September 2012 - Girls’ just want to have fun!
There were over 80 girls’ playing cricket at Harrogate Cricket Club in a tournament to mark the close of the inaugural North Yorkshire Girls’ Friendly League, sponsored by ProCoach and Kettlewell Fuels. They were blessed with good weather for most of the day although the final round of matches were abandoned due to a heavy shower, symbolic of much of this season.
Girls came from all over North Yorkshire to make up an All Stars team in one group, along with Harrogate, Knaresborough and Horsforth; whilst North Stainley, Olicanians from Ilkley, Pannal and Richmond made up the other group. Richmond and Knaresborough departed with the tournament silverware, which was presented by Kate Cross, of Lancashire and England. Kate also kindly presented the trophy to the winners of the league, North Stainley, and to the player of the season from each of the participating teams.
Events were going on throughout the day, and spectators were excellently catered for by the hosts. Having seen the Olympic ideal, “to inspire a generation”, no one could be left in any doubt that girls are being inspired to take up sport, specifically cricket.
Cricket in North Yorkshire is going from strength to strength. There are many more girls than ever before playing. Only a few years ago it was a struggle to get 11 girls to make a district team, but the sport is now flourishing, with district teams being run at under 11, under 13 and under 15 levels. There were 7 teams in the League this year but other teams or players would be very welcome in 2013.
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