NatWest CricketForce at Hambledon CC

NatWest CricketForce weekend was a roaring success at Hambledon CC, one of the ECB’s five national showcase clubs. On Friday 4th and Saturday 5th April the club’s Ridge Meadow ground was awash with willing volunteers from the club and the local community. They were joined on the Friday by Hampshire Players, as well as staff from the Rose Bowl and Hampshire Cricket Board. Saturday saw the arrival of the ECB along with the ECB Roadshow and England all-rounder’s Dimitri Mascarenhas and Ebony Rainford-Brent.

Last September the club was devastated by an electrical fire which damaged much of the old pavilion. In preparation for the Nat West CricketForce event a temporary pavilion had been constructed and much of the weekend was taken up in preparing this new structure for the 2008 season.

The tasks undertaken included; painting the exterior of the buildings, re-decorating the fire damaged changing rooms, cleaning and painting the sightscreens, erecting new fencing, installing a patio, clearing hedges and copses around the ground, painting picnic benches, constructing furniture and installing a kitchen in the new pavilion.

The weekend wasn’t all about hard work though; the club’s thriving junior section turned out in force to support the event and over the weekend were treated to an array of activities. This included specialist one-to-one coaching with Hampshire Players, group coaching sessions and a Kwik Cricket Festival with the Hampshire Cricket Board’s Community Coaches and a fun filled Saturday using the ECB Roadshow, with the England all-rounder’s and club coaches.

The event was coordinated by Hambledon CC Honorary Secretary Chris De Mellow, who commented:

“Hambledon Cricket Club has been delighted with the response from local businesses and very grateful of the support received from Hampshire Cricket for this NatWest CricketForce weekend.  It is hoped that everyone's endeavours will leave a lasting legacy for the club in the future.”

The Hampshire Cricket Board would like to thank everyone who participated in the event, in particular Chris De Mellow and David Mills who were the driving force in the planning stage and whose hard work resulted in a productive and enjoyable weekend.

The following companies provided discounted materials and services for the event:

AVL Electrics, Brewers, B & Q, Buchanan’s Marquee’s, Circuit Supply Ltd, Dulux Decorator Stores, Finest Scaffolding, Lift and Shift, Jackson Fencing, ICI, Osborne, Passmore, Ralls Group, Waterlooville Carpets, Wolsley Build Center/Drain Center and Wickes