Lancashire and England fast bowler James Anderson and Sussex and England wicket-keeper Matthew Prior have followed in the footsteps of some of the leading names in sport by becoming ambassadors of the prestigious Desert Springs Resort in Almeria, Andalucía, south east Spain.
Anderson and Prior have followed the likes of Sir Ian Botham, OBE, generally regarded as being England crickets greatest ever all-rounder, and double Olympic Gold medalist Daley Thompson CBE, one of the greatest all-round athletes the world has ever seen in giving their backing to the five-star Spanish resort.
James Anderson is the fifth-highest England wicket taker of all time in Test cricket with 288 wickets in 77 appearances and is currently ranked sixth in the world Test bowler standings.
James remarked:
“Desert Springs has developed a fantastic reputation not only for golf and its additional sporting facilities, but also for providing a quality of lifestyle that all of the family can enjoy. That in particular is something our family is looking forward to during our visits to the resort throughout the year. It is a privilege to be an ambassador for them.”
Matthew Prior, the fourth-highest England wicket taker of all time has amassed 186 dismissals from 113 innings. He was the first England wicket keeper to score a Test hundred on debut, taking just 105 deliveries and hitting 16 boundaries after coming in at number 7, and finishing on 126 not out, becoming one of only 17 English batsman to record the feat overall.
Matthew commented:
“Desert Springs is an outstanding venue which provides some excellent new cricket practice facilities for warm weather pre-season team building and training as well as players rehabilitation, and both James and I look forward to being part of its expanding plans for the future.”
- For details of Cricket, Golf & Sports Training Camps, Corporate Golf Events, Meetings and Family Holidays at Desert Springs call 01242 680 116 or visit the website, www.almanzora.com
Additional background Information
Warm weather winter training camps at Desert Springs
Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course, already well known as a resort specialising in family holidays is proving to be one of the most popular destinations for warm weather winter training camps for Golf, Football and Cricket among the growing number of schools with their own academies and teams in the UK.
The resort will be host this winter season to the Cheltenham College Cricket Junior School, Darren Clarke Golf School, Lee Westwood Golf School and the Hartpury College Football Academy to name but a few, where budding sports stars of the future can improve their skills.
All Sports Training Camps to Desert Springs are bespoke. If desired, the programme can include time away from the resort for some local sightseeing in what many regard as ‘the real Spain.’
During their stay attendees have opportunities to swim, play tennis and use the gymnasium, trim trail, jogging tracks, paddle tennis and beach volleyball courts at the Sierras Sports and Fitness Club.
Desert Springs is easy to reach from the UK, thanks to three international airports. They are: Almeria Airport, around 40 minutes away by road; Murcia Airport, 80 minutes by car, and Alicante Airport which is a drive of less than two hours. Airlines currently flying to the region from the UK include easyJet, Monarch, Ryanair, Jet2, Jetair Fly and Thomas Cook.
Accommodation is provided in the luxury apartments and villas available for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs. Meals are served in the resort’s Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club that is geared up for a wide variety of leisure activities and the award winning El Torrente Restaurant at the Club House.
A spokesman for Desert Springs said that, depending on the size of the group and its requirements, the total cost of a four-day trip for warm weather training, including flights, would work out at between £350 and £400 per person.
The Desert Springs Resort & Golf Club
Facilities at Desert Springs include:
- The Par 72, 18-hole USGA Indiana golf course designed by former Great Britain and Ireland Golf Team Captain Peter McEvoy who was inspired by the desert courses of Arizona and California;
- A golf academy whose PGA qualified teaching professionals cater for several international teams, for the women’s elite squads of the Golf Union of Wales and for many of the English County Union’s elite squads; PGA European Tour and LET players.
- Two hard tennis courts, two paddle courts, beach volleyball and two football pitches – one is a full-size grass pitch; the other is designed for five-a-side games;
- Two cricket mobile cage nets with artificial wickets and a Professional Bola Bowling Machine with 28-ball feeder. A slip catch cradle and both full length artificial and grass wickets.
- A Spanish colonial style Golf Club House with a lounge, bar, restaurant, locker rooms, TV and reading rooms, and a Ralph Lauren Golf Boutique;
- The Crocodile Club which provides family fun at the heart of the resort with pools, equipped sand play areas, a kid’s battery powered John Deere Gator circuit and a games room as well as a Jacuzzi, sun lawns and a pool bar;
- A health and fitness club and spa.
Awards
In 2005 Desert Springs won the Daily Mail Best Almeria Award and the Bentley International Property Awards for the Best Spain Development and Best Architecture. In 2006, it was awarded the Spanish National Madera Verde Prize for Environmentally Sensitive Development. In 2007, the El Torrente Restaurant received the New Millennium International Gastronomy Award for the Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industry. This award was created by the Trade Leaders Club with the aim of distinguishing companies from all countries, for the outstanding quality of their products or services.
The climate of the Almanzora coastal region
Desert Springs takes it name from the region’s desert microclimate, which is unique in Europe. It has the warmest winter weather on the continent with an annual average of more than nine hours of daily sunshine and maximum daily temperatures of between 16°C (60°F) and 30°C (86°F) throughout the year. Annual rainfall is less than 200 mm. The Almanzora coastal waters are among the cleanest and warmest in Europe, attracting both fish and diving enthusiasts.
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Reader enquiries: |
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Simon Coaker The Almanzora Group Ltd The Manor, Boddington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 0TJ Tel: +44 (0) 1242 680116 |
