Kington Cricket Club (KCC) - first!

The spotlight focused on Kington CC last Sunday, April 29, when it became the first cricket club to go smoke free in Herefordshire, and the first to hold a minor counties cricket match this season.

Herefordshire County Cricket Club (HCCC) played Shropshire in a one-day match that, although was lost by 30 runs, was won in their effort to be Smoke Free. 

Kington CC agreed with the HCCC captain and committee that “smoke free” has to be the best way for all sports clubhouses and marquees where players and supporters socialise.

Chris Buroughs, HCCC captain, said: “Sportsmen and women have to be fit and healthy. Smokers can damage their own health and that of others who are subjected to second hand smoke.

“As a sportsman, this seems quite unfair to me. We’re asking all the home clubs where we play this season (before 1 July) to put the ban in place whilst we are there.

“It will get them prepared for the changes to come, and provide a much better atmosphere for everyone. We are grateful for the support Kington CC have given us in this.”

A spokesman for Kington CC commented: “We had wanted to go smokefree this season and the HCCC request to apply the regulations before the official date was ideal for our club, and all our members and supporters are with us in this.”

All clubs practising in this way will certainly not be stumped by this new legislation, and will have fielded all questions and objections well before ‘D (‘Don’t’) Day.

The law, which officially comes into force on 1 July 2007, has been passed to try to prevent death and disease caused by second hand smoke. From 1 July all sports clubhouses and marquees that are used by players, members and guests will have to be smokefree. People who smoke will have to do so outside.

Other HCCC home fixtures: 13 May at Colwall; 8 – 10 July at Colwall; 22 – 24 July at Eastnor; 19 – 21 August at Brockhampton.