Book tickets to the various music and other events hosted at Utilita Bowl
Visit Hampshire Cricket and Utilita Bowl's online store to get your hands on official replica and supporter kit as well as a range of other merchandise.
Hampshire and GB Wheelchair Teams Showcase Inclusive Cricket at Utilita Bowl
Hampshire and GB Wheelchair Teams Showcase Inclusive Cricket at Utilita Bowl
An exhibition match at the Indoor School promotes the growth of wheelchair cricket and highlights its potential as a future Paralympic sport
On Sunday, 29th September, a select Hampshire team hosted an exciting wheelchair cricket match against the Great Britain (GB) Wheelchair team at Utilita Bowl's Indoor School. This event showcased the rapidly growing sport of wheelchair cricket, which includes both wheelchair users and able-bodied participants, highlighting its potential for wider recognition and inclusivity.
The Hampshire team featured notable players, including HCB Development staff members Michael Pollard and Michael Powell, Southern Vipers player Alice Monaghan, and Hampshire's Joseph Eckland. This match provided a significant opportunity for the players to experience cricket from an entirely different perspective.
Many members of the GB team currently come from Surrey. The aim of the day was to enable these athletes to compete against another county and gain greater exposure for the sport. Hampshire have identified wheelchair cricket as a significant opportunity to generate further interest within Disability Cricket.
The ultimate goal of this initiative is to promote wheelchair cricket as a potential Paralympic sport. The GB team is focused on playing as many matches as possible to refine their skills and increase visibility of the sport on a much wider scale.
"We are delighted to be supporting this fantastic initiative to generate further interest in the sport, as Team GB strives to achieve future Paralympic status. The event at Utilita Bowl was a fantastic success, and enabled us to showcase the sport we all love from an entirely unique perspective. We look forward to continuing to support the exposure and growth of Wheelchair Cricket across the Country"
Michael Powell, Disability Development Officer
Counties interested in organising matches against the GB team are encouraged to contact Russ Carter, the GB Wheelchair Team Manager and Coach, at russcarter001@gmail.com. Additionally, anyone in Hampshire who wishes to participate in wheelchair cricket can reach out to Michael Powell, Cricket Development Officer, at michael.powell@utilitabowl.com.
This event marks a significant step towards expanding the reach and recognition of wheelchair cricket, creating opportunities for athletes of all abilities to engage with the sport.
