Junior cricket stars shine in NatWest Speed Challenge Final

The inaugural NatWest Speed Challenge Final at Lord's on Saturday (13 July) saw four future cricket stars claim the title of the UK's Young Fast Bowler of the Year (in their age category). The young cricket stars qualified at one of the 10 NatWest Interactive Roadshows that toured the country in June. The winners for 2002 are:

James Kirtley, the Sussex and England fast bowler, was on hand to give encouragement and support to the kids taking part in The NatWest Speed Challenge Final. All the competitors spent the day experiencing the excitement and tension of being a cricket star for the day including being photographed and interviewed by the media.

Tom, Moira, Kieran and Cara have won a day's coaching with NatWest Ambassador and England fast bowler, Darren Gough as well as a medal and a cricket bat signed by all three teams competing in this year's NatWest Series (England, India and Sri Lanka). The cricket clinic will take place at Headingley at the end of July. They also got the opportunity to watch one of the best one day international matches of all times with India clinching a dramatic victory over England in The NatWest Series Final.

All the finalists qualified at one of the NatWest Speed Challenge competitions that took place at the NatWest Interactive Roadshows with the results displayed on www.natwestseries.com giving the kids the opportunity to check their fastest delivery and position in the competition.

Abigail Searle, Sponsorship Manager, NatWest said: "Grassroots cricket is fundamental to the success and future of the sport and we are delighted that the first NatWest Speed Challenge has been such a success, with over 5000 kids entering the competition across the country."

The NatWest Speed Challenge is part of a major grassroots campaign to encourage and develop children's interest in the sport. NatWest have invested over half a million pounds over three years in a series of grassroots initiatives including the NatWest 'Get Involved' programme and the distribution of 800 flicx pitches and 10,000 skills balls to schools and clubs across the UK.

The young bowlers were also 'zinced up' and wearing Marie Curie Cancer Care daffodils in support of the 'Sun Safety - know your boundaries' campaign that NatWest and Marie Curie are undertaking. Sun protection sachets and sun safety checklists were distributed at each of this year's matches to help raise awareness of the dangers of prolonged exposure to the sun while watching or playing sport. NatWest have also developed an in-branch promotion with a £1 donation being made to the Marie Curie Research Institute for every Advantage Gold account opened from June to the end of August.