Cumbrian school students shine at Lord's in table cricket finals
By James Reid
William Howard School enjoyed an occasion to remember at Lord's at the National Table Cricket Finals Day.
The Brampton school battled through three regional rounds to earn a trip to London, with pupils and staff setting off the day before their big event at the Home of Cricket.
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They progressed past the group stage to earn a fourth place finish out of the 12 teams in action, and teacher Tracey Croucher was thrilled with a memorable day for her students.
'We have been doing it for about ten years - this is our fourth time coming to Lord's," she said.
"It's a massive achievement to get here. It is about enjoying it and doing the best you can.
'These children have come along for extra practices after school. It has brought together children from different year groups, all with different needs."
The William Howard team came an impressive fourth after reaching the finals at the home of cricket (Image: imagecomms)
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Table cricket is a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table.
Teams of six compete to avoid fielders and hit specific scoring zones while the ball is bowled using a ramp.
The Lord's Taverners runs its national competition each year, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools from across the country taking part.
The sport provides opportunities for participants to benefit from all that sport can offer, something Croucher has seen first-hand.
'It means a lot to them,' she added. 'They relax when they come to practice, they get a feeling of achievement and success that they might not get elsewhere in sport.
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'We've seen a massive difference in confidence. To be able to come here for them is amazing.'
Pupils also met cricketing legends David Gower and Mike Gatting and were presented with their medals by current England bowler Reece Topley.
It made the journey down from Cumbria all the more worth it, with many pupils visiting London for the first time.
'It was a very long journey,' said Croucher. 'We came down yesterday and got to London about three o'clock and went to Hyde Park.
"We had a lovely walk and a paddle. It was really nice to have everyone together as a team.
"When they found out they had qualified for the final, they were just over the moon and shouting 'We're going to London!'
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'For quite a few of them, it's their first time in London so they were spotting the red buses, the black cabs and taking loads of photos.'
For the first time in the competition's history, National Finals Day took place as part of Disability Cricket Day, the biggest ever one-off showcase of disability cricket hosted by the MCC, ECB and Lord's Taverners which saw all formats of disability cricket on display from grassroots to elite level.
It was a memorable day at Lord's for the Cumbrian students (Image: PA)
The day was brought to a close by the first ever international disability cricket fixture on the main ground at Lord's, the third of a seven-match Vitality IT20 Mixed disability series between England and India.
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'I saw table cricket for the first time a few years ago now and coming to the final here at Lord's today, you are struck immediately by the competitiveness, the keenness and the camaraderie,' said Gower, who serves as president of the Lord's Taverners.
'Everyone's spirits are high and it's fantastic to see people getting everything they want from the game, who, as we know, wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. Events like this are hugely important.
"The players are all so good, and they are all having immense fun. The atmosphere is just vibrant, and I love being a figurehead for Tavs, especially on days like today.'
The Lord's Taverners impacts the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality. The charity works across the UK and beyond to provide inclusive and impactful cricket programmes, empowering young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities – visit www.lordstaverners.org
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