CRICKET COMPETITION IS A KNOCKOUT!

LOCSP Press Release – Monday 16 February 2009

CRICKET COMPETITION IS A KNOCKOUT!

Last week at Score in Leyton saw over 100 young people attend the inaugural ‘Hit 4 Six’ cricket competition run in memory of Dave Pringle, the much-loved former youth sports journalist at the Waltham Forest Guardian, who passed away in November.

The event saw Primary and Secondary schools from across east London take part in the tournament with each team consisting of six players and every player getting to bat one over and bowl one over.

Each innings consisted of six overs, with the batting team starting their innings with 50 runs, but losing six runs for every fallen wicket.

The competition was attended by Barncroft, Longshaw and Jenny Hammond Primary Schools from Waltham Forest, Bigland Primary School from Tower Hamlets and Earlham Primary School from Newham.

Secondary Schools on the day were Kelmscott, Norlington and Heathcote from Waltham Forest, Tawhid Boys School and Stoke Newington School from Hackney, Swanley from Tower Hamlets and Kingsford Community School from Newham.

With Dave’s family in attendance the day was a great success with his daughter Tanya presenting the winners medals and trophies to Earlham Primary School from Newham and Barncroft School from Waltham Forest.

The winners and runners up of both age groups will take part in a Hit 4 Six national finals day planned for later on in the year.

Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme’ regular Tuesday night cricket sessions from 5pm- 7pm at Score will now be called the Dave Pringle Centre.

Sab Bham, LOCSP Community Development Manager said:

“Hit 4 Six was dedicated to the late, great Dave Pringle, who was a strong supporter of the work we did. Dave was a keen cricket player and fan so we decided to organise a tournament that would do his memory proud.

“After consulting with his family the Hit 4 Six format was decided upon and today has really been a fantastic advert and showed the depth and quality of the work
Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme (LOCSP) deliver to the community.”

Tanya Springthorpe, Dave’s Daughter, Harlow, Essex said:

“Today has been quite touching, my Dad would have been quite modest about the whole thing and he would have thought ‘why are they naming this after me?’. It’s
lovely to see that he was so well respected and did things for young people and communities. Everyone has been so welcoming today it has been really, really lovely.

“Dave himself had quite a difficult upbringing and came through hardships when he was a child, so to see young people here who may come from hardship themselves shows that this event is trying to do something good.

“It’s nice to be here today and feel close to what he did and the people that worked with him – he was certainly here looking over us today.”

Greg Baker, Regional Community Manager – South East, Football League Trust said:

"The Football League Trust is all about making a difference to the lives of people in our clubs' communities and today has been a great example of this.

"Throughout our leagues our club community schemes cover a wide variety of sporting, educational and social engagements.

"We are not just about football and the tournament today has shown this. It is involving young people from across east London and also in memory of a local journalist who I have been informed really supported community sports.

"The day really epitomises what the Football League Trust is all about and credit to Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme for organising a fantastic tournament."

Dena O’Callaghan, Dave’s Daughter, from Haverhill in Suffolk said:

“With us Dave was just ‘Dad’ at home, but this event highlights that he was out and about in the community and the work he was doing.

“Today has been a really good tribute to him and the children have really worked well together – their teamwork has been excellent.

“This event has been about bringing people together – even the local police were here getting involved and that was really good to see - building up positive links.

“Words cannot express how honoured we all felt. Dave would have been speechless and very moved by the whole thing. It was lovely to be involved in something that he was so passionate about, and I am sure he was there with us, chuckling watching Mrs P doing the honours of giving out the medals!”

Meena Subrian, Teacher, Longshaw Primary School said:

“Our children had fun at the Hit 4 Six cricket festival. They really enjoyed the
opportunity to play against other schools and, for many, it was the first time
they had actually played any cricket.

“It was great to have transport arranged to be able to participate in the event, as we
generally have difficulty using facilities due to transport costs.

“We all look forward to the next one!”

For more information about the Hit 4 Six programme please contact Sab Bham, LOCSP Community Development Manager on 020 8556 5973 or email sab.bham@locsp.org.