Bowled over by Pavilion Fund donors

In readiness for the 2025 season, big things are happening in Christ College Cricket.

We are delighted to share the exciting news that the construction of six new cricket lane nets are almost complete. We are even more delighted to share that they will be named the Colin Kleiser Cricket Nets in recognition of CWK's extraordinary contribution to cricket at Christ College.

After consultation with all donors, a generous sum of Pavilion Fund money was recently released to support the school’s cricketing ambitions by improving practice opportunities for our young cricketers. As a result, the three rather tired nets have been replaced by six new nets set on a state-of-the-art playing surface, with specifications ideal for honing bat and ball skills nurtured and developed during the cricket season.

Coach Steve Bradley says,

With the development of girls cricket over the past 18 months and a full fixture list for teams in each age group, the expansion and the improved quality of nets will enable boys and girls to train and develop together during training sessions.

Our new facility will also hopefully help develop our partnerships with Glamorgan CC and Cricket Wales. Cricket at Christ College is sincerely grateful to the Pavilion Fund for providing what will be a fantastic new facility for our young cricketers and for cricket in Wales. 

Though initially delayed by February’s torrential rain, work taking place in the March sunshine is scheduled to be completed by Easter - just in time for a busy programme of cricket during the Summer Term followed by summer holiday activities.

Generations of Old Breconians will know Colin W Kleiser (Staff 1967-1998) as French teacher and Francophile, talented musician and set builder, as well as hockey coach and Housemaster of Alway from 1973 to 1985. As Master i/c Cricket from 1968 to 1998, he took cricket at Christ College to a whole new level. He also instigated COBS cricket and organised their matches each year - including COBS tours to France. He took the first school XI cricket tour to Australia in 1996 and was instrumental in securing West Indian sides to play on his beloved square in the 1990s. It couldn’t be more fitting that the new nets will be named in his honour. We are particularly grateful to Anne Kleiser for her support of this fantastic new facility.

A small opening of the nets ceremony is planned for Saturday 26th April - to coincide with OB day. More details will soon follow on the events page of the Community Hub. 

The growing demand for cricket at the school resulted in a demand for improved training facilities, but such an ambitious project couldn’t have been initiated without the support of the Pavilion Fund. We offer our deepest thanks for such generous support from all our donors and look forward to a great season of cricket ahead.