Local athletes with intellectual disabilities got to try their hand at cricket on Saturday.
Former Blackcaps star Chris Cairns was invited to bring his Machine Ball Cricket (MBC) concept to the indoor nets at Saxton Field.
“With the consistent delivery, players can hit the ball around and have a laugh. It is perfect for this environment,” declares Chris, who launched the youth cricket programme last year alongside fellow former cricketer Garry MacDonald.
“It was really well received in the six to nine-year-old group, and now Nelson Cricket has taken it over. We are out of a job here but that’s what we wanted, we will be busy in Blenheim this season,” says Chris, who was overseeing the MBC from his wheelchair.
Alongside the cricket, indoor bowls and bocce were also being played last Saturday.
Special Olympics New Zealand regional sports co-ordinator, Paula Winsor, travelled from Christchurch for the Have A Go Day and was delighted with the turnout from athletes and volunteers.
“With cricket, what is good is there is always a chance to hit the ball, so there was some good action going on,” Paula says.
It added to an already busy and varied range of sports on offer locally – athletics on Monday, indoor bowls of 10 pin bowling (Tuesday), basketball (Wednesday), golf (Thursday), swimming (Friday) and football (Saturday).
