We are delighted to announce that elite partnership with top women’s cricket team Western Storm has been agreed for the 2018 and 2019 season.
Western Storm are current champions of the Kia Super League and will be looking to retain their title when the league begins on Sunday, July 22nd, against Yorkshire Diamonds at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Taunton School, which already has a strong commitment to cricket, are keen to develop and inspire young female cricketers with this sponsorship. Western Storm will be offering community projects such as training camps for children which Taunton School will support.
Former Taunton School pupil and England player Jodie Dibble played for Western Storm during their successful reign last year.
Pete Sanderson, Director of Cricket at Taunton School, said: “This is really exciting for Taunton School. The number of girls wanting to play cricket at Taunton School has grown significantly in recent years and Western Storm provide excellent role models for our young talent to aspire to.”
Hayley Mortimer, Director of Sport at Taunton School, said: “Our partnership with Western Storm greatly enhances the School’s sports offering and seeing our female cricketers flourish as they have over the past year has been hugely encouraging for the sport.”
Lee Glaser, Headmaster of Taunton School, said: “We are privileged to continue to sponsor this elite team following their national success last year. Taunton School is flying the flag for female participation in previously male dominated sports and we are immensely proud of that.”
Bethan Collier, Year 12, from Taunton, said about cricket at Taunton School: “I love cricket here. It’s more of a community, we get to play two or three times a week at all different levels and there is no judgment. We have amazing coaches and have specialist opportunities to develop. I think it is really good that we sponsor Western Storm because it gives us something to look up to. Normally we only see men’s cricket on the TV so it feels more relevant to us”.
Isabel Hogevold, in Year 8, from Stogumber, said: “It’s awesome. There are so many opportunities to play no matter how good you are. This is my first hardball season and it’s great that we have this chance”.
The Kia Super League is growing for the 2018 season with double the amount of fixtures. Western Storm will also play two further fixtures at the home of Somerset CCC. The first of these will be the double header against Loughborough Lightning on Sunday July 29th with the third fixture being against Lancashire Thunder on Thursday August 9th.
Taunton School recently hosted the finals for the U15s Girls Lady Taverners cricket competition between Taunton School, King Edwards, Bath, and Wellington School. The School will also host both the under 13 and under 15 Chance to Compete Regional Finals for the next two years.
There are a number of high profile cricket events happening at the School in the coming months including the South West and Wales Regional Women’s Cricket Coaching Conference in April, England and Wales Cricket Board regional festival in July and a series of Somerset Cricket Board matches.
