European Cricket Fraternity heads for Helsinki
Twenty four countries were represented at the 2004 ICC European Administration, Governance and Management Forum in Helsinki on 18-21 March. Hosts Finland along with the Europe Office staff organised a very successful forum which provided an opportunity for development and administrative personnel to share good practice projects and initiatives successfully implemented in their countries. Guest presenters included Rebecca Ledingham, ECB Child Protection Manager, who enlightened delegates on the important issues surrounding this sensitive topic, and Pete Ackerley, ECB National Development Manager, who discussed club development and management structures. He also spoke about ECB's Kwik Cricket and Natwest Inter Cricket as well as coaching drills and skills which can be used for teachers and coaches.
ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed attended the forum and presented the ICC Regional Development Awards at the forum dinner. The following day he gave a very interesting presentation on Organisational Effectiveness. The ICC Global Development Program was outlined by new ICC Development Manager Matthew Kennedy, which showed all countries the wider picture of the Development Program.
Some of ECC's main suppliers - Notts Sport, Albion C&D, Crazycatch, and Flick UK - attended the weekend to network with personnel from countries and provide good deals for them. Notts Sport and ECC have continued and enhanced their long standing relationship, and at the forum Notts Sport Export Manager Zec Tomlinson announced that Notts Sport would be sponsoring the 2004 ECC Representative Championships in Slovenia in August. Tomlinson gave a very relevant presentation on the maintenance of artificial pitches, whilst discussing new grounds and possible pitches in various countries. ICC European Development Manager, Richard Holdsworth said: ?The ICC European Development Program is grateful for Notts Sport's support for the 2004 Representative Championships in Slovenia. Notts Sport has generously sponsored the last two ECC Trophies in Vienna and this shows their increased interest in European cricket".
