With preparations for the new cricket season well underway, a 16-year-old Cowbridge schoolgirl has the backing of the Vale of Glamorgan Council as she aims to catch the eye of England talent spotters.
All-rounder Bethan Moorcraft is one of 40 elite athletes from the county whose sporting ambitions are being supported during 2010 by the Vale Council’s Sports Academy Scheme.
Overseen by the council’s leisure and tourism department, the scheme gives members free use of the authority’s leisure facilities to help with their training needs.
Regular gym sessions at Cowbridge Leisure Centre are helping Bethan feel sharper to develop both her bowling and batting skills in the sport that she first took up at nine years old, when she went along to join her brothers at Cowbridge Cricket Club.
Playing alongside boys from a young age for both her club and school, Bethan’s prolific run scoring and wicket-taking earned her total respect from her team mates and opponents. At just 13, she top scored 157 runs while she once took five wickets in one match.
Her talent led to international selection for Wales, who she has captained and opened the batting for during the last three seasons at her age level, and she hopes that she can continue to make progress and eventually be called up for the all-conquering England women’s team.
GCSE student Bethan said: “My biggest ambition is to play cricket for England. I hope that the team’s recent success will have a huge impact on the female game as girls are becoming more aware that the sport is open to them and the England squad are all fantastic new role-models for young sportswomen.”
Vale Council cabinet member for leisure and tourism Cllr Anthony Ernest said: “We are delighted to supported talented individuals such as Bethan to reach their potential on a national and international stage via the Sports Academy Scheme. We will be exceptionally proud if the sessions at Cowbridge Leisure Centre contribute to Bethan achieving her dream of one day scoring a century for England at famous grounds such as The Oval or Trent Bridge.”
Youngsters who would like to follow in Bethan’s footsteps can go along to a junior open morning at Cowbridge Cricket Club on Sunday, 18 April – find out more about the club at www.cowbridgecricket.co.uk. For further details about the local sporting opportunities for both boys and girls in the Vale of Glamorgan visit Sports and Play.
