Valley’s junior cricketers off to UK

Lynne Mowbray There are eight very excited junior cricketers in the Lower Clarence, who are preparing for a trip of a lifetime to the United Kingdom in July, as part of the Vikings and Girls Invitational UK Junior Development Cricket Tour 2018. Seven keen young cricketers from the Harwood Cricket Club are part of the 14 player squad that have been invited to join the tour along with Taquayla Dawson of the Woodford Island Warriors Cricket Club, who will represent our area in the Girls Invitational. Lyon Cricket and Sydney Cricket Coaching have designed the once in a lifetime tour for junior cricketers to participate in the tour to the home of cricket. The tour will provide the young cricketers with an opportunity to test themselves against international competition, playing against local clubs, schools and academy teams. As part of the tour they will take part in a ‘net session’ and tour of the home of cricket, Lords. They will also participate in a development camp at Hampshire County Cricket Club. Their coach for the 15 day tour will be Brendan Lyon who owns Lyon Cricket coaching academy. Brendan is the brother of Australian Cricket great, Nathan Lyon. In the lead up to the tour Brendan, visited the Harwood Cricket Club on Monday this week to hold his Academy Day [clinic] in conjunction with Mark McInnes (Sydney Junior Cricket). The Harwood junior cricket club players held a fund raising market stall at the Brooms Head Family Sports Day on New Year’s Day and raised $609.60, towards the cost of their tour. The team are currently setting up a ‘Go Fund Me’ page and are hoping to organise a fund raising function, with a celebrity guest. The following Clarence Valley junior cricket players have been invited to join this exciting tour: Woodford Island Warriors Cricket Club Taquayla Dawson (14) Is the only girl representing the Clarence Valley. “I am grateful for the chance to tour the UK and play my favorite sport in the country of its origin, experiencing a different nations perspective of cricket which could help me with my goal of one day playing for Australia.” Taquayla’s Go Fund Me page: www.gofundme.com/4u5y5dk

Above: Taquayla Dawson 14, of the Woodford Island Warriors Cricket Club, will be the only female representing the Clarence Valley, in the Girls Invitational UK Junior Development Cricket Tour 2018. Image: Contributed.

Harwood Junior Cricketers Sean McFarlane (14) “I have always dreamed of going to the home of cricket (England) and Brendan Lyon has made this dream a reality.” Troy McFarlane (13) “I can’t believe that I’m going on a cricket tour to England and to experience it with my friends is going to be awesome. This is an opportunity that doesn’t come along often and I plan to make the most of the experience. Maybe, one day, I might actually play at Lords.” Luke Lambert (12) “I’ve always wanted to go to England and I’ll be going there to play the thing I love most, CRICKET! I can’t wait to experience the English conditions and learn about their style of play. I’d also like to thank everyone who is making it possible for me to go.” Josh Johnson (13) “I am really looking forward to going to the UK to play cricket on the Vikings Tour in July. I hope to develop my cricket skills whilst there by having expert coaches tour with us, and be able to play against some really good cricketers in different conditions to Australia.” Joel Imeson (15) “The UK tour is an amazing opportunity to see the world let alone the fact that you get to play cricket in England and Wales. This tour and the experts that are going on it I believe will really benefit our further cricketing goals. This is an amazing opportunity and it means a lot to be able to go on it.” Osca Pilon (14) “This is a great opportunity for us country kids to experience cricket at this level and I hope the community can support us through this journey; we would be grateful for any support we can get.” Tom Mullins (14) I am looking forward to travel to England and play in a different country. I’m excited to play in different conditions. I’m grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity. The boys are keen to do odd jobs such as car washes etc to raise money to help with the cost of their tour. For more information contact: Trace 0447 454 390. Lower Clarence UK Tour (Boys) BSB 062 2569 Account No. 10216395