Volunteer Inn curries help Western Storm to success

The Volunteer Inn in Ottery St Mary was thrilled to learn the Western Storm Twenty20 team won the Women’s Super League Finals.

The pub had been delivering catering to the team whilst they were training at Exeter University’s Topsham Sports Ground over the summer.

Volunteer landlady and head cook Jacqui Down carried out a trial meal for the team in June and started the contract in July.

Jacqui said: “We were delivering nutritionally balanced food to the training ground.

“Meals included curries, tacos, chilli con carne and lasagnes, all designed to meet nutritional needs and keep the team in tip top condition for training.”

Western Storm is an English women's Twenty20 cricket team formed in 2016 to compete in the inaugural season of the Women's Cricket Super League. The captain is Heather Knight and the team includes overseas players Stafanie Taylor, Rachel Priest and Lizelle Lee as well as England players Anya Shrubsole and Fran Wilson.

The catering contract came about after an approach by Trevor Griffin who coaches the team. Trevor owns the Cricket Shop at Cotleigh and is a regular visitor to the Volunteer in Ottery.

“Everyone at the Volunteer was over the moon when we heard that the team had won,” added Jacqui.

As a thank you, Western Storm presented the Volunteer with a shirt worn by match centurion, Rachel Priest.