THE DORSET Disability Cricket Club is celebrating after being awarded £859 of National Lottery funding from Sport England to run an unprecedented Outdoor Winter Training Programme for its players.

The county club is for cricketers with a learning and/or physical disability and has a team that competes in the ECB's National Disability Cricket Super 9s Softball South West League.

Several of its players have regularly been selected to represent the Cricket Federation for People with Disabilities England Team at their Tri-Nation Tournaments, held at prestige venues such as Lords and Old Trafford, and as far away as Perth in Scotland.

Angie Pittaway, chairwoman of the club and mum to player Jack, said she was “delighted” to accept the funding on behalf of the club.

She added: “The grant will allow the club to offer much needed physical exercise and social interaction to its players during these difficult times.

“This is especially significant given that many of the club’s members have struggled over the past year to cope with the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on them.

“On behalf of our members, I would like to thank everyone who plays the National Lottery - this award will enhance the lives of many people who have been deeply affected by Covid.”

Winter cricket training is traditionally an indoors provision and when club captain Stephen Wiltshire suggested moving it outside in January, the committee really didn’t think it would be doable.

But it soon became reality thanks to the ingenuity of Dorset Cricket Board Coach Rob Newton.

He said: “Training outdoors in the winter was always going to be a challenge. Keeping busy and on the move is imperative to keeping everyone warm and muscles supple.

“The added challenge is doing this whilst maintaining social distancing and minimizing the sharing of equipment and balls.

“This isn’t something I have ever provided before for people with a disability, so I really had to get my thinking cap on.”

The team, which consists of 16 players from across the county, can now trainat the Verwood MUGA thanks to support from the Verwood Memroial Recreation Ground Trustees

The sessions have been well supported by members, some of whom have struggled to take part in any exercise during the current lockdown as they have been sheilding due to them being in the high risk category.

Player Charlie Thoms said: “It’s great to be back with the team I love.

“The outdoor sessions are a wonderful thing to look forward to at the weekends and are a great reward after a hard week’s work.”

Parent Louise Summerfield added: “Chas absolutely loves the outdoor training.

“It’s really hard to motivate him to get out in the colder months, as being pushed around in a wheelchair is not much fun for him.

“The cricket sessions are a real motivator. He hasn’t really engaged in anything as much as this”

The Club is hopeful that the 2021 season will go ahead as planned. Their three home matches, starting with IOW Disability XI on May 23, will be played at Martinstown Cricket Club, Dorchester on Sundays.

Supporters are welcomed, if coronavirus rules allow.

The club also welcomes new players, supporters and sponsors. For more information, email Angie Pittaway on ddccchair@outlook.com.