Volunteers are being celebrated for the smashing work they’ve put in to put on an international cricket tournament in Guernsey this week.
Nearly 50 volunteers contributed hundreds of hours to stage the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Europe Qualifier.
From venue checks each morning, co-ordinating the visiting team’s transport, stewarding spectators, assisting match officials, providing hospitality and managing the administrative work – the volunteers kept the tournament rolling smoothly.
Two volunteers in particular are being celebrated for the months of work they’ve dedicated to ensure the tournament went as well as it did: Carl Brooks and Jordy Gallienne.
In their positions as Guernsey Cricket Tournament Director and Assistant Tournament Director, they have seen the planning and logistics of the tournament from first email to final over.
Richard Headington, Chief Operating Officer of Guernsey Cricket, praised the volunteers for playing “an important part in the tournament’s success”.
He said: “Carl and Jordy in particular have been at the heart of that effort, giving up an enormous amount of time to ensure the tournament has run smoothly from start to finish.”
“Their dedication reflects the spirit of everyone who has volunteered this week”.
Mr Gallienne said that the tournament, which took “months of hard work”, was an “incredibly rewarding” to see as it all came together.
He said: “None of this would have been possible without all of the volunteers, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Mr Headington said: “People understandably focus on the cricket itself, but they don’t always see everything that goes on behind the scenes to make an international tournament happen.
“Hosting a tournament of this scale in Guernsey demands a significant team effort, and it simply would not be possible without our volunteers.”
The tournament saw 8 international sides travel to Guernsey in the hopes of qualifying for the U19 Cricket World Cup.
The eventual champions were Italy who beat Sweden in the final.
And while Guernsey didn’t quite reach the top spot, they should hold their heads high finishing third after winning their third place play off against Germany.
While those teams bask in their glory and look forward to the world cup in 2028, the volunteers in Guernsey have much to be pleased with.
Mr Headington said: “A comment we’ve heard time and again from visiting teams, officials and spectators is how struck they have been by the friendliness and professionalism of everyone involved.
“Our volunteers have been outstanding ambassadors for Guernsey, helping to create an experience that everyone connected with the tournament will remember.”
