Groups Contact Details & Calendar

WALKING CRICKET

Photograph by Alex Rotas

Would you like to play cricket again? Or learn the skills for the first time? A gentler version suited to third agers?

If so try Walking Cricket an adaption of the normal game which has been developed by u3a, especially Barnsley u3a, and others for people aged 50 or over.

We are planning to form a new group to play Walking Cricket. In this we are delighted to be supported by The Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation (GCF). This is a charity whose aim is to spread community cricket programmes of various kinds throughout Gloucestershire for people of all ages and abilities who might ordinarily not have the opportunity to play the game.

What precisely is Walking Cricket? It is played by 6 or 8 players a side in mixed teams. Games extend over two hours. It is a year round indoor activity where everyone has the opportunity to bat, bowl and field at their own skill level and pace. It is good exercise but not overly strenuous. Underarm bowling is allowed! It’s fun.

Plus benefits are gained for physical and mental health. Some u3a groups play outside in the summer and revert to indoors during other periods of the year. Importantly the game uses a soft ball with light plastic bats and stumps so the need for protective equipment is eliminated. Players just turn up in comfortable clothes and play. If you want to try out a game of Walking Cricket, GCF is offering free weekly indoor practice sessions together with equipment and training to all comers at a new hub in the cricket hall at Leisure at Cheltenham every Tuesday 11.00 am to 12.00 pm. Please contact me for more details. I will be attending each week. So come along and see for yourself.

Hopefully these one hour practices will encourage sufficient interest among our members so that we can to proceed to establish a dedicated u3a Walking Cricket group as planned. From that initial stage we can then start to play 2 hour team games.

You may have seen the new summer edition of third age matters where in the lead cover article the legendary Dickie Bird endorses the benefits of Walking Cricket. So what could be a better recommendation!

Denis Raingold