A PORT Alfred Cricket Clinic, set to become an annual event, will be held at the Port Alfred Country Club next week.
“For as long as I can remember I have either been running around or on a cricket field, my father being chairman of Amanzimtoti Cricket Club and a first XI player probably had a lot to do with that,” said Travis Henderson, who will head up the clinic.
“In 1982 the club had their first overseas professional playing for them and one evening over one or 20 beers, they came up with the idea of hosting a cricket clinic at the club over the December holidays and to make it open to the community, with the local newspaper being the name sponsor of the clinic.”
The first year was a success and it was decided that it should be an annual event. Each year the numbers grew as more people heard about it, including the holidaymakers, who would bring their kids’ cricket kit with them on holiday just so they could attend the clinic.
“Having attended that clinic as a child I still remember the excitement each year knowing that for five days I would be playing and learning about cricket,” Henderson said.
“It is that excitement that I want to bring to Port Alfred with the added bonus that the kids will be outside doing a physical activity with qualified coaches and the parents get a few hours of peace and quiet. I’m pretty sure my mother was equally excited to have me out of the house while I was off attending the clinic.”
The clinic will run from Monday December 19 till Friday December 23, from 9am till 12 noon, and is open to boys and girls between the ages of six and 13.
The children will be taught batting, bowling and fielding skills during the clinic with testing on the final day, which includes a short theory test, concluding in a prize giving. Each day they will get a short break during which they will be given hotdogs and juice.
“So if you are one of those parents wondering what in the world to do with the kids for the December holiday, let us take them off your hands for a few hours with the Port Alfred Cricket Clinic,” Henderson said.
For more information contact Travis on 076-543-8465.
