A Chance to Shine for New Ladies Team
Iain Stewart (left) and the girls in training with Durham County Cricket Club batsman and former Ashington player Ben Harmison
Wansbeck Council in conjunction with Ashington Cricket Club and Northumberland Cricket Board will for the second summer be providing local middle schools with up to 50 hours of free cricket coaching and competition as part of the Chance to Shine programme.
Chance to Shine is the largest grass roots sporting campaign in UK history, last summer more that 45,000 children were involved across the country. Locally it will provide the opportunity for boys and girls at Bothal, Hirst Park, Newbiggin, St Benedicts and Seaton Hirst Middle Schools to receive expert coaching.
Thanks to the partnership between Wansbeck Council and Northumberland Sport the funding from Chance to Shine has seen the appointment of a full time Community Cricket Coach supported by the Sport England Community Investment Fund.
Iain Stewart has crossed the border from Scotland to take up the post of Community Cricket Coach, he is a level 2 coach and brings a wealth of experience from coaching in Autrialia, New Zealand, Lincolnshire as well as his native Dundee.
In addition to the schools programme Iain’s role will provide local cricket clubs across Wansbeck and Castle Morpeth the opportunity to access his skills and knowledge at their junior coaching sessions.
This summer will also see Ashington Cricket Club filed a team in the Northumberland Women’s League for the fist time. Building on the successful junior girls programme which has seen the club become County champions at under 13 & 15 level thanks to their partnership with Bothal Middle School and the hard work of PE teacher Andrew Hewitt.
The club would like to hear from any women and girls who wish to get involved, for further information contact Iain Stewart on 01670 843243 or email i.stewart@wansbeck.gov.uk alternatively visit the Northumberland Cricket Board’s website.
