Women’s Soft Ball Cricket Festival at Heywood Cricket Club

Women’s Soft Ball Cricket Festival a great success at Heywood Cricket Club

Over 80 women attended to give cricket ‘a go’ at Heywood’s Prosecco Women’s Soft Ball Cricket Festival on Friday (1 September).

Heywood Cricket Club hosted one of the England & Wales Cricket Board Soft Ball Cricket Festivals, branded in Lancashire as Prosecco Cricket and they were the perfect hosts turning the event into a real fun event for all the family. There was a free glass of prosecco on arrival for all the women served in a branded glass, a warm up, BBQ, music, bouncy castles for the children, fudge and sweet stalls and a photo booth. Plus a free t-shirt for all who took part.

Julie Durrant, speaking on behalf of Lancashire Cricket Board, said: “Soft Ball Cricket is a new, fun, fast, social game for all abilities featuring a, you guessed it, soft ball.

"The festival was aimed at encouraging new women into cricket and their friends to come along to have a great first experience of the game.

"The games were six-a-side and the rules are designed to make them fun, fast and easy to pick up.

"Teams are encouraged to make up names and we had some great names: Bellinis, Wicket Witches, Smack my Pitch up and The Sticky Wicketers to name just a few.”

Mike Jackson, spokesperson at Heywood Cricket Club, said: “It was great to see so many women turn up and take part. We planned the event to ensure women felt supported, relaxed, not judged and could learn new skills in an inclusive atmosphere. We definitely achieved this and everyone had a great time with cricket the overall winner.”