Cricket Ltd driving and inspiring cricket

MARCH 2017

ECB Indoor National Club Table Cricket Finals Day Indoor 24 2017 winners Championship Bedfordshire Cricket, in association with Lord’s Taverners, has Bedfordshire Cricket’s Indoor 24 competition was recently won by Cedars been undertaking a full programme of Table Cricket training in a Upper School, Leighton Buzzard in a closely contested fi nal against Mark number of schools across the County getting them ready for the Rutherford School, , winning by 7 runs in the fi nal as 57 played 50. Bedfordshire and Winter School Games This Sixth Form Competition is a quick-fi re, fast-paced form of the game Table Cricket Finals on Friday 3 March at Inspire: Luton aimed at participation that is played during lunch periods, after school or enrichment Sports Village. A record 15 teams from 9 schools entered this time. Other schools that entered this year were: Sandy Upper, Sharnbrook Upper year and congratulations to Grange , Kempston for and . Congratulations to Cedars Upper and well done winning the competition beating Ridgeway School, Kempston to all the teams taking part this year. You can see the highlights of the action at: in the Final. In joint third place was , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyY4e1QDvpo and Henlow Academy. We were very lucky to be joined on the day by ex- cricketer Owais Shah who was keen to give Table Cricket a go! School Games is the legacy programme from 2012 and the Winter School Games is an annual competition that is the Level 3 County Finals for schools in Bedfordshire and Luton.

As winners of the 2015/16 Bedfordshire Indoor Cricket League, Elstow Cricket Club qualifi ed to play in this year’s ECB Indoor National Club Championship. In the fi rst round, they beat Godmanchester and then faced Walmley at Edgbaston on Sunday 5 March in the regional Semi Final. Elstow’s Henry Wisson commented: Pictured: This year’s participants “Elstow were outgunned by Midlands outfi t Walmley CC in their regional semi- fi nal at Edgbaston on Sunday. Bowling fi rst, Elstow put in a decent shift in the fi eld, yet were blown away in their response to Walmley’s 122. Stu Robson excelled with the ball for Elstow bowling with his customary vigour as well as a ecting two run outs during the Walmley innings. Dan Wisson also claimed two sharp stumpings as Elstow reached the halfway stage in confi dent fashion. The Pictured: Winners Grange Academy Walmley opening bowlers tore into Elstow, as the Bedfordshire champions lost Dave Riddle and Phil Johnson in quick fashion. Runs became harder to come by as scoreboard pressure began to tell, Elstow’s batsmen failed to fi nd the gaps and Matt Stevens followed shortly after to Walmley’s o -spinner. The Wisson cousins forged something of a fi ght back before Dan was caught behind. Robson couldn’t replicate his earlier brilliance in the match with the bat and Thomas Bedfordshire Cricket is pleased to announce that we now have 20 clubs in Wisson was left as the last man standing again. A fortnight ago, Elstow’s skipper Bedfordshire who have joined the new All Stars Cricket programme – the put in the very epitome of a ’s innings to get his side to Edgbaston as ECB’s biggest investment in recreational cricket ever. All Stars is a new Entry they brushed aside Huntingdonshire’s Godmanchester. This time, unfortunately, Level scheme for children aged 5-8 years and will be launched later in March despite his best e orts, Wisson couldn’t fi nd the runs required to power his team with clubs starting to deliver this during May. Further details about All Stars can over the line as Elstow fell 50 runs short of Walmsley’s total.” be found at: https://www.ecb.co.uk/be-involved/club-support/ programme-support/all-stars-cricket-centres or contact Howard Pictured: Owais Shah tries Table Cricket! Moxon at [email protected] or 07740 365050. Bedfordshire Indoor Cricket League results Bedfordshire Young Congratulations to the 2016/17 Indoor League winners in all four Divisions and Cricketers in training well done to those clubs that have been promoted: Division 1 – Potton Town Cricket Club

All the boys and girls selected onto the Winter Training Programmes are working hard! One-to-one coaching sessions have been completed, squad sessions are now well underway and fi tness programmes are being followed with some re-testing coming up in April. This is all in preparation for the season which starts for some Division 2 – Brickhill Cricket Club next month. Keep up the hard work.

Fundraising Fun Professional Fitness Training o er

Connor Browne, Head of Physical Preparation at Tenax Performance, works as a strength and conditioning coach with fi rst-class and international cricketers. He recently put our young cricketers through their paces at this year’s Bedfordshire Young Cricketers Welcome Day and has now produced fi tness programmes for all the players involved. He would like to o er his services to the club cricketers within Bedfordshire; he is able to produce bespoke programmes to suit individual needs and circumstances delivered via an app. Further information on the o er can be found at: https://www.tenaxperformance.com/what-we- o er/beds-cricket-o er-1/

Division 3 – Kempston Cricket Club (also promoted Clifton B) Division 4 – Biggleswade B (also promoted Harlington) Bedfordshire’s Young Cricketers are looking to give something back through fundraising for Lord’s Taverners. All selected players (and To see all the results of this year’s Indoor League, please go to: http://bicl. their families) are invited to take part in a Military Mud Run on play-cricket.com/website/web_pages/112740 Sunday 9 April in Northamptonshire, having fun getting wet and muddy to help those young people not as fortunate as themselves. The event will also be a great team building exercise. If anyone would like to support the Young Cricketers, please email pkedwins@ yahoo.co.uk by Friday 10 March. Host a youth county fi xture If any club is interested in hosting a boys or girls’ county fi xture in 2017 please email [email protected] by Friday 17 March. It Bedfordshire Cricket is an opportunity to showcase your club’s facilities, raise valuable funds and help provide the counties young players with great experience. This year, Bedfordshire Cricket will pay clubs £50 for each day of cricket hosted upon receipt of an invoice Academy from the club. Lady Taverners U13 & U15 Schools Junior Cricket Master Class Indoor Competitions 2017 Women & Girls Indoor League This year, Bedfordshire has a record 32 school teams taking part in the competition at success Under 13 and Under 15. All schools with year groups 7-10 were o ered the opportunity Bedfordshire Cricket recently ran a three-day Master Class where 18 to enter a team and receive 10 hours of free coaching with their girls (funded through children practised their , bowling and fi elding skills as well the Chance to Shine programme) to prepare the teams. The Under 13 fi nals will be as taking part in a fun competitive matches. Medals were awarded held on Tuesday 28 March and the Under 15 fi nals on Wednesday 29 to: Jamie Nicol for Most Improved Player; Kyran Shackleton for the March, both at Inspire: Luton Sports Village. Winners in each category will Spirit of Cricket Award; Ben Ulvert for Best Bowler; and Guy Edwins go on to represent Bedfordshire at the regional fi nals. for Best Batter. Feedback from the kids that attended included ‘awesome’ and ‘amazing’ and one parent commented: “It was very comprehensive with a good mix of fun and skills.” Take a look at the Master Class in action at: https://www.youtube.com/ Kings of Queens! watch?v=kohQGU4T2b0. The next Master Class will run in October; details to be confi rmed. Come along and join our new league which started on Sunday 5 March 1-3 pm for 6 weeks at Flitwick Leisure Centre, £3 per session. For further information, contact Howard Moxon at howard.moxon@ bedscricket.co.uk or call 07740 365050.

News New Farley Hill Hub February was a busy month for the Wicketz project in Luton! Three Hubs have now become four with our new Farley Hill Hub starting at the end of February. This Hub is based at Farley Hill Community Centre and will again be free for children Kyran Shackleton Jamie Nicol and young adults aged 8-15 to come and have a go. Most Improved Player Spirit of Cricket Wicketz Hub Tournament

“A mile along from the school where learned his trade, Bedford’s Queens Park throbs with cricket in the raw.” All Out Cricket’s Adam Collins on a modern cricketing success story. Read the full article at: http://www. alloutcricket.com/club/kings-of-queens.

Ben Ulvert Guy Edwins Best Bowler Best Batter The inaugural indoor Wicketz Hub Tournament took place during February with one team from each of the three established Hubs taking part: Lutonian, Luton Town & Indians and Luton Caribbean. The Lutonian Wicketz Chance to Shine Street League Regional roles Hub won the fi nal and became the fi rst team to lift the Wicketz Trophy. We were also really lucky to be joined by Ashar Zaidi, who is currently playing for Essex. Bedfordshire Cricket is pleased to announce that Jason Wood Ashar shared his experience with the children and got really involved with the The Chance to Shine Street Leagues in Luton and Bedford have been running (currently Cricket Development Coach - Inclusion & Diversity and since January, following two successful competitions in Luton in 2015 and 2016. games! See the tournament in action at: https://www.youtube.com/ Director of Representative Cricket) will take up the role of Regional watch?v=K5OYzlr6La0 Chance to Shine Street is an inner-city cricket initiative that uses the game to promote Growth Executive for the East. Jason will join on an initial 12-month social cohesion and create opportunities in diverse communities a ected by anti- secondment. Matt Blakeley, the ECB’s Regional Head of Participation Crime Prevention Workshop social behaviour and youth crime. At sessions, young people (16-24 year olds) & Growth (East), said: “We had a strong fi eld of candidates from the We were recently joined by Lesley Johnson from Bedfordshire Police, who play a 6-a-side, fast-paced, high-impact version of tape-ball cricket. The Luton region. Jason has a strong range of skills that will help us all in the delivered a Crime Prevention Workshop to our Luton Town and Indians Hub. The Street League, which runs on Fridays at Denbigh High School, has development of cricket in the region.” Initially, a big focus of the role group were given advice on how to keep their personal belongings safe, and how 48 registered players and the Bedford Street League, which also runs on will include the Women’s Softball festivals, developments in casual to deter criminals from trying to steal their mobile phones and other luxury items. Fridays at Biddenham International School & Sports College, cricket and disability. has 20 registered players. The winners from the Luton Street League (the fi nal will Indoor Wicketz Hubs take place on 17 March) and a Bedford team will be competing in the inaugural Bedfordshire Cricket’s Marketing and PR O cer Sally Church FREE for children and young adults 8-15: has also been appointed to undertake a regional Marketing and PR Bedfordshire Indoor Street Final on Friday 24 March at Denbigh. • Luton Town and Indians Hub on Mondays 5-6pm at Denbigh role across 7 County Boards, again on a 12-month secondment. For details email [email protected] High School Initially, her focus will be to undertake a comprehensive review of current Marketing and PR activities across the Boards and then look • Farley Hill Hub on Wednesday 5-6pm at Farley Hill Community to establish the tools and resources to enable the Boards to improve Centre NatWest U19 Club communications as well as supporting the development of national • Luton Caribbean Hub on Thursdays 6-7.30pm at Ashcroft T20 is back for messages to a regional audience. High School 2017 Bedfordshire Cricket Chief Executive Martin Darlow said: “This is an • Lutonian Hub on Fridays 6-7.30pm at Challney Girls School exciting time and opportunity for the region and I am delighted that Details at: http://www.bedscricket.co.uk/page/participation/ Clubs can still register for this exciting competition – fi nal date for entries is 31 Bedfordshire has been identifi ed as the county with the best people lords-taverners-wicketz-programme/lords-taverners- March! This vibrant competition is all about keeping young players in club cricket to take these regional collaborative opportunities forward.” wicketz-programme-11013/ and giving them the cricketing experience they want – playing with their friends, fast lively matches, a great social atmosphere and a chance to make the club look and feel di erent for one night a week. The competition will be running locally as a One-to-one Bedfordshire Cricket joint competition with teams from Beds, Bucks, Cambs and Hunts. Teams that have on YouTube entered so far are: Eversholt, Southill Park and Luton Town & Indians. Teams that enter coaching will get the chance to win prizes such as complete team kits, an iPad and specialist We will be regularly updating our YouTube channel with clips of Bedfordshire T20 coaching at clubs. Register at: https://www.ecb.co.uk/be-involved/ sessions Cricket in action! Get a fl avour of our one-to-one coaching sessions and the volunteering/t20-activator-course/natwest-u19-club-t20. The Bedfordshire Cricket recent Junior Cricket Master Class, see the Women & Girls training in action Academy is o ering specialist one- and highlights from the recent Wicketz Hub Tournament. Please have a look to-one coaching to aspiring cricketers and subscribe at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCrd- on Tuesday evenings 7.30- M6utVYtkXkeIRjFWKw. 9pm from 21 February to 4 April (not 28 March). The 40-minute sessions take place at Bedford College Viegli Bedfordshire Sports Hall and are run by fully qualifi ed ECB coaches. They are open to all ages and costs are: one T20 Competition 2017 session £32, 2 for £60, 3 for £88, 4 for £116 or 5 for £144. See our Bedfordshire Cricket is pleased to announce that one-to-one coaching sessions in action at: https:// 24 clubs have entered this year’s competition www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXdZuzgeN6Q. and the draw will take place later this month. NatWest CricketForce 2017 The competition, sponsored by Viegli – a specialist telecoms company based in Taking place over the weekend of 1 and 2 April, CricketForce helps clubs Bedfordshire and Kent – will be played in 4 regional zones through the summer prepare for the upcoming season. It’s a great event for getting work done and Coach months on weekday evenings, culminating in a fi nals day in September (date and improving team spirit. In the past, projects have ranged from simple paint jobs venue to be confi rmed), incorporating both the semi-fi nals and fi nal. There will and sight screen scrubbing to brand-new changing rooms, function rooms and Education be prize money of £1000 to the winners, £500 to the runners-up, £250 to semi- new pavilions. Whatever the project you have planned, it’ll be right for NatWest Workshop fi nalists and £100 to the losing regional fi nalists. CricketForce. For a Step-by-step Guide to organising your NatWest CricketForce event and to register, go to: http://www.bedscricket.co.uk/news/ The last chance to attend a coach natwest-cricketforce-2017-16622/. education event before the start of the Cricket Activator season! On Saturday 25 March the Bedfordshire Coaches Association will run a Bowling & course Keeping to Finger Spin Workshop from 10am This course is designed to help participants Thinking of changing your kit to 3pm at Bedford College costing £25 (£15 for Bedfordshire assist with coaching sessions and matches and is supplier? Coaches Association members). The morning session will focus on specifi cally aimed at individuals that already play bowling fi nger spin; how to teach youngsters to spin the ball and the for a club. The course will cover umpiring, scoring, If your club is considering changing kit supplier, then you may be interested in basics of a good bowling action. The afternoon session will look at the Laws of the Game and assisting with coaching fi nding out more about Serious Cricket, Bedfordshire Cricket’s preferred keeping wicket to fi nger spin; the basics of a good technique and sessions. The course consists of 2 modules - How supplier. Benefi ts to your club include: placing orders online via a dedicated the drills to help hone the young keepers into becoming profi cient at to Assist a Coach and How to Umpire and Score. In order to achieve certifi cation, Club Shop; high-quality cricket-specifi c match, training and leisure ranges; keeping wicket standing up to fi nger spinners. To register your place, candidates must also complete 10 hours of voluntary work in a cricket environment. no minimum orders or sales requirement; fast turnaround times (3-5 days); email [email protected]. The next available course is on Thursday 6 April at Flitwick Cricket generate some extra club funds. For further details, call 01256 398633 or Club 9.30am-1pm. The minimum age is 12 and there is no upper age limit. email [email protected]. The fee is £10. Apply online at: http://www.bedscricket.co.uk/page/ Scorers training coaching/coach-education/cricket-activator-10752/. Club volunteer training up to date? In preparation for the forthcoming season, please ensure all your club volunteers are up to date with any training or DBS checks that are required to fulfi l their role. For example, a cricket-specifi c DBS check is always required for Coaches, Coach Assistants, Team Managers, Scorers, Umpires, Team Captains and Club Welfare O cers. For further details, go to: http://www.bedscricket.co.uk/page/ Bedfordshire Cricket clubs/a liation/club-volunteer-roles-2990/. driving and inspiring cricket Grounds Association Bedfordshire Association of Cricket O cials is o ering a fi rst-level Nearly 40 people attended the fi rst joint initiative between the Bedfordshire CLUB SCORER TRAINING COURSE at Flitwick Cricket Grounds Committee and the Hertfordshire Cricket Grounds Association Cricket Club: six two-hour evening sessions, on 20, 27 March as the Annual Spring Grounds Seminar was held at Flitwick CC on Saturday and 3, 10, 18 and 24 April. From the course members’ point 25 February. The three-hour event gave attendees the opportunity to take in of view, it is best to go straight into a season. The cost is £60, presentations including new product and machinery innovations (from ATB but Bedfordshire Cricket Ltd and the Bedfordshire Sports Solutions), cricket squares (Alex Vickers, soil expert) and Grass Cultivar County Cricket League will provide a rebate of £40 in Development for Cricket (from Rigby Taylor). Attendees could network and chat to total, subject to the successful candidate o ciating each other about their grounds and processes. The next initiative between the two BCCL matches during the 2017 season. (Some clubs organisations is the IOG Foundation A Course (Spring and Summer Preparation) are also willing to support candidates.) To register email: paul. on Tuesday 4 April at Letchworth Garden City Cricket Club [email protected]. 9am-4pm. This all-day course deals with all aspects of preparing cricket grounds for the coming season and pitch preparation. It is ideal for volunteers, new employees or just as a refresher for established Groundsmen. To apply, go to: http://www.bedscricket.co.uk/page/facilities/grounds- seminars--courses/grounds-seminars--courses-2687/.

Club Welfare O cer training The Club Welfare O cer must attend two training courses – Safeguarding & Protecting Children Certifi cate and Safe Hands Workshop – and complete a DBS or vetting check, all of which needs to be updated every three years. Bedfordshire Cricket will run a Safe Hands Workshop on Wednesday 22 March for Refreshers at Bedford College 6.30- 9.30pm. In addition, Pre-season Briefi ng Sessions will be running on 25 April at Flitwick Cricket Club and 27 April at Ickwell Cricket Club at 7.30pm. Further details at: http://www.bedscricket.co.uk/page/compliance/ safeguarding/club-welfare-o cers-3643/

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Sally Church, Editor Martin Darlow, Chief Executive Telephone: 01234 291824 • Email: [email protected] • Trinity Arts & Leisure, Bromham Road, Bedford MK40 2QD Email: [email protected] • Mobile: 07760 171467