Tickets went on sale yesterday, Monday, for Netball Europe’s Open Challenge, which is being held in the island in May.

The Manx Netball Association is hosting six teams who will compete, along with the Isle of Man senior team, over four days at the NSC.

Squads will travel to the island from Gibraltar, Emirates, Ireland, Malta, Israel and Cayman Islands for the competition which runs from May 9-12.

Netball Europe is one of the five geographical regions of the International Netball Federation and the Isle of Man became a full INF member in 2017.

Last year saw the Isle of Man compete in this competition for the first time in Gibraltar, finishing an impressive second.

The tournament is played in a round-robin format with each team playing six matches, with the overall winners the team that tops this league.

There will be six matches on both Thursday, May 9 and May 10 running from 9am to at least 8.30pm.

Five games follow on Saturday, May 11 with four the following day.

Tickets range from £5 for a child’s evening ticket to £50 for an adult full-event ticket.

Further details are on the MNA website - netball.im - follow the links to the Netball Europe Open and the ticket section.

Tickets are available via eventbrite.co.uk, search Netball Europe Open or in Isle of Man events.

Numerous primary and secondary schools will be bringing children to watch matches as it should be a great spectacle with a level of netball not regularly seen in the island.

To be hosting such a prestigious event so soon after becoming a member is a great honour.