The week of 9th – 13th August saw WCB coaches deliver the first ever WCB summer holiday camp at Stratford CC. Thirty children attended the camp each day, developing their cricket skills and playing matches in a fun environment.
The idea for the camp was the brainchild of WCB coach Andy Turnbull, who is passionate about developing cricket throughout the whole of Warwickshire. “There is definitely huge interest in cricket in this part of Warwickshire,” Andy explains. “This area around Stratford is vibrant with cricket, so it’s important we have a presence here. With this new Stratford camp, in addition to our existing camps in Moseley and Sutton, we now have provision at the top and bottom of the county.”
Andy Turnbull has been developing a relationship with Stratford CC for a while. At Easter he organised WCB’s delivery of 1:1 coaching sessions at the club during the school holidays. “It was incredible; we filled every single 1:1 session over the eight days. I started planning for the summer camp and advertised it through the local clubs – Stratford CC, Kineton, Alcester & Ragley, Shipston, and others.”
Rachel Morfill, Office Manager at Stratford CC, is delighted the club is hosting a WCB summer camp for the first time. “It’s lovely to hear the children out there on the cricket pitch. They are really enjoying themselves and are full of enthusiasm for cricket. It has been so quiet here with the pandemic, so seeing the camp this week really feels like we are back.”
Andy Tunbull has recruited local coaches where possible, including Josh Hickman from Stratford CC. Another coach is Oscar Newell, All Stars Activator from Tanworth & Camp Hill CC. Oscar says, “I enjoy helping the children learn cricket skills and getting some coaching experience myself. It feels good to help Andy, as he helped me develop as a cricketer when I was young.” Oscar was joined by fellow Tanworth & Camp Hill CC coaches George Deeley- Graham and Lee Gill during the week of the first camp.
Also coaching this week was experienced cricketer and coach, Amy Weir. Amy talks about the positive messages around having female coaches. “It sends a good message to boys and girls that cricket is a game for everyone. It’s good for girls to see someone like them coaching at a camp like this.”
The real test of a successful camp is the feedback from the participants. Talking to the young cricketers attending the camp, their responses were overwhelmingly positive, and they were clearly having a good time.
Thomas aged 13 says, “It’s great to keep practising my skills in a social environment. I am having fun and enjoy helping the younger ones.” There has been some healthy topical debate during the camp about the different forms of cricket. Some of the participants are fresh from the previous day’s Hundred fixtures and are wearing their Phoenix shirts to the camp. Thomas has given the matter considerable thought, saying his preference is for test match cricket; as a bowler he appreciates how bowlers are always “in the game” in red ball cricket.
Tyler (13) feeds back, “The camp gives me the chance to practice the skills I have learnt and enhance them. It’s a great way to pass the summer holidays, playing a sport I really enjoy.”
Kobe (12) attended the Hundred fixture at Edgbaston the day before, describing it as, “An incredible atmosphere and great cricket.” When asked about the camp, Kobe replies, “I have a couple of county matches coming up, so this camp is a great chance for me to practise my skills. It also helps with my confidence for when I play with older players and in making the move into senior cricket.”
Nine year old Yasmin agrees with the enjoyment factor. “I am really enjoying the camp and the games. I like learning both batting and bowling,” she added, shortly after bowling the perfect ball onto the cones the coach had marked out for the players to aim for. Yasmin has started playing cricket since attending Dynamos at Dumbleton CC and is having lots of fun.
In the same group as Yasmin, are Oliver (9), Finn (8) and Noah (8). They talk with great excitement about their exploits in some of the games so far on the camp. Their list of cricketing achievements on the camp so far is long, but the highlights to pick out are Oliver’s great catch when he was keeping, Finn’s two 6s and a 4, and Noah’s five 4s in two overs.
Talking during his lunch break, Andy Turnbull is very happy with how the first camp at Stratford CC is going. The two groups of cricketers (the older and the younger group) are mixing well and incredibly enthusiastic. Andy is looking forward to the second Stratford camp 23rd – 27th August, continuing to build the WCB presence in the southern parts of Warwickshire.
Finally, no visit to Stratford would be complete without a reference to the Bard. After their lunch break, Andy Turnbull’s young wards at Stratford CC are full of enthusiasm to get back on the pitch and play cricket again – as Shakespeare himself described, “Like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start.”
