#WomensCricketMonth: Ribble Valley Vipers
Throughout September, we're celebrating #WomensCricketMonth by profiling a series of clubs across Lancashire who are currently hosting women's and girls' cricket activity... next up, it's Ribble Valley Vipers
Ribble Valley Vipers based in the Ribble Valley District. They are nomadic in nature and over the last few years have trained at several clubs around the Ribble Valley including Whalley, Clitheroe, Salesbruy and Read. The Vipers' games are played all over the Ribble Valley as a showcase for women's cricket
Current women's and girls' offering at your club: Hardball. They have close links with the junior Salisbury's Scarlett's teams, many of whom have progressed up to the Vipers set-up in recent years
Established women's and girls' set-up since: The Vipers were formed in 2016 as a district team to provide opportunities for women and girls to play cricket in Lancashire. Individual clubs in the district had attempted to form women's teams of their own, but were struggling for numbers. In 2015 very little women's cricket was played in the Ribble Valley and players were being lost, through a lack of opportunity. By joining together as a district team the Ribble Valley Vipers were born
Key people involved with women's and girls' cricket:
- Captain - Bex Sinton
- Manager - Tim Ashton
- Coach - Roger Kaye
- Welfare Officer - Jane Davies
- Umpire - Azzi Hussain
Goals for the future: The Ribble Valley Vipers is a district hub team with the main aim being to provide a pathway for girls and women into Hardball cricket, as well as developing a sustainable future for the women's game within the Ribble Valley. Over the last four years the Vipers have evolved into a well-established team and are now on the brink of being able to have a 1st XI and a 2nd Development XI. Next season, they hope to enter a team into both the First and Second Division T20 competitions, as well as playing more 40-over fixtures.
In five years time, the Vipers would love to see enough women and girls playing cricket in the Ribble Valley, for there to be separate club-based teams within the district, taking part in competitive hardball leagues. At this point, the Ribble Valley Vipers will have achieved its goal of sustaining and developing women's and girls' cricket within the district
How to get in touch and give cricket a go?:
- Email - ribblevalleyvipers@gmail.com
- Facebook - www.facebook.com/ribblevalleyvipers
- Twitter - @RV_Vipers
- Phone - Bex on 07857 746814
