It was raining a bit, well probably more than a bit, along Overlea Boulevard on Saturday afternoon. But the focus remained in the campaign to raise funds and sign-up youngsters for the inaugural Valley Park Centre of Excellence Summer Cricket Camps. The cry came out: “We need more girls”.
Overall with damp conditions, that were about to deteriorate, there was a desire to sign-up more boys and girls for the seven weeks of summer camps that cater for different age groups and begin on July 2nd. But increased participation was needed for the girls cricket program. A significant comment on the broader cricketing stage as in one month’s time Canada’s women compete in the ICC Women’s World Cup Twenty20 Qualifier in Dublin, Ireland. Canada’s women plays in Group B against Sri Lanka (July 23), Ireland (July 24) and Japan (July 26) at a ground called The Vineyard.
This Qualifier is an eight team event that runs from July 23 through July 31, 2013. Group A, for the record, comprises Pakistan, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands and Thailand. Ireland and Pakistan seemed set for a warm-up game or two in England in the next week or two. Those being sought for the upcoming Valley Park Summer Cricket Camps 2013 should, hopefully, gain a chance to play on the international stage for Canada in the future, but not during 2013.
Two of the Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute graduates involved in this summer’s cricket camps were on duty at the Valley Park Go Green Cricket Field stand during Saturday afternoon’s visit. In addition to trying to sign-up youngsters for the coaching camps, for which there were lots of green flyers with camp details, there was a raffle for a bicycle that had been donated by Canadian Tire, and an opportunity to donate towards the cost of the floodlights. Lights for which installation is scheduled in August 2013.
There were also Valley Park Go Green Cricket Field mini cricket balls key rings that could be bought for $2 each. Hopefully the weather improved later in the afternoon and for evening activities at this Thorncliffe Park Neighbours Night Out, but the rain began pelting down. It did not seem to be a good idea to venture off to either the CIMA Mayor’s Trophy at Sunnybrook Park, or the Scarborough World Cup of Cricket at L’Amoreaux Park. But, as previously reported, the Scarbough World Cup of Cricket is due to continue on Sunday (June 23) ,while up at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club, King City, Canada’s 2013 National Cricket League is also due to begin.

Details about the Valley Park 2013 Summer Cricket Camps can be found through the website at http://www.gogreencricketfield.ca/.