Big Shot Cricket Tournament - Guns & Gangs

During the Easter holidays Local Leagues provided an inclusive sports and educational programme for 13-18 year olds from Birmingham by running a Guns and Gangs Roadshow which featured a 6-a-side Cricket Tournament called Big Shot.

Big Shot took place at Sparkhill Park in Sparkhill. This provided a suitable backdrop for the teams who entered Big Shot to showcase their undoubted talent. Teams in the Under 15 category were under the watchful eye of Dougie Brown – the ex-England cricketer who now heads up Warwickshire Cricket Club’s Academy. Dougie brought along Shane Lynch – a promising Irish all-rounder from the Academy and both were impressed by the high standard of cricket being played.

Guests from the Army and other community organisations including Ashianas’ Kik It Drugs Project were given opportunities to interact with the young people to offer testimonies of their experiences of the gun and gang culture.

The Army supplied a 20 foot tall climbing wall for the participants to have a go on during the day. This proved to be incredibly popular – especially with the younger age group.

The matches were closely fought in the Under 15 category and eventually the final was contested between Streets 2 Arena and the Calthorpe Cricketers. Calthorpe triumphed in the younger age group while Afghan United won the Under 19 category displaying some awesome stroke play and powerful boundary hitting.

After the conclusion of the Cricket Tournament the participants walked over to The Stage Bus and were entertained by local musicans Kumari and One Heart Crew courtesy of funding from Birmingham City Council’s Supporting People arm.

Big Shot was supported by Birmingham City Council’s Hall Green constituency and helped tackle the issue of gun and gang culture in Birmingham through engaging the target group of 13-18 year olds in order to facilitate interaction and raise awareness by using pitch-side stalls and mentors. Several other key partners helped make this event a success including Supporting People, The Army and Warwickshire Cricket Club and Local Leagues would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who supported Big Shot.

Warwickshire's Dougie Brown and Shane Lynch with eventual winnersof the under 15 age group, Calthorpe Cricketers

20 foot tall climbing wall supplied by the Army

Afghan United won the Under 19 category on the artificial wicket at Sparkhill Park

The teams at Big Shot enjoying Kumari and One Heart Crew on The Stage Bus

Big Shot was reliant on volunteers in order for the day to run smoothly. Naeem Mohammed and Tahir Khan from Small Heath CC provided their valuable umpiring skills for the day

The Cricket played during the Big Shot Cricket Tournament was of a very high standard