Y5 & younger Girls’ Kwik Cricket Competition

Sadly, the weather prevented the Club’s first Kwik Cricket Tournament for Girls from taking place as planned on the 16th July. Arriving at Southchurch Park mid-morning, it was clear that the ground was still very wet from the weekend’s rain. Julian the Groundsman had recut and remarked the two pitches in the outfield for us, but whilst there was some standing water in places, we agreed that play should be possible – unfortunately, the weather had other ideas, and soon darker clouds and rain moved in from the south west.

An alternative Plan was needed, I joined Karen and Colin in the Clubhouse to organise the space for some indoor activities. We were joined by Club President, Rob Irwin, and Terry Sims, Kevin Grant, Dan & Matt Austin, Martin Sadler and Max Lamprell who as qualified ECB Coaches / Umpires or ECB Young Leaders had kindly volunteered to act as Umpires and Scorers for the Monday Tournament.

We were soon joined by the four Teams taking part, from Bournes Green, Earls Hall, Sacred Heart and West Leigh. With the main purpose of the Tournament (an afternoon’s competitive cricket) thwarted by the weather, some indoor activities took place, allowing the Teams to display their cricket knowledge in answering Chance to Shine question papers on the Spirit of Cricket and Cricket terminology. These were interspersed with Team catching competitions using the Club’s catching frames.

A watchful eye was kept on the weather, and during an unexpected  break in the rain, all the Teams, Teachers and supporters went outside to watch the Girls take part in a bowling competition, followed by a catching competition between the three Girls from each Team who achieved the best “catching times” indoors.

Dan Feist, Head of Community and Cricket Operations at the Essex County Cricket Board, called in again to see the activities and deliver some more leaflets, Programmes and mementoes from Essex County Cricket Club to distribute to the players after the Tournament.

I was also delighted to greet the Mayor, Cllr Sally Carr, and Cllr Derek Jarvis, who also attended for the Boys’ Tournament last Friday. They both presented the following to every Team on behalf of the Club:

A new Kwik Cricket Set for their School

An Introduction to Kwik Cricket brochure for their School

Essex County Cricket Board certificates for their participation, with some spare certificates for their School to use as appropriate

England Programmes for recent match between England Women and India Women played at Chelmsford last month

A Chance to Shine tee shirt for every Team memberand of course, information leaflets about the Club’s Plans for Girl’s Cricket Coaching this coming Autumn!

Thanks are again due to Chance to Shine, the Essex County Cricket Board and to the Essex and Southend Sports Trust (EASST) for their support to the Club’s cricket development activities, this Tournament and cricket in Southend.

It was then time to enjoy some very welcome refreshments provided by Karen, and then to pack and tidy everything away – whilst the rain kept falling, of course!

Congratulations to everyone who took part, to Teachers and Staff for organising their Teams and helping to make the afternoon a success when the weather could have prevented anything from happening!

Finally, a big thank you to the members of the Old Southendian & Southchurch Cricket Club named above, and to Kevin Grant of Southend on Sea EMT CC, without whose help and commitment, none of today’s activities could have taken place!

Paul Johnson

Club Development Officer

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