The Trueman R66T Kimbolton Castle Cricket Festival

For the third year in a row, post the Covid disruptions, we were delighted to attend this brilliant event for state school cricketers. So what exactly is it? 

 

In 2004 the late Fred Trueman and his friend Geoff Hastings decided to do something to arrest the decline in state school cricket. Using the support of The Cricket Society Trust to raise funds they targeted U15 and U13 hardball cricket in state schools. Since 2021, The R66T Academy have joined this worthy cause, both organisations believing strongly in the role that hardball cricket has to play in the promotion and development of cricket. 

 

Fundraising has been critical to support the state schools and to enable them to commit to playing hardball cricket. The support given over the years has been in the form of playing equipment, match balls, coaching or help finding suitable locations to play and has resulted in thriving U13 and U15 leagues across Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire. This year we saw 85 schools participate with the winners from each county attending the finals day at Kimbolton. 

 

Semi finals were played in the morning with finals and 3rd/4th play off matches in the afternoon. Before the games and at lunchtime R66T Academy coaches were also on hand to let the players try their hand on our training machines. Great fun was had by both players and staff! Presentations took place on the 1st XI pitch in front of the pavilion and main school building. Also, running at the event this year, were the Chance to Shine Girls Cricket finals. Over 160 girls participated throughout the day. These U13 and U15 events were softball, although the long term ambition is to develop these into a hardball event as the women and girls game continues to grow. 

 

Special congratulations to all of our finalists and in particular our winners this year; 

 

Boys U13 Northampton School for Boys 

Boys U15 Northampton School for Boys 

Girls U13 Sharnbrook Academy, Bedford Girls 

Girls U15 Kesteven Girls Grammar School, Lincolnshire 

 

The success of this project has been in no small measure down to partnership working, with the excellent support given by the local Cricket Boards in Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Cricket East of paramount importance. The cricket boards also take a lead role in running the finals day and the generosity of Kimbolton School and Kimbolton Cricket Club provides us with wonderful facilities to use. The U15 final in particular making a fantastic spectacle on the beautiful 1st XI ground. 

 

With new school hardball initiatives taking place this summer in both Humberside and Middlesex for U13 age groups, we are continuing to get more state schools engaged. Our U12 R66T2Hardball events in Yorkshire and Chesterfield are further evidence of this growth and anyone is welcome to join in. Let’s see more cricket in our state schools!