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“The work which Extra Cover has been doing is invaluable in expanding club/school links and ensuring that a new generation of cricketers have the opportunity to be properly coached at school. Congratulations to everyone involved in Extra Cover.”
David Collier, Chief Executive,
England and Wales Cricket Board,
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Extra Cover’s coaching is fully inclusive: boys and girls of all abilities are encouraged to learn basic skills and to play the game. Our main focus is on years 5 and 6 (10-11 year olds), but we are bringing years 3 and 4 into the scheme too, as funds allow. In this way, many thousands of local children have had the chance to play and enjoy cricket.
The highlight of the school coaching season is the Kwik Cricket tournament between the schools, held at Tring Park Cricket Club, which is now in its 5th year. 20 teams from 11 of the local primary schools that Extra Cover’s coaches visit each summer term took part in what has become a fixture in the schools calendar.
The format of the day is now well established with teams arriving in time for a 10am start. The boys and girls are then kept busy playing group matches during the morning with the group leaders going through to the semi finals. The rest of the teams continue to play off against each other until a complete order is established.
This year the two semis were fought out between Long Marston and Cheddington in one and Bishopwood and Grove in the other. After close fought games the two finalists were Bishopwood and Long Marston.
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In an exciting final the well drilled boys and girls from Bishopwood took home the winner’s trophy. Pictured right is the Bishop Wood skipper receiving the trophy from Mayor Mike James. Pictured below is the victorious Bishop Wood team, with from l-r, Coach Gareth Darby, Teacher Jon Hall, Mayor Mike James, and Coach Tim Holgate.)
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Organiser Nigel Kerry thanked Tring Park for providing such an excellent venue for the event and more importantly sponsors Grass Roots, Tape Specialities and Sports Match for helping provide the funds that enable the Trust to run the schools coaching programme. The obvious improvement in the quality of the cricket played on the day is a reflection of the work done by the Trust’s coaches in the schools.
Tring Mayor, Mike James, congratulated the Trust on another well run competition before handing out the trophies with the ferociously talented Tring Park opening batsman Nick Wake, attending on behalf of Ilex sponsors, Grass Roots, where he is Head of Marketing Communications. Pictured below are the other 2008 finalists, Long Marston.
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Extra Cover is dependent upon donations, and we’re very grateful to those who have supported us over the years, including Tape Specialities, and Grass Roots. We’ve also received significant funding from Awards For All and SportsMatch, who were both very important supporters of Extra Cover from day one.
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The Ilex Charitable Trust is a Registered Charity (no. 1096024)
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