Chagford Cricket Club - Youth Update

We're delighted to be sponsoring the youth section of Chagford Cricket Club, and we're into the second year of a five year commitment.

We're always pleased to hear the Club's latest news, so Chris Mount, Cricket Youth Development Officer for Chagford Cricket Club gave us the following update:

"What a 12 months we've had since the end of the last season. On the back of the successful 2011 inaugural season, four people took coaching qualifications during the winter.

We also put our first young player forward for district trials. He was successful, trained with the South Devon Under 9 squad through the winter and has now played two matches for them. All of this whilst under 8 so he is still able to be selected in 2013.

With the introduction of the new coaches we were able to open the club sessions for 2012 to younger players, so children as young as five and six came down on Friday nights to start their cricketing journey.

What a season 2012 has been. With the continued and generous support of Helpful Holidays, Chagford Youth Cricket was able to take a giant step forward from our first year.

In 2011, we had 64 members, managed five training sessions in three age groups, had three coaches and three assistants and played two matches. We coached cricket in two schools and ran an after school club in another.

The Dartmoor Cup was formed (an inter-Primary School Competition) which saw four schools take part.

In 2012, we had 108 members, managed nine training sessions in five age groups, had six coaches and six assistants and had teams ready to play in 24 matches. One of the big introductions this season has been the addition of four managers to the organising party. Their tireless work during a difficult rain-soaked season made a vast difference to the coaches and the professional communications between coaches and children made a logistical minefield seem smooth.

We coached cricket in four schools and ran after school clubs in each. The Dartmoor Cup developed further and, driven forward by Chagford CC, brought Lewdown CC and Hatherleigh CC into the organisation. As a result 10 schools took part with 20 teams battling it out over two days for the Trophy, Shield and Cup. We also attracted an additional sponsor, Bovey Castle, who championed the schools competition.

Sponsorship from Helpful Holidays was also instrumental in setting up the exciting and completely new Under 9 Super Sundays! Up to eight teams from five clubs engaged in friendly coaching-driven matches for the under 9 and under 7 age groups. This proved very successful and we hope to develop this competition next season.

We're very proud to say that we entered our first girls team into a competition at Topsham CC this season, and if the rain hadn’t intervened, we would have hosted a competition at Chagford for six girls teams… Next year, maybe!

Chris Mount (R) with HH's Moray Bowater

Although our Chagford Youth Cricket season has drawn to a close, our season is not complete. Several of our Under 15 squad are playing senior matches against touring teams, and are pushing for 2nd team league places. We're hosting an Under 13 county match in August and our Under 11 team are playing the district Under 9 team in a friendly match on 14th August. Six of our most promising Under 9 players are having additional training throughout August and will enter district trials in early September."


Congratulations to everyone involved on a successful 2012 - it's great to see boys and girls of all ages taking part, having fun and achieving fantastic results.

If you're staying in one of our holiday cottages in Chagford, check the fixtures and pop down, you'll be made very welcome.

Helpful cricket sponsorship for Chagford’s youth section...

We're delighted to be sponsoring the youth section of Chagford Cricket Club for the next five years.

Moray Bowater, our General Manager, says, “Thanks to the energy and commitment of many people in Chagford, we have a cricket pitch and pavilion which would be remarkable anywhere; for a town as small as Chagford to have such an outstanding facility is truly wonderful.”

Chris Mount, Cricket Youth Development Officer for Chagford Cricket Club, adds, “We’re aiming to take cricket into local schools to broaden participation in the game and involve more local children. Chagford Cricket Club is paying for coaches to go to Chagford Primary School, and then to North Tawton and South Tawton Primary Schools. The idea is to give the children a chance to play the game. If they enjoy playing cricket, they can come to the Chagford cricket ground to develop their skills in a safe, friendly and encouraging environment. With parental involvement and support, this project will be able to provide a tremendous opportunity and benefit to children in the area. We need drivers, sandwich makers, fund raisers and assistant coaches, and will find a role for anyone who’d like to take part!”

The first practice sessions of the season have got off to a great start with around 40 children taking part.

It was the Dartmoor Inter-Primary Schools Cricket Cup tournament on Tuesday and, blessed with a beautiful sunny day, we went down to the ground to watch 60 energetic youngsters having fun and showing competitive spirit. Well done to the Chagford Primary School team who won the cup!

We'll be avidly following their progress during the season and looking forward to some summer evenings lazing in front of the pavilion...

If you’d like to find out more about the cricket initiative, please call Chris Mount on 07703 542697.

If you're staying in one of our holiday cottages in Chagford, check the fixtures and pop down, you'll be made very welcome.