TEENAGERS from a Dutch school have been given an introduction to cricket to mark National Cricket Week.

The visiting 14 and 15-year-olds from Jac. P. Thijsse College in Castricum, Netherlands, were welcomed by Richmondshire Cricket Club today (Wednesday, June 24) for a full day of events, which also coincided with the re-opening of the clubhouse after a refurbishment.

Chairman of the cricket club, Andy Barlow, said the day had been fantastic and the Dutch children had thoroughly enjoyed it.

He said: “It was a great day and perfect that it was also National Cricket Week.

“I don’t think any of them had picked up a bat before but they had some coaching the day before from a few of the club’s top players, Mike Layfield, Tom Stockton and Mark Jobling. We had the Yorkshire Cricket Board here to run some cricket activities for us before they played against some Richmond School pupils.

“The students come on an exchange to the area every year and contacted us to ask about cricket so we invited them to try it out – we hope to make this an annual event.”

Richmond Mayor Cllr Clive World came to officially re-open the clubhouse facilities, which have been improved so the space can be divided into two function rooms, as well as the existing restaurant, and it is already well-used by local clubs and groups for meetings.

Richmondshire District Councillors also attended the re-opening of the clubhouse, which had received funding from the council’s Communities Opportunity Fund.