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Glos stars support primary schools Kwik Cricket finals day (with video)

22 June 2015

Gloucestershire players Gareth Roderick, Cameron Herring and Matt Taylor supported the next generation of budding cricketers at the county’s primary school Kwik Cricket Finals Day.

The trio took time out to sign autographs and talk tactics with the teams at Cheltenham College - home of the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival.

To watch a video of the day click below

Gareth said: “It’s a fantastic, well-run event and it is great to see so many children participating and enjoying it. They didn’t have anything like this when I was growing up in South Africa and I am jealous that I wasn’t brought up here so I could experience something like this.

“The kids certainly seem to have been watching what’s been going on at international level as I have seen a lot of bombs hit over the boundary which bodes well for the future.”

Christchurch Downend continued their dominance in the competition after beating Henleaze Juniors in the final for the second year in a row.

Hanham Abbotts were also victorious, pipping Bishops Cleeve to the girls’ title by just three runs in a dramatic end to finals day at Cheltenham College.

Christchurch Downend’s victory means they have now won at least one of the two competitions every year in the last decade.

The winners will go on to compete in the South West regional finals at Clifton College on July 16.

In total 240 children from 24 teams – 16 in the open competition (for boys and girls) and eight in the girls – took to the famous College Ground after winning one of 23 local festivals.

A record 257 teams took part in the district rounds, resulting in more than 2500 pupils getting the chance to test their skills in a competitive environment.

Chris Munden, projects and programmes manager at the Gloucestershire Cricket Board – who organise the event – said: “Year on year the Kwik Cricket festivals give an opportunity for school pupils to have a fun and competitive cricket experience.

“Thanks to support from the Chance to Shine charity and our education partner Mezze Restaurants we have been able to expand our coaching programme and the competition is a great advert for the effect it is having with a record number of schools involved.

“Competitions like this are vital in helping us achieve our goal of getting more people playing cricket more often as they bring the game to life and provide a wonderful stage for youngsters to showcase their skills.”

The finalists were made up of 21 different schools from across the county (for a full list see below).

Teams were put into groups of four with the winners going through to contest the semi-finals in the open tournament and the top two in the girls.

Hanham Abbotts and Crossways made it through to the last four of the open competition while Cam Everlands and St Mary’s RC Primary just missed out on reaching the final of the girls’ tournament.

The event was boosted by students from Cheltenham College who helped umpire and score on the day.

Next up for Gloucestershire’s schools is the Year 3 and 4 Kwik Cricket competition which starts this week. It is made up of 10 local festivals culminating in a finals day at Wycliffe College on July 8.

Open Competition

 Winners: Christchurch Downend

Runners Up: Henleaze

Group winners/ beaten semi-finalists: Crossways, Hanham Abbots

Group runners-up: Elmbridge, Cam Hopton, Highnam, Tirlebrook

Cam Hopton

Group third placed: Elmlea, Bourton-on-the-Water, Warden Hill, Great Rissington

Group fourth placed: Cirencester, Almondsbury, Primrose Hill, Hempsted.

Girls Competition

Winners: Hanham Abbotts

Runners Up: Bishops Cleeve

Beaten semi-finalists: Cam Everlands, St Mary’s

Group third placed: Elmlea, Primrose Hill

Group fourth placed: Cam Woodfield, Great Rissington

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