A new venture is bringing independent and state schools together from across the city for an all-day cricket tournament.
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The Festival of Schools Cricket event on Thursday 26th June will be held as part of Lansdown Cricket Club’s bicentenary celebrations.
Club chairman Scott Longstaff says: “Cricket as a sport is well served by the private schools in our city and we have a rich history of quality players coming from here; however, the provision of cricket in state schools is less impressive.”
He said the club and Oldfield School headteacher Andy Greenhough are working with the heads of private and state schools in the city to create the innovative festival.
“State schools and private schools are being paired to create teams that will play each other at the event.
“The tournament will crown a paired school team as the winners at the end of the day but really it is the spirit of co-operation between state and private schools which is brilliant and a shared intent to inspire more sporting achievement and access in our city.
“We are not aware of any sort of similar initiative anywhere else.”
A Festival of Walking Cricket will also be taking place at the club’s Combe Park ground this week.
In 2022, Lansdown Cricket Club became the first in Bath and one of the first in the county to set up a Walking Cricket section designed in general for older people who are less mobile.
On Tuesday, 24th June, the club will play host to a tournament with Taunton and Highbridge teams joining for the day.
To celebrate being at the heart of Bath sport and community inclusion for two centuries, the club is aiming to raise £200,000 this year for charities.
The 200 for 200 Campaign is in aid of RUHX, the official charity of Bath’s Royal United Hospital, and Dorothy House Hospice Care.
You can find out about all the other events taking place for the rest of the year on the club’s website at www.lansdowncricketclub.co.uk.
