From Left to Right: Gary Yates (Assistant Coach Lancashire County Cricket Club), Tom Baily, Luis Reece, Stephen Moore, Aaron Lilley, Steven Croft, Glenn Chapel (Captain Lancashire County Cricket Club), Sam Byrne (Physiotherapist Lancashire County Cricket Club)
Lancashire's players are now back in England having completed a successful fortnight of warm weather fitness and cricket training between 27th January & 10th February at Desert Springs Resort, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course in the Almanzora region of Almeria in south-east Spain.
Two groups of six players completed three sessions a day for five days as they stepped up their physical preparations for the upcoming 2013 season.
Phil Scott, Lancashire's Strength and Conditioning Coach said:
"Having dry weather and grass meant the players could really throw themselves into the fielding drills and increase the volume and intensity of their throwing and catching which is really important as they get closer to the season. The lads worked incredibly hard throughout the week, and since we've been back the gains they have made are already becoming obvious."
The training camps, which were a joint initiative between David Roberts Physiotherapy who has been Lancashire’s official medical services partner for the past 12 years and Desert Springs, were also a great opportunity for new players to integrate into the team and spend time learning about the value of nutrition, diet, adequate rest and recovery techniques.
Lancashire County Cricket Club Catch Practice!
Sam Byrne – Physiotherapist, Lancashire County Cricket Club remarked:
“Desert Springs really is a fantastic place to bring your team or athletes to train. The variety of facilities from the immaculate grass training field and well-equipped gym, to the grueling ‘Sand-Pit’ and ‘Hill Sprint’ all make for a great place to push your players to their limits while still having fun.
The accommodation is modern, spacious and comfortable, the staff simply cannot do enough to help you, and the Chef really does go out of his way to prepare extremely healthy and tasty options. All this, combined with the endless sunshine on your back makes it the perfect place to create a pure training environment for any team or athlete.”
Stephen Moore working hard during the Ramp Reflex Catch training session
From Left to Right: Phil Scott, Gareth Cross, Paul Horton, Alex Davies, Oliver Newby, Karl Brown, Tom Smith & Peter Moores (Head Coach Lancashire County Cricket Club).
Lancashire boys’ strength conditioning training session at the Sierra Sports & Fitness Club
‘Throwing at the Stumps’ training session
Peter Moores Head Coach Lancashire County Cricket Club commented:
"After spending a week at Desert Springs with several of the Lancashire CCC professional squad I can thoroughly recommend it as a venue.
The excellent outdoor grass facilities provided us with the perfect conditions for fielding and agility work.
This alongside the gymnasium, sandpits and trim trail gave ample scope for varied and constructive training.
This all takes place in the idyllic setting of a golf course, which provides a perfect environment for hard work, in depth discussions and pure enjoyment.
By the end of the week not only had we gained knowledge and experience, but also as a team we had become fitter and stronger, not just physically but mentally.
The staff were outstanding in all aspects and the food was exceptional and completely tailored to our requirements. All in all a fantastic week for all involved."
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
Accommodation for the Lancashire County Cricket Club players, staff and coaches was provided in the villas available at Desert Springs.
- For details of Golf & Sports Training Camps, Corporate Golf Events and Meetings at Desert Springs call 01242 680 116 or visit the website, www.almanzora.com
- To find out more about the Lancashire County Cricket Club visit the website www.lccc.co.uk
- To find out more about David Roberts Physiotherapy visit the website: www.davidrobertsphysiotherapy.co.uk
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, is already known as a resort specialising in family holidays, however it has rapidly gained popularity as a centre for warm-weather training for cricketers, athletes, and footballers, as well as golfers and is proving to be one of the most popular destinations for sports warm weather winter training camps.
All sports 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 volley ball courts.
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 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 already completed and in use at Desert Springs include:
- a 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 volley ball and two football pitches – one is a full-size grass pitch; the other is designed for five-a-side games;
- two mobile cricket cage nets with artificial wickets and a Professional Bola Bowling Machine with 28 ball feeder. There is also a slip catch cradle and there are both full length artificial and grass wickets laid out on the football field.
- 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’s coastal waters are among the cleanest and warmest in Europe, attracting both fish and diving enthusiasts.
Reader enquiries:
NOTE: High Resolution Images available upon request.
Simon Coaker
The Almanzora Group Ltd
The Manor, Boddington, Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire GL51 0TJ
Tel: +44 (0) 1242 680116
e: tag@almanzora.co.uk
www.almanzora.com
