Minister responsible for sports, Hon Myron V. Walwyn was on hand to present the WICB/Scotiabank Championship Trophy to St George's Primary School. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

First Impressions were runners up in the competition that featured six schools from across the territory. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Jeremy Grant of St George's Primary School was named Best Batsman. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Anna Gordon, also of St George's Primary School, received the Best Bowler award. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

The Event, the 3^rd Annual hosting by the BVI Cricket Association, marks the end of the Kiddy Cricket Programme that each of the schools have been involved in since September 2014 and provides the opportunity for the youth, both boys and girls, to showcase their talent whilst competing against other schools in a competitive environment. The Kiddy Cricket Programme resumes in September.

Due to some time constraints and logistical issues, the format had to be changed from a knockout and the six schools: Pelican Gate, Seventh-day Adventist, St George's, Cedar School, First Impressions and Bregado Flax, were split into two groups, with the top two from each progressing to the final.

After a Bowling Skill Competition, won jointly by St George's and Pelican Gate, group play got underway.

SDA beat Cedar School

In the early exchanges, SDA beat a very young and developing Cedar School team off the very last ball, chasing down 134 for the victory. St George's had a slightly more comfortable win over Bregado Flax Educational Centre, who had been weakened by school exams and late unavailability, reaching their target of 103 with overs to spare.

Highest score for First Impressions

First Impressions recorded the day’s highest score of 131 as they beat Cedar School’s 130 and debutants Pelican Gate narrowly failed to hold off St George's, who reached their target of 117 in the last over.

Bregado Flax also beat Pelican Gate in a close encounter, defending 120, to win by 2 runs.

St George's emerge victorious

However, it was St Georges and First Impressions who finished top of their respective groups and St George's who ran out champions, with a 20-run victory, having scored 126 and restricting First Impressions to 106.

Minister responsible for sports, Hon Myron V. Walwyn, was on hand to present the Championship Trophy to St George's, as well as the Runners Up Trophy to First Impressions and individual awards to Jeremy Grant of St George's as Best Batsman, Anna Gordon, also of St Georges as Best Bowler, Requan Garraway of Pelican Gate as Best Fielder, Cedar School as Most Improved School and Bregado Flax as Most Disciplined.

“It was a great day of cricket,” commented Charlie E. Jackson, BVICA President and WICB Cricket Development Officer. “All the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and showed a great range of skills and it is very encouraging to see interest and participation growing within the Youths. By this time next year we hope to have even more schools and even more exciting cricket, as we look to re-establish the game in the forefront of sports within the territory.”

“The Scotiabank Kiddy cricket programmed is a unique developmental tool which has evolved over the past 5 years or so within the Territory and has been proven to significantly enhance the latent athletic and academic skills of primary school pupils. Their outdoor engagements are well-designed to capture their imagination and inspire their striving for excellence and the inculcation of social and interactive skills.

“We remain proud to be associated with a feeder programme such as this in which children not only acquire an interest and passion for playing cricket, but also develop interpersonal skills, self-confidence, and discipline which are qualities they benefit from throughout their lifetimes,” commented the Scotiabank Representative.