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Stephen and Jenny Harrow with Harrow's Cricket Scholars
Alumni support helps smash boundaries in women’s cricket
The generous support of two Exeter alumni is to provide a major boost to women’s cricket in the region. Professor Jenny Harrow (Politics, 1968) and Stephen Harrow (History, 1967) have been generous supporters of cricket at Exeter for many years and their latest gift, supporting the University’s involvement in the Women’s Cricket Super League, will drive student and community participation while also helping to develop some of the country’s brightest talent.
The Super League is a £3million initiative launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to support greater participation and encourage higher levels of performance in the women’s game by attracting the world’s best players to compete alongside future stars. As a host site in partnership with Somerset and Gloucestershire County Cricket Clubs, the University’s sports facilities, including the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Devon Cricket Centre, will serve as the training base for Western Storm, one of six teams competing in the league.
On the launch of the Super League, Tom Harrison, Chief Executive of the ECB, commented: “We are already very proud of the achievements of the England women’s team and the growth of the game over the past decade. The new Super League will take standards to a new level and show more women and girls the opportunities that cricket can give.”
Exeter is a leading UK university for cricket and provides playing opportunities for students of all abilities, while also fostering some of the country’s brightest talent. Cricket Scholars Amara Carr and Freya Davies have been selected for the Western Storm squad, while fellow students Aylish Cranstone and Alice MacLeod will play for Surrey Stars and Southern Vipers respectively. Alice is joined in the Vipers squad by alumna Fi Morris (Exercise and Sports Science, 2015).
The University’s Director of Sport, Alison Davidson, commented: “Cricket is one of nine benefitting from Exeter’s renowned High Performance Programme and supporters such as Jenny and Stephen Harrow have been fundamental to the successes we have achieved in sport. Our involvement in the Super League will be a great platform for further development in cricket for our students and the community and we are extremely grateful to Jenny and Stephen for their continued generosity. We’re delighted to work with them on this shared passion.”
The Harrows said “We are delighted to make a continuing commitment to support the development of women’s and men's cricket at our University. Given the imaginative and exciting plans now coming on stream in the women's game, finally beating Loughborough at Lord’s (or any other upstart contender) looks like becoming a realistic – and delectable – prospect.”
For more information about supporting the University’s sport programmes contact alumni@exeter.ac.uk or 01392 722152.
Date: 31 May 2016