CARGILFIELD SCHOOL // CHEAM SCHOOL
CARGILFIELD SCHOOL 45 Gamekeeper’s Road, Edinburgh EH4 6HU Established 1873 Number of pupils 300 Masters in charge David Walker (assistant headmaster), Ewan Harrison Teams 9, from U9 up to U13 Girls’ cricket The school offers girls’ teams from U11 upwards and mixed teams at U9 and U10 level. Girls in Years 7 and 8 are able to play in boys’ teams too on merit. A girl captained the U11 boys’ cricket team for the very first time this summer How has cricket bounced back The school played cricket throughout the 2020 Autumn Term, using the newly built 4-lane all-weather facility, with all age groups playing which was brilliant. In the Summer Term, the emphasis has been on enjoyment, skill development and rekindling a love of the game Post-pandemic changes More opportunities for girls to play cricket, both on their own and with the boys. Introduction of girls’ cricket matches against other schools and also stronger links with The Grange CC, the top cricket club in Edinburgh, with lots of children attending coaching sessions there at the weekends and playing fixtures with them, under the watchful and expert eye of John Blain, former Yorkshire and Scotland seamer Fixtures All teams play at least 10 matches in the summer term, with the 1st XI playing 14 or 15, including a triangular 15/15 festival with Sedbergh and Merchiston and also taking part in the Glenalmond 6-a-side cricket tournament Facilities 4-lane all weather, floodlight outdoor facility, bowling machine, 2 grass squares, 2 indoor nets allowing cricket to be played all year round
Club/county affiliation Scotland, The Grange CC Best prospect Rory Grant has just won a sports scholarship to Rugby School. He was named Grange young player of the year last year, scoring a debut hundred at the counties festival at Shrewsbury School and is part of the Grange Academy squad and Easter Knights U15 team Cricketers of note Tom Sole (Northants & Scotland), Chris Sole (Scotland) Brief history Cargilfield has a round cricket history and has played the game since its foundation in 1873, and has been at the forefront of developing young players ever since with a large number going on to play at 1st XI level at the top cricketing schools across the UK as well as at international level for Scotland Cultural cricketers Lord Younger (former defence secretary) What sets the school apart? The boys and girls play cricket 12 months a year, with winter nets starting in September and running through to April. As a standalone prep school, the school have first call on outstanding facilities and first-class coaching Finest moment Playing the game according to the Spirit of Cricket and producing skilled players who have a love of the game. Winning the annual triangular Sedbergh/Merchiston/ Cargilfield festival is always a highlight of the season Recent progress Introduction and embedding girls’ cricket in to our summer sports programme for all our girls whatever their ability, with last year’s head of school, a girl, scoring a fifty for Oundle in her first year there Future plans Continuing to embed the girls’ cricket programme, upskill female staff and provide opportunities for all players to play club cricket. Use the newly built 4-lane all-weather outdoor net facility properly this winter
CHEAM SCHOOL Headley, Newbury, Berkshire RG19 8LD Established 1645 Number of pupils 395 Master in charge Dominic Pike Teams Boys: 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, 5th XI, U11ABC, U10ABC, U9ABC, U8ABC; Girls: 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI, U11ABC, U10ABC, U9AB, U8AB Girls’ cricket Offered across the school. At 1st XI and U11A XIs, hardball has been introduced, with all other teams playing softball matches How has cricket bounced back The nets were back in full swing, pupils walking down the corridors honing their off drives or bowling actions, and a real buzz as the pupils run out to the games pitches. It is arguably more popular than ever, with the addition of the girls Post-pandemic changes The programme has become more inclusive. Occasional softball matches added for certain teams Fixtures A full programme of boys and girls’ fixtures, with the intention for all to play as often as possible. Each team play approximately 10 fixtures per term, with more likely at the top end. Cheam’s matches against Pinewood and Farleigh are a great chance to get almost 30 teams out in a full block fixture Facilities 8 hardball wickets, 1 artificial wicket and 11 separate wickets currently used for softball cricket. 9 artificial nets and 3 grass wicket batting cages, 2 bowling machines. The full-size astroturf is also used for some girls’ cricket practice sessions and matches at the younger end of the school Club/county affiliation Berkshire, Hampshire, Middlesex and clubs Cricketers of note Rupert Cox (Hampshire)
Brief history There are few better sights than the view from the sundial, across the manicured Cheam grounds, and seeing children honing their cricketing skills. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable coaches ensure that the boys and girls are given the opportunity to improve their own individual technique, learn about the many tactics of the game as well as building a strong team spirit and sense of fair play and sportsmanship. Pupils have at least three games sessions per week and the extensive facilities are in seemingly constant use Cultural cricketers Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Ivo Bligh (England’s first Ashes-winning captain) What sets the school apart? Pupils enjoy receiving mini-bats for scores of 50-plus, five-wicket hauls or memorable moments in matches. In the boys and girls 1st XI, pupils can receive their 1st XI Cap once they have scored 100-plus runs or taken 10-plus wickets Finest moment Cheam U13s tour Cape Town every two years, and on the most recent tour produced a number of impressive displays. The 15 pupils also managed to raise £10,000, split between the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Cape Town, Yabonga Children’s Charity and Sport4kids, a charity who look after disadvantaged children in the Western Cape Recent progress The introduction of girls’ cricket has been important. The new, purpose-built 5-lane cricket net facility has had hours of use already Future plans U10s upwards to compete in an external competition/ festival each season. Winter Monday evening nets start in September Tours Cheam have toured Cape Town every two years since 2004, the latest in February 2019. They hope to be able to provide an overnight U11 tour in the UK each year too thecricketer.com | 129