WHEN it came to making clutch shots down the final stretch, Cheryl Todd-Simons simply had the 'Midas touch' inside the arc with the netball.

Indeed, this imposing six-foot, right-handed goal-shooter possessed a lethal shot, one which carried Todd to the top of her game during an illustrious six-year career with former club AIRCO, forerunner's of today's AICO women's netball team.

The journey toward becoming one of Bermuda's most outstanding netball players began at Southampton Glebe primary school, where a then eight-year old, five-foot six-inch Todd first strolled out on to the court.

Coach June Dill would play a significant role in unearthing and helping to refine Todd's natural ability, while countless hours were spent on practising with a makeshift rim against brothers Ronald and Kirk Richards in the backyard of their family's Woodlawn Road residence only served to hasten her rise to prominence.

'Big Bird', as she later became to be known, steadily progressed at the former Sandy's Secondary School, totally unaware that greater things were soon to follow. At 'sweet sixteen', Todd was summoned to national team duty where should would join the ranks with some of the island's finest.

And although her career lasted only six years, within that short span, Todd won every domestic major title with AIRCO and ventured overseas to Trinidad where she represented Bermuda in the 1976 World Netball Championships - an experience that really opened her eyes and broadened her horizons. For added measure, Todd also represented Bermuda in the Carifta Games twice during the 1970s competing in the 800 metres and javelin events.

But it was on the netball courts at the former National Stadium in Prospect where this former six-time leading goalscorer and four-time MVP did most of her stumping - or for use of a more appropriate term - 'saw nothing but net'.

From the very first moment this outstanding athlete entered on to the local netball scene in 1975, she was destined to ascend to great heights.

"The game was tight; one up one down and Juanita Alton was marking me and she was taller then me and more experienced," recalled Todd earlier this week. "I received the ball just inside the circle and at first I panicked. I thought that if I shot from there I would surely miss and everyone there were shouting and yelling. I said to myself, 'Cheryl catch yourself ' and I looked up at my mother (Pam Richards) and finally let the ball go."

Not only did the shot go in, but Todd's last minute effort won the match and the league title for AIRCO.

"That was so exciting for me because it was only my first season and I didn't want to miss the shot and my team lose the game," she said.

Drawing comparisons with today's modest following of supporters who turn out for matches at Bernard Park, Todd described the 'old days' to that of an FA Cup final. "It was such a huge following and the girls were intense and always focused and everyone wanted to win," said Todd. "You looked forward to Saturday mornings. It got to a point where my mother wanted me to cut back and concentrate on some school work but netball and track and field was my life. I used to leave track and field and run up National Stadium to play netball. The first game used to begin at 12.30 p.m. and the next one would be at 2 p.m. So the later game was always the better game and we always had a large following. You couldn't get into that Stadium because there were so many people there."

Todd described the competition then as 'fierce'.

"Everyone wanted to beat us and the only team that came near to beating us was North Village who had Carol DeGraff and Jean- Anne Armstrong on their team. Armstrong was probably my toughest opponent. She wasn't as tall as me but she could spring. Being that I was tall, sometimes I didn't have to jump to shoot because my arms are so long - but not against her. She could jump. And it wasn't like playing basketball where you have a backboard to help the ball go in. So you had to be accurate," added Todd, who peaked out with a high score of 42 points during a single match and boasted an average between 30 to 35 points per game during her career.

"Jean Pierre. . . she was a netball idol in the Caribbean and I don't know why she took a liking to me but she gave me some valuable pointers like flicking my wrist a bit more and just keeping my composure. Back then players used to sing out anything to you to try to take you off your game. And I used to do it and it made shooting a lot easier. June (Dill) also encouraged me a lot as far as jumping and showing me different movements. She was always there to keep in me in the game. She used to pick me up every Saturday in her little purple Volkswagon and take me to those games and give me advice from courtside. She certainly helped me a lot during my career," said Todd.

Given she possessed the golden touch inside the arc, it surprised few when the then 16-year-old received a call to national team duty. Todd was highly recommended by Sandy's coach Barbara Crellin.

"My first game (overseas) I just ball watched. Back then we didn't receive a lot of exposure that we needed to play at that level," noted Todd.

"You would've thought those girls were playing basketball. You would be standing there trying to defend them but the ball has already gone to the next player. We used to have a tendency of saying 'oh the ball is going out'. The ball never went out. Their players would throw the ball while in the air and it would go directly to the next player. So playing at that level really took me by surprise."

Representing Bermuda at the 1976 Championships in Trinidad provided Todd with some of her fondest memories on the court and raised her own level of play considerably.

"In Bermuda we would look to the outside of the circle to pass the ball. So the defence is expecting the ball to come from the outside, but the attack already has the ball in the rim. So it raised your level a lot to the point where you realised that there was a lot of room for improvement on your accuracy and speed," said Todd.

Sadly, Todd was forced to retire in 1981 when she went off for further studies in Westchester, New York.

And though she doesn't get around to any matches today, she still manages to keep tabs on what's happening on and around the courts.

" I was talking with Carol (DeGraff) the other day and she suggested that we reassemble a team because the majority of us still keep fit. So I think we are going to go for it," said Todd.

If all goes according to plan, local netball fans could be treated to a 'blast from the past' in the upcoming months.

Todd also provided a bit of advice to some of today's up and coming prospects.

"Train hard. Practice, practice, practice. You never know enough because there are just so many skills you can learn."