Horspath Cricket Club is teaming up with STRONG Pilates, a global fitness brand that has opened its doors in Stanton St John.
The deal is a significant development for the Home Counties Premier Cricket League club.
It ensures the continued provision of inexpensive cricket for adults, women, and juniors, including girls, while also facilitating the improvement of club facilities.
Horspath plans to collaborate with STRONG Pilates on activities that support both the club and the sponsor.
These activities include team-focused training and recovery sessions, matchday and club events, and exclusive offers for Horspath families and members to join STRONG Pilates.
Already, the men’s and women’s sections have enjoyed fitness sessions at the brand’s studio.
The cricketers set aside net practice and fielding drills for one evening to participate in Pilates, cardio, and strength training.
Australian-founded STRONG Pilates, launched in 2019, make sessions accessible for beginners yet challenging for experienced athletes.
The fitness regimes, which aim to build core strength, mobility, control, and conditioning, offer benefits specifically tailored for cricketers, such as supporting recovery and enhancing stability, movement quality, and durability.
The sessions complement other training as well as matchday demands.
The UK arm of STRONG Pilates is led by ex-professional cricketer John Hastings, with England hero Stuart Broad serving as an official ambassador.
Director of Cricket Will Eason said: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome STRONG Pilates Oxford as our new principal sponsor for the next three years.
“The financial support will help us to continue to grow both on and off the pitch, as well as providing some exciting ideas working together with all our members.
“It was great to come to the studio and link up with STRONG.
“It was a lot more intense than we thought it would be, but it was absolutely brilliant.
“There was a really good camaraderie between the instructor and the guys.”
Director of Women’s Cricket Munaza Dogar led her squad into a fitness session, after which she stated: “The evening was a great opportunity for the women’s side to connect away from the cricket pitch prioritising our health with a focus on building strength.
“We are grateful to STRONG for an intense yet incredibly fun session. We’re looking forward to our fixtures with renewed energy.”
Under the fresh partnership, Horspath’s men’s team triumphed over Wargrave with a 56-run victory at home over the weekend, while the women enjoyed a 40-run win over Oxenford.
