Over the past two months Middlesex Cricket’s Participation Team have continued their tour of engagement across the county, visiting an increasing number of schools and clubs within and around Middlesex, giving cricket fans both young and old the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Specsavers County Championship Trophy.

Since winning the County Championship back in September last year at Lord’s and taking ownership of the trophy for the year, the club’s Participation Team have now visited well over fifty individual schools and clubs over the past six months, with literally thousands of fans getting their hands on the sports’ most desirable domestic trophy.

Over the last couple of months, in additional to an array of visits to schools, the Trophy has also been on show at the Westminster Mile charity run, at Hounslow’s Night of Festivals event which was run in partnership with Middlesex Cricket, at various Chance to Shine events, In Pinky’s Pavilion, Middlesex’s fun interactive cricket zone, at Lord’s and Radlett at Middlesex games, at cricket competitions across the county, and at numerous Party Nights which have been run across Middlesex at a variety of different local clubs.

Sharon Eyers, Middlesex Cricket’s Head of Children and Events commented...

“Having the Championship Trophy with us over the last few months has been a great help when talking to and engaging with youngsters around the county.

“We’ve been really active in the community across the boroughs of Middlesex since we won the trophy and have taken it everywhere with us. Seeing the excitement and enthusiasm of the kids, all who want to get their hands on and have their photos taken with the trophy, has been great.

“The party nights we’ve been running at clubs over the last couple of months have been a roaring success, and attendances have been terrific, far higher than we could have hoped for in some cases, and it’s been amazing for the members of the Participation Team and I to be able to play a big part in getting so many youngsters into the game.

“A huge thanks also has to go to the Middlesex players themselves, many of whom have helped us out with visits to schools, clubs and events, as well as making guest appearances in Pinky’s Pavilion whenever we’re at Middlesex home matches. Allowing youngsters to get their hands on the trophy and meet their heroes who helped win it has been absolutely brilliant.”

One parent who brought their two daughters along to Middlesex’s party night at NPL Teddington was equally impressed...

“My two girls absolutely loved it – they haven’t stopped talking about it all the way home last night and this morning - especially Pinky’s Pavilion, All Stars Cricket, meeting Pinky the mascot and holding the County Championship Trophy. Well done to Middlesex”

If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to see the Championship Trophy up close, then all you’ve got to do is pay a visit to Pinky’s Pavilion, which will be at all of Middlesex’s home NatWest T20 Blast matches this season.