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Herring and Montgomery open Howzat for Healthy's second innings

29 January 2015

Gloucestershire Cricket’s Howzat for Healthy schools programme is back for a second innings.

The healthy lifestyle scheme was such a big hit with pupils at the Ashley Down Federation’s Brunel Field site that the club has been invited to run it again this year.

Glos players Cameron Herring and Robbie Montgomery (pictured) kicked off the second year of the scheme by visiting the school and talking to 120 children about what it takes to become a professional sportsman.

The year-long project offered the children a chance to take part in cricket coaching sessions, grow vegetables in the school garden and use the ingredients to cook a healthy meal.

The programme – the first of its kind to be run by a professional cricket club – was created by Gloucestershire Cricket’s head of community engagement, Roz Hutchings in partnership with a number of other organisations based at or near the Bristol County Ground.

The coaching sessions were delivered by coaches from the Gloucestershire Cricket Board, the vegetables were grown with help from the Ashley Vale Allotments’ Association and the cooking sessions were led by Damien Awford-Nash head chef for Lindley Group, the club’s catering partners.

Roz said: “We are delighted to be running the Howzat for Healthy again this year. Last year was effectively a pilot but the feedback was so positive that we had no hesitation in running it again.

“By utilising the many different elements of our club we were able to engage with the pupils and deliver a really powerful message on what goes in to having a healthy lifestyle.

“It was clear that the children really enjoyed the sessions and hopefully they’ll go on to apply what they have learned in their everyday lives.”

The programme is currently run for Year 1 and 2 students but the hope is that over time it may be rolled out to other schools in the local area.

Tom Stacy-Marks, Year 1 teacher at Brunel Field said: “The kids absolutely loved the programme - especially enjoyed cooking a pizza and then growing the veg.

“The Get Active cricket session was really brilliant! The children absolutely loved it and were totally engaged

“It has been nice to work with the cricket club and develop our relationship with them. We look forward to continuing that with this year’s Howzat for Healthy.”

As part of the project pupils each receive a specially designed workbook which includes quizzes, puzzles and loads of healthy recipes they can try out at home with their parents.

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