Around Scotland November 2013

With the festive season fast approaching, the work hasn’t stopped for the Cricket Scotland Coach Education Tutors. 

Coach Award (UKCC2) courses are currently being held over 8 evenings in Glasgow and Edinburgh with 37 candidates developing their coaching skills.  

 Head of Community Development Steve Paige, who is tutoring the Edinburgh course alongside current Scotland captain, Gordon Drummond commented, “It’s great to see so many people attending the courses and developing their skills.  There is still the opportunity for others to attend a course this winter with another UKCC2 course in Dundee in January”.

Nel and Coughtrie’s Good Cause

Richard Coughtrie is taking up the Movember charity challenge and is hoping Gloucestershire and Scotland supporters will back him to the full.

Richard, who has just returned with the Scotland squad, will be looking to enhance his good looks with a moustache and aims to raise as much money as possible.

Also taking part in Movember this year is former Scotland opening bowler, Dewald Nel. You are able to visit his page and donate HERE

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. 

The aim is to raise funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

Photos of his progress will be posted throughout November. To donate please go to Richard Coughtrie’s Page 

A Few Good Books

“JALDI, JALDI – 25 not out”

Von Trapp Publications are pleased to announce that the Official Launch of the booklet “JALDI, JALDI – 25 not out” chronicling the Grades Tour of India 1987 will take place at the Grades Dinner and Presentation of Trophies at the Holiday Inn Aberdeen West (Westhill) on Friday 9th November 2012. An opportunity will exist during the evening to obtain the signatures of the members of the tour party who will be in attendance.

“JALDI, JALDI – 25 not out” will cost £2 per copy with all proceeds after covering printing costs going to the little known local aid agency “Save the Hapless Innocuous Trundlers” which was set up to ensure adequate lubrication for ageing participants in the activities of the Aberdeenshire Cricket Association.

"The Beautiful Games: Scotland’s Hidden Sports" is an immersion into little-seen worlds.

 Scotland is obsessed with football. Other sports live in its shadow, misunderstood or unheard of by all but a few, their compelling stories and characters ignored or disparaged. 

Henry Hepburn’s growing disillusion with his one-sport country has driven him to explore what else is out there. Who are the diehards keeping their sport alive, the star players who fail to make the back pages? How perilous is their sport’s future in Scotland? And, in a country where their efforts go unheralded, why bother at all?

"The Beautiful Games" illuminates a sporting nation waiting to be discovered.

Stirling seeking coach.

Stirling County Cricket Club, based in central Scotland, is actively seeking a player-coach for next season.

The applicant must be UK level 2 or equivalent and be willing to work with a young progressive coaching squad, coaching all age groups.

The club itself has first rate facilities in spectacular surroundings and boosts a young playing staff, enthusiastic in their approach to all levels of training.

Remunerative rates would be based on qualification and experience.

For further details email contactus@stirlingcountycc.co.uk or coaching co-ordinatorjontaylor@fsmail.net.

Kasperek helps fire up Blaze

After spending a successful winter over in Australia, representing the Western Fury, Carlton’s Leigh Kasperek is off to further her cricketing education in New Zealand this year. 

Leigh Kasperek the Scottish International, spent some time on loan with Essex last season and the former Western Fury star fly’s into Wellington today to boost the Blaze squad.

Kasperek a top order batswomen and right arm off spinner was awarded player of the year at Essex and also averaged 40 in the Australian Domestic championship last year playing for the Western Fury.

Cricket Wellington women’s coordinator Mark Coles said Kasperek coming to Wellington is great for female cricket and she will involve herself with our young female cricketers and help with the coaching of our junior female representative teams. 

Coles said, “I had a lot to do with Leigh in Australia and she is a very good cricketer who will bolster the Blaze squad, anyone that averages 40 in Australia and then be named player of the year for Essex means we are lucky to have her play for the Blaze”.

Scotland players extend South African stay. 

Scotland players, Ryan Flannigan, Richie Berrington and Calum MacLeod have all stayed on in South Africa to gain some more experience with a number of local sides.

The three players will play club cricket in the local competition in Potchefstroom and will train mid-week with the North West Dragons first-class squad, and continue their Strength and Conditioning programmes at the world class Sports Village facility at the University.

They will be playing a mixture of 3-day cricket, 50 over and T20 matches, before returning to Scotland in early December.