Glencore program answers MDJCA prayers of pitch facelift

The grant is part of Glencore's 2020 Junior Sports Development Program that offers junior sporting groups funding to enable the tools to support participation.

Mudgee District Junior Cricket Association (MDJCA) president Andrew Whale says the funding will do wonders for the area given the synthetic pitches were in a 'hazardous' condition making it difficult for cricketers to train.

"The Victoria Park cricket nets were in desperate need of repairs. At the moment, the pitches are deemed a bit hazardous and very slippery when bowling, local cricketers could not train at 100 per cent due to the nature of the pitches," Andrew said.

"There has been the odd 'fix up' due to minor damages but never to the degree of replacing all three complete pitches.

"This means we can update a valuable training facility that is used by many cricketers in town. Every day during the cricket season you will see some junior cricketers in the nets at Vic Park, it's a central place to meet, practice skills and talk about everything cricket.

"Not only will we be replacing the synthetic covering, but the slabs have been fixed thanks to the Mid-Western Regional Council."

While the pitches have failed to be replaced at least during the past 10 seasons, Whale says MDJCA's committee are 'ecstatic' given this is something they have been trying to do for years.

"It's a massive thing for our junior cricket association to have Glencore's support on this project. As a committee, we have been trying to get these nets repaired for a number of seasons, so to now know it will all be done by the end of January 2021 is great news," he said.

"We are only a small junior sporting association, support from local businesses and organisations such as Glencore is greatly appreciated.

"We would just like to acknowledge Mid-Western Regional, Pete Raines, and Mudgee Carpet Court, Mick Sandry, for their support and involvement with the project."