The first year of women’s cricket at TCC was certainly a belter - winners of the Bristol softball league and Gloucestershire representatives at the women’s tournament at Lord’s! Not resting on any laurels, over the winter a solid contingent have been participating in indoor training at Castle School and competing in two indoor softball leagues. Both of which they have topped!
Going into the 2022 season, the wider squad is feeling excited at having entered into two softball leagues, and for the first time, a hardball league. This is alongside the regular Sunday softball festivals, with TCC hosting its first one on 29th May 2022.
Since its launch in September 2020, the women’s contingent at Thornbury has quickly grown to around 50 women training 2-3 times a week. It’s a very friendly and welcoming group, with new members always welcome to join, regardless of any experience. There’s a packed agenda of matches throughout the season, with the commitment that whoever would like to play matches will get the opportunity to do so.
Coaching
With so much growth in such a short space of time, it’s been clear that the women’s squad needed some reinforcements in terms of coaching. And everyone is chuffed to bits that Gloucestershire & Western Storm player Mollie Robbins has come on board as a coach, also joining the hardball squad. She is joined by TCC men's player Harry Blackwell and headed up, as always, by the inimitable Harry Hawkins. With other guest coaches joining over the season.
Training
Thornbury Women will be training every Tuesday night from 6:30pm - 8pm at the club. This will be a mix of hardball and softball and sessions suitable for all levels. This will be accompanied by a Saturday morning training session from 9am - 10:30am, again this is suitable for everyone and kit will be provided.
Matches
This year Thornbury Women will be competing in two softball leagues and a hardball league. These regular sessions will be supplemented by Sunday Festivals hosted by different clubs across the region - festivals are a wonderful way for people new to cricket to get involved in a fun and friendly environment.
Softball matches
Most league matches will take place on a Monday night, usually a 6:30pm start.
Hardball matches
Most hardball matches will take place on a Sunday and will follow the T20 format - timings will be confirmed nearer the time.
Teams
As a club we recognise that different people are joining for different reasons - for some it’s simply a fun way to keep fit and meet new people. Whereas others have played cricket before and are looking for a welcoming club to improve their skills and play alongside other awesome women.
Everyone that wants to play in matches will be encouraged to do so. The softball teams are both mixed ability with the view that everyone will play matches fairly, based on their availability.
The hardball teams will be for those who are more familiar with cricket and looking to stretch themselves further. For the safety of everyone, we will encourage those participating to try and regularly attend training sessions, but team selection will be on availability and making sure that everyone gets a chance to participate.
And that’s it! We are really looking forward to continuing the amazing momentum of 2021 and building the women’s cricket at Thornbury into something even more amazing in 2022!
Camilla Rigby
TCC Women's player
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