ST. PATRICKS PRIMARY SCHOOL RETAIN THE TURNBULL TROPHY
On yet another day full of action in games of softball cricket in the National Cricket Centre at Sophia Gardens, St. Patricks RC Primary School from Grangetown retained the Turnbull Trophy for 2023.
Named in memory of Maurice Turnbull, the great Glamorgan captain and all-round sportsman, the Turnbull Trophy was inaugurated last year following discussions with Father Sebastian Jones from the Cardiff Oratory for a group of Roman Catholic primary schools in the Cardiff area.
During October and November this year, over 600 pupils from St. Mary’s RC Primary School, St. Joseph’s RC Primary School, St. Bernadette’s RC Primary School, St. Patricks RC Primary School and Christ the King RC Primary School have taken part in the indoor competition held at the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club with a batch of year-group competitions as well as talks in the Museum of Welsh Cricket where the pupils have learnt more about the life of Maurice Turnbull who, in addition to playing cricket for Glamorgan and England, played rugby, squash and hockey for Wales, besides being a leading member of the Roman Catholic community in South Wales.
As far as this year’s results are concerned, St. Mary’s Primary School won the Year 4 tournament, St. Patrick’s the Year 5 competition and St. Bernadette’s the Year 6 tournament. Finals Day on Wednesday, 29 November saw 90 boys and girls from each of the schools involved in a series of closely-fought group games, with the final seeing a team from St. Patrick’s defeat a side from St. Bernadette’s to retain the Trophy which they had won in the first year of its inauguration.
The Turnbull Trophy is one of the faith school competitions which the Community Department of Glamorgan County Cricket Club have organised with a similar tournament also currently taking place for pupils attending Church in Wales primary schools. “Our warmest congratulations to St. Patrick’s for retaining the Turnbull Trophy,” said Andrew Hignell, Glamorgan Cricket’s Heritage and Education Co-Ordinator. “It has been a fantastic tournament once again in 2023 besides being very uplifting to see the passion and enthusiasm for cricket shown by these girls and boys from the local area. We look forward to welcoming the schools back to Sophia Gardens during 2024 and providing them with an opportunity to watch our matches at the Stadium next summer.”