Kinross-shire Cricket Club’s 160th birthday hailed at Holyrood

Kinross-shire Cricket Club has been hailed at Holyrood for reaching its milestone 160th anniversary.

Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith, tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament marking the success of the club over so many years.

The earliest records of Kinross Cricket Club date back to 1855 and the club recently received a £24,000 funding boost from sportscotland to help keep it at the forefront of Scottish cricket.

The money will help build a second artificial wicket and expand the existing pavilion. The work will also include the addition of a second changing room and disabled toilet.

Ms Smith said: “I warmly congratulate Kinross-shire Cricket Club on marking their 160th anniversary this year.

“The club has had a long and proud history and, perhaps more importantly, has a great future with some significant success in recent years.

“The

club moved

to

its new ground at Loch Leven’s Larder in 2013 and, since then, has seen significant investment, including the opening of the new pavilion last year.

“I’d like to pay tribute to everyone involved with the club over the last 160 years, and wish the club well this cricket season and in the future.”

Sportscotland made the £24,000 award based on the work the club does to promote cricket to all sectors, from under sevens to women’s cricket, disability teams and community events.

Work started in June to install the new senior and junior artificial wickets, with the pavilion extension following in July/August. In addition to the sportscotland award, the club has raised more than £20,000 from local business sponsorship, fundraising events and donations.

Club chairman John Ross said: “The development programme is a major part of the club’s 160th anniversary celebrations and it will see the club firmly established as one of Scotland’s most dynamic and forward thinking clubs.”