Viva Lewes Issue #161 February 2020

CRICKET
Bats for Lasses
Lewes Priory Cricket Club
Lewesians are rightly
proud to be home to the
first football club to offer
equal pay to both its men’s
and women’s teams. And
there’s lots happening
locally to encourage more
girls to take up sports that
have traditionally been
male-dominated.
The Lewes Priory Cricket Club was recently
recognised with an award for Most Inspiring
and Diverse Cricket Offer, thanks to their
initiatives to get more girls and women playing
cricket. We spoke to club volunteer Kevin Ives
to find out more.
Tell us about the Lewes Priory Cricket Club
and your award. LPCC has been running for
nearly 200 years, playing at the lovely Stanley
Turner Ground. It now runs three senior Sussex
league teams and a sociable Sunday side known
as the Lewes Priory Ruins. The club is especially
proud of its 150 junior members who form seven
teams from Under 9 to U15.
LPCC has always encouraged inclusive participation
in cricket, and the award from the
Sussex Cricket Board and the England and
Wales Cricket Board (ECB) acknowledges the
collective efforts and successes of our many
volunteers. This season, as well as promoting
mixed cricket we are also looking to run two
girls’ teams, one softball team for U10 and one
hardball team for U13. It’s a great opportunity
for girls to learn the fundamentals of the game,
fully supported by qualified coaches.
How is women’s cricket changing nationally,
and what part can LPCC play? Women’s and
girls’ cricket has really exploded in the last few
years. Considerable effort
and investment nationally
is broadening its appeal
and improving the gender
balance. Shorter versions
(like 20-20, The Hundred)
mean that not all games
of cricket take up even a
whole day, let alone four
or five. We are keen to
give girls in Lewes the chance to play cricket
for fun and to offer opportunities that may not
be available at school.
What have been the barriers to girls playing
cricket, and how can we remove these?
Historically, cricket was a male-dominated
sport, so there were few role models to inspire
girls to play, and also a lack of female coaches.
In schools, girls were offered alternative sports
like rounders.
Remedies include finding a balance between
mixed sessions and dedicated girls’ indoor and
outdoor sessions. By employing a mix of female
and male coaches and volunteers we ensure that
kids see cricket as a completely natural sport
for everyone.
Ultimately, it’s about encouraging kids to try
different things, and to have fun. We don’t
over-coach and we keep the training and games
as lighthearted (and short) as possible.
We are looking for any girls interested in playing
cricket from ages five to 14 in our juniors,
but can also accommodate girls and women
aged 14+. Lulah Ellender
LPCC are running taster indoor sessions at
Lewes Leisure Centre for 6 weeks starting Sunday
23rd Feb. lewespriory.play-cricket.com; email
kevinives_2000@yahoo.co.uk
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