Vital funds raised for the Wiltshire Cricket Talent Pathway Support Fund at our annual Golf Day

Cumberwell Park played host to the 2023 Wiltshire Cricket Golf Day and what a day it was! An incredible £8,710 raised to go towards the Wiltshire Cricket Talent Pathway Support Fund and to help remove financial barriers for children wanting to participate in Cricket.

Following a hugely successful event in 2022, this year's event went even bigger! There were 23 participating teams on the day competing in the following format:

  • Team Competition
  • Full Handicap allowance based on Course Handicap for the day
  • Best 2 scores to count on each hole apart from the final hole when all 4 scores will count

At the end of what was a rather wet day, the scores couldn't have been closer. However, in the end the winners were our friends from Charlton Baker! Throughout the day there were also competitions for:

  • Longest Drive - 
  • Nearest the Pin - Mark Flay

Aside from these winners, we most importantly want to say a huge thank you to all of the teams and players who participated during the day (*a lit of which can be found at the foot of this article)

Running alongside the Golf were several other parts of the day, including an online Charity Auction that was launched a few weeks before the day and that closed on the evening of the Golf Day itself. There were also raffle prizes and a couple of live auctions on the day. For all of these aspects of the day Wiltshire Cricket would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who either generously donated prizes or who put in bids for the various prizes on the day.

A final set of thanks go to Cumberwell Park for hosting the event so successfully and to Ged Montgomery for his wonderful organisation and hosting of the day. The Wiltshire Cricket Golf Day has become an important date in the Wiltshire Cricket calendar but it wouldn't happen without the considerable time that goes in to planning the day, sourcing prizes and facilitating auctions and raffles. Our thanks too to Ged's family for their support on the day.

In total, thanks to to the competing teams, those who donated prizes, and all those who entered the raffle and auctions, Wiltshire Cricket is delighted to announce that a total of £8,710 was raised; an amazing effort that will benefit many young cricketers in the years to come.

The Wiltshire Cricket Talent Pathway Support Fund

The main focus of the event is to raise funds to go towards our Talent Pathway Support Fund

Wiltshire Cricket Limited recognises that to participate in talent pathway cricket incurs an inevitable financial cost. The Wiltshire Cricket Talent Pathway Support Fund recognises that individuals and their families at all levels within the pathway make significant sacrifices and financial contributions to support and enable participation within the various aspects of the programme; from winter coaching through to summer matches.

To better support children who may be suffering from financial difficulties or whose family circumstances mean they are at a disadvantage relative to their pathway peers, Wiltshire Cricket Limited has made available a limited Support Fund to eligible young cricketers.

In addition to the Support Fund, Wiltshire Cricket will also be looking to invest funds raised from our Golf Day to support with other important initiatives across the county, including:

  • To go broader than the Pathway to provide grant opportunities to qualifying players in clubs who may not access pathway in the first place for financial or personal circumstances
  • To support community based initiatives such as Street Cricket and Disability Cricket
  • To enhance our Safeguarding and Listening to Children provision within our Talent Pathway

Our thanks

Wiltshire Cricket would like to recognise all of the following clubs, teams and organisations that participated in or supported our Golf Day:

Calne CC, Charlton Baker, Renelec, Wansbroughs, Purton CC, South Wilts CC, Hawkes Projects, Hand and Millar Consulting, Gaigers, Wessex Fleet, IMSM, Christian Malford CC, White Horse CC, Avebury CC, Wiltshire Queries CC, JEM Heating, Go Ignite Consulting, Imagine Cruising, Plumbase, Farmline, Hartsfield Financial Planning

We would also like to thank the following organisations and individuals for providing prizes for our Auction and/or for sponsoring the day:

Tuttle Architectural Services, Pension Bee, Neon, Avon Trophies, Wansbroughs, Sporting Billy, Imagine Cruising, Wessex Fleet, Gray-Nicolls, Serious Cricket, Cumberwell Park, Gaigers, Newbury Races, Umbro, De Vere Hotel, Hallmark, Swindon Town FC, Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, Renelec, Rod Alcorn, Swindon Wildcats, Theatre Royal Bath, Aberdovey CC, Jamie Snowden, Morrison's, Waitrose, Bakkover, Wadworth