Already established as a leading force in local soccer, North Village are now seeking to resurrect their cricketing status.

And they've summoned the services of two of the Island's most decorated batsmen to help their cause.

Brothers Clay and Wendell Smith will be conducting a cricket clinic at Bernard Park next month for some of the Island's stars of tomorrow.

North Village currently have only one team competing - in the Commercial League.

However, they're setting their sights much higher.

"Basically North Village are looking to introduce a cricket programme into their overall set-up as a club and I've been asked to run a cricket clinic like the one that I ran last year at Bernard Park which was quite successful," explained Clay Smith yesterday.

"This year I've asked my brother Wendell (Smith) to come onboard with me because he's a very good coach and holds very high coaching certifications as far as coaching is concerned in Bermuda."

The clinic will be held from June 30 to August 15.

"We will be doing everything from assessing players, batting, bowling and fielding wise, and hopefully we will also be able to have junior matches mixed in with the BCB summer clinics that they hold. Hopefully our guys will be able to compete and have scheduled games once I get in touch with them (BCB)."

The Smith siblings set a new record for the highest second-wicket partnership in Cup Match in 1992. The St.George's pair stroked an even 200 to better the previous mark held by Somerset's Winton (Timmy) Edwards and Kenneth Maybury, a stand which yielded 169 runs in 1962.

Wendell has since retired, but not before writing his name several more times in the Cup Match record book. The former left-handed bat became the first local player to surpass the 1,000 run mark in the classic. The elder Smith retired from Cup Match with 1,143 runs to his credit, bettering the previous record of 988 that came off the bat of another legendary St.George's batsman, Lloyd James.

Clay, meanwhile, also shares the record for the highest ever third-wicket partnership in Cup Match with Glen Blakeney and has enjoyed success since joining St.David's from St.George's in the capacity of player/coach.

The pair established their record, 144 runs, in 1997 when St.George's won the coveted cup back from Somerset after losing it the previous year in Somerset.

Though at times controversial, Clay is still considered to have one of the best cricket minds in the local game.

The six week clinic will take place each weekday from June 30 at 9 a.m. through to 3.30 p.m. for children between the ages of five and 13. A registration for next month's clinic will be held next Tuesday at Bernard Park from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.. Entry fee is $60.

The youth clinic will see both current and past national team players drop by to share some of their knowledge of the game over the course of the six-week clinic.

Further information can be obtained from Clay Smith at 292-1021 or 292-4889, or he can be reached by e-mail at mrcricket28hotmail.com.