8:12am Wednesday 9th July 2008
Young cricketers took to the field last month in the Pembrokeshire Sch-ools Kwik Cricket Festival.
The annual tournament seeks to find the best primary school teams in the county.
This year more than 58 schools and almost 600 youngsters took part reflecting the growing interest in the sport across the country.
The winning team - Fenton Community School - will represent Pembrokeshire in the south Wales finals.
The festival was organised by Sport Pembrokeshire - the sports development arm of the county council - in collaboration with the Pembrokeshire Association of Cricket Coaches.
Tournaments were organised for each of the seven families of primary schools across the county, hosted by local clubs in each area, with 580 children taking part overall.
The top 20 teams competed in the Pembrokeshire finals held at Haverfordwest Cricket Club.
Both Fenton Community School and Stepaside CP School won all five of their matches, with Fenton qualifying narrowly on run rate to represent Pembrokeshire in the south Wales finals - due to be held at the SWALEC stadium.
Designed for children aged between five and 11, Kwik Cricket uses an orange softball and plastic equipment and can be played on any flat surface inside or out.
"Though there is a competitive edge, the emphasis is very much on participation and enjoyment," said Councillor Rob Lewis, cabinet member for sport and leisure.
"Since its introduction in 1988 Kwik Cricket has taken off in a big way and is a terrific way to introduce youngsters to the sport."
Cricket development officer Ben Field said a strong club structure and a well-organised league have always underpinned Pembrokeshire cricket.
"Kwik Cricket is designed to increase participation in the sport among primary schools and is a game well suited to all ability levels, boys and girls. Hopefully it will also lead to more youngsters joining their local cricket club," he said.
Kwik Cricket is sponsored nationally by ASDA and the local Pembroke Dock branch donated both fruit and bottled water for every child at the Pembrokeshire finals.
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