CARDIFF - COWBRIDGE CRICKET HIT FOR SIX

Development plans at Cowbridge Cricket Club have been sent spinning in a different direction. Having established successful men and boys teams, the club is now turning its attention to advancing the women and girls game.

As part of the development plans, the junior section at the club will be built upon to include 8-13 year-old girls and the eventual creation of a senior team for women. The new section is being developed with the help of Community Chest funding of £750 from the Sports Council for Wales, which has been matched by the clubs own funds.

To cater for the increase in members the club is ploughing the money into equipment and coaching. A stock of specialist bats, gloves, pads, team kit bags and helmets have been bought in anticipation of the increase in membership. New players will also benefit from more and better coaches, with part of the investment set aside for coach education, coaching clinics and running taster days.

With a fresh supply of equipment and coaches, the club is now in a position to raise the awareness of the availability of cricketing activities for women and girls in the area.

NORTH

GWYNEDD - PARC PADARN’S WALKWAYS

Finding a way through Parc Padarn will be an altogether easier task thanks to a Community Chest grant from the Sports Council for Wales.

Already featuring a large boating lake, a network of pathways, trails and a visitor centre, the £749 National Lottery funded grant has allowed the parc to expand its range to include orienteering. Maps, signage and leaflets will be making their way to the parc and residents and visitors will be encouraged to make the most of the new recourse.

The parc sits at the base of Snowdonia National Park, which draws visitors from the length and breadth of Wales and beyond. The council hopes that introducing additional attractions and interest to the parc will increase the number of visitors and encourage the people of Llanberis to make the most of the doorstep facility.

The parc is targeting its new initiative at families looking for a less challenging course to traverse than the highest mountain in Wales. By introducing a fun orienteering programme which can be adapted, the council will be able to vary difficulty levels and technical standards so as to appeal to every taste.