Lord's To Host Macquarie National Table Cricket Finals

Lord's To Host Macquarie National Table Cricket Finals

Lord's will again host the finals

Lord's Cricket Ground will once again host the prestigious finals of the Macquarie National Table Cricket Competition on Friday 15 June, with youngsters with disabilities from across the country vying for the chance to be crowned 2012 champions.

Table Cricket, which is played on a table tennis surface with specially designed bats and balls, enables young people with disabilities and special needs the chance to enjoy cricket and represent their school on a competitive basis.

Sky Sports Presenter, Marcus Buckland and Angela Rippon, President of The Lady Taverners will join Macquarie staff volunteers to host the finals, while former England cricket captain, Mike Gatting OBE, will be on hand to offer batting tips to the young players throughout the day.

Victoria Education and Sports College from Poole were crowned champions of last year’s Macquarie National Table Cricket Competition and will come into the competition looking to retain their championship. Now in its 14th year the competition sees over 600 youngsters from across the UK compete in a series of regional heats for the chance to take part in the prestigious national finals at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Last year, youth cricket and disability sports charity, The Lord’s Taverners, formed a three-year partnership with global financial services institution, Macquarie, including support for the charity’s iconic national table cricket competition.

David Fass, CEO, Macquarie Group, EMEA said: “We are very pleased to support this competition with The Lord’s Taverners as it exemplifies Macquarie’s approach of supporting community initiatives through both staff volunteering and financial assistance. The competition is an innovative way of enabling young people with disabilities to engage in an enjoyable, active contest as well as an opportunity for Macquarie staff to serve alongside them.”

Matthew Patten, Chief Executive, The Lord’s Taverners said, “The Lord’s Taverners believes that all young people should have access to sport and recreation, particularly those with disabilities and special needs. Macquarie’s support for this competition has given even more young people the chance to play cricket against their peers at iconic venues like Lord’s. We wish all the finalists the very best of luck at Lord’s, the home of cricket.”

Having won their respective regional heats earlier this year, 10 teams will battle it out for the national title:

•    West Midlands - Penn Hall Outreach Group (Penn, Wolverhampton)
•    Eastern - Clare School (Norwich)
•    South East - Angmering School B (West Sussex)
•    South West - Victoria Education and Sports College (Poole)
•    East Midlands - Portland College (Mansfield)
•    North West - Oakfield High School and College (Hindley Green)
•    London - Marjorie McClure School (Chislehurst)
•    Yorkshire - Beckfoot School (Bingley)
•    Bristol - South Gloucestershire 'A'
•    North East - Sunderland Schools

Play at the Lord’s Nursery Pavilion will begin at 10am with a lunch interval scheduled from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. Stumps will be drawn at 3pm followed by the official presentation ceremony at 3.30pm.