THIS weekend Whitehaven Cricket Club hosted the Ged Blaney Memorial Match. 

Lots of people turned out to play and support the event held in memory of Mr Blaney who was involved with the cricket club. 

Sadly, he passed away in 2015 after a long battle with cancer, but since then the club has held this event to show support for families and remember their friend. 

The match also helps to raise money for two wards at West Cumberland Hospital and so far the club has raised over £5,000. Since they began hosting the memorial match in 2015, the club estimates that they have raised around £30,000. 

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Phil McCormick, a committee member at Whitehaven Cricket Club said: "Ged's a father of one of our players and he sadly passed away seven years ago, we've held a tournament in his memory since then and it's just got bigger and bigger over the years. 

"There were 24 teams this year and we raised money for the Loweswater and Henderson suite at West Cumberland Hospital. 

"This year was the best we've ever had and there was probably around a thousand people on the pitch at one stage. 

"It's a fantastic thing for the club and it was a great family day, people from children to those in their 80s came along to show their support. 

"It's a big thing for the cricketing community and our town as a whole, it's one of the biggest sporting events in Whitehaven now."

The winners of the match were a team called 'catch of the day' and the plate winners were Whitehaven Rugby Union Club. 

The player of the tournament was Shane Tyson, the female player was Maddie Wood, the young player was Harry Keeler and the young girl player was Lexi Foster. 

Liam Livingstone donated his England Cricket shirts and Ben Stokes donated a signed bat to support the event. 

A number of businesses and organisations in the area sponsored the match including GMB Union, Richardson's, Brooks, the Dovenby Ship, Haigh's and Sizzling Simons.