Youngsters get into Kwik step (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Youngsters get into Kwik step

Wanborough's Sebastian Bacco has a laugh while batting against Westrop at the County Ground Ref: 77844-31The district rounds of the flagship BBC Sport Kwik Cricket competition took place at eight venues across the county.

And the winners from each will now go through to the Wiltshire finals at Devizes Cricket Club on Friday.

Flying the flag for the Swindon district will be Eldene and Ruskin, who were the top two teams at the County Ground tournament.

The competitions ran smoothly at each county venue due to the close working partnerships between the local authorities, host clubs and Wiltshire Cricket Board.

None more so than at Devizes where Amanda Cox of Kennet District Council and Pete Hickerton from the Devizes club were central in running the event on the day.

The full weight of the Board were there to support in the shape of newly elected chairman Bob Holman, president Norman Peters and Board administrator Chris Sheppard.

Other members of the Board were active at the other venues, showing the commitment it has to youth cricket in Wiltshire.

The competitions were keenly fought and Sheppard said: "I am sure that I have seen today youngsters that one day will play for Wiltshire, and who knows even higher."

And he added: "I would encourage anyone who enjoys watching cricket to go along to Devizes to watch the finals.

"The noise and enthusiasm is quite infectious. It is a real delight to see kids enjoying themselves so much."

The 10 schools participating at Devizes are St Peter's, Marlborough and Wansdyke (Kennet), St Edmund's, Calne and Kington St Michael (North Wilts), Mere and Greentrees (Salisbury), Ruskin and Eldene (Swindon), and St Louise's and Walwayne (West Wilts).

And the winners there will book a place at the regional finals at Exmouth on July 4.

More photographs appear in today's Evening Advertiser