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Cricket charity smashes official Guinness World Record
Hundreds of girls involved ahead of ICC Women’s World Cup Final with England at Home of Cricket this Sunday
Children’s charity Chance to Shine broke the Guinness World Record for the ‘largest cricket lesson (single venue)’ at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Monday, 17 July.
Cricket Australia were the previous holders after running a cricket lesson for 488 children at the Sydney Cricket Ground last December but Chance to Shine snatched the record from the Aussies ahead of the Winter Ashes!
580 school children from Chance to Shine state primary schools took part in the Record attempt at the Home of Cricket. Hundreds of girls were involved a few days before the ICC Women’s World Cup Final takes place at the Home of Cricket.
The cricket lesson, pre-approved by Guinness World Records, was led by former England captain Charlotte Edwards with assistance from a team of qualified cricket coaches.
A Guinness World Records adjudicator was on hand to make sure all rules were adhered during the 30 minute lesson, where children all performed the same batting, bowling and fielding drills.
The Record attempt was part of Chance to Shine’s ongoing partnership with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) which is teaching thousands of young people in state schools the MCC Spirit of Cricket ‘play hard, play fair’ message.
Charlotte Edwards, a long-time Chance to Shine ambassador said, “It was brilliant to see so many young people at Lord’s having the opportunity to play and learn through cricket, while learning how to play hard, but fair. And beating the Guinness World Record set by the Aussies at the Home of Cricket was the icing on the cake!”
Neil Priscott from Marylebone Cricket Club added, “The Guinness World Record is a special day for us all at MCC and testament to a wonderful partnership with Chance to Shine, which is introducing cricket to so many children around the country. A little bit of cricket history has been created at Lord's in what is a momentous week for the sport, culminating on Sunday with the ICC Women's World Cup Final at the Home of Cricket."
Speaking at the event, Alan Southgate from Guinness World Records said, “The weather today was perfect for a game of cricket but this really was epic. To see 580 children all gathered in one place for a cricket lesson was officially amazing, and all for a great cause. A massive congratulations to all those involved. It was an incredible logistical effort to organise the attempt and a wonderful achievement to set this Guinness World Records title.”
Chance to Shine believes in the ‘power of cricket’ to inspire young people and help them learn key life skills, like teamwork, resilience and respect. Since 2005, the charity has brought cricket to over three million children in 13,000 state schools and local communities.
In 2017, the charity aims to reach around 500,000 young people; nearly half of these areexpected to be girls. This summer, donations to the charity are being matched pound for pound by Chance to Shine Patron Adrian Beecroft. To find out more and to donate, please visit chancetoshine.org/donate.