MARTINSTOWN Cricket Club’s youth section has once again enjoyed a stellar summer.

Following on from previous years, the club’s youth section has continued to flourish with over 100 children experiencing cricket at the beautiful Ashton Farm, under the tutelage of excellent coaches such as Steve Bishop.

Season highlights include the under-19 side winning Dorset U19s ECB Vitality T20 competition.

Both indoor teams enjoyed unbeaten indoor league seasons, the under-15s reached the county cup semi finals and the under-13s reached the area final.

More importantly the youngsters had great fun playing cricket.

Martinstown also entered the ECB’s All Star programme for the first year, offering cricket to five to eight years at two venues. Thirty-five children had a wonderful time.

The club’s ethos is about youth development. The Saturday first XI, who finished fourth in the Dorset Premier League, could regularly boast between eight and 10 homegrown players and possibly had the youngest average age of any of the Premier Division sides.

Youngsters were also a key component of the second XI who were promoted from Division Five.

n The focus now turns to winter training with the following dates announced:

Under 11-13s (School years 6-8), Wednesday nights 18:00-19:30, November 7 – December 19, Wey Valley, Max. 30 participants, cost £25.

Under 9-10s (School years 4-5), Thursday nights 18:00-19:00, November 8 – December 20, Dorchester Middle School, Max. 15 participants, cost £21.

Under 5-8s, Friday nights 18:00-19:00, November 9 – December 21, Dorchester Middle School, Max.15 participants, cost £21.