Yorkshire Cricket Board Case Study County Cricket Board Yorkshire Cricket Board Scheme Women & Girls Club sustainable Development Specific Location Wrenthorpe, Wakefield, Yorkshire Andrew Hodkinson Author / Title Wrenthorpe Girls and Ladies cc (Viva Wrenvolution!) Date January 13th 2015 Quantitative and Qualitative Detail Background Wrenthorpe cc has always had a thriving Senior and Junior male section. Girls have always played in mixed age boys teams and for the last ten years the girls have also played in a Girl’s only league. The Under 16 Girls only competition was established in 2005 in the Heavy Woollen League, Yorkshire as the “Geoff Lowe Championship.” Wrenthorpe cc has championed girl’s cricket for the last decade and is well supported by the Head of Junior Development, Martin Stubbs. The girl’s league is based on a pair’s format/8-a-side where runs are lost and not wickets which encourages girls of all ages to play “competitive cricket” and to try new shots/techniques under pressure but in a safe playing environment – just playing cricket is the main thing. The competition has also introduced many girls to cricket (73 at the last count). Initiatives such as ECB Chance to Shine (Ilkley 2010) run by K. Brunt, D. Hazell and J. Gunn (England Women cc) has also inspired the next generation of players coming through. Wrenthorpe girls Hannah Poulter and Megan Hodkinson won the major awards during that week and both continue to excel and develop their cricketing ability. Hannah is on the EWDP u15 programme and Megan was the leading county wicket taker at u15 in 2014. Both were part of the Yorkshire u15 County Championship winning team and Megan was Captain. They were joined in the squad by 5 other Wrenthorpe Girls at Yorkshire Under 15 level. Three more Wrenthorpe Girls were part of the Yorkshire u13 County Championship winning team. Two other Wrenthorpe Players were part of the 2014 u17 Yorkshire squad. Wrenthorpe County players by Year and Age group Year U13 U15 U17 Total 2014 3 7 2 12 2013 3 5 1 9 2012 4 2 1 7 2011 3 0 2 5 2010 2 1 1 4 2009 2 2 2008 1 1 Wrenthorpe Girls have won the League 6 out of the last 8 seasons and finished runners up twice. After another ECB Chance to shine initiative in 2013 run by J.Gunn and D. Hazell (England Women cc) in Wakefield where 26 players attended, Wrenthorpe decided they needed to extend the level of competition and develop the playing potential of the Wrenthorpe girls so we entered the ECB Lady Taverners U15 Competition losing to the eventual winners at the Regional stages in 2013. However, in 2014 Wrenthorpe made it to the National T20 finals and despite having a tied game and winning the other, they finished 3rd in the UK overall. The ECB Lady Taverners T20 competition provided the challenge and stronger opposition to play against and also the framework to play teams from different parts of the country. Wrenthorpe Head coach is an ECB Level 2 coach has also attends the Annual ECB National Coaching Conference to ensure Wrenthorpe is up to date and knowledgeable with regards to current cricket coaching practice and development. In 2012 we launched our Ladies team to compete in the longer 40 over format and further challenge our young squad. The first season consisted of friendlies and practice matches and then we joined the ECB Northern League Division 2 competition. In our second season in 2013 we finished runners up in ECB Northern League Division 2 and in 2014 we went unbeaten throughout the season and have now earned promotion to ECB Northern League Division 1 for 2015. We will now play against teams who will field some senior County and England Internationals which will further assist our club, player development and ensure our club continues to move forward with a model of Girls and Ladies cricket that is sustainable. Average playing age of Wrenthorpe Ladies team 2014 - 24. Average playing age of Wrenthorpe Ladies team 2013 – 28. 3 Ladies were new to the game in our squad in 2013 and 1 in 2014. Aims and Objectives 2015-2018 We have created an environment where players from the age of 7 to 70 can play cricket and again we have reiterated this pledge to the ECB. Girls and Ladies of all abilities are able to play and develop at Wrenthorpe cc and we ensure we find the right level of cricket competition for them. Our culture is based on fun, sustainability, community and development. We want to develop players who would then stay at our club and play in the Senior Team and act as role models for other young girls in the Wakefield/Yorkshire area. Our aim eventually, is to be one on the strongest Girls/Ladies teams in the UK and a HUB for Girls/Ladies cricket in Yorkshire. Wrenthorpe players/team Achievements to date 80% of 2014 Wrenthorpe Ladies cc have played Junior cricket at the club. 76% of Junior girls have played at the club for 3 or more seasons. Current Yorkshire Girls CAG players 2014 season of whom are Wrenthorpe Girls = 12. Wrenthorpe Girls in the u13/u15s Yorkshire team who won both 2014 U13/U15 National County Championship = 9 out of 22 (41%). Wrenthorpe Girls in the u13 Yorkshire team who won 2013 County Championship = 3/11 (27%). Heavy Woollen “Geoff Lowe” Championship Winners - 6 times. Lady Taverners T20 u15 Yorkshire winners 2013. Lady Taverners T20 u15 Yorkshire winners 2014, Group Winners 2014, 3rd National Finals day. Ladies Northern League Division 2 Runners up 2013. Ladies Northern League Division 2 Winners 2014. Abi Morley Yorkshire u13 Captain 2013 (Yorkshire National County Champions). Megan Hodkinson Yorkshire u15 Captain 2014 (Yorkshire National County Champions). Wrenthorpe Ladies promoted to Northern League Division 1 for 2015 season. Hannah Poulter EWDP u15 programme 2014 and 2015. Adrianna Darlow Yorkshire EPP 2015. Megan Hodkinson leading u15 wicket taker county 2014 at u15 (16), joint top fielder (7 catches). Hannah Poulter becomes the first Wrenthorpe Ladies centurion 117 not out v Doncaster 2014. Adrianna Darlow Hat trick v Ansty National T20 u15 finals. Wrenthorpe had 5 players in the Wakefield Girls High School u15 team that finished runners up in national schools 2014 final. Megan Hodkinson becomes the first girl cricketer to be awarded a cricket scholarship to Millfield school starting September 2015. Izzy Bunn 5 wicket haul v Scholes Ladies 2014. Yorkshire Player end of season Awards 2014 - Adrianna Darlow (u13 Bowling), Hannah Poulter (u15 Taverners Award) and Megan Hodkinson (u15 Bowling Award). Yorkshire Girls CAG players who have played at Wrenthorpe = 17! Headline Statistics Yorkshire Girls CAG players who have played at Wrenthorpe = 17! Wrenthorpe Girls in the u13/u15s Yorkshire team who won both 2014 U13/U15 National County Championship = 9 out of 22 (41%). 80% of 2014 Wrenthorpe Ladies cc have played Junior cricket at the club. 76% of Junior girls have played at the club for 3 or more seasons. Ladies Northern League Division 2 Winners 2014. Heavy Woollen “Geoff Lowe” Girls Championship Winners 2014. Lady Taverners T20 U15 Yorkshire winners 2014, Group Winners 2014, 3rd National Finals day. Next steps We are starting the next stage of our development from a sound base but we must continue to nurture the talent that is at our Yorkshire club. We will implement our 2015-2018 staged Wrenthorpe Girls and Ladies Cricket Development plan and will aim to professionalise our approaches as we aim to be competitive in ECB Northern Premier League and hopefully consolidate our place in the league in 2015. We would like to attract players of a county open age/international calibre in the future who will be able to develop our young players but also benefit Yorkshire Ladies cricket. We want to be competitive in all competitions. As the standard of cricket improves year on year we have added a Development Manager role to our structure and three coaches in 2015 with a specific responsibility for Girls and Ladies development. New sponsors are being attracted to the club because of our on-going on field success (Some clippings attached from previous coverage). They will be announced shortly. Stronger focus on game based learning and player recruitment to ensure access of opportunity for the next group of 7+ year old girls coming into cricket. Target increased participation of 7-11 year olds 100% (n=20) for Wrenthorpe Girls 2015/16. Link into a Cricket Mentor who will be of International standard that can support our Girls. Longer term aim We hope a number of Wrenthorpe girls go on to play open age County and possibly International cricket in the future and the club play in the strongest possible competitions. Second Team established so our 70 year olds can play! Ultimately we want our players to be given the chance to shine! The ECB has provided us with a framework to work within and we are grateful for the support of YCB and ECB in this process. Left to right Hannah Poulter and Megan Hodkinson striding out and starting out 2009 Wrenthorpe Girls and Ladies logo. Katherine Brunt presenting Champion of Champions ECB Chance to Shine award to Megan Hodkinson Ilkley 2010. Wrenthorpe Girls League Champions 2014 6 Wrenthorpe girls in Yorkshire u15 county winning side 2014. Wrenthorpe Lady Taverners T20 U15 Yorkshire winners, Group Winners 2014, 3rd National Finals. Wrenthorpe Ladies Northern League Division 2 Winners 2014. Hannah Poulter 117 n.o. V Doncaster 2014. Adrianna Darlow Hat trick v Ansty National T20 Finals 2014.