International Police Cricket Carnival Returns To Worcestershire

Robin Moorcroft, left, a graduate trainee with Sanctuary Group, with PC Chris Shewring, a Malvern-based South Worcestershire response police officer, who will face each other in the Worcester Police Cricket Carnival 2010, which begins on Sunday, 11th JulPolice cricketers from around the world are set to descend on Worcestershire later this month.

Cricketing bobbies from Australia, the British Virgin Islands and Canada will also face teams from the British Army, the UK, the greater Mercia area and Worcester between 11 and 16 July.

Worcester Police Cricket Carnival will feature fixtures of varying length, beginning with a one-day, eight-team, six-a-side tournament, followed by five 45-overs-per-side games over the following two days and ending with a three-day ‘T20' competition involving 16 matches.

Venues, to which all members of the public are invited, include Barnards Green, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Feckenham, Hagley, Ombersley, and three in Worcester - Old Elizabethan's, Rushwick and Worcester Nomads.

Mr Paul West, Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, said: "I remember with great fondness the last time that we hosted an event of this nature in Worcestershire in 2004. I I am delighted and somewhat humbled that, again, so many people have travelled from across the United Kingdom and from all corners of the world - Australia, the British Virgin Islands and Canada - to join us, and all of this in their own time and at their own expense.

"As was the case in 2004, I have no doubt that this cricket carnival will provide a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and to forge strengthened links across the wider international police family, while enjoying some fast and exciting cricket and possibly re-kindling old rivalries."

Chief Superintendent Jane Horwood, South Worcestershire Police Commander and a former cricketer and umpire, added: "I am thrilled that so many police colleagues from all over the world are in my area to play what I regard as the best game in the world.

"As police officers we all carry out a role that is unique. The friends we make in the job have a special significance because of what we face on a daily basis. So, to be together in such beautiful surroundings with people who value camaraderie and a sense of fair play enjoying a game that brings with it competition and a huge helping of fun is fantastic."

Graham Blomfield, Chair of the Worcester Police Cricket Carnival 2010, said: "In 1966 Worcester Police Cricket Club hosted the inaugural International Police Cricket festival. The tournament was such a success that it has since been held in Barbados, Western Australia and South Africa and, once again, by ourselves in Worcester.

"During this year's event officers will take time out to discuss policing methods, problems and tactics, allowing them to share their knowledge and experience for the benefit of their communities across the world."

British Virgin Islands Police Force was created in the late 19th Century when the islands - with a population of approximately 250,000 - became a member of the Leeward Islands Police Force.

The Force has been a separate entity only since 1967 has - now with around 223 officers, plus 19 auxiliary officers who undertake traffic control, traffic enforcement and school patrolling. Its team has played police international cricket for a number of years.

Western Australia Police is responsible for policing the largest single police jurisdiction in the world - 2.5 million square kilometres.

It has three regions, 14 districts and 162 police stations, with 5,600 officers and 1,500 support staff policing a population of around 2.3 million. Their players are also veterans of police international cricket.

Mercia Region comprises players from forces covered by the 6th Century Anglo Saxon Kingdom of Mercia - West Mercia, West Midlands, Wiltshire and Thames Valley.

Rest of the World, sponsored by Sanctuary Housing, comprises players from Toronto, Canada, Gloucestershire Police, Kent Police, Metropolitan Police and West Mercia Police:

  • Toronto Police comprises 5,400 officers and 2,500 support staff - policing a population of 5.5 million - and is the largest municipal police service in Canada and second only in size to the ‘Mounties'.
  • Gloucestershire Police has some 1,400 officers and 1,000 police staff covering 1,000 square miles and a 500,000 population.
  • Kent Police has round 3,700 officers and 2,500 staff covering around 1,400 square miles with a population of 1.6 million.
  • Metropolitan Police has some 31,000 officers and 14,000 staff to police 620 square miles and a population of 7.2 million.
  • West Mercia Police covers Worcestershire, Shropshire and Herefordshire - some 2,850 square miles - employing around 2,400 officers and1.900 police staff to serve a population of 1.1 million people.

 

Worcester City Police Cricket Club has existed since around 1933 and played police international cricket since 1988.

The club ethos is to give anyone playing the opportunity to either bat or bowl - and to make new friends through cricket. A founder member of the Worcester Cricket evening league, players include officers, support staff, their families and those associated with the service. It will have two teams in the carnival.

 

WORCESTER POLICE CRICKET CARNIVAL 2010 - FIXTURES

Sunday 11 July 10am Six-a-side competition (Sponsored by CDI Training Ltd)

Old Elizabethans CC - British Virgin Islands (BVI) ‘A' & ‘B' teams, Rest of the World (ROTW), Sanctuary Housing, Western Australia (WA) ‘A' & ‘B' and Worcester City Police (WCP) ‘A' and ‘B'.

Monday 12 July 2pm 45 overs

Hereford CC  - WA v British Army X1

Barnards Green CC - BVI v ROTW

Tuesday 13 July 1pm 45 overs

Rushwick CC - WA v ROTW

Hagley CC - BVI v Worcester City Police

Wednesday 14 July T20 (Sponsored by Police Credit Union)

Bromsgrove Cricket Club

Top Ground and Hedges Ground;

10am - 1) BVI v Mercia  -        2) WCP ‘A' v WA

1.30pm - 1) ROTW v WA -         2) BVI v WCP ‘B'

4.15pm - 1) Mercia v WCP ‘A'    2) WCP ‘B' v ROTW

Thursday 15 July T20 (Sponsored by Police Credit Union)

Worcester Nomads CC & Feckenham CC;

10am - 1) BVI v WCP ‘B';        2) WCP ‘A' v Mercia

1.30pm - 1) BVI v ROTW;          2) Mercia v WA

4.15pm - 1) WCP ‘A' v ROTW;  2) WCP ‘B' v WA

Friday 16 July T20 (Sponsored by Police Credit Union)

Rushwick CC; Old Elizabethans CC; Ombersley CC;

10am - WCP ‘A' v WCP ‘B'; Mercia v ROTW;  WA v BVI

Final: Ombersley Cricket Club:

2pm Between top two T20 teams over three days.

 


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