Exwick and Exmouth allocate Shep Trust Christmas bonus to developing women's cricket | Sandford in the money too thanks to festive draw

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

EXMOUTH, Sandford and Exwick were all winners in the David Shepherd Cricket Trust Christmas draw.

The Trust set aside £5,000 in prize money in a free-to-enter Christmas draw and paid out 20 lucky winners. The only condition of entry was that clubs had youth or ladies sections that would benefit from a windfall.

Exwick began the process of starting a ladies section in 2019 and will use their £250 windfall to coach the group.

“We launched a ladies softball side in 2019 and have between 12-15 players registered, “ said coach Steve Forbes. 

“They played their first competitive cricket in the Ivybridge event in September and we will use the money for vital equipment to help sessions to develop the women’s section.”

Open days are planned for 2021 to attract juniors to the club and any equipment acquired will be dual-purposed.

Daniel O’Connell, the Exwick secretary, said the Christmas draw highlighted how valuable the David Shepherd Cricket Trust is to clubs in the county.

“The trust is a great ambassador for the game and we hope to link-up with them more in the future to continually grow the game locally,” said O’Connell.

Exmouth chairman Mark Davies knows exactly where he wants to spend the £250 Christmas bonus.

“I would like to put that money towards some form of coach for ladies and girls’ cricket,” said Davies.

 “That is an area we are struggling in and it would be great to be able to develop a pathway for ladies cricket at Exmouth.

“Many thanks to the trust for a really welcome gesture in these difficult times for all sports clubs.”