CRICKET: A TALENTED young cricketer from Coventry has been called up to play at the 2017 School Games National Finals in Loughborough.
Ria Frackrell, who plays for Corley Cricket Club, has already impressed this season after being called up to play for the Warwickshire Women’s first team.
The 17-year-old will stick to her youth roots this weekend though for the annual finals which are an integrated multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes.
Around 1,600 athletes will compete across 12 sports at the School Games, seven of which include disability disciplines.
The four-day event is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.
Ria will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the School Games before going on to senior international success – including Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock
At last year’s Rio Olympics, 56 of Team GB’s 382 athletes previously competed at the School Games.
Ria will live in a dedicated Athletes’ Village, take part in an Opening Ceremony, and perform in front of hundreds of supporters.
The youngster’s sporting inspiration comes from athletics legend Sir Mo Farrah.
Ali Oliver, chief executive officer of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “The School Games National Finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Ria.
“Competitors get a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a world-class sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University, and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action today.”
