Chance to Compete national finals held
FORMER England cricketer James Taylor attended the annual Chance to Compete National Finals day in Loughborough.
James cheered on U13 and U15 girlsonly teams from around the country, as well as managing the coin toss and presenting medals to the competitors.
Over 1,000 teams and more than 10,000 girls entered into the competition, which was whittled down to the final four teams in the two age categories. In the U13 age group, Tonbridge Grammar from Kent beat Burton Borough by nine runs. While Shenfield High from Essex squeezed past Carlton Bolling school from Bradford with just five balls remaining in the U15 final.
Members of Loughborough Lightning Kia Super League side were also in attendance, helping with the organising of the day and umpiring.
Speaking at the event, James Taylor said: “It’s been a brilliant day here at Loughborough. There’s been some really high quality cricket on show and some of the girls have got some real talent. Most importantly, all the games were played in the right spirit and it’s fantastic to see so many girls really enjoying the sport.
“Chance to Shine is giving girls like those here today, and thousands more across the country, the opportunity to play and learn through cricket. The work they do is hugely important in giving as many children as possible the chance to play the sport.”
Chance to Compete was introduced in 2011 as many secondary schools wanted a more competitive opportunity for their students to play cricket. Many state schools have often resisted getting involved in competitions, however, Chance to Compete has allowed these schools to get involved and play inclusive, exciting matches – all for the chance to be crowned National Champions.