Beach Cricket Festival 2012

Beach Cricket Festival 2012 was colourful, entertaining event at Bettystown-Laytown beach on Saturday 21st July 2011. Chill winds, passing clouds were no deterrent to men, women and children having fun hitting the tennis ball up in the air with cricket bat. This is the third consecutive year this successful event has been organised by UNITAS ISAC (Integration through Sports, Arts and Culture) in association with Coca-Cola International Services and SARI (Sports Against Racism Ireland) in Meath East Coast to promote Cricket, Social Integration and also to raise funds for Barretstown (DAA Staff Charity of the year). Barretstown’s mission is to rebuild lives of children affected by serious illness.

Beach cricket is a unique fun filled entertainment and competitive cricket played in beach with team of 6 players using tennis ball and cricket bat. A total of 13 teams registered to take part in Beach Cricket 2012 championship. Players included women and men with mix of first time cricketers, amateur cricketers, league cricket players and veteran cricketers.

From Group – E (Women’s and Mixed) Last year women’s champions Tyrellstown Tornado beat Lobsters in best of three games format (Win, Loss, Win) to retain their title as Beach Cricket Women Champions for 2012.

From All Men’s group stage games, top four teams – Himalayan Rangers, Billa-2, VJ Team and Flying Samosa qualified for knock out stage of the tournament. Himalayan Rangers and Billa – 2 qualified for ultimate championship title battle of Beach cricket 2012.
Himalayan Rangers won the toss and elected to bat and scored 84 for 3 in 5 overs. Billa-2 chase finished 14 runs short of required target in 5th over when the final wicket was down. Last year winners Himalayan Rangers from Dundalk retain their title as Beach Cricket Champions for 2012

Organisers were delighted that the number of teams playing the tournament has grown from eight in first year to thirteen in third year were also overwhelmed with the local community and support they received.

UNITAS ISAC would like to thank Coca-Cola International Services, SARI (Sports Against Racism Ireland) and DAA’s Loop Shopping for their sponsorship. Also organisers extend sincere thanks to Cricket Ireland, Meath Local Sports Partnership, Meath East Community Association (MECA), Meath County Council, Bettystown Rupee Restaurant, JP Sports, DAA Staff Charity committee, Dundalk Cricket Club and all the Volunteers, players who showed great support, enthusiasm and sporting spirit.