Is it that time of year again? I asked myself that question when Steve (Carr) mentioned this years coaching course. He had sent out the invitations to our various contacts and the replies were coming in slowly. Would we have a similar response to last years course? Would we have enough coaches to go round? We had lost coaches due to postings within the military and moves to pastures new.As the commencement date approached the response to invitations grew from a trickle to a flood. Familiar names began to appear but alas some of last years had disappeared. Most had moved with their parents to wherever the Army or Air Force took them. Lets hope they took their enthusiasm for cricket with them.

Finally the day arrived !!

The list had grown to in excess of 90 (It was later to pass the 100 mark equalling 2005) Everyone seemed to turn up at Happy Valley at once. This year we did have access problems but behind the scenes Steve worked hard to resolve them mainly thanks to the details supplied on the application forms and the help of others.Anyway all the various age groups were divided up and dispatched to their allocated area and the coaching began in earnest. Over the next seven Saturdays the coaches played their part as did the participants. The fact that we had about 75% attendance each week (including both Easter weeks) speaks for itself. The enthusiasm shown by all of the participants, the help and encouragement given by parents, help given by ad hoc coaches was very pleasing.

On the eighth week we held the traditional Festival of Cricket when certificates and awards were presented by the mentor of Cyprus cricket Richard Cox (Warwickshire CC) and everyone enjoyed themselves. Again the support of parents was fantastic and the raffle raised over £300 which will go to support youth cricket in Cyprus.

This year we experimented with a course in Larnaca, although shorter than the one held at Happy Valley a small number of participants completed the course. The standard was high and all achieved a high level of competence. Let us hope that next year we can build on that foundation and get more schools interested.

Running alongside the course were the under 15’s training sessions ready for their trip to Holland this summer. John Mills (St John’s School) and Colin Relton (Foley’s School) together with others supervised this training. At the end of the Festival the names of those selected were announced. There were some long faces amongst those not selected but there is always next year when Cyprus hopes to enter an under 15 side in the European Championship.

In the meantime plans are being made for an inter schools league with up to two teams from each of the schools taking part.

As the time came to wrap up proceedings it was with sadness that we learned of yet more departures from the island. Next year when they will hopefully be playing their cricket in the four corners of the world they will remember their time here in sunny Cyprus.

Finally I must pay tribute the hard work out in by all the coaches. It would not be fair of me to single out individuals by name but I am sure they know who they are

See you next year!!!

Barry Allison.