Female sporting heroes join forces to inspire stars of the future

They’re skilled, smart, sassy and with the help of the Layne Beachley Aim For The Stars Foundation, a new breed of female sports heroes will have their names on the lips of the nation this season.

In a show of camaraderie for women in sport, Australia’s top female cricket and surfing champions will battle it out in a beach cricket match to celebrate the ICC Women’s World Cup which kicks off in March as well as surfing’s ASP Women’s World Tour at the Roxy Pro on Saturday.

The event is designed to celebrate up-and-coming Australian female sports stars and inspire girls and women across the country to dream and achieve. Teams will include representatives from the Southern Stars and the ASP Women’s World Tour with world surfing veteran Matt Hoy as umpire.

Southern Stars Cricketers
• Ellyse Perry
• Alex Blackwell
• Delissa Kimmince
• Sarah Andrews

ASP Women’s World Tour Surfers
• Layne Beachley
• Steph Gilmore
• Jessi Miley-Dyer
• Sally Fitzgibbons

Promoting women in sport and supporting the dreams of Australian girls is a cause close to the heart of seven time ASP Women’s World Champion Layne Beachley.

In 2003, Beachley established the Aim for the Stars Foundation, “encompassing academic, sport, cultural and community pursuits, my foundation offers ambitious and dedicated females an opportunity to receive financial and moral support to help them achieve their goals,” said Beachley, “ it is important that women sports support one another and what better way than to play some beach cricket, look out Southern Stars!”

Delissa Kimmince, Australia cricketer and Female Development Officer at Queensland Cricket knows first-hand how inspiration and determination can see young women achieve great things.

“I grew up in a country town near Brisbane and at 12 I was selected as a shadow player for Darling Downs – but there wasn’t a girls team, so I couldn’t play or go away with them! But I tell the girls in my development squad if you work hard and wear a smile anything is possible. And now I’m representing my country at the Women’s World Cup. It’s a dream come true,” she said.

The ICC Women’s World Cup involves the world’s top 8 ranked teams, being Australia, India, New Zealand, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Pakistan. .
ICC News
Monday, February 23, 2009 3:53:21 PM