Cricket boost for Perth

Nov 13 2012 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser

It may be off-season for the sport, but it has been a busy time for Perth and Kinross cricket development.

Development officer Kirsteen Ross held a successful indoor secondary schools cricket tournament at Bell’s Sports Centre, which was won for the second time by Perth Academy, who defeated Kinross HS in an exciting and close fought final.

Kirsteen said: “We had six teams taking part, including teams from Pitlochry HS and Breadalbane Academy for the first time.

“The Pitlochry HS cricket club is run by James Ross from Live Active Cricket Development and this follows a successful program of PE time ‘taster’ sessions to S1 and S2 pupils to introduce them to the game. There will now be a new lunchtime cricket club at Breadalbane Academy.

“I am delighted that so many schools across Perth and Kinross are embracing the game of cricket and encouraging their pupils to have a go.

“It’s a unique sport which is multi-skilled and multi-dimensional with the team and individual aspects, but also a sport where good sportsmanship is written into the laws of the game, with the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ being fundamental to how the game is played.”

The secondary schools extra-curricular clubs are run in partnership with local schools and are free of charge. They are currently held at Perth Grammar, Perth Academy, Blairgowrie High School, Pitlochry High School and Breadalbane Academy. Sessions are lots of fun and are open to boys and girls in S1 to S6.

Anyone who would like more information should contact Kirsteen on 01738 454641 or by speak to the head of PE at their school.

Meanwhile, 18 keen and eager players turned up to take part in the first Live Active indoor disability cricket tournament at Bell’s Sports Centre.

The participants took part in a variety of bowling, batting and fielding challenges which culminated in two cricket matches where everybody got a chance to play.

Gavin Davey, chief executive of the Gannochy Trust and Jim Moyes, chief executive of Live Active Leisure, presented commemorative medals to all of the players to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Gannochy Trust. Both organisations fund and support all forms of cricket and its development in Perth and Kinross.

Free indoor cricket coaching for adults aged 16-plus with a learning, physical or sensory disability continues every Monday at Bell’s Sports Centre, Perth from 11.15am to 12.15pm.

It is part of the Live Active Therapy Group which is run in partnership with the Learning Disability team from NHS Tayside.

The group offers sporting and therapeutic activities for any adult with a Learning Disability in Perth and Kinross and aims to provide an opportunity for those taking part to benefit from healthy activity with their peer group in a safe and familiar environment and a variety of sporting and other activities are on offer.