Christ Church pupils celebrate an impressive Kwik Cricket victory

CHRIST Church Junior School, of Downend, and Fairford were crowned champions at this year's Asda Kwik Cricket county finals day after winning the open and girls tournaments respectively.

The event, at Cheltenham College, was organised by the Gloucestershire Cricket Board and featured 240 pupils from 24 primary schools across the county.

The two winners will now go on to represent the county in the regional finals at Exmouth Cricket Club in July.

Gloucestershire cricket development manager Steve Silk said: "It was phenomenal to see so many young people from across the county playing cricket and having a great time.

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"This event was the pinnacle of what has been a very busy schools coaching programme for the GCB and to see it come to a close with this kind of celebration and cricket of the high level that was on show was fantastic."

In the open tournament, Christ Church triumphed over Henleaze Junior School after a fiercely contested final that saw both sides finish with 244 runs. In the end, the game was decided by wickets, with Christ Church crowned champions having taken four wickets to their opponents two.

Earlier both sides had come through their groups winning every game. Christ Church beat Ann Cam, from Dymock, in the semi-finals, while Henleaze knocked out Westbury-On-Trym.

Alex Wilkinson, headteacher of Christ Church, said: "A lot of our boys play for clubs around Bristol and South Gloucestershire and, as well as our teacher Brian Kelly, they have to take a lot of credit. They provide the opportunities and high level coaching that allows our teams to thrive. That has something that has definitely changed and improved over the last five years.

"The fact that there are competitions like this being organised by the Gloucestershire Cricket Board is fantastic and I have seen a real improvement in the boys just through playing competitive games."

In the girls' final, Fairford C of E Primary got revenge against Westbury-On-Trym – who had earlier beaten them in the group stages – to take the trophy. Fairford finished with a total of 269 – 43 more than their opponents. They made it into the final after overcoming Bromley Heath, while Westbury-On-Trym beat Cam Everlands.

Joanna Herbert, year six teacher at Fairford C of E primary school said: "Because of the success we have had at the school we have now started a women's team at Fairford and we hope that eventually the girls will take it over – they are better than us already.

"It was a real team effort and they really deserved it."

The two winning teams received trophies and a bat signed by the Gloucestershire squad including Liam Norwell, Richard Coughtrie and Paul Muchall, who were on hand to present the prizes.

All participants were also given free tickets to watch the Gladiators in their t20 match versus Northants.