Durham mascot Chester the Lion was a surprise guest to hand out awards at the North Regional Table Cricket Festival at Emirates Riverside last Friday (10 March).
The event for disabled children, delivered by Durham Cricket Board in association with the Lord’s Taverners, was highly competitive and delivered the closest of contests in the final.
Hope Wood Academy ran out winners by the slimmest of margins, defeating Oxclose Academy by net-run-rate to take the winners’ trophy from 24 participating teams – an increase on 300% compared to a few years’ previous.
They have now advanced to the Regional Table Cricket Finals, to be held at Durham University on 9 May, with the best teams then advancing to the National Finals at Lord’s.
Josie Pointon, Durham CCC’s Foundation manager, said: “The event was a huge success and it was brilliant to see so many children enjoying Table Cricket.
“The Cricket Board, County Club & Foundation worked together to deliver a fun-filled day and this is just one of many projects we will be collaborating on over the coming season.
“Cricket can play a huge part in the community and we are looking forward to delivering more exciting events together over the course of the season.”
Table Cricket has enjoyed a huge rise in popularity over the last few years, with the number of entrants rising from 6 to 24 in the space of three years.
The Cricket Board deliver Table Cricket to primary, secondary schools and colleges within the region, engaging kinds with learning and physical difficulties.
