AHS Cricket Facility Project Report 2014

Supporting Our Cricketers – The Ardenne High School Cricket Training Facility Project (2014–2015)

The Problem

At the start of the 2013/2014 school year, Ardenne High School’s only cricket training pitch was condemned. Years of wear had left it cracked and uneven, rendering it unsafe for use. With no alternative available, the junior and senior cricket squads were forced to train on the school’s paved gully,  a makeshift solution that was neither safe nor suitable for developing the skills of young athletes.  Something had to be done.

The Vision

Cricket coach and proud Ardenne past student Mr. Simon Jackson, working closely with then-Principal Ms. Molloy, developed a plan to replace the condemned facility with something far superior. Rather than simply restoring a single training pitch, the vision was to create five dedicated concrete training areas, each specifically designed to develop both batting and bowling techniques. The new facility would accommodate 14 to 16 cricketers training simultaneously, more than double the six that the old pitch could support — and would serve students of all genders who wished to represent Ardenne in ISSA-sanctioned competitions.

Architect Desmond Hayle of Desmond Hayle & Associates drew up the plans, confirming that the proposed layout could be accommodated within the selected area of the school and expanded in future if needed. A Bill of Quantities was prepared by quantity surveying firm Burrowes and Wallace, placing the project cost at JMD $1,086,000, and McDermott Construction Limited was identified as the contractor, with Project Manager Johan McDermott conducting a site visit and providing a phased breakdown of the works.

The Foundation’s Role

Recognising the importance of transparency and the need for prompt, accountable responses to donors, Mr. Jackson approached the Ardenne Alumni Foundation to serve as the financial conduit for the project, receiving funds, managing disbursements, and providing donors with the assurance that their contributions would be properly administered. The Foundation was honoured to play that role, with Mr. Jackson retaining oversight of the project and receiving technical assistance and advice from Engineer Dean Burrowes.

Funding and Community Support

The project was funded through a combination of sources that reflected the breadth of goodwill surrounding Ardenne’s cricket programme. The International Foundation for Sport UK, a connection facilitated by Mr. Jackson himself, provided significant support. Parents, guardians, and students of Ardenne High School contributed, as did friends of Ardenne and the Ardenne Alumni Foundation, which provided the balance of funding needed to bring the project to completion.

The generosity extended beyond financial contributions. Members of the Ardenne Alumni Association donated the use of heavy machinery to clear the project site at no cost, an invaluable in-kind contribution that enabled work to begin. Alfasure Structures & Roofing Limited contributed five sheets of JRC Fabric reinforcement, and plants and trees for landscaping, including coconut trees, Lignum Vitae trees, and Bermuda grass, were provided free of charge, giving the completed facility an environment befitting Ardenne’s standard.

From Vision to Reality

Phase 1 of the project, site clearing and preparation, was completed in 2014. Phase 2, the construction of the five concrete training areas that form the heart of the facility, followed and the project was completed in 2015. The facility has been in active use by Ardenne’s cricket squads ever since, providing a safe, well-designed, and professional training environment for the young cricketers of Ardenne, exactly as Mr. Jackson envisioned.

A Reflection

The Ardenne Cricket Training Facility project is a reminder that the Foundation’s work is not always about leading from the front. Sometimes the most meaningful contribution is to stand behind a passionate individual with a clear vision, providing the administrative infrastructure, the financial accountability, and the institutional credibility that allows a great idea to become a reality. That is what the Foundation did here, and it is a role we are always honoured to play in service of Ardenne and her students.

Deo Duce Quaere Optima — With God as Guide, Seek the Best.