attend netball training from seven in the morning to tackle a mix of gym sessions, drills and ball work.
Then it is into school for a few hours work towards her A-Levels – geography, psychology and PE.
After school, Guthrie, will then be involved in either club training with Premier League team Bath Toucans, Superleague training with reigning champions TeamBath or home training – a training session with netball’s top coaches for elite players.
Guthrie, who used to play for Convent A in Jersey, has recently signed a sponsorship contract with local firm Ogier and is delighted that they have agreed to assist her as she establishes her new life in England.
Her mother Heather said: ‘We are thrilled to have the support from Ogier who realise the potential of Serena and are interested in supporting talented youth in Jersey by financially supporting Serena to continue her education in England while pursuing her England netball career.’ On the courts however, Guthrie has been recommended to change position from goal defence to centre or wing defence due to her supposed lack of height but this hasn’t inhibited Serena’s potential in any way: ‘I’ve been invited to try out for the England under 21 trials in December which was unexpected,’ she added.
Another unexpected experience for Serena was the chance to represent England in a whole new fashion by partaking in a photoshoot with four other girls in Teddington, London to model England’s new netball kit.
