The Audrey Collins Girls Competition 2013
Knebworth Park CC were this year's winners of the 3rd annual Soroptimist Audrey Collins Hertfordshire Girls Under 13's Cricket League. Girls cricket in Hertfordshire is gaining in popularity, something that was the objective of the local women's group, Soroptimist International St Albans & District, when they decided to sponsor the league as a tribute to their past member and cricket heroine Audrey Collins OBE.
Knebworth Park Girls Under 13's triumphed in a closely matched County final with Hemel Hempstead on Sunday 14 July in Knebworth Park. Knebworth Park Cricket Club Girls U13s are pictured here celebrating and being presented with the shield, trophy and a cheque by Helen Byrne, Immediate Past-President of Soroptimist International St Albans & District. Hemel Hempstead Girls were bitterly disappointed having won in 2011, and been very close runners up to Harpenden in 2012. Jonathan Cirkel, the Knebworth Girls’ Coach (also pictured) said “It is great for the girls to have their own league tournament to play for thanks to Audrey Collins and the Soroptimists. I am so proud that my girls have won this year – they played brilliantly”. Helen said “We know the league is encouraging more girls to join Hertfordshire Cricket Clubs so that girls' cricket can go from strength to strengh as a lasting tribute to Audrey”.
This competition is sponsored by the St Albans Soroptimists as a lasting legacy to past member Audrey Collins who died in 2010. Audrey was an inpirational Soroptimist – a pioneer of Women’s cricket and a trail blazer for women. She received an OBE for services to women’s cricket and was one of the first 10 female members admitted by the MCC in 1999.