A GUISELEY schoolgirl has been nominated for the prestigious Yorkshire Choice Awards.

Twelve-year-old Eva Lewis is making her mark on the world of cricket and also helps younger children to learn the sport.

Eva took 34 wickets in the Wharfedale junior league last season with an average of four. She also volunteered for the Allstars cricket program, helping young children to learn the sport she loves.

Her mum Rachel Lewis who coaches cricket at Green Lane Cricket Club, said: “As a girl playing generally in all male teams she really has made her mark winning bowling trophies at Rawdon CC and Green Lane CC and also a coaches award from the u17s at Green Lane CC. Eva attends year eight at Guiseley School where everyone is very proud of her achievements.”

She said: “The junior season is short and a lot of games were lost to bad weather so to take 34 wickets was impressive.”

Eva’s achievements include the u11 bowling award at Green Lane CC, the u17 coaches award and the u13 bowling award at Rawdon Cricket Club. Eva, who has been playing for five years, was the only girl player at Rawdon CC where she took 10 wickets for the u13s.

Rachel said: “She got into playing because her brother who is six years older played and she was interested. Her younger sister Charlotte age 11 also plays.

“It was difficult at first as most teams just don’t have many girls playing and the facilities aren’t there for them. Just changing for a match can be a challenge but things are moving forward. There is a lot being done for girls cricket in Yorkshire.”

She said the AllStars programme had been “massive” for Eva this season and she had really enjoyed helping younger children to learn.

She added: “Eva’s school, Guiseley School, have been supportive and they want to run a mixed girls and boys cricket team next season which Eva is going to help run.

Rachel said: “I got into coaching because of my girls playing and I realised there weren’t enough female coaches around. If you want girls to play you need to fulfil safeguarding rules and have female staff to take care of them. I am the safeguarding lead for our cricket club.”

Voting for the Yorkshire Choice Awards has now opened and the winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony on March 14. Visit https://www.yorkshirechoiceawards.co.uk/votehere to vote for Eva.