CRIEFF HIGH SCHOOL ENJOY LORD'S EXPERIENCE AT NATIONAL TABLE CRICKET FINALS
Crieff High School had the opportunity to represent Scotland at the Home of Cricket last week when they competed in Lord's Taverners' National Table Cricket Finals.
Crieff earned their place at Lord's after competing at Cricket Scotland's National Table Cricket Festival in Dundee in March, earning the opportunity to compete against schools from across the UK.
Connor Brian, Disability Cricket Development Officer, said:
"I’m incredibly proud of the work we’re doing at the moment, and having Crieff competing at Lord's shows the pathway in place and the opportunities that exist withing disability cricket.
“The young people at Crieff High School are new to team sports and the sporting environment, so for them to have the opportunity to play at the home of cricket and compete against schools from across the UK is incredible.
“Live Active have been instrumental in getting into schools in the Perth and Kinross area, delivering table cricket sessions at schools across the region, and helping us to provide young people with the opportunity to engage in our game."
Louis Gallagher, Live Active Cricket Development Officer for Perth and Kinross, said:
"The pupils from Crieff really enjoyed their experience at Lord's, for many of them it was their first time going on an aeroplane, and have never been out of Scotland.
"These opportunities are not just about the cricket, it's the life-skills, the exposure to new places and new people that are so important, and life-changing for them.
"We can already see the legacy of the experience, on the way home they were already talking about wanting to get there again next year, and how they'll work to do that, and encourage their schoolmates to get involved in table cricket."
After the success of Crieff High School's journey to Lord's, via Cricket Scotland's National Table Cricket Festival, plans are already underway to continue the growth of the game in Scotland, and provide more opportunities for table cricket to be played.
“Going forward, we hope to have more table cricket going on, and build on the successful National Table Cricket Festival earlier this year," said Connor Brian.
"We hope that next year we can have regional table cricket festivals throughout Scotland, easing the burden of travel and making it more accessible, so that as many schools as possible can get involved and have that opportunity to compete at Lord's.
“We want to continue to grow opportunities to play, through working with Lord’s Taverners, and our other partners such as Live Active, to get into schools and work with staff, providing training to them, to ensure that they are able to deliver table cricket sessions."