THE Gloucestershire Cricket Board’s schools and performance programmes have been given a major boost after more than £4,000 was raised at its annual Golf Day.

The money will be spent on delivering coaching in around 20 more primary schools and developing Gloucestershire’s county and district junior set-up.

The event at Cirencester Golf Club featured 27 teams from local businesses and cricket clubs as well as Gloucestershire CCC players Hamish Marshall, Gareth Roderick and Craig Miles along with Jack and Matt Taylor.

GCB chief executive Steve Silk said: “We are hugely grateful to Cirencester Golf Club and all of the clubs, businesses and GCB partners who took part or donated prizes for our raffle and silent auction.

“It was a terrific day and the amount of additional work we will be able to do as a result is fantastic.

“The money raised will ensure we can reach more children in primary schools and continue to improve our district and county boys and girls programmes.”

The majority of the money was raised through the silent auction and raffle. The auction prizes included tables for 10 to watch Gloucestershire at the Bristol County Ground and Cheltenham Festival, a chance to get a bespoke bat made at the Gray Nicolls workshop, green fees for four at a variety of top golf courses and the opportunity to spend the day on the gallops with Fossebridge racehorse trainer Fergal O’Brien.

On the course the battle of the Gloucestershire players was won by Jack Taylor but the overall individual winner was Frocester CC’s Sam Birch with 38 points. Frocester also triumphed in the team event with the 'Geriatric Golfers' featuring some of the club’s self-proclaimed elder statesmen winning with a score of 127.

Cirencester firm Aimteq Energy Management finished runners-up for the second year in a row.