Chance To Shine Girls Cricket Camp

Whitland CC in Carmarthenshire is the first cricket club in West Wales to host the Chance To Shine Girls' Cricket Camp.  On the 13th and 14th of August, 50 girls aged between 8 and 14 received expert coaching from qualified and highly experienced Girls' Coaches from Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, whilst also having the opportunity to meet and be coached by Wales’ own former England International, Stephanie Davies, as well as current full England International Cricketers, Lydia Greenway and Danielle Hazell!

The Cricket Foundation launched Chance to Shine in May 2005 and set out to bring competitive cricket - and its educational benefits - back to at least a third of the country’s state schools over a ten year period. The Girls camps have been running in the England & Wales over the past three summers, with the only other camp in Wales being run at Ebbw Vale CC.

At Whitland, the first day was affected by poor weather, but the camp moved to Dyffryn Taf School Sports Hall where the Girls enjoyed a number of Indoor Cricket Activities, before drier weather on the Tuesday allowed the girls to enjoy a lovely day outdoors.

Activities included splitting the girls into adopted countries in a World Cup Competition. “Pakistan” was victorious in the junior competition and “Sri Lanka” won a close competition, on runs scored, in the older age competition. The winning teams received their prizes but everyone took home a goodie-bag!

Cricket Wales would like to thank the coaches, Chance To Shine staff and volunteers who worked so tirelessly over the two days and also thanks to Taf Valley Coaches for supplying the transport to Dyffryn Taf School, the School for allowing us to use their sports hall and to Whitland Cricket Club for hosting the event.

Also, a special thanks to Rhidian Harries for co-ordinating such a successful event!