Royal Ascot Cricket Club Unveils New Outdoor Nets

June 3, 2025 · by Marc Ames · in News. ·

On Thursday 22 May, we were pleased to have an official opening opening of the new three lane outdoor net facility at our main ground by Felicity Barnard – Club President & CEO of Ascot Racecourse and Cllr Allison Sharpe – Chair of Ascot & Sunninghill Parish Council.

Our new outdoor nets were completed by Notts Sports at the end of last year after our playing season finished and have been well received already.

Fundraising has been taking place for over a year and the total cost was just under £60,000. Thanks to grants from the ECB via Berkshire Cricket, Ascot Fire Brigade Trust and Sunninghill & Ascot Parish Council plus the significant fundraising events by several members we were able to get the work carried out.

Thanks also to Ascot Racecourse, the Crown Estate, the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and to Paul Edwards Associates for enabling us to get planning permission and proceeds with the works.

There was a great turnout for the events and in attendance were our special guests:

Felicity Barnard – CEO of Ascot Racecourse & new President of Royal Ascot Cricket Club
Nigel Brewster – Vice Chair of Berkshire Cricket Foundation
Cllr Allison Sharpe – Chair of Sunninghill & Ascot Parish Council
Cllr Barbara Hilton – Vice Chair of Sunninghill & Ascot Parish Council
Fiona Jones – Trustee of Ascot Fire Brigade Trust
Paul Edwards – Paul Edwards Associates
Karen Davies – Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
George Jezard – Royal Boough of Windsor & Mnaidenhead

From the club a big thank you to Richard Wyatt for fundraising and grants, Rob Bennett for all his work on gaining planning permission and to Vicky & Andy Murray for their fundraising efforts and all their work behind the scenes on the official opening day.

The club has over 400 members from Colts to Senior Women & Men, and this new net facility will benefit all playing members of the club and will be heavily used throughout the season.