3rd Annual High Performance Regional Cricket Camp Ends

Details

Cricket

Monday, 27 August 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John’s - The Sandals Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the West Indies Cricket Board  (WICB) have successfully concluded the third High Performance Regional Cricket Camp for young cricketers from Antigua, Jamaica, Guyana and other islands in the OECS.

Speaking at the closing ceremony for the two-week training camp, Sandals Grande Antigua Resort’s Manager Matthew Cornall said the hotel chain was indeed honoured to have staged the event for the third consecutive year.

Sandals Foundation is the charitable arm of the Sandals Hotel chain and although the regional camp is in its third year, the genesis of the operation actually dates back to about a decade ago in St. Lucia.

Camp participants including coaches, umpires, players, Sandals and WICB officials and even the grounds men and athletes’ parents attended the closing ceremony.

Antigua’s Minister of Sports Senator Winston Williams said three years of a steadily improving initiative such as this is undoubtedly one to be proud of as he applauded the efforts of the WICB, Sandals and his own ministry officials.

“This camp was created and designed for the youths. We have made significant strides in our ability as a region to reignite that fire for cricket. Over these past few months West Indies Cricket has ignited that passion for cricket in our people again, and efforts like these will keep us going,” Williams said.

Junie Mitchum, head coach of the camp, provided an overview of the tournament, calling it “intense and vigorous.”

He said the programme’s participants all exhibited good work ethics and a willingness to learn.

The programme focused on batting and defending techniques, as well as running, bowling and fielding techniques.

Communications Officer for the WICB Imran Khan described the programme as a worthwhile investment on the part of all stakeholders.

This is said to be the only triangular partnership in the region geared towards the development of Cricket as it includes the WICB, the governments of Antigua and St. Lucia and Sandals as a corporate citizen.

“Our monies and our efforts have been well invested and I hope that we expand on our investment next year.

“This camp has been the most efficient and organised I have ever visited,” Khan said.

He encouraged the beneficiaries from across the region to consider the future as not only junior players but as national players as they take with them skills that would undoubtedly yield dividends for them as individuals in the spirit and to their countrymen, to whom they will impart their newly acquired knowledge.

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While all players who completed the camp were awarded certificates of participation, special awards were given out in several areas.

These include: Team Player of the Year – Jamaica; Fielder of the Year – Antigua; Wicket Keeper of the Year – St. Kitts; Batsman of the Year – St. Kitts; Player with the Most Runs – Nevis; Player with the Most Wickets – Antigua and Guyana; and Most Outstanding Cricketer in the Camp – Guyana.

The programme will be repeated in 2013.

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