Kate Barton has been elected chairman of the Isle of Wight Cricket Board and is believed to be the first woman in the country to hold such a county post.
She takes over from Phil Mew, who has stepped down after three years at the helm.
In her inaugural address to the IWCB’s virtual annual meeting, Mrs Barton [pictured] said: “Cricket is my passion and I've been involved at all levels on the Island for over 20 years. As a mother of three children, who all played at school and club, I (like many other parents) fell in love with cricket.
“I already had a background in sport and coaching so found it easy to transition into coach/manager of the junior section at our local club. I have been a qualified cricket coach for more than fifteen years and have worked at every stage of participation from Kwik Cricket in primary schools to county representative level.
“This has allowed me the opportunity to work and learn from some of the most skilled and passionate coaches we've seen on the Island. My experience has inspired my ambition to work with the IW Cricket Board which I have done for the last two years.
“My goal is to improve growth and increase participation in all areas of youth cricket and to strengthen the pathway for school children to join clubs. I am also very keen to raise the profile of women and girls’ cricket on the Island with the eventual aim to return to competing in county competitions.
“I am very proud to have been elected onto the Isle of Wight Cricket Board and would love to continue to serve it in whatever capacity I can”.
The IWCB has elected three new Directors - Claire Everard, Newclose supremo Hugh Griffiths and Shanklin all-rounder Ben White, with Kate Barton, Dave Cox, Phil Mew, Duncan Mills, David Pratt, Martyn Richards and Hugh Wells re-elected.
She takes over from Phil Mew, who has stepped down after three years at the helm.
In her inaugural address to the IWCB’s virtual annual meeting, Mrs Barton [pictured] said: “Cricket is my passion and I've been involved at all levels on the Island for over 20 years. As a mother of three children, who all played at school and club, I (like many other parents) fell in love with cricket.
“I already had a background in sport and coaching so found it easy to transition into coach/manager of the junior section at our local club. I have been a qualified cricket coach for more than fifteen years and have worked at every stage of participation from Kwik Cricket in primary schools to county representative level.
“This has allowed me the opportunity to work and learn from some of the most skilled and passionate coaches we've seen on the Island. My experience has inspired my ambition to work with the IW Cricket Board which I have done for the last two years.
“My goal is to improve growth and increase participation in all areas of youth cricket and to strengthen the pathway for school children to join clubs. I am also very keen to raise the profile of women and girls’ cricket on the Island with the eventual aim to return to competing in county competitions.
“I am very proud to have been elected onto the Isle of Wight Cricket Board and would love to continue to serve it in whatever capacity I can”.
The IWCB has elected three new Directors - Claire Everard, Newclose supremo Hugh Griffiths and Shanklin all-rounder Ben White, with Kate Barton, Dave Cox, Phil Mew, Duncan Mills, David Pratt, Martyn Richards and Hugh Wells re-elected.
