It was a warm and cloudy day to start of Beach Cricket at Bettystown-Laytown beach on Saturday 29th June. It was yet one of the best Beach Cricket festival to finish off with bright and cheerful crowd. Along with local participants from East Meath, teams from Kildare, Monaghan, Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin, Wicklow, Mullingar joined in for competition. This year it was not just cricket on the beach, there was some volleyball action too.
Beach Cricket festival was organised by UNITAS ISAC (Integration through Sports, Arts and Culture) in association with Coca-Cola International Services, SARI (Sports Against Racism Ireland) and MECA (Meath East Community Association) in East Meath coast. To mark National Recreation Week this year Beach Cricket festival was transformed to Beach Sporting Festival with Beach Volleyball and Soccer for fun.
Beach cricket is a unique fun filled entertainment and competitive cricket played in beach with team of 6 players using tennis ball and cricket bat. Beach Cricket tournament is being organised since 2010 in Bettystown – Laytown beach and its popularity is growing. A total of 12 teams registered to take part in Beach Cricket 2013 championship. Players of all age group, mix of first time cricketers, amateur cricketers, league cricket players and veteran cricketers participated in tournament. Groups were set in ‘Gathering’ theme to mark national Gathering celebrations.
Each team played against each other in group stage games. Top teams from each group qualified for knockout stage of tournament – Himalayan Rangers vs Monagan and Drogheda Racers vs Irish Gujjus. From semi finals, Last year winners Himalayan Rangers and new entrant Drogheda Racers qualified for ultimate championship title battle of Beach cricket 2013. This was the fourth consecutive year Himalayan Rangers from Dundalk have reached finals.
Drogheda Rangers chose to bat scored 104 for 3 in 5 overs. Chasing a huge score Himalayan Rangers lost wickets early in 2nd over. Himalayan Rangers’ chase finished with sixer of last ball to a total of 76 for 3. New entrant Drogheda Racers won Beach Cricket 2013 title by 28 runs.
It was not just fun and sports, but also funds raised for charities – Make-a-Wish, Down Syndrome Ireland and Bee for Battons (DAA Staff Charities 2013). A sum of €200 was raised from Beach Cricket Festival 2013.
UNITAS ISAC would like to thank Coca-Cola International Services, SARI (Sports Against Racism Ireland) and DAA’s Loop Shopping for their sponsorship. Also organisers extend sincere thanks to Meath East Community Association (MECA), Cricket Ireland, Meath Local Sports Partnership, Meath County Council, DAA Staff Charity committee and all the Volunteers, players who showed great support, enthusiasm and sporting spirit. We are looking forward to yet another bigger and better Beach Sports festival in next year.
