A GIGGLESWICK teenager is following in her family's footsteps by making her mark on the cricket field.

Jo Ward, of Riversdale, has seen her cricketing career take-off after being picked for the under 17 Yorkshire Women's Team and being named Young Player of the Year by Settle Cricket Club.

The 18-year-old's family is convinced she has the sport in her blood, as her father played for Settle Cricket Club's first team and captained the third team, her grandfather was the fast bowler Jack Buswell, and her great-grandfather, Peter Buswell, also played the sport.

"Jo comes from a cricketing family. Her grandfather was a professional cricketer before the last war when he played for Northants," said Eileen Buswell, Jo's grandmother.

She added that after the war, Jack moved to Settle and played for the town's cricket club. One fond memory was of Jack playing against a visiting team from Yorkshire and scoring a hat-trick after bowling Sir Len Hutton out for nil.

Eileen added: "Obviously Jo has inherited his gift and love of the sport. My husband would have been so proud of his grand-daughter."

A former pupil of Settle and Giggleswick Primary Schools and Settle Middle School, Jo only started to play cricket a couple of years ago.

She has found her feet this season, playing for Settle under 18s and Settle thirds in the Ribblesdale League. She has opened the bowling for both teams and is the first woman ever to play in the league.

Jo, who is studying for a BTEC in Sport and Leisure at Craven College, was also selected at the England Regional Tournament to play for England Regional Training at Old Trafford and could go on to train for the England squad.

She also recently became the youngest girl in the county to qualify as a cricket coach, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, who used to coach at Giggleswick Grammar School. She now coaches the under 15s and under 12s teams at Settle Cricket Club and is also manager of the latter.

Jo's achievements were rewarded by the local club at the weekend, when she was awarded prizes for bowling and fielding for the under 18s as well as the prestigious Young Player of the Year title.

Jo's mother Jane Ward said: "She just lives for cricket. It must be in her blood."

o Settle Cricket Club is hoping to nurture future stars with the help of a grant of £3,065 from the Millennium Festival Awards For All Scheme. The club plans to spend the money on coaching equipment including a bowling machine, fielding machine and a slip cradle.

Anthony Bradley, chairman of Settle Cricket Club, said: "This award will enable Settle Cricket Club to build on the encouraging success of its junior section."

"With this award Settle Cricket Club hopes to go from strength to strength. The establishment of a soundly based junior section will be the basis for the club's future."

Part of the money will be spent on improving coaching and the club aims to have fully qualified coaches for every age and standard of player.

However, Mr Bradley said concern had been raised over Craven District Council's review of its sports development function after the departure of sports development officer Joanne Moss.

Mr Bradley said: "A sports development officer provides an annual assistance for both sports development and the putting together of sports lottery bids. The projects Joanne was involved with will provide a lasting legacy to our community. It is our belief the council must not allow these projects to fall or fail through lack of proper support."

"Settle Cricket Club urges anyone with an interest in sport and the development of community facilities to write to their local councillors or to the council officer Mick Cartledge.

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