Ashes excitement is burning far beyond Cardiff, as pupils from six primary schools in North Wales have bagged a once in a lifetime trip to watch the opening test match at the SWALEC Stadium.

Through the Sports Council for Wales’ Dragon Sport scheme, Kwik Cricket festivals have been held across all six local authorities in North Wales to find the best primary school team from each county. Across the region 84 schools entered mixed eight person teams, with over 1,000 youngsters taking to the crease and having a bash at the junior code of cricket.

Youngsters from the six winning schools are now itching to claim their prize of a coveted visit to the opening day of the first npower Ashes test in Cardiff on 8 July. They will also become part of the npower Urban Cricket Crew, which means they will watch the match from a special reserved seating area and scoop goody bags and t-shirts.

And one school will even be selected to take part in cricket drills and a match on the Ashes ground during the interval.

Dragon Sport Officers from across the region pitched in to help the North East and North West Wales Cricket Development Officers with the organisation of the Kwik Cricket festivals. They also forged the links between local clubs and schools to give budding young cricketers the chance to carry on playing cricket well after the embers of the Ashes have burnt out.

Chairman of the Sports Council for Wales Philip Carling said: "It’s vital we maximise the potential of having the Ashes on our doorstep. In leaving a legacy, the challenge is to inspire young people to not just spectate but also to play.

"The Sports Council for Wales is playing its part in encouraging youngsters to take up the sport early through our primary school programme, Dragon Sport. Now 94% of primary schools in Wales are actively involved in the scheme and further opportunities are offered by around 800 clubs outside of school.

"More than 148,000 children have been involved and over 2000 adults - other than teachers - are helping to run Dragon Sport clubs."

Cricket Board of Wales Development Officer for Eryri, Gerallt Jones said: "Kwik Cricket has been a big hit with the kids in North Wales. Grassroots cricket is the way forward and that’s what we are trying to push to the clubs.

"We need to give cricket to the kids and Dragon Sport has been a massive help in achieving that goal."

The Sports Council’s Dragon Sport programme aims to encourage more primary school children than ever before to take part in sport. It focuses on eight sports which help teach the basic skills of running, jumping and throwing.

During the summer 2008 term alone, almost 6000 children took part in Dragon Sport cricket across Wales. Cricket is the third most popular extracurricular sport in the country after football and rugby for 7-11-year old boys. For girls of the same age, it is the 7^th most popular.

The six schools from North Wales that will travel to the first npower Ashes Test on Wednesday 8 July are:

- Ysgol Pen Y Bryn, Bethesda (Gwynedd)

- Ysgol Llan Sior, Llandudno (Conwy)

- Ysgol Rhoscolyn, Holyhead (Anglesey)

- Penyffordd, near Chester (Flintshire)

- Rhos Street School, Ruthin (Denbighshire)

- All Saints, Gresford (Wrexham)