Bats, Balls And Bails On Barry Island

Primary schools from across the Vale of Glamorgan flocked to Whitmore Bay earlier this month for the annual beach cricket festival. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The festival was organised by the Vale’s Sports Development team in memory of Pete Hardwick, who developed many young cricketers in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Barry Island’s Whitmore Bay saw more than 90 pupils from nine different primary schools take part in the cricket festival. The pupils left their buckets and spades at home, preferring bats and balls as they prepared to face rival pupils at the sandy crease. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Primary schools from the Vale of Glamorgan taking part in the festival included Romilly, Wick & Marcross, Llansannor, Iolo Morganwg, Llancarfan, Fairfield and Barry Island. There were no winners or losers on the day: it was all about getting the pupils involved in the sport, and them enjoying their day at the beach. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as cricket, the pupils had the chance to try their hand at Boccia, a game similar to boules. Boccia was originally created for people with cerebral palsy, but is now widely played by individuals of all abilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​