Youngsters from Shoebury's Thorpedene Junior School have showed great sporting prowess at cricket and swimming.

In the pool at Warrior Square, Adam Hickey won the champion boy Glyne Brown Cup at the Southend Primary Schools gala and then teamed with Adam Meredith and David Crichton for medley relay success.

Boys and girls from Thorpedene achieved major success in the Kwik Cricket day organised by Essex County Cricket Board.

The competition was split into five sections and Group C was won by Thorpedene A with victory going to their B team in Group D along with Our Lady of Ransomers B.

The day was one of seven organised around the County by the ECCB and sponsors Impex in connection with Sportsmatch.

It was held at the Southend ground of the Ekco Monarchs Club.

The Kwik cricket events are aimed at encouraging youngsters to take up the sport at grass roots level.

The whole day at Southend was such a success that the Ekco Club are going to run evening games of Kwik cricket in the near future.

Ekco are inviting local schoolteachers or parents to organise teams of six players within the local area to take part in the new set-up.

The competition will be run in the evening from 5-8pm on Wednesdays August 11 and 18.

Ekco Monarchs would be delighted with any offers of help from parents or other interested parties. Refreshments will be available and full details can be obtained from George Stirk on 01268 540726.

Billericay catch Cup

Billericay School won the Essex under-17 cricket cup final at the County Ground, Brentwood.

They beat Newham in the final, being left chasing a total of 164 after bowling their opponents out for 164.

Billericay captain Jon Walford scored 71 before being caught. Billericay managed to reach the target with eight balls of the 40 overs left.

Jamie Went scored the winning runs leaving him not out on 37. Went also took four wickets for 31 runs as they won by five wickets.

Trophies and medals were presented by Hayden Davies of Essex Schools' Cricket Association.

Primary position

The first ever Thundersley inter-schools swimming gala took place at Runnymede Pool.

Five schools entered, Woodham Ley Primary, Thundersley Junior, Hadleigh Junior, Westwood Primary and South Benfleet Primary and Woodham Ley came up trumps by capturing the honours.

The very exciting and enjoyable competition was contested by girls and boys from years four to six.

Double netball delight for Dark Lane girls

Thundersley Junior School may be based in Dark Lane . . . but their girls have made light work of success on the netball front this season.

They won the league and the large schools netball rally organised by the South-East Essex Primary School Sports Association.

It was twin glory that delighted teacher and team manager Liz Hoskin who said: "Our rally success came at Cornelius Vermuyden School, Canvey, and we eventually took the league championship on goal difference."

She added: "It has been a hard-fought battle this year and the girls have done well."

The team is coached by former New Zealand international Jackie Lynch, who is also the school caretaker.

The girls who made up the triumphant double-winning squad were: Charlotte Davison, Nicola Etra, Sacha Mason, Eleanor Davies, Laura Greenshields, Laura Anders, Rebecca Starmer, Kirsty Dean and Clara Remington.

Twin peaks - for the joyful girls of Thundersley Junior School

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Alleyn maintain tradition

Alleyn Court Preparatory School, in Wakering Road, Southend, has two former Essex captains, an England skipper and a number of other country stars among their former pupils and the current crop are doing their best to continue the strong cricketing traditions.

Teams from under-10 to 13 are run and all have enjoyed excellent seasons. The youngest under-10 have captured the limelight by beating their counterparts from all the other strong cricket schools in Essex such as Brentwood, Forest, Chigwell and Felsted.

Captain Danny Pheloung has also represented Essex at under-10 and 11 level this summer.

Cricket coach Jerry Lockhart said: "Very few state schools play cricket now and it is one of those extras that a school such as Alleyn Court can offer pupils.

"The fact that they can actually excel at it is a bonus. I have been delighted with the enthusiasm shown and the standards reached - it has been an excellent season."

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